Settling in

So, I've now experienced a full day here, and it's actually going pretty well so far. I've only really had two little mistakes, the first of which was misunderstanding a clerk in a lift in Taito arcade, and then going for breakfast on the day when meals aren't served.

Aside from that though, everything has been going quite smoothly. I've been into Tokyo now, and I was quite surprised how easy it is to get around. It doesn't feel like a city where you can wander for a bit and then realise you don't know where you are, which is usually how I find London.

The suburb I'm in, Kasai, is quite a pleasant place also. Some of the houses here are really nice, and is quite contary to the whole vision you often get of Tokyo with huge towering skyscrapers everywhere. Although at one point I was quite puzzled when I noticed a small house sandwiched between two blocks of flats.

While I have done a little bit of shopping, I haven't picked up anything quirky yet, or related to any particular hobby. I am quite pleased that I have my own pair of slippers now, and have graudated from 'Little Boy Big Heart' to some simple checkered yellow. That's not to say I haven't been tempted though, every single time I saw Nora and the Carving Studio, I kept wondering if I should or shouldn't get it now. For the time being though, I'm waiting until I'm properly settled in here, perhaps as a little reward to myself for making an effort before I settle down with a videogame.

It also occured to me that I'm yet to write about my dorm. Main reason being that the most outstanding factor is just how quiet it is here. It's not like the dorm I had in my first year, with drunken people singing on their way back from a club after midnight, or people wedging their doors open to play everyone else some music. It's a lot calmer and... I guess restrained is the word. I've not really seen anyone acting out of the ordinary. It's really quite different to how student life seems to be back home. There are a few vending machines here as well, including a canned coffee one just outside. I haven't tried one yet, but I reckon that's only a matter of time. There's just something intriguing about a coffee which is a 'Rainbow Mountain Blend'.

I've also picked up a Japanese grammar book, from what seems to be the equivalent of Waterstones here, Kinokuniya. What struck me most is that somehow all books here seem to be nice. I think every single one I saw yesterday had a dust jacket. I think I may be making several return visits there, but for now, I have to focus on the grammar one, as I've got a placement test tomorrow, as well as an interview the day after. I'm honestly hoping it won't be anything too taxing, but it's wise to at least try and be prepared at this point.

For now though, I think it's about time I went for some breakfast, I may actually go to a Seven-Eleven for that, I'm told it's really rather good there!