First trip to Tokyo (well for sightseeing) was epic.
We started off the day with an errand... Since Robert and I switched companies, we had the pleasure of spending nearly four hours at the immigration office. Jonathan was lucky enough to join us, and a majority of the time was spent like this (and I tried not to scream with the kids, which you can see on the left hand side of the picture. They screamed and ran around the whole office- made me real excited to start work on Monday).
Hour #987397
Fake sakura and giant panda in the train station!
Then we hit the street market in Ueno!! So much fun, chaos everywhere. Apparently, this is the more "Japanese" street market, not the touristy one. I loved it!!
Photo credit: Jonathan Raney
This was pretty much the most delicious pineapple I've ever eaten. I dream of it now, it was soooo glorious
Fruit on a stick, or as Robert says "The original fruit by the foot"
For dinner, we had "Donner Kabobs". Ok, I don't know about anyone else, but naming a meat based food after the group of pioneers who allegedly (c'mon Beth Reedy, we all know what happened) participated in cannibalism may or may not be the best idea. But it was delicious anyways!!!!
Mine is on the left, I got original (delicious amazingness). When John ordered his (mix chili), the guy warned him by saying "Spicy!" John replied with "daijobu" (it's ok). I chimed in with "Suki desu!" (which means "he likes!!"). The man responded by pouring extra "mix chili" on John's kabob. Apparently it tasted like "the core of the sun". Probably the closest I've ever seen John to crying. Whoops. SO... for future visitors: Do not order mix chili. Unless you want to taste the sun.
Delicousness and the core of the sun.
Random shrine amidst crazy street market
After enjoying some Dippin Dots (one of the highlights of my day), we made our way to the Japanese version of Balboa Park). The cherry blossoms bloom once a year, so it was a definite must to see the beautiful sakura. Since we were there around sunset, we were able to see the gorgeous lanterns come to life.
And for kicks, I HAVE to add this video to share it with the world. We are obsessed with it.
I've pretty much seen it 38302 times. And we're all dressing up as characters for Halloween (I'll be Misty, John will be Ash, and Robert will be Brock<-- Robert's favorite).
To end, a shot of Tokyo tower. Which according to Robert is like the Eiffel Tower, but prettier.
School starts on Monday- John and I feeling a wee bit nervous. I'll let you know how it goes!
So while everyone's computer-ing... I got super caught up watching a google hours of Ellen. Yeah, that's right. A google hours. What? I'm a nerd ok? Instead of silently snort laughing and annoying my other roommates, I thought I would load some more photos.
My super cute rainbows (thanks Mom!!) got initiated with the 3 mile walk around Iruma today. If they weren't broken in before, they are now!!
And yes, I kept this picture small because my feet are weird
Our first Japanese Ma-ku experience. And Robert's a-creepin in the back
Uhhh yeah. Their McDonald's has a burger called Big America. Ironic?
QUICK, it's a test!! Fire engine or truck?
Super cute! Kawaiii!!!
And I quote... "It's an inch and 3/4 hose!!"
That one time we walked around Iruma for three hours
And the Ellen clip that never fails to crack me up. These are probably two of my absolute favorite celebrities. Taylor Swift. Surprised?
I've seriously watched this one five times. And snort laughed every time. Who knew Dennis Quad was such a good sport?
Not a whole lot of new stuff for the blog just yet. Don't worry minions, new apartment, new job, all new stuff is in the works.
So this post is a few months behind. Before leaving for Japan, the Tango family took a mini-vacay to VEGASSSS. This was the first time that both my brother and I have been to Vegas together while being 21+. My grandparents made the trip out as well, making it a super fun reunion for all of us.
To start things off, my brother treated all of us to a Royal Flush drink at the Cosmopolitan Hotel (super snazzy) in The Chandelier (even snazzier- three floors inside of a chandelier).
Standing on a couch. Anything for a good picture
Super tasty!! Cheers! Thanks Josh!
Not quite sure if we're related...
At The Chandelier
And then we went on the search of the giant shoe. You know how it is... women and their ridiculously cute shoes. If you'll notice in the first photo, my mom is holding the heel of the shoe so it doesn't tip over.
Where's Mama Tango?
Red shoe! And the "cheer hand"
I think the most beautiful thing in Vegas is the Bellagio water show. It may have been raining, it may have been freezing, but I dragged everyone outside to catch the show AT NIGHT set to Andrea Boceli's Con te partiro. There is seriously nothing like it
Three generations of Tangos at the craps table. Finally got my grandfather and dad hooked on the glory of craps
John may or may not have been yelled at in mystery language for this photo
Since we were there a week after John's birthday, my mom couldn't resist calling over the waitress to help us celebrate the big 2-5!
His threat to give my mom FREE dessert for the next five dinners backfired
Free ice cream sundae!!
So the last night, penny slots were our best friend. We decided to be adventurous and play the most ridiculous looking games possible. I decided on something like Mister Froggy Prince or something while Jonathan decided on....
KITTY GLITTER!!!
He rammed a bunch of buttons and somehow turned ONE PENNY into $20.00. I don't know... penny machines love him
YAYYYY Vegas!!!!! Thanks so much to my Josh for letting us crash in his room with him, being the main photographer, and introducing us to the royal flush (next time, yardsticks and red gummy bears!). Thanks to my grandparents for the many meals (Portuguese sausage and rice FTW) and fun stories. Finally, a HUGE thank you to my parents for a ridiculously awesome time. We had such a fun time learning the ways of the penny slots (and free drinks) and how to make the most out of your $1- Tango style. Love you!!
We’ve officially been in Japan for a week now. Today at
lunch, Robert asked us how we felt about Japan and what we’ve been the most
surprised by. Conclusion: WE<3Japan! My favorite thing is how nice and
helpful people are here. Even with the limited vocabulary and terrible accent I
have, people will go ridiculously out of their way to help you. Just today at
the grocery store, I was trying to find non-fat milk. The quest resulted in one
grocery worker assembling a team of 4 people to hunt down the milk for me. Talk
about customer service. Now onto pictures!!
So we’re only going to have this bedding for a year. And
since we’re both pretty much 12 year olds, we went with the best. Bedding. Ever.
I present to you… funny dog.
"Which dog is funniest?" -Robert Raney
After so many meals of instant stuff (instant rice, instant
yaki soba, instant cup o’ noodles…), I could only take so much. I decided to
splurge from the 100¥ yaki soba boxes that we’ve been eating and cook the very
first homemade meal. The rice was still instant, but whaddya going to do about
it?
Mini asparagus wrapped in bacon
The entire kitchen
Final product!
White day. Japanese valentine’s day except just the girls
get stuff. I shrugged and told John, “Don’t get me anything… unless you want to
get me a chocolate or something”. Now by chocolate, I meant a Hershey’s bar or something
simple. At around 11:00 pm, John announces “I’m going to go to the vending
machine” [which is literally right
outside the door]. Twenty minutes later, he’s not back and I’m freaking out. He
dropped dead. He got one of those super rare aneurisms that kills young healthy
people and is lying on the side of the road. I know, I’m insane. Who jumps to
that kind of conclusion?
Turns out... he was getting me ice cream and chocolate
Amazing chocolate! Best White Day ever!!
Pictures from an awesome dinner! Guess which Raney kept
wanting to take pictures and which Raney is fed up with pictures.
Take 1: excited
Take 2: can't forget about the EYESSS
Take 3: Robert's over it
Only took us one take. We're pros
ALRIGHT. Found the post office! Who wants a letter from
Japan? If you figure out how to leave a comment on this blog post (not the
facebook link, but the actual blog), I’ll figure out how to send
you a letter from Japan!
It. Is. Freezing. The clear blue sky is
deceiving, for when you peak your head outside to check the weather- just know
that the bone chilling wind is waiting around the corner for you. Do not be
fooled into thinking you will be safe with a simple California jacket.
If people tell you “It’s ok, lots of people
speak English there”. They are lying. No one speaks English. And when you tell
them you’re sorry, you don’t understand Japanese- they will continue to speak
Japanese to you. Really fast, no less. Just smile, and say Arigato Gozymas! That’s what I do and it seems to be working out
fairly well for me.
We are
fat. Now, I don’t think I’m fat. This isn’t some woe is me cry for attention. But as my stomach cried for a second
ice cream last night, Ai and Robert claimed they were so full, so full from the
tiny excuse for an ice cream cone. So… we’re obese. Me and my endless stomach
for sweets.
You need a friend. Preferably one that is
bilingual. OR BETTER YET, one that speaks fluent English with some Japanese and
his cute girlfriend who speaks fluent Japanese and some English. And it’s preferable
that they show you the best places to eat/survive/buy cheap stuff around town.
This is one big fat CHECK MARK that
we have (score).
Be kind and polite. Because the Japanese are
some of the most polite people I have ever met. No one crowds, pushes, glares,
or does anything remotely rude (at least not that I’ve seen…yet). OH! And no
one litters. There is not a black disgusting gum mark on the ground. Weird
thing is, there are no trash cans around either. John and I usually end up with
pockets full of the day’s trash since there’s nowhere to throw it out. Awkward?
Maybe… We just don’t want to be the ignorant foreigners
You will be a giant here. Like…. I am taller than most people here. It’s
nice.
Produce costs an arm and a leg… but holy crap,
my 298¥
orange was the best one I’ve ever had.
And now... pictures!!!
Team J
Double date! With the second cutest couple in the world
Yaki Niku! SO DELICIOUS!!!
Amazing kare buns. Perfect for chilly mornings
Everything is so stinking cute here!!
First grocery store experience! Only half is instant stuff
Until next time friends... I'll leave you with this very awesome picture. This is what trying new stuff looks like (sometimes).
"It's good Jaquielyn! Try it!!" It was actually just mochi
Today we explored the city of Iruma (pronounced “EE-ruma”,
versus the gaijin way of “Uh-ruma”). We finally bought a comforter and futon to
use when we move into a bigger apartment. For now, we are sleeping on Robert’s
couch that lays down into a bed.
Iruma Fire Department
Japanese Fire Truck
The most exciting part of today was probably COSTCO JAPAN!!!!
It felt just like home- half Kirkland/American brand products and half Japanese
products. There were blocks of Colby-jack cheese, flour tortillas, and more
importantly the Costco food court was the exact same. While we gorged ourselves
on pizza and hotdogs, a couple of Japanese kids next to us stared. I smiled and
waved, but the little Japanese boy did not waver and continued to stare at me
as I shoveled food in my face. Oh well.
SOOO MANY PEOPLEEEE
Found in the seafood section. Octopus anyone?
On the left, seafood pizza (with shrimp). On the right, corn pizza
All John needs to survive... ketchup
In the past twenty four hours, even the little things have
started to feel more comfortable. The money feels less foreign in my hands and
the “Arigato gozaimasu!” feels more natural. We bought a train card today and
took our first bus and train trip from Iruma to Hanno. Tomorrow will be our
first day without Robert… He has been immensely vital to our survival here. I’m
fairly certain that without him, I would have eaten all the
cookies/candy/snacks I brought from home (meant as omiyage or gift for my co-workers) for every meal. Instead, he made
midnight runs to get us dinner and breakfast PLUS treats. And let’s be honest-
without him, The Water Incident of 2012 probably
would have escalated to a full down breakdown in the sushi restaurant.
You can pay for things at the train station (like snacks!) with your PASSMO!
While I was in the states, moving to Japan (even by myself)
sounded like an awesome adventure that would be fun to conquer. Now that I’m
actually here, I am so incredibly relieved that we have Robert to show us how
to survive.
Vitaminwater vending machine!
Until tomorrow, my minions- have a wonderful day (or
whatever time it is in the states).
