After my morning routine, I explored the neighborhood to find something for breakfast. I walked towards the North and found a few stores open. The shop-keepers were sweeping the sidewalk and getting ready for the day. I went into a convenience store and bought a bottle of tea and a yogurt. Then, I wandered into a CD store and found a couple of Nakamori Akina CDs that I didn't have, and if I didn't buy them in Japan, I would never have. Being a big fan of her, I had to sweat to stop myself from buying them right there. However, I only had Cdn$200 worth of Yens with me, and I knew that wasn't a whole lot in Japan. I persuaded myself to wait until I received my stipend or until I converted my US$ into Yens. I wasn't sure if I was going to see them ever again, and it was a real struggle to let go of them.

I went back to the hostel. It was a hot humid day, and it felt really good to be in the air-conditioned room again. However, there was nothing to do in the hostel and I was bored immediately. So, I put the tea and the yogurt in the refrigerator and left again. I went to the East this time. There were some old stores but nothing terribly interesting. I went back to the hostel and bought some packaged sushi in another convenience store on my way back. I didn't count, but there must be at least 10 convenience stores in the neighborhood. I was socking wet from walking around in the blazing sun so I took a shower before I ate. Remember the water meter? Well, it still read 1000. Strange!

"I was proud for a fraction of a second before I quickly realized that I couldn't find where I was on the map."

I rested a little after I ate, but I quickly became bored again. I went to the reception to see if they had a map of the area. "Sumimasen (excuse me)," I got the attention of a receptionist _ the only receptionist there at the time. She replied, "Hai (yes)?" I asked, "Do you have a map of the area?" Problem! She didn't understand English. She stared at me and said, "Eego ([you just spoke] English)? Eego ga wakarimasen (I don't understand English)." Then, she asked in Spanish, "Espanol ([do you speak] Spanish)?" I must admit that I was a little shocked. I did take a beginning Spanish course in California, but that was grade 12 _ five years ago. I answered, "Iie (No), wakarimasen (I don't understand [Spanish])."

So, I had to try to use my very limited Japanese. I was glad that I learned the word "map" in my JAPN-100 class. I said slowly, "Chizu o kudasai (map, please)." Wow! She understood. She left and came back with a map. I was proud for a fraction of a second before I quickly realized that I couldn't find where I was on the map. I could read the Kanji (the Chinese characters used in Japanese) but the map was too large and too dense. There was simply no way that I could find the hostel on the map within a reasonable period of time. So, I pointed at the floor then the map and asked, "Koko wa doko desu ka (where is here)?" I didn't even know if that was a correct way to ask. She replied to me something totally incomprehensible, and I figured that she must be as confused as I was. So, I rephrased the question, "Watashi wa doko desu ka (Where am I)?" Just didn't work! Fortunately, when the two of us were getting really confused, the other receptionist came back and talked to the first one. The second receptionist asked me in English slowly, "What can I do for you?" I was relieved. Finally, she showed me where the hostel was on the map. I asked her what is there to visit in the neighborhood. She replied, "There are a couple of department stores." Well, they do love shopping _ good, so do I!

So, I thanked her and headed towards the department stores with my map. Needless to say, I was lost for a little while _ just a little while. The map was in Kanji (Chinese characters indicating the meaning) and the street signs were in Hiragana (Japanese alphabets indicating the pronunciation). I read both _ I read the Hiragana version because I learned that in class; I read Kanji for a reason that should be immediately apparent to you. However, my Japanese wasn't good enough to allow me to correlate the two. I read Kanji as if I was reading Chinese _ I understood the meaning, but I didn't know the Japanese pronunciation. I had to return back to the hostel a couple of times just to restart from a familiar reference point.

"Watashi wa doko desu ka (Where am I)?"

Finally, I found the department stores. I was very proud of myself _ I figured it all out. The department stores were behind a huge train station complex, and I had to get through a maze of stairs and corridors before reaching the stores. So, I was now in the stores. Guess what? I figured out which floor the CDs were. Oh! Three more Nakamori Akina CDs that I didn't have. I stared at them for the longest time, but I finally decided to write down the title and left the stores. I should be proud of myself _ I not only figured out how to get to the department stores, but also managed not to buy anything there.

I went back to the hostel and took yet another shower. Then, I packed my things, went down to the lobby at 2:50pm and wait quietly for Mr. Shibuya.