My new chez me!

Okay, so I promise, the rest of my trip to Tokyo is coming SOON, but in the meantime, I'm now officially settled in my new apartment!!

It's small and the walls are ugly, but I already love it! There's a nice-sized bedroom with a nice-sized balcony. There's a smallish kitchen, a nice bathroom with a shower and, YAY! a bathtub, which is super short and super deep, Japanese style. I've already used it once, and while I can't really lie out in it, it's wonderful. :-)


This is literally right next door to my new apartment! I can see it from my window!


Yesterday, we had our placement test, and I of course forgot absolutely everything I know. In the interview part, I was even using the present tense instead of the past tense. It was embarrassing, actually. In any case, I don't really mind being put at a level slightly below my actual level. I think it will help, even, as we're supposedly supposed to learn *30* new vocabulary words every day!! I'll know Friday what my level is.

Today, we had orientation in the afternoon. Tomorrow, we will have what seems to be an all day orientation. And we're supposedly going to have to introduce ourselves in Japanese in front of everyone. AGH! Scary!

After orientation today, a nice Swiss woman named Monica pointed me in the direction of a health food store. Right here in Okazaki. About a 5 minute walk from my apartment. I am SUPER psyched!! It seems as if I might now survive my time here!

I know you want to see pictures of what I bought - I know I do - I don't want to forget. There was a super nice woman working who understood what vegan means and who read all of the ingredients on things for me. I don't want to have to do that again.



Is it just me, or is it weird that all soy milk isn't vegan. The only one I can think of in the US that isn't is 8th Continent. So yay marusan!

Tempeh and tvp! YES!

Vegan Japanese curry! Mieum!

Vegan ramen - I can see this coming in extremely handy!


I'm super psyched! I also found this website for Tengu Foods, which is a sort of Japanese version of Pangea. And what's best is that their web site is also in English!
So, I think it's going to be easier to be vegan here than I originally thought. I'm so going to have to find a job, though, if I'm going to be able to afford it.

Welcome to Okazaki, Audrey! And that's all for now, folks! I've bought a Japanese squash, and I'm off to find delicious ways to cook it when I have no seasonings whatsoever. :-)