This post is going to be full of mostly pictures and captions so you can see the inside of where I'll be living for at least the next year. I couldn't be happier with my apartment so far, and I hope that it stays that way (but I've only been here for a week so who knows).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoYZ5e6dpmvZPWxZQuDUv6GdkmxcT6e_s1X4UUfrjg7N-a7ziUiTVau-_VK8pm_GZJXqrk1btWCyWf4t1VbRiyCWB8HMhRj9pJCgsQnP-dLgjzzQ6B4PS5T8oc09EJOMTwSUADkssagY/s320/031.JPG) |
This is the entrance to my apartment in Odate. To the left is a cupboard where we put shoes because you don't wear shoes inside houses in Japan. That has taken some getting used to (especially the whole slipping shoes on and off thing), but overall it's fine. I enjoy going barefoot anyway! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrt8QVvB-GVIOMqeYY82_etJwXtWGN3ySomVaPBi3ExLDLvRqLfDBGoz0QeGUG2qPoDGpNXyuemq2ADlNKg3n5AZa5slxtMVX0jN8a72F9OQAmEO7oHN_AHs3L53l75YPQlK-O6YWfjs/s320/032.JPG) |
This is my bathroom. To the right is the sink and washing machine (which I'm using right now). There is no dryer because the Japanese do not tend to dry their clothes, they hang them up around their house (which is going to take some getting used to). In the back of the picture is the shower and to the right is the toilet. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikl3zotqlz4ao3bGHj4aIbu11xEGI5Ic1IpKjwIYG42JmYbBGUBgjBWrGWSbhOohzhqfOqeMs0cfphyPSMgewWEqREEQpQEFBU194HE2i-h95TiwFFQQ0jli4xKgSjmYD5dn4s9O5WEC8/s320/033.JPG) |
This is a close up of my shower with a small tub underneath it. Apparently, what you are supposed to do is take a shower and then soak in the bath, but I haven't done that yet. However, the shower is actually great-I have great water pressure and generally am very happy. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWpU6R-cSUwLvL7FTUWzFLo2I1FFQ4xYTa9pw1NZjWoQVrepceh2eBoDeFbTdW3X-Y-gJznnBxeZ12UGmePOdctHTvVojvKVuzfSILnKe00EUyhunOqFohaP91sxdt0u4dlvh43XsQ7I/s320/034.JPG) |
This is the toilet (obviously). It's pretty standard except for one thing-in the winter I can plug it in and use the seat warmer!!! I'm pretty damn excited about that because it's gonna get cold! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEzqUbjVkt2FIjBiEBxKdbRdlSTt2LfgzLNhU0YNgKMY3XT4MkkKf236VgFLKqW2_bnG8lhOfTocc9I9cpFc0nuaiFJFSbdx_tdo68xQuz1cv_9jdyI1ESp35xlAnYEdUBCebjyPW0KE/s320/030.JPG) |
This is my living room (I'm sitting on that couch right now). To the right is a bookcase filled with books left to me by my predecessor and also a collection of movies and tv shows, mostly Sex and the City, but also the Wedding Singer, Arrested Development, and other things. To the left is obviously my tv which has a dvd player and vcr. I can't play American dvds on it unfortunately, but I can buy English dvds here which is excellent! Under the rug is my second favorite part of the room, my HEATED CARPET! During the winter I will definitely sit on this carpet and huddle for warmth-it'll be great! But my favorite part of the living room would have to be what's straight ahead... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLz7B2bG_tQL0RYXsC4nmQ676XO9Xm3Rb_e567D_CEho6YBCvn4bvQWi5FPjlyW4hgFJUY8TmGg9WiG6zQjVcfGO61nJ-l6Db9MjrwDkkGn-VTr2h9Kuf_h0g1enjQfOK9NQ_vxuPjvM/s320/029.JPG) |
My hamster!!! Meet Nemen (named after the Nemean Lion), a female hamster that I bought a couple of days ago from a pet store that is very close to the apartment. I wanted to have some living company in my apartment that doesn't include bugs, so Nemen was perfect! She's adorable and often comes up to the top of the cage to play (she's doing it in the picture). Surrounding her are plants that I haven't taken a picture of yet, but one of them is obviously a cactus. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOLPmsOX4x21chneMadyrpAa_0MDO6JRP-3YL0PvwqLBpCF_VTe3og8WxWHQNHwU4vXgc3xwWK_jmTeWmMtWNxtifbFLP2mOhmZQeI284bZ-7ovkMsqUociT9s0AspBfpHJs90mdb2xY/s320/038.JPG) |
This is another picture of my living room, and is another favorite of mine (I just love my apartment). Shane, Mike, and Mariko-san were waiting with these signs for us when we arrived at the Odate-Noshiro airport and they were so great that I had to hang mine up immediately! Surrounding that are pictures from home that really make my apartment mine. I'm glad that I thought to bring them. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Uogfy64bu4jrmmXCAeUchNkIhjmRDQ9EdEeXnwL62Dsg4kKCHgzNQyz8aaOIksN9kuCbIwd1LlqIJ8ZTcDMGH89xaJXIDO5Z8lHoNvSBibrqTMoRVq43K2X5icJTbYJciAgp4nufePo/s320/027.JPG) |
This is my bed...well, futon. It consists of a pad on the bottom, the futon itself, a cover sheet, and a blanket (I have about 7 extra blankets come winter or when people visit, wink wink). It's less than a foot from the ground (just a guesstimation), so I'm surprised that it is so comfortable. While I'm normally a horrible sleeper, I've only had a couple of really bad nights, which for me is awesome. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRldV9G8QQWQtEwh-FyaPTR2EZn_QYIALawSbcA5ctUK8yZm2H2_594o3-wt_Ie6c5SLc9jkqexnoO04sTfd6vmBnP8XSp7L0i2fFiNmFpRKY82u4JEvpDj75kUQz7-86QhJ8p1Xz94Xs/s320/036.JPG) |
However, the one annoying part of the bed is that I have to fold it up and put it away every day so it doesn't get mold. This isn't actually a big deal, but it means that my bedroom often feels very empty. This is a view of my bedroom without my bed (it's bigger than this, but this is just to give you an idea). I have my map up with postcards and pictures on the wall, and of course Speckles (my bear) sitting on my pillow. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZCpkmOLHSUtaGAbLlLvr6cELvsP_rGYifIgEfVYpiGGNeR8YH6DET1WlFuIWq4g77rVH2gW6hKrUlCYjgtSubQ5eO6My4clh844QiLHiBcgpGQmBwlVM8-SaYSI8nUBqz9U7epvjTxY/s320/035.JPG) |
This is my "closet", complete with iron and ironing board thanks to my predecessor (I really did have everything I could ever need here, including a tracksuit). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NSnxxbu6b_UzSHoX5856K5lRjiuWhqaO3KuNY8WA6lfZknjRCpgvGSL590ilELW8IG3AdTxzLLLjqek7XZ79sVuOsNnCi6CH1cHCPKQckseB4MAl9tMygdNY6DiveOkavPZcSkAlFsY/s320/037.JPG) |
This is my desk and computer with an awesome desk chair. I alternate between sitting here and on the sofa, but it's been treating me well. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtaY5EcD6FpHyNB-lfx5aJgYj4d1uKtN1nu4NSEluMFn-a9tSmbcnDIhDj4_uDhpZayxkwVH2fG3x3oyCcpiz1oCJXWxaPAvTGefnhV_1pevDohN5dVDrNBmn45jaKkOsSjOH7j7H4wQ/s320/039.JPG) |
This is the view from the big window in my living room, it's going to be gorgeous in the winter (although still not looking forward to the snow). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RZz-XBdT-0i4dPHi5_ynK46FCLoof58rK_my9JkeU4K1-1VHneemKAfbA5FrYbwP-grcBC8YW6wfhrltO2U0yr0yS9bxCL-fgLNOR0mVUndf1fhSZJuoPZ1S1gNkCgAAlKxG6rVt73s/s320/028.JPG) |
Finally, this is my kitchen. I have the largest refrigerator out of the five of us which is great (although I haven't taken full advantage of it yet. The kitchen is slightly small, but it does its job and is full of pots and pans and things. I haven't done too much cooking yet because we have gone out a lot, but it'll be great. For those of you who know me well, the big question when seeing the kitchen must be "so how's the milk situation?" Well, the title of this blog used to be "A Year without Milk in Japan", but I have obviously changed it (the new blog title will be explained at a later date...or today if I keep blogging). There is milk here, and I have been drinking it occasionally, but it's just not the same. So therefore, while I do have milk, I miss my two gallons of milk that I used to have in my fridge back in America at all times (this fridge would be perfect!), but I'll deal. And with that, I finish this blog post and move on to bigger and better things (or I'll make a new blog post). |
No comments:
Post a Comment