Shopping

Today i headed off a little earlier...and went for a walk down to lake senba. It was a lovely cherry blossom lined walked and only about ten minutes to the lake. I walked around the whole lake which took around an hour. Its spring break for the kids here so there was alot of soccor games happening, frisbee, teenagers giggling and playing with their keitai (mobile phone), People of all ages riding bycycles. It was a really nice feeling walking around surounded by cherry trees (still not in bloom) and all the local people and wildlife.

The cherry trees here may not bloom for another 2 weeks as its been a little too cold (have i mentioned that already?) Anyway i am going to a cherry blossom party tomorrow night i think they call it hanami or something close sounding to that. we will just have it without blossoms. but thats ok.

So after i got to the halfway point i sat to eat my apple, and a very friendly swann wanted in on that action. he was a very curious guy. but i was having none of it.

OOOOOhhhh have i mentioned that the fruit here is a hundred times better than in australia. fruit actually tastes like fruit. strawberries are pink right through. apples are crunchy not floury. Oh its so nice to enjoy good fruit.

After a chat with my swann friend i headed off in search of the livin where we had grocery shopped the night before.(oh shoot, have i mentioned we went grocery shopping. it was really good. i can feel safe now knowing i wont starve here and i can get comfort food if needed. i took a few photos of some of the products erinn reccomended)where was i.....oh yeah, I was in need of a pair of new sneakers and i noticed some on sale at livin for 1000yen, so about $17, well i got a great bright red pair, and when i went to pay i discovered they were half price, so only 500 yen. bargain. I also got a bag...a very cute one with little charactors on it for only 1000 yen as well.

Then it was a bit of a walk around Mito exploring a bit further. I found a starbucks where i got a hot chocolate and then found some american hip hop clothing stores..a whole strip in fact...then i decided i was exhausted and headed home. Im not sure if ive said but since i got here my shoulders and neck have been rally sore. I think i pulle dthem out carrying my overweight carry on baggage. So by this point in the day i was in a fair bit of pain from walking and carrying bags.

i got home had a nice warm shower then when erinn got home shortly after we headed out to an izakaya (pub) for a dinner with 2 gaijin(foreigner) girls that live in Mito. They all spoke japanese quite well! We had quite a selection of yummy food. Sashimi scallops, gyoza, tempura, and crab pizza! (you may notice a theme to my blogs..food!, this will most definatly continue, as those who know me well know i like my food!)
so we stayed out till about 12, funny thing was no one felt like drinking so it was fruit juice all round.

Home to bed after that. a bit of tiger balm and a heat back on my shouder and i was out like a light.

Im not sure if ive mentioned the weather.(gee i really dont have a good memory)
Well its been fairly cold by my standards. when i think spring i think skirts, singlet tops, thongs, maybe something a little warmer occasionally. well not here. spring is cold! 10 degrees when i arrived!

What else...umm so little things like shopping are so difficult now. i have no idea what they are saying and just shrug. i think i have figured out one thing..asking if i want a bag. when i hear it i am recognising it and i can say "hai"
thats about the best i got. and of course arigato gozaimasu at when im done. But ive gotten by so far with the shrugging method, so im sticking with it. I even managed to buy disneyland tickets from a lady with no english, and i got the right day, the right place and the right ticket. i think we were both pleased with ourselves when we were done.

Well that's if for now. ill post more soon. again i dont know if ive mentioned but i know the place ill be posted, but i wont be there till the 25 may, so in the next entry ill give you some info on my new home town.

sayonara
bella