OK.
I have made it five days and I haven't had a yearning for anything from home, except the obvious. My pictures are still loaded on my camera and they will be up, soon, I promise.
I have made some observations:
1.) I am out of shape and old. There is a lot of walking involved, as I haven't ventured to the subway or taken a cab. The steps to my apartment almost killed me last night. I had dinner with my fellow teachers and my boss.
2.) There are a lot of similar shops in the same block, selling the same stuff. I can't believe they all survive. There are a lot of little cafes and restaurants along my walk, it will take a year to try them all. But I will do my best.
3.) People don't use car seats for their children. With all of the traffic, you would think the parents would want to strap their kids in, but the don't. Numerous times I have seen youngsters on their mom's laps as the cars go blowing by me.
4.) Older people LOVE to say, "Hi!!" in English, then they giggle. I sat and watch the crowds with a couple of old guys the other day, they were funny.
5.) The pizza here is served with corn on it. Before you think that's gross, it's not too bad. AND they serve it with Bread and Butter style pickles. The sauce was similar to back home, but not like Waldo, that's for sure. Is Papa Keno's open at Gregory and Rockhill, yet? Darn good pie, if you ask me. also, there's a Pizza Hut right next to my school. and I have seen Papa John's scooters all over the place.
6.) Everyone is on their Hand phones. And they are E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E. So, no, y'all ain't getting any from me.
7.) All the kids where school uniforms and it makes the girls look like Gogo Yubari in "Kill Bill Vol. 1.".
8.) Scooters are everywhere. They keep prices down, because the haul everything from rugs and clothes to pizza and take out. They drive everywhere, sidewalks, back alleys, people's feet. Which takes me to another observation:
I saw my first accident the other day. It involved a
bus and a scooter. Guess who won? The bus was turning
left at the four-way intersection by the school, and it
had the green light, so it starts to turn. Out of NOWHERE,
a scooter comes flying through (he had the RED light) and
the bus slammed right into him. The guy goes flying off
scooter, his load staying intact. Bus driver gets out
to check on him and the guy stands up, shaking his head.
Meanwhile, traffic is backing up and people start honking.
So. The bus pulls over to the side of the road and makes
sure the Scooter Guy is O.K., he is. People are still
honking and trying to get around. The sound the bus made
was pretty funny and there were no squealing tires. All
I could do was laugh and I didn't get my camera out fast
enough.
9.) The city workers replacing the sidewalks, with molded green bricks no less, dress nicely. Meaning they wear a polo shirt or a buttoned-down, with slacks. Not like the KC workers who wear the uniform. AND they accomplish things. The sidewalk on my street was torn up and replaced in ONE day. And they are continuing to clean it and recheck their work. Try THAT Kansas City. Also, the sand underneath is covered by fabric, while they work on other parts of the sidewalk.
10.) Everybody drives Hyundais.
I have seen some Kias. i will not be getting behind the wheel here. I value my life too much.

Thanks to Alexa Cole for my journal. I write in it to help me remember what I have seen. Thanks to The Collins, for my pen to write in my journal, still can't read what I write, but at least the pen and pencil work. And thanks to Libby Frye, the Baby Ruth candy bars saved my life on the flight over to Tokyo.