In today’s article, I’ll talk about when I first set up my bank account and the complications that came with it. I’ll also talk about my first time riding the train in busy Kanto.
The Unnecessarily Complicated Japanese Bank
So the next day I went to work, but I don't remember much. I do remember that I had to go to the bank, that was the hardest process of them all. I needed to buy a stamp for the bank. When I was filling out the paperwork, my manager at the time kept telling me to start over. She says it needed to be a certain way. To this day I don't know if they said that at the bank, or if she was the one who didn't like how I was writing. Regardless, I was there for HOURS.
I needed to take as much money as I thought I would need for about two weeks. That's how long it takes them to send you a bank card. Until I got my bank card, I could get money by going to the bank, but I couldn't go to the ATM. ATMs in Japan close at 11PM by the way, which is pretty useless in itself.
That first week was a complete blur to me. My first few days, I only watched the teacher I would replace, and gradually I would teach classes. It was sooooo boring. I almost fell on the floor because I was about to fall asleep.
Everything Is All a Blur
I actually don't remember my first few months there actually. I met my co-teacher who I thought was nice enough. She showed me a delicious sushi place that was only 100 yen, it about 1 dollar. I had a great time with her... For a while, but that's another story in of itself.
I do remember the manager asking me to teach classes that were not on my schedule though.
She would ask me when I got to work to teach a class in 30 minutes. It was extremely stressful to me, but since I was new, I didn't want to say no. Some classes became my regular classes, but I felt so though I already had too many classes, so I began to become really stressed.
The Train....
I did go out every weekend to explore Kanto! I had visited Tokyo for the first time and I was in love!! I also had to figure out the train systems. The first time I traveled alone, I got lost. I was going to meet my friend for dinner. I've known this friend since I was in University. She is Japanese, but since she had gone back to Japan, we stayed in touch. As I was saying, I got lost.. Of course. It was my first time using the train alone EVER. In Kansas we don’t have trains. Therefore, I had to figure out the train while seeing it in Japanese and English. However, since traveling to other cities in Japan, I have found that the Kanto train system is a lot easier than others. They have the stops written in Japanese and English, and they frequently say where the train is headed, and what the next stop will be. But yes, I had to ask for help, and I was so scared lol. The people who helped me at the train station couldn't speak English, but they wrote the directions down for me in English. They were very nice, so if I ever got lost or needed help, I would just ask the train people. I feel like asking Japanese people who are just walking, or commuting is useless, they are not friendly, and I don't think they want to help hehe... At least not in Kanto, I did have a random guy help me in Osaka when I was lost.
Is This What You Call Desert?
I did end up making it to my destination when I met my friend. It was my first time trying a Japanese desert, and I was not too pleased. It had red bean paste, or anko. I didn’t know they ate sweet beans, so I was honestly disgusted. I am a bit of a picky eater. It was a parfait, so it cereal at the bottom. To be more specific, they put frosted flakes in their parfaits, it was another downside for me. I believe it also included mochi, but I had no clue what that was at first either, I was disappointed at the end of that desert, and I LOVE desert. I will say that now, this my absolute FAVORITE desert. I’m obsessed with anko and mochi, and if I get a chance to eat anko, mochi, and ice cream together, I’m jumping for it. I live in the countryside now, and it’s not as common to find that desert here. But in Kanto, you can find it EVERYWHERE.
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