I Went to Tokyo and a Friend is Returning Home

I went to a conference in Tokyo last week, mostly about semiconductors and nanocrystals and nanowires (that kind of thing), but the conference was entirely in Japanese so I did not get much out of it. Most of the time I didn't even pay attention to what the people were saying. But, more importantly than all of that, I found Dr. Pepper in Tokyo. In fact, it is very popular in Tokyo it seems, since it is available at almost every vending machine. There are two main differences: (1) it is bottled by Coca Cola, (2) they have a different mascot on the can (as in the U.S. it is Peggy Pepper, in Japan it is a bit different of a character->I put up a picture so you can see).

The first day after the conference I had to find my way to my hotel (all the way on the other side of Tokyo). The subway system in Tokyo is not as convenient. In fact, one has to use the JR train system as much as the subway and they do not put the maps of the JR trains and the subway together (even though the systems are integrated). Of course, I got a little lost and it took me about 2 hours to get to my hotel. I went to the so called "Western" resturant at the hotel and it only served Italian food (they should have said Italian resturant on the web-site). Also, contary to the sign outside, I was not able to get the waffles that were advertised (I was a little disappointed).

But, the next day, I had to get back to the conference by 10am. So, to make sure I wasn't late I left the hotel at around 7:45. Unfortunately, this put me in the middle of Tokyo rush hour (which I have herd stories about even in America). As I got closer to Tokyo station the train was becoming more and more crowded. Yes, it's true, they pack you in so tight in the train car that you can't even move. However, I was lucky enough to be taller than everyone, so I had my own breathing air (everyone else had a more musky environment).

After the conference, some friends and I went to something called the Ramen Museum, were I was able to try Ramen from all over Japan. It was pretty fun (it's in Shinyokoyama). I took a picture of it (below). It's suppose to look like a scene from the 1950's in Tokyo. We had to hurry though to catch the Shinkansen(bullet train) going back to Nagoya. I would have like to have stayed at the museum for a little longer.

Finally, just yesterday I went back to the Hard Rock Cafe in Nagoya(picture below). This time to celebrate a friend returning to her home country of Brazil. I went to Village Vanguard and got her a few Texas themed gifts (a Texas licence plate that was made into a CD holder and a cowboy gun liter). I guess it will be sad to see her go. She told me that she wanted to stay in Japan because it is convenient and also because her town in Brazil was not so great. She did tell me a few things that she didn't like about Japan (and I think I can agree with her on those things), but they were rather small things like: even if you complain about something nothing is done (people just smile and are polite about it), you can't really tell if someone is being nice because they like you or just because they are suppose to be, and the strict formalities. But, her overall experience of Japan was rather good I think (or so she told me). As I said, she didn't want to leave Japan. (In the picture, she is sitting next to her Japanese boyfriend who is in the pink shirt.) Actually, she is half Japanese herself.

Today there is a drinking party in my lab. I don't really want to go, but I think I'm suppose to. I'm sure after the drinking party, there will be another party (which I think I can talk my way out of). Although I am at the lab, today is a holiday in Japan (Spring Equinox). It is actually a really nice day (the first one we have had in a while).

On Saturday, some friends and I are going to go to Universal Studios in Osaka. Also, we will visit some other famous places in Osaka. I was told by one of my Japanese friends that Osaka is not a very clean city and that a lot of things are old and dirty. I guess I will see if she is right this weekend. Of course, I plan on taking picture of the places that we visit in Osaka and posting them on my blog. I think we are also going to the castle in Osaka (which was destroyed and then rebuilt, so it is not really that ancient of a castle. Still, I'm glad that it was rebuilt).

Well, I guess that is all for today. By the way, Uncle Rick, if your reading this (I tried to send you an E-mail, but I don't think it worked, so I sent you some snail mail instead). As always, I'm glad to see anyones comment. See ya'll around. Adios.

Quote of the day is by Abraham Lincoln (not a physics, but that's okay):

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."

Catch ya'll next time. Later.

-Ben