don't get me wrong, i'm not scared...
I just always wanted to experience things with AJ... or I had to babysit... or this... or that... I kept thinking, "I have more time, next week I will do something by myself"- but it just never happened.
Then our passes to get on/off base by ourselves expired. The paperwork was supposed to get put in a month ago to make getting an extended pass a piece of cake. any guesses on whether or not it got turned in? Correct.. it didn't get turned in and so now we don't have passes any longer. Every time we go off base we have to make sure someone is there to sign us back on when we are ready to come home. It is SUPER inconvenient... to say the least.
That night, AJ and I sat talking for a while. We were both pretty mad about the passes... but we decided that if we wanted to have freedom, we just needed to be more proactive about going off by ourselves. We decided to borrow cell phones from members in the ward so we can communicate while we are out and I set a date on my calendar to go out and explore...solo style!
First I went to the Seiyu... a Japanese department store that has pretty much everything you could possibly want. I spent a long time there and only went through the first floor. I had tried some rice fix-ins at one of the places I babysit... I was hoping to find it at the Seiyu!
success!
I saw this hash-brown looking thing... I didn't know how to get it out of the case, so I tried to stop a lady and ask her. I did NOT have the right words to ask her and we were both undoubtedly confused. Eventually, she understood what I meant and told me what to do. thank goodness for body language, without it i would not have known what she was saying in lightening-speed japanese!
i still smell like fish...
Then I went a-walkin' around side streets and alley ways. I just wanted to see what most people don't see when they are driving to and from the train station. I got to see a lot of cute shops and a LOT of bars... I had no idea so many bars were warranted in such a small town.
I ended up getting lunch at a place I've seen multiple times and have actually been meaning to try. Yoshinoya is a chain restaurant and it was pretty decently priced... I don't know if I would go again, though. too many other places to try! On my way out, I decided I needed to say something in Japanese. I asked the waitress where the nearest bathroom was. It sounds like a small feat- but it did feel good to communicate something!
At this point in my solo day I was exhausted. It is super hot and humid in Japan and I was definitely feeling dehydration coming on. I tried calling for someone to come pick me up, but no one answered. I knew then that I had to stick it out until 3pm, which is when Sarah and I planned to meet up. I looked for a place to sit and rest, but there really wasn't anywhere to go! Finally, I stumbled into a cute cafe, Cafe du Jardin. The waitress was so nice, I was able to practice Japanese with her and she let me sit down and drink much needed H2O while I enjoyed a blueberry tart.
Once I had my energy back, I walked around some more and met Sarah for dinner. We went to Coco Curry! Apparently this place has 10 levels of spice in their curry. we ordered level 0 and it definitely had a kick to it! On the menu it says that you have to sign a waiver to eat any level higher than 5! What a crazy way to live! c:
All in all, it was a great day. I am glad that I didn't go home when I wanted to after lunch. I was tired and hot and grumpy. If I had gone home then, I wouldn't have remembered my day in such a positive light. Because I had to tough it out I was able to rehydrate and explore some more.
i will definitely be doing more solo days... no doubt.
c:
G
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