Catching Up on Day 21

This last weekend I had my homestay. Unlike the generally program-long homestays with other Japanese Light Fellowship programs, mine was for the weekend only. Still, I stayed with an understanding and helpful family in Saitama-ken. The family had three children, all ten or younger, and my host mother's younger sister also brought her two young children, and the neighbors brought their young children. For a time I felt like I was living with all of the children of Japan. It was very kawaii, and being bombarded with relatively simple spoken Japanese helped me recall how to use some basic structures that I learned but never had the chance to practice.

I envy the students in other programs who have the complete immersion that an extended homestay offers, but I can't argue argue against living in Tokyo either. The city is vast and complex, and I have a tendency to lose myself amongst its barely labeled streets and unfamiliar wards. Today I walked back to my apartment near Nishishinjuku Gochome Eki from my class in Shibuya for the second time. The first time I walked through Yoyogi Park, past the Meiji Shrine, but today I stayed on city streets. For a good deal of time the only landmark I could see was the NTT Docomo skyscraper. I must have walked east of the tower this time. After passing the building I lost my way. Stupidly not carrying my map and refusing to buy one at a konbini, my only option was to find a subway line. Tokyo being what it is, I inevitably arrived at an entrance, to Shinjkuku Sanchome Eki. It was right under the Tokyu Hands department store, a place I have heard of but never seen. I followed the subway's underground walkway, hoping it would lead me to the main Shinjuku Eki. After a long walk, I began to worry and popped my head above ground like a gopher to locate myself. Naturally, I went above ground just one entrance short of arriving in the station. Easily a kilometer or more of tunnels later, I made it back to familiar ground in Nishishinjuku.

Kanto was the name of the region the original Pokemon games were set in. This is Kanto. The world of Pokemon has large underground tunnels, convenient stores that seem to sell just about anything you could need, multistory department stores, and high speed rail. I'm living the Pocket Monster dream.