Kate’s Quests

I’ve finally figured out how to use the bus! In the mandatory orientation they give at the base, they go over how to use the trains for about a half an hour, but there is no mention of the bus system…you’re just supposed to figure it out. The train system at least uses some English, but not the bus system. Everything is in kanji. So I decided I would just get on and figure it out. Luckily the bus in my neighborhood only goes to the train station so I don’t have to worry about getting lost. The bus stop is a triangle in the middle of a couple of streets and there is a little gazebo type thing that you can sit under. The Japanese are so funny because the first people there will sit…in the order that they arrived (if you sit in the wrong place you get disapproving looks) and everyone else who arrives takes their place in a queue that wraps around the back of the bench and out down the street. They are extremely fussy about queuing up for things. They even do it to get on the train.

Anyway, I’m hopefully getting on a plane to come stateside tomorrow. Wish me luck with that…I’m going to need it!