Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Living sitch

Sooo, my apartment. This has been a comedy of errors so far. Japan has blindingly fast internet, cell phones with the technology to build a new race of humans, and... showers with heating systems that require hand cranking. Or at least my apartment does, as its part of a group of buildings called kyo-something (I forget) jutaku, or teacher housing, seemingly inspired by the movie The Lives of Others. That is, vaguely East German and at least twenty years old (without having been updated once!)

So, for hot water, I have to put on the gas and then turn a hand crank. Then, since my shower head is not mounted to the wall, I sit down in my deep, narrow tub and try to evenly spray myself with it. The water temperature choices are Siberia and ninth circle of Hell.

The washing machine is on the balcony and doesnt so much agitate the clothes as grind them against the sides, wantonly shredding them to bits, in cold water. Also all the controls are in Japanese so I just guess. Theres no dryer so I hang the clothes from a line on the balcony. I put them out last night--wish me luck that theyll dry some time in the coming weeks, since the humidity makes life here sort of like walking through caramel. Sweaty caramel.

But seriously, pretty fun so far. I owe my firstborn to Grace and Karl, our neighbors and members of the considerable Pineapple Mafia (that is, people from Hawaii) that lives here. Without their cars, their Japanese skills, and their know how on setting up a Japanese apartment, Id be dead of starvation, dehydration, and not knowing how the hell to sort the garbage here.

Im also pretty delighted with the food so far, and got to try Fukuokas signature dish--ramen, which is made from pork bones, which leaves eaters with a distinctive smell that Ill call, uh... pork bones. Very OISHII though!

OK, Im at school right now so I feel a bit weird being ironic about Japan from a Japanese teachers lounge. SEE YOU!!!!

13 comments:

  1. Your post says Tuesday morning, but it's not even 7pm Monday here. I haven't had dinner yet. This blows my mind.

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  2. Look at the time of my comment! I posted in tomorrow! Japan is clearly magical.

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  3. Yes! Finally some talk about the food. Here is a picture of my favorite food--I advise you to eat it as soon as possible: http://www.potatomato.com/mt/archives/image2/DSC00729.jpg

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  4. Don't forget to try notto which is fermented soy bean! It is uh, very interesting.

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  5. Nice try, Uncle Jesse!I know natto is foul

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  6. Alanna, I've TOLD you for years anyway to wash your clothes in hot water. Not only is it more energy effecient but then you won't get the tight jean syndrome from shrinkage that you always complain about. Jesus Christ.

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  7. Kyushu Ramen is my absolute favorite.

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  8. I actually haven't been EHHHHHHHed yet!

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  9. At least you missed the crazy plumbing problems our building is having right now...I'm talking rusty plumbing leaking through our walls and ceiling! Just think about that while you're crouching in your shower :-)

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  10. So glad you found a little aloha over there!
    Maybe you should give up showers and just go for the bath?

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  11. I never got into tonkotsu ramen but the Kyoshokuin Jutaku's definitely have their quirks don't they? Just keep telling yourself "dirt cheap, so much space!"

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