First week is over

Hello all,

first week in Japan is over. Time to reflect and plan for the future. Until now I kind of lived from day to day, the fact that I will stay here for over one year not really catching up to me.

The people responsible for us at work are really nice people and they do everything to help us getting started. We are being prepared for what is to come starting April. For that reason we have been studying relevant vocabulary and doing some PowerPoint exercises. Anna and me are taking Japanese classes 5 hours every day for one week. It is really tough but I think we will learn a lot, especially about the right usage of Keigo (Japanese business language).

On the weekend I had time to meet old friends from University. Going out with them I took the opportunity to make some new friends here in Tokyo. After going to a Japanese style bar we went to a nice Irish Pub in Shibuya, it was really packed and there were about 40% foreigners. I took one of the last trains home, which leave before one o'clock at night.

On Sunday I just went to the nearby supermarket where I bought fresh fruit, one of the most expensive things in Japan. I payed 111 Yen for one apple, which is roughly 90cent, but it was on sale, the usual price is from 230 Yen to 350 Yen per apple. In their defence I have to say it was really delicious and I bought another one of them on Monday. For the same price you can also get two bananas, which I also bought. If I ever run out of money it will be because I want to live healthy, and since I don't get any sunlight all day I rely on fruit. The thing about sunlight is going to become a real problem soon. My balcony faces into an inner courtyard and I don't get any sunlight. In the office the blinds are always drawn (I don't know why) and when I get out of the office at 6 p.m. the sun is already gone.

This is the view from the office lounge on the highest floor of our building, we can see the imperial palace from above, pretty cool right.

And something my German friends might be interested in: This is a Japanese Radler add, I saw it on the train today. If I see it sold anywhere, I will buy it and I will taste it. And then we will see how it tastes.