Fun Post! Feeling Welcome, Getting Things Done, and Legally Purchasing Alcohol

Before I begin this post I would like to pre-emptively thank all of those who will actually read that last post and hope you forgive me for having an extremely long moment of enlightenment. :]

Feeling Welcome

Since being here I have been told that it would be best to take showers at night so as not to miss the opportunity in the morning (I promise this is not graphic). Living in an all girls dorm/boarding house I thought that the best advice because apparently we ladies have a hard time being quick when it comes to these things (although I have been told that the showers have been pretty much open in the mornings now . . .).

This past Tuesday while leaving the shower room a young lady was entering her room a few doors down when she noticed me. She stopped, looked, and before I could think she was staring she greeted me with "good night" [今晩は | こんばんは | konban wa]. I responded in kind and just before I got out of ear shot I heard her say "cool!" [かっこいい].

Why is this moment worth mentioning? Well it is one of the few examples of my feeling of acceptance here. Most of the other students in the program seem to get on well with the Japanese students and while I have interacted with many of the e-pals we were paired with I have had yet to feel welcome from a stranger.

*Warm and fuzzy time*

Getting Things Done

Kyri and I finally had the chance to go to the Ichikawa Ward Office to register ourselves as foreign residents. In spite of the fact that we asked directions, understood the directions, and went a round-about way to get where we needed to go, we made it there in no time. The gentleman at the Foreign Residents Help Desk brought us to the line for our application and the amazing young lady behind the desk helped us fill them out (all while listening to my terribly spoken Japanese which she complimented).

So, as of April 4, 2013 I, Lindsay Meoshee Anderson [リンジー・ミヨシー・アンダーソン], am temporarily a foreign resident of Ichikawa, Japan!

*Round of applause for my silly moment of accomplishment*

Legally Purchasing Alcohol

As you all know, the legal drinking age in America is 21. In Japan it is the ripe old age of 20. Now because, I thankfully turned 21 prior to coming to Japan, I am still within the letter of the law. After finishing our registration, Kyri and I stumbled upon a liquor store (much fancier than the American ones back home) and decided to have a look-see. I was amazed at the depth and breadth of the imported drinks they carried as well as their own stock and, even though I am not that much of a drinker, I found one particular drink that I wanted to buy.

All the way from Italy, this little Bellini-in-a-bottle cost me all of ¥500 ≈ $5-6. I carried my wee 5% alcohol content drink to the counter where the lovely cashier rang it up and then a screen much like this appeared (regrettably I did not take this picture but I found it on the internet):

 

She prompted me to read and respond to a non-assuming touch screen much like this one so that the transaction could be completed. It simply asks "Are you 20 years of age or older?". Easy enough right? EXACTLY!!! She did not ask me for some form of identification to verify my age so even if I weren't 20 years old I probably still could have gotten the drink. Now this is probably one of the few judgments that I will make (and I hope this will remain true). I am not trying to start any trouble, I am merely stating facts and one supposition so please do not rebuke me!

All in all, after a day of what for now will be deemed "great successes" I must bid you all adieu (didn't know I knew some French huh?). It is dinner time and I would like some grub. That is all.
じゃまた！