Big City @ MindSay

Okay, so I'm here and all moved in. Classes start today (April 7th here) and I've had a bit of time to wander around the busier parts of Tokyo. Honestly, it's not that much different from any other big city I've been in before. Everything is a bit more squeezed together, but that's the only major difference. It's in the less busy districts that I've noticed the differences in more detail.

For some reason, the whole "driving on the left" thing only affects me when I'm in a tiny alleyway near my dorm. It could be because cars that just barely fit in the lane come screaming down these sidewalkless areas, or it could be because I'm so used to walking on the right side... either way I notice it more than on major streets.

In my little town, still in Tokyo but far less busy, there is a High school, a Jr. High school and a kindergarten so there are kids everywhere. Also, near the train station (JR rail kokubunji stop, see if you can find it on Google earth!) there are generally a lot of people but as you walk away from it becomes like a ghost town. It's just a tad freaky.

Now would probably be a good time to mention that I have Diabetes type 1. I mention this because I have to be very careful about my carbohydrate (tansuikabutsu in the native tongue 炭水化物） intake and usually drink diet colas and sodas because they have no sugar. Well, they have diet in Japan, albeit in fewer numbers than in the USA, but what I would like to talk about for a moment is Pepsi Nex. No, not "next", "Nex".

Pepsi Nex is a diet, zero calories, 1 carbohydrate cola that just came out in Japan. It's everywhere. I mean, seriously. They were selling this stuff at the Gap in Shinjuku. It tastes like a combination of overly sweet diet Pepsi and lime. Or maybe lemon.... I still haven't figured it out. But as it is the easiest to find diet cola I have bought a fair amount of it so far.

My review:

Taste: 4

Consistency: 7

Texture?: liquid

Bottle design: pretty cool actually

Mascot: The whole reason to buy it.

Okay, that's all I go for now. I'll edit this entry with pictures later today and erase this line.

See ja!

-Maru!

    There are mixed feelings in the Study Abroad World.  Some feel it is best to see as much as you can (several of our fellow van passengers from Mendoza displayed 30+ passport stamps,) while others deem it better to immerse yourself in one area/culture and really get a feel for the place you are living.  Considering both  perspectives, I decided that (after three consecutive weekends of travel) it was time to see a little more of Santiago.  
     My friend`s party early in the week provided an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the "Chilean University Culture."  This included, among other things, a lively discussion of the situation at the University of Chile, which, (along with other universities nationwide,) is currently "en toma"- taken over by the students-with all classes suspended.  We recounted feeling slightly alarmed when greeted by large signs proclaiming "En Toma" as we attempted to attend class Tuesday afternoon.  However, our fellow guests clarified that this "toma" is probably less complex than we`d imagined, often comprised of students, (equipped with only the bare essentials:  sleeping bags and an ample supply of pisco,) camped out in front of the classroom doors.  My host family later commented that this is a nearly annual occurrence, though it often cuts into summer vacation since the students have to make up classes later in the year.

    Fortunately, cultural events have continued, and I was able to attend a classical concert at the university later in the week.  The concert site, Campus Oriente, (formerly a monastery,) features an enormous cathedral, with amazing acoustics and better heating than my apartment. 

    The weather here, although sunny and 60ish today, has been in the high 40`s (F) and rainy for the past few weeks.  Central heating is nearly unheard of, thus my house (like many of my friends`) features only one prized "calefacciòn" (space heater) which is moved from room to room as needed.  I imagine Christmas cards displaying all family members gathered together, drinking eggnog in front of their sole calefacciòn.

   With my host sister`s recommendations, I was able to explore some of Santiago`s discount shopping areas later in the week.  Amazing how one`s conception of expensive is influenced by the environment; after countless discount sweater booths even a $5mil ($10) sweater seemed outrageously overpriced.  Patronato (the discount neighborhood) also includes several cheap shoe stores, though the shoes displayed are often not even remotely similar to those actually for sale.  Store owners do their best to convince wary customers that "Sketchers often goes by a different name," and the peeling rubber soles can be "easily glued back on."  Fortunately, the movie prices are also cheaper than in the States, and with a student discount we were able to view "Star Wars Episodio III" for approx. $4.

    It seemed as though all of Santiago was out on Sunday for "Corpus Cristì" services and El Dìa de Patrimonio.  Nearly all of the city`s museums, government buildings, and landmarks were open for complimentary touring, and the street markets were particularly crowded.  Highlights included a gigantic sand mural near the Plaza de Armas, (home of Santiago`s famous cathedral,) several interesting street performers, and an ambitious dog trying to pull a picnic blanket out from under a sleeping woman in the park.  Countless white tents crowd the plazas and the streets, and we were able to continue our shopping, browsing through woven sweaters, chocolate dipped apples, and every religious article imaginable (St. Teresa coffee mugs, etc.)   

    Although it will be nice not having to deal with pollution or public transportation in WI, I think I will miss all of the activity that comes with living in a city of 5 million.  I certainly discovered that is not necessary to leave Santiago to see and experience new things.