Tokyo!

We made it to Tokyo without too much difficulty. We arrived at our hotel at about 11:15 last night thinking that we'd have time to do dinner before the door would be locked but quickly found out that curfew was midnight! We ended up having to eat at the dreaded... McDonald's (I don't do McDonald's)... last night's McDonald's was awesome though. We walked in. We pointed at what we wanted while the girl serving us seemed to ramble on and on in Japanese, clearly asking us questions we couldn't understand and then pointing at sections of the menu as a prompt. It was really straight forward... just weird. Seriously, I wonder what she was going on and on about? Because she didn't stop talking the entire time.

I think I'm going through a little culture shock. It has gotten better since I woke up this morning sleeping on the floor hearing the weird crows cawing outside the window. I'm definitely no longer in Thailand. It feels good... but there is definitely some culture shock happening. I think what made me realize everything would be okay was when we sat down for lunch in a soba restaurant, I ordered something I didn't know but wasn't surprised at all with what I got (some sort of rice noodle in soup with fish flakes and some weird eggy pancake-y thing). It was good. We went to a tourist information office this morning and asked them what seemed to be endless questions (some of which seemed silly - can you drink the water from the tap? What time does the subway open? ... that kind of thing...) and had them call and make reservations at a hotel for the next three nights. They were really friendly and funny (they were all older women). As we left, one of them saw Ryan's bag, gasped and then lifted it off his back while giggling a bit. It was pretty funny.

We've changed hotels now (we had to... it's the weekend right before Golden week and our other place was booked up). For a whopping $12 more than last night our new hotel has free internet (WOO!), an ensuite airplane-cabin-sized bathroom (alas, no fancy toilet... I want my heated, spraying seat back!! but at least the new bathroom isn't shared) and a tiny bed (I think it's a large single?) It is definitely not a double. Ryan offered to sleep on the floor if necessary... that's how small it is.

We were just going through the entertainment magazine of Tokyo and I realized that Do Make Say Think is playing tonight!! I got really excited all of a sudden (I've been wanting to check them out and have really gotten into their stuff). Then I realized that the event we want to go to on Monday night has a pricetag of $60 a person... Yikes... A $40 concert plus a $60 event? Can the bank account take this? I have to make my money last another three weeks here... I should just wait and see Do Make Say Think when they're at home. So sadly, no Do Make Say Think for me... I'd rather spend my money on something I can only experience here than something I can see back home.

I have so many questions about stuff I keep seeing everywhere. I think Ryan and I are going to try to do a volunteer tour (where you get to meet someone who's learning English and do a tour with them)... this'll allow me to probably ask a few questions... We'll see.

Oh, and it's cold here! Yesterday I had to switch jackets shortly after landing. I knew it would be cold but my 5 weeks spent sweating in 30+ degree weather have made me really sensitive to the cold. I'm feeling a little warmer today (maybe it's warmer? or maybe I'm getting used to it?) I think I need a long sleeved shirt. In fact, walking around looking at the way people are dressed is making me want to go clothes shopping... And luckily I didn't do anything to my hair which means it's still long and keeping my neck warm (hahaha)... and is actually looking kind of normal for the first time since I left home!

That's it for now... I'm sure Ryan's wondering when I'll be back from using the internet (he was showering when I left).