Uneventful weekend for me here in Japan... I'm starting to miss home, not just because of all my friends and family, but you know that feeling when you're on vacation but you're ready to be back home... yeah that's how I feel! This is probably due to the fact that our stuff is still not here so it doesn't feel like home, but hopefully it can be delivered next week!
Today I went for a long walk... I needed to get out of the "fishbowl" as Kate calls it. The base is nice because everyone speaks the same language as me and I can read all the signs, and I can buy the stuff I'm used to at home, but sometimes you just have to get out of this little bubble we live in! This morning when I left the gate, I had to show my ID to leave... that was new to me... usually I just have to show it when I come back ON base. It's like college when you wanted to get into your dorm and there was that ID checker at the door to buzz you in... same thing.... ugh... haven't I done the college thing a time or two or three before?
Anyway, I left the base having no plan of where I was going, I just started walking... I walked down to Mikasa Park which is literally a stones throw away from the base in the picture you can see the base right beyond the park-- across the water). It was nice and sunny today, and pretty warm in the sun! It was nice to wander around with absolutely no purpose! Mikasa park is home to the Japanese battleship 'Mikasa' which is one of the "4 Great Historical Warships of the World." ***fun fact alert*** The USS Constitution in Boston, MA is also one of the 4 Great Historical Warships of the World. The battleship Mikasa launched in Britain in 1900 and was an active battleship for the Imperial Japanese Navy for many battles. The United States has helped preserve this ship with direct involvement from Admiral Nimitz and was completed in 1961. It is now permanently located in Mikasa Park and is a museum you can tour. It's not the Nina, the Pinta, or the Santa Maria.... it's the Battleship Mikasa!!!
I stopped at many stores, mostly just to wander around and see what was there... one thing I don't think I have mentioned yet is how most big stores, even grocery stores, have a pet section where they are selling puppies and kittens... It is weird to have this at the grocery store or the home depot like store but I can't help but go look at them every time! They are so little and cute (kawaii) and cuddly... but then I remember that they are probably coming from puppy mills etc and I have to walk away before I get all emotional in the store... It's like those ASPCA commercials where Sarah McLachlan is singing that song and they show all those sad animals...
On a much lighter note, on my long walk today I came across a funny sign that I wanted to share with you... You can hopefully figure out what it says from the detailed picture! I don't know if I will blog again before I go on vacation but I will have lots to share when I get back!
Japanese word of the day:
Inu: Dog
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