sechan19 | A Day in Nakameguro.

So far, I seem to be back to my morning person schedule. I woke up about 6:20 on day one and went to sleep around 10:30. This morning, I was up at 6 sharp. I finished putting my little room in order, took a shower, did some yoga, ate breakfast, and then made some lists. As it was Sunday, I didn't try to leave the dorm until 9, as I knew nothing would even be vaguely open before that hour. Despite that padding, there was still nothing open until 10am.

In the interim, I wandered around the district. First I walked down to the subway station and looked at the maps. There are two train lines running through the nearby Nakameguro station, and it appears that I have easy access to Yokohama, Ginza, Shibuya and Ueno, among other places. While I was standing there reading the map and thinking about what kinds of day-trips were available to me, a German man came over and asked me if I needed help. It was sweet of him, but I explained that I was just looking at the maps to get a sense of where I could go from here. He moved on.

After that quick jaunt, I walked up and down the main and side streets, finding the beautiful Nakameguro river in the process. River is probably a courtesy term, as the waterway is both narrow and shallow--though fast moving. It has been harnessed in by a deep canal that is lined on either side by absolutely gorgeous deciduous trees and luscious creeping vines. When I reached the Shukuyama bridge, I walked halfway out to take a picture.

Leaving the bridge, I made my way to the grocery store and the 100-yen store, both finally open. I bought rice and noodles, meat and veggies/fruits, tea, condiments (fresh ginger!!), and assorted kitchen aids. I now have a plate and bowl, glass and tea cup, a spoon, a knife, a set of chopsticks, and stuff to do dishes. I couldn't find pots and pans at this 100-yen store, though, so I'll have to keep looking. I had planned for that contingency by buying things that I wouldn't have to cook just in case I couldn't yet cook.

My dorm room is adorable. It has its own little bathroom with bath/shower, sink, mirror, and toilet. The in-set kitchen has a sink, a single stove burner, and a mini-fridge! The information KCP gave me said that the dorm did not have a refrigerator, and that had concerned me a bit. No worries, however. I have everything I need in my little kitchen-space. It even has a compact set of shelves, a pantry space below the sink, little hooks for hanging utensils, and a overhead light. There's a large floor space in the main sleeping room, with a wardrobe, desk, standing mirror, and a low bed frame with a futon! There's a nice large window, too, that opens onto a little bricked terrace.

I came back to the dorm with my goodies and unpacked them. I chopped up the meat I'd bought with my new knife. I wasn't expecting much from a 100-yen store knife, I have to admit, but that sucker is sharp. I put things away so they'd keep fresh, and then I ate a banana for a pick-me up and went out again to buy a couple more onigiri to augment my lunch, since I couldn't cook rice yet. I also ran over to the Book-Off and went through their CD section. I didn't see anything that struck my fancy, but on a whim I went into the DVD section.

Confession time...

I bought a Platinum Box. Every year, the pop singer Gackt (who--as everyone who knows me knows--I love) puts out a special DVD set for his fans called the Platinum Box. Book-Off had one for about $15, a really good deal. I had to buy it sight-unseen, but I figured it was worth the gamble for the chance to own a single piece of super-geeky Gackt memorabilia. My gamble paid off. The Platinum Box was intact, with DVD and special gift--a clock designed by Gackt--inside.

The clock is hilarious. It's shaped like a coffin (no, seriously), and it runs backward. There was a minor amount of damage to the edge of the clock face from what appears to be rusting, but it actually works. I put in a little AAA and away it went. So far as I can tell, it keeps pretty good time. Plus, it's just funny.

Gackt is such a dork.

As am I. I'm thinking I'll put the clock in my genkan (foyer).

Anyway, I'm off to study for tomorrow's placement exam. The entire American contingent meets at KCP tomorrow at 9am (God help us all) for eight hours of orientation, placement, scheduling, and I know not what. Now I need to go over some things for the placement test. I'm hoping to test into level four this time, and I want to go over some of the tougher grammar patterns from level three before I face judgment.