Still Alive

So, after a bit, I've made it to Kanazawa. For those of you that might not know, I'm going to be here in Kanazawa for 6 weeks as part of an immersion program through Rose.

The train ride here was really amazing. It was a 4 hour ride by train. The first hour (and about half the distance) was by bullet train. The ride on the bullet train was really relaxing. Despite getting up to almost 200mph, there was almost no noticeable acceleration or deceleration, and the train itself was dead quiet (thanks to its electric engine). The second half was on a regular high speed train, it was noisier, but still alright. The train had vending machines and bathrooms, plus it was nearly empty so Colin and I had plenty of room to spread out.

But, it was the scenery that really made the trip outstanding. We passed through a lot of rural Japan on the way. The entire way was dotted with little villages, terraced with rice patties and tucked between mountains. We alternated between tunnels the whole way, riding for a dozen or so minutes before breaking back through to the twilight. Unfortunately, the sun set all too soon, leaving it too dark to see anything outside. Only a few sparse lights would mark the distance we traveled outside the tunnels.

Kanazawa itself is going to be a big change from Tokyo. My apartment is alright; I share a three bedroom apartment with one other person. It has a fridge, stove, toaster oven, all the normal stuff. The building is a little run down though. The closest internet is two floors down, and on the other side of the building (too far away for wireless). The tap water is also undrinkable, due to corroded pipes (they're in the process of replacing them this summer). It's really different from Nobu's complex in Tokyo, but even in a building this old the same hallmark Japanese cleanliness is still omnipresent. The appliances may be a little rusted, but the cabinets and floors are spotless.

The city itself is also much smaller. I'm a few miles from the train station instead of a few blocks, the restaurants aren't all open 24 hours, and it's harder to find ATMS. It's also nice to have some scenery though, to get away from the Tokyo landscape. Still, it's going to be different, and it's probably going to mean even more walking.

Either way, I'm really looking forward to the program. We go through orientation activities tomorrow, and classes start next Tuesday.