So close, and yet so so far!

I woke up CRAVING a Chipotle burrito today. Part of me was ashamed; eight days into my grand adventure and I'm already jonesing for indecent proportions of fast food Mexican cuisine? SHAME. The other part of me, however, salivated all over my pillow.

I know I know, I said I would post by Sept 6th, but that's the beauty of making promises to cyberspace; they're meant to be broken!

I wish I could supplement this particular post with pictures of my dorm, my campus, and my various adventures, but sadly I left my camera in Shinagawa... Not to worry, they are sending it over to me! It should be here within the next few days so I will hopefully be able to supply some enthralling visual aids shortly.

I ventured over to Kokuritsu Stadium on the 3rd in order to purchase oodles of Arashi goods, and my what an experience that was. First, I was so apprehensive about the actual occasion of acquiring goods that I didn't even think to look up directions to the stadium. I ended up getting off the train at a nearby stop and following girls around who looked like they were heading to the concert. I ended up asking these two girls who were COMPLETELY decked out in concert gear and Ohmiya colors for the way, which they obliged to give, albeit in somewhat of a bemused manner. I made it there and waited in the longest, hottest line of my life but it was WORTH IT. WOOOORRTHH ITTTT. I am now the proud owner of just a few more small shards of Arashi's collective soul.

On my last day in Shinagawa, the wonderful proprietors of Shinagawa-shuku had a little sushi dinner party for me and another guest named David, who was going in for an interview as an English teacher at a private elementary school the next day! I got to chat with all of them and eat a home cooked meal, so it really was a win-win situation.

The next day I heaved all of my luggage out of Tokyo and down to Yokohama, where I am currently residing in an official Keio dorm. It is a big international residence in a relatively small town just north of Yokohama proper. So far I am enjoying the location and people immensely, and I can only hope the trend continues! I feel like I can get into the school atmosphere and fit in juuust fine. Getting a bank account and a cellphone, however, have proved to be unexpectedly imposing obstacles... Since I have yet to turn 20, and therefore officially legal, in Japan, I can neither open a bank account or acquire a cellphone without the express permission of a parent or guardian--a little difficult when your parents live across the Pacific Ocean, yes? I've managed to secure a very inconvenient relationship with the local postal bank, which should at least provide clearance for the paperwork I need to file before I actually turn 20, at which time I am hoping to transfer over to a more accessible system. As for a cellphone, I think I'm just going to have to wait D:

We don't have any more orientation activities scheduled until Monday, so tomorrow Saori and I are going to hit up the Ueno Zoo and the Tokyo National Museum. I am looking forward to sleeping in!!

I will make a brief update filled with photographs as soon as my camera arrives ♥