On catching the plague

Somehow I managed to, on my first week of class, catch a cold. Lovely the timing of these things.

Well, in treating my cold, I've learned a few things about medicine here in Japan. For one, drugstores in Japan sell only drugs for the most part. This may sound like a no-brainer, but in America, drugstores regularly stock everything from pork rinds to lawn chairs. They are basically the bridge between an actual retail store and a gas station on the corner. So "drugstore" is a bit of a misnomer.

But in Japan, drugstores are perhaps more aptly named. They sell drugs. They might also have make-up or other related products, but don't expect to find much else really.

You may have seen photos of it before, but oftentimes people who are sick will wear a face mask. This is not only a courtesy to others in blocking them from sickness, but it can occasionally also be used to protect yourself from becoming sick (or sicker, as the case may be). There are so many people in Tokyo, though, you're bound to come in contact with a germ or two. As they might say in Japan, しかたがない.

But if there is some bright side to be found while I'm roughing it eating Halls and drinking cough syrup for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it's probably this. Here's the pack of kleenex I purchased from the store:

And yes, the actual tissues are branded with pokemon as well.

Until next time. ~thette

Mou ichido, Nihon!

So I'm in Japan. Again. (Big surprise there) I'm just getting back into the swing of things. I arrived late last night in Nishiwaseda and have yet to see the area in broad daylight, so therein lies today's sightseeing plans. (Translation: I will be hitting up the 100 Yen store to buy cheap dishware and trashcans.)

Anywho, this is my third trip to the land of make-believe, and it'll by far be the longest. I'll be here for ten weeks -- just long enough to actually feel like a resident before I'm whisked away back to my real life over in San Fran. But I intend to make the most of it, starting with this posting.

For the seventy-some-odd days, coming to you live from Japan (okay, maybe not live), I'll be posting stories of my mythic exploits. Like this!

Is it noodles, or is it a sandwich? No one knows!
(Actually it's both, and it's today's breakfast.)

Nail biting, I know. (C'mon, I've only been to a convenience store so far.) But really, I'll be doing my best to share bits of the Japanese culture I encounter on a daily basis here. I'm sure I'll find plenty to take in over the next few months, but I'm always open to additional suggestions for how to get into trouble (beginning with my bad Japanese). So please 遠慮しないで! (Don't hold back!)

Until next time.
~thette