Getting a Phone and Transportation

Saturday, April 18

Now that I had a school, my next goal was to get my hands on a Japanese phone.  My poor Android was on its last legs, had a sucky battery, and certainly didn't have international coverage.  Since I was already in the market for a new phone, this sort of all worked out.  

AU was the service provider of choice (not really my choice, but what the heck do I know about Japanese service providers anyway).  Taylor and I made our way towards the nearest AU store, straight out the North exit of Mito Station.  

The view from the North exit 

Mito-chan is everywhere!  

When we got there, I was told that we needed my passport.  Like a dope I had brought every needed document BUT that one.  Welp.  After an unexpected trip back to my apartment, we sat down with an AU representative (who spoke excellent English, I might add) and he spent the next three hours helping us figure out a contract.  

Finally, at 5pm and with a shiny new phone and pocket WiFi in my hand (though apparently the WiFi wouldn't have coverage in my apartment for "a few months"), we left AU, exhausted by the exchange.  My bike would have to be bought tomorrow.  

A bunch of the AETs got together in the evening for dinner and karaoke, so I joined along (and in our quest for a burger place we totally crashed a swanky bar by accident).  Unlike my last karaoke session, my voice was absolutely horrible.  I had a fantastic time.

Sunday, April 19

I got my bike today!  Look how adorable it is!

It's called "Amour."  One of the other AETs owns a bike called "Pigeon."

It's a "mama's bike" style, with just one speed and ample room for baskets and carrying space.  Now they say you never really forget how to ride a bike, which I suppose is true.  But man, did I need some practice remembering how to balance and steer.  I have a bad tendency to drift while I'm riding and start grinding against curbs or bumping into trees (I also think it just has subpar steering.  I can't be THAT terrible with keeping my bike straight...right?).  

One cool thing about most Japanese bikes, though, is their kickstand (you can see it on my bike in the picture).  It's a rectangular bar that simply kicks down along the back wheel and pushes the entire back end of the bike up.  The stand keeps the bike resting completely straight, as opposed to tilting it to the side.  I haven't seen a bike fall down yet with this type of kickstand (unless it's pushed).  It's fantastic.  Why don't American bikes have these? (Or, if American bikes DO have these, then how didn't I know about them before this?)

Now that I had my bike, Taylor showed me how to get to my nursery school and Jr. High along various neighborhood roads.  Dai San Chuu is located along a quiet canal called Bizenbori.  It's such a different sight from home.  I'm glad I get to see it every day that I go to and from school.  

We then rode to Mito station and Taylor showed me how to use the bicycle parking structure there.  It's located just outside the South exit and looks like a small parking structure (with a notable bike icon on the side).  It's free to park your bike there for one hour and ¥150 (or roughly a buck and a half) to park there for the entire day.  If buying the one day pass, the older gentlemen manning the front window like to help you out with that.  Once the ticket pops out of the vending machine, they staple it to your bike.  The bike parking racks look like this.  You can park your bike on the first or second level, though I can imagine trying to get your bike up on the second level is a bit harder.

(I actually did this wrong.  I'm not supposed to park my bike in the slots with the others because of my huge rear basket.  I later found out that I'm supposed to park in a designated spot along the wall.)

We had Subway for lunch after a trip to the Daiso (the much beloved ¥100 store).    

Subway has potatoes.  And they pretty much make your
sandwich according to the menu, not really to how you want it.

Musicians like to sing and play music around the station.
This group was pretty good.

The North entrance of Mito Station isn't nearly as attractive as the South entrance.