So I’ve basically failed at blogging since I returned from Lebanon. The second year of a Ph.D. is far busier than I could have ever imagined.
What I’ve failed to mention in the interim is that I’ve landed a TA position this summer with Northeastern University’s Dialogue of Civilizations program in Japan! I am typing this from the Hotel Villa Fontaine in Jimbocho, Tokyo. We (myself, Daniel [another TA] and Phil [professor]) will be leading students all over the country in a one-month study-visit.
Having awoken at 6 a.m. on Tuesday May 7 (EST), I am pretty bleary-eyed as I write this (9:38 a.m. EST May 8), in spite of the naps I got on the plane. Still haven’t officially slept yet and am trying to drag this out as long as possible to combat the jet lag.
Some Things Of Note:
- My toilet has more buttons on it than my Subaru’s dashboard.
- My TV has no English-language stations (TBS is dubbed)
- My computer now has a hack for Hulu (which I do pay for in the States damnit).
- Yes, I’m currently watching Glee! (Don’t judge me, bro.)
- There are so many record shops and bookstores in this part of Tokyo that I’ve already picked out tons of presents for people
- My hotel has a beer and cigarettes vending machine.
- Bicycles ride on the sidewalk instead of the street.
- MY HOTEL PROVIDES PAJAMAS (your argument is invalid).
- I need to pick up an HDMI cable for my TV…
- Cab drivers wear suits.
I should be updating regularly as I have LAN in my hotel room. And I learned how to make my laptop share its internet with my phone and iPad today, so I’m very proud of me.
Oh, here’s a picture of my first dinner in Japan!
Holly A. Jordan 