more osaka

Nice little spot on the way to the hospital for health checks.

Went out to a covered shopping street the other night look for dinner...

and we found...

PACHINKO!!! Pachinko or パチンコ is Japanese for, "Tim Loses All His Money Flinging Marbles At Lit Up Nails Hammered Into Some Weird TV Screen"

You should try it. Oh and this picture does not capture the DEAFENING volume in the room.

accidental shot of my room. thought it was surprisingly representative of what it looks like.

My new suit and tie! Just got back from work when I took this. Fell asleep immediately.

training in osaka

so things finally got started after all the traveling got wrapped up... that is until we move from training to our assigned locations.

I'll start with a photo from this morning. my konbini breakfast:

Boss Coffee, Custard Puff, and some Vitamin C packed ORONAMIN C.

note the image on the Boss coffee.

is this not the best logo + brand name combination ever? nothing says "boss" like a rad dude with a 'stache and a pipe. the only question is... how'd Japan know my dad was boss?

oh and many of their commercials feature tommy lee jones. so yeah, all around awesome. perhaps you remember tommy lee jones from his appearance in the 1970s movie "Love Story" in which he was credited "Tom Lee Jones"

more pictures:

the fresh pastry isle of the konbini... my favorite spot in the store

got some okonomiyaki with friends the other night

the group walking to training from the station

my delicious bento lunch at training.

bullet train to osaka

Went into Tokyo this morning to hop on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train)


view from the train was interesting - lots of different types of Japanese landscape:

finally arrived in Osaka and settled into a tiny business hotel. very tiny. but nice.

let's see how long this lasts...

last time I made a blog about me in Japan, it lasted for two posts and then was abandoned (http://timmyinjapan.blogspot.com/). looking to break that record this time.

my experience so far:

the flight:
very few passengers
actually slept a little bit
terrified
considered the possibility of buying a ticket home upon landing.


the hotel:
power's out (planned blackout)
exhausted
raining outside
cold
still terrified
earthquakes (2 so far. small. feel like walking over the subway in NYC)


I'm hoping to feel refreshed in the morning. I'll get to see a little bit of Tokyo as we go to the Bullet Train to head down to Osaka.

TIM FACE STATUS: jet lagged