Hotel... day 14

Long time no post... Mainly because we've been just wandering around trying to get our bearings, looking for a flat and generally holed up in the hotel room studying Japanese and grammar (in my case)

We did manage to venture out a bit, like last night we were invited to a house party through a private teaching work friend. It was really nice to meet someone from England finally! But lovely to meet people from all over the world.

Blizzards are becoming a regular thing of late. I've been told we haven't quite seen it at it's worse yet and we have metres of snow on the ground to look forward to in deep winter! But last night was special in the fact that the roads turned into ice rinks. For some reason the snow impacted on the roads and formed a thick layer of white ice! The cars were slip sliding around, which was a bit scary in the taxi home, but not too much as the Japanese are such careful drivers and everyone was driving very slowly just to be safe.

Well, I haven't taken many pictures, but I'll get into the habit again soon.

One minute I look out the window = blue skies. 5/10 minutes later, THIS! ^

As you can see the roads are completely white, be not fooled. This is not snow but ICE!

This one got it bad

This one too 0_0

Cute independent cafe. They're everywhere!! And they're all so stylish!

Outside the same cafe

For those who don't know you always take off your shoes before entering a house. There's a little section before the wood starts. This was taken at the party.

Bed time for me! I think we've found a flat, I'll do a post about it if we move in along with pictures! Night and miss you all! x

Oh world, you look beautiful today!

After experiencing our first snow storm, we experienced the aftermath... lovely pretty glittery snoooow! Cold and wind makes you tired, therefore I will go straight onto the photos...

The ice and snow consumes another victim, except this time it's two at a time and quite a bit larger than an umbrella.

Close-up of the carnage

Maruyama park in the distance.

The park!!

It can be difficult to tell the difference between two feet and 5 inches of snow. Hilarity ensues.

This used to be a bench, now a mere skeleton for it incurred the wrath of the snow! Bicycles, benches and umbrellas beware.

The mini snow storm starts

Ta-da!

Tomorrow is a day of recovery for me (I've had a sore throat for a while now and need to kick it once and for all) and we shall then be flat hunting. So it might be a while before the next post, unless you want me to just add a load of Engrish/random weird pictures in the meantime. Let me know.

Goodnight!

Slow news day

Last couple days I've been having a really bad throat so haven't been venturing out too much into the cold. Plus every time I do I forget to take my blimmin camera!! Particularly annoyed as while having my regular morning coffee at 08:30 downtown, it was raining small squares of coloured paper! Must be a Japanese thing. :s

So it's been exactly a week and I'm missing friends and family a lot. Also missing my English students, especially the two Naoko's! Those lessons were always such fun.

Also tonight is my first encounter with a snow storm, though our friend says it's only the wind that is strong and that there are three days in the year where you can't see past an outstretched arm! Definately looking forward to that! (as long as I don't have to work that day)

Anyway, on with the photo's!

Just took these four outside the window. The buildings keep disappearing! Expected to last until the morning. Snowmen tomorrow I hope!!

Going...

going...

gone!

The ice likes to consume broken umbrellas. I have found other victims but forgot my camera.

This one is for my dad = I finally tried a doutor sandwich, and yes! They ARE yummy! And the coffee is friendly :)

Some more awesome Engrish

My brilliant new diary notebook. Writing at the bottom reads... 'Quality time nurtures grace and beauty. I depart with my full bag of time. Experiencing deliciousness made me a slave to taste. We provide a first-class taste brought directly from the earth.'... riiiight

Sapporo graffiti is a bit more sleek than London graffiti

Seems Japan has solved the paper bag + rain problem; a little bag mac! Maybe not the most planet friendly of solutions but much better than shops using plastic bags 100% of the time.

Ok, I'll leave you with a little video I took after dinner yesterday. Hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather back home!...

First day in our new home

We arrived in Sapporo safe and well yesterday. But not before having some of Tokyo's favorite ramen!! (voted the most popular ramen in Tokyo) 'Kyushu jangara ramen' (four chains, this one was in Akihabara). TASTY!

If you ever try it we recommend the miso ramen with an egg and marinated pork. The best thing about this ramen is that you get quite a lot more (very delicious) pork than normal.

The place is really small though and you're likely to get a long wait if you go at peak times. Our table was miniscule and it's hard not to bump into your neighbours.

^ Jamie struggling with reaching the pickled ginger

Since we're on the topic of food... Starbucks does a tasty drink exclusive for the run up and duration of Sakura (they tend to do exclusive drinks a lot for any excuse). This one is called... Sakura!

A strawberry milkshake (which you can also get hot) with lovely strawberry chocolate shavings on top!

I also discovered this monstrosity today....

Yes that's right, your eyes do not deceive you. The bun has been replaced with rice. Hmmm.

So I should post a few pictures of our area...

the view from our room

A typical Sapporo street

Ice piled high on the side of the road

The pavements are generally very clear of ice, though for some reason there's a big ice patch right outside our hotel all the way to the combini.

Luckily I have yet to fall on my arse. Something I was worried about in my work shoes as yes... that's right, I got a job!!! Well today was the interview. I spent a good half hour obsessing over what to wear and what would be appropriate since the Japanese can be rather picky on dress codes. Here were my two options...

For the ladies who are interested (mainly my mum) I picked the second one. Much more appropriate for an interview I would say.

Anyway, I'll leave you with a picture of a little sachet (that was handed out to Jamie after a night in a bar) which contains a couple chemicals that when broken and mixed heat up. Nice hand warmer in this cold weather!

I have another interview tomorrow for a school teaching English to children aged 2 to 12. Part time again. I'll let you know how it goes!

Konbanwa from a snowing Sapporo!

Konichiwa Tokyo!

So here we are again in this wonderful country. Being back feels like returning from a brief holiday in the UK, how strange!

All of my fears (well... most of them) are quashed as I am now remembering how much I love it here and all the many strange, hilarious and brilliant things I enjoyed the first time around.

We have been spending a couple days in Tokyo before catching a flight on Thursday night to what will be our home for the next year (and hopefully if all goes well much longer). The land of snow and beer... Sapporo! See my profile for a brief description or my earliest entries if you are unfamiliar with this place. So Friday is when the hard work begins!

Picture time...

Between Norway and Russia, just before going over some sheet ice

Looking at a familiar view of Akihabara

My favorite section of the combini (convenience store). Look at all the iced coffeeeeeee!!

Electric town

Our first cherry blossom! Can you see it?

the most awesome combini iced coffee yet - espresso truffle!

Visiting Chiyoda park as it's next to the British embassy.

Sakura season is coming!

the sparse Chiyoda park.

Waiting at the station

Akihabara at sunset.

Well, this is our second day and we're not doing too much as Jamie has practicing to do and I have grammar revision :( But no fear! Tonight is St Patrick's day and surprise surprise, the Japanese love the Irish! (They've pretty much been celebrating St Patrick's day all week) So tonight we're going to Roppongi (the foreigner district) and having some sushi before we celebrate with the UK's neighbours! Might be dull since it's a Wednesday but if it's fun be sure I will write about it tomorrow. I'll probably be writing from Sapporo as we leave at 12:30 tomorrow.

Matane!! (laters)