And you and I

Shinjuku. Busiest train station in the world. Something, like, a lot of people come through here everyday. Behind me the scene is awash with large commercial buildings (there's a Gap, Tower Records, Oshmans etc.) and bright electronic signs ushering residents and foreigners alike into one of Tokyo's prime shopping districts. Then on the other side is the Skyscraper district, which is truely an awe-inspiring sight. I'm not sure why I didn't take pictures of them, but why don't you quit being so demanding?

Anywho, I don't remember what I did here. I think I went shopping.

I remember it like it was over 6 weeks ago, which is to say that I don't remember it well at all. I do remember the specific date, though, because, well, it was 9-11. That and some filthy Arab tried to hijack the plane. Fortunately, though, that cuticle-cutter that I always manage to sneak through security came in handy as I gave Ali a hang-nail he won't soon forget. Oh, and I also landed in Tokyo on this day.

My first memories of Japan are clouded with exhaustion--due in part to jetlag and in part to the skirmish I endured on my flight over--but I believe overwhelmed is the best way to describe my initial experiences. The opening of Lost in Translation (the part right after Scarlet Johansan's ass) is pretty much how my first night here went; I was spent, and the bright lights, the number of people, and my complete inadequacy vis-a-vis the language brought me to the brink of collapse.

Ah, I remember something: the JR (Japanese Rail) has these cool little jingles that, well, I'm not sure what they do, but they're pretty complex for what they are (sound a lot like Nintendo music). I told myself then that I would make it my goal to transcribe all those jingles to staff paper before my time here's up. Then I went to bed, and I haven't thought much of this goal since.

So here we go. I can't believe I actually have one of these things. I mean, I always privately thought they were cool, but publicly made fun of everyone who had one. But then people here (here being Japan) were telling me "you should really keep a journal of your time here so you can look back and remember your first impressions, blah, blah, blah", which sounded lame.

But then I thought "hey, I could use this lame journal idea as an excuse to get me one of those blogs," and so I have.

And so I have.

But seeing as how I've missed out on chronicling a month's worth of "first impressions," it looks like I need to make up for lost time. A-like so...