FIRST 22 HOURS IN OSAKA
Yeah, a lot can happen under just 22 hours!
When we arrived at the airport in Osaka I had one mission (except finding our bags), get to the apartment at my university. This is easier said than done. A lot of options; which was cheapest, shortest time and easiest to find/understand.
The first part was easy, jump on the bus, go into the city and jump of at the end station. After this is when it starts to get tricky. Needed to buy a ticket but the machine only showed Japanese. When I stod there and tried to figure out how to buy my ticket and old lady seemed to want to buy a ticket and I gestured (because I expected that she didn’t speak English) to the machine and let her go first. Suddenly she started to speak English and help me! Another guy joined and helped too. Did not expect her to speak any English at all. What prejudices I have.. x) After this I took the train and arrived at my station. According to a guide I had, I was supposed to walk 15 minutes. It was dark and late so I didn’t want to walk and try to find a place I didn’t know where x) I needed to take a taxi. Trying to figure out how to catch a taxi was also interesting. Needed to ask people and of course did they not speak English. Found one with a really bad English (and maybe drunk – hard to say ^^ ), and while I was trying to figure out what he was saying another guy tells me: ”He wonders where your hotel is!”. With big eyes I turned and said: ”Do you speak English?”. He told me that he spoke a little English, but he spoke really good English and helped me with the taxi. He told my taxi driver to drop me off at the Eastern Gate and I dubble checked with him with my map. He dropped me off at the main gate (which I didn’t know at the time). The taxi was cheap though and he was super nice and was bowing all the time before he left – thought he would become dizzy ^^
When I stod there in the darkness as a big question mark looking at a mad that did not make seance, some guys went past me and I started to ask about the way. They told me I was way off and pointing me at the right direction. As I was going two of the guys actually followed me to the place I needed to go, just to be sure I would find. The office that I were supposed to go where of course closed and after a lot of running around and checking other places (not me, the guys ^^) They found a guy which maybe could help me and he found a girl that actually had my keys. All of these four guys were super nice and followed me to my room and helped me with the bag. Funny thing: When they opened my room I was just about to put my bag further in when I heard a shocked sound. I turned and see all four persons wave me back – no shoes indoors! ^^
Today
After a long night sleep I woke up and ready to go to the lab. Before I just needed to find somewhere to eat breakfast. Stumbled into a some sort of student restaurant which seemed to serve food. Was a little unclear how to order things, this is what I got x)
The lab was really nice and the people there too! Have also walked to a supermarket to buy food and other necessary things. That was something! Really hard to know what everything is, but I think I bought granola muesli, noodles, shampoo and milk x)
On the way to the supermarket
On the way to the supermarket
