More on dorm and Japanese houseing...

My new dorm is an old hotel that has been remodeled and made into a housing complex called a 'mansion' , explanation to follow. It is 10 floors, 13 rooms each floor.  However floor 1 is the lobby and 2nd floor I believe to be a bar or restaurant (it gets pretty noisy around 10 - 11).  Each room that I have seen has a bunk bed (really?.. a bunk bed?) refrigerator, shelf and desk, 2 plastic containers(for clothing i guess) and a wonderful Japanese air conditioner that also does heat.  The window opens and you can hop through it to a small enclosed balcony, but the bunk bed is sort of in the way so i cant get out of mines.

There is a bathroom with bath and toilet,  but no kitchen. The kitchen is actually a shared kitchen, they took the 01 room of every floor and made it into a kitchen with 3 single electric burners, a janitors style sink and a primitive microwave. Before the kitchen, right by the elevator and emergency exit has a huge hot water heater(great place to put a gas appliance huh?), that works too well. The water that comes out the swivel faucet is down right scalding, it actually heats up the faucet pipe to the point that it is also ...piping hot ( sorry I couldn't think of another phrase  >_< ). The swivel faucet goes form the sink to over the tub, you can also twist a knob to direct the water to a shower head. 

Mansions are equivalent to the American condominium concept.  I assume the college owns my room and all the rooms of the people who are staying here under the schools dorm housing policy.  I pay only 30,000yen  a month the equivalent in a good American economy to 300 dollars.  For this area that is terrific.  I would equal it to living in the Soho area,  not in the middle but just outside walking distance, In a studio for less than 500 per month. 


Normally there is 2 to my sized apartment/room, but it seems that all the westerns like me are in a single room. All the Chinese and Nepalese are shared rooms like I had prior.  Russian girl, me, and a french guy, so I wonder if that is a coincidence.

Mansion's seem to not only be popular but increasing.  I have noticed much construction and building in my travels, a majority of these new buildings are the aforementioned mansion establishment. In this recession it's possible more people would rather rent than buy, which is understandable.  I am not sure on the price range, as all of my friends are more or less just out of college and owning anything is still in the distant future.

In my dorm, there is college students from different colleges not only mine.  There are non students as well, I have passed middle aged men and women in the hall and elevator, so mansions are a one size fit all approach apparently. Thought a 'mansion' it is anything but. Quirky Japanese naming I guess.....

A small Good bye...

I mentioned before that I was staying in a home stay.  The Home-stay is located in Kugahara, Tokyo.  I am about 30 Min's from shibuya and 40 or less from shinjuku roppongi and nearly any other tourist site in Japan.  Very nicely located.  I came early to japan to explore a little and make sure my body was ready for school as i suffer from a medical conditions that with changes in weather or excessive activity makes me physically sick.  So I opted to find a home stay to sort of adjust to the new surroundings.

I was greeted at the train station on my second day in Japan by a gentle, energetic  women in her late 50's early 60's or so.  "Ohaiyo" she said as we introduced our self in Japanese.  Still not secure in the language I went through the motions like I have done much before in America.  We made small talk as we walked the 5 Min's to my new home.  I learned the path i would take, I learned of a few of people who i would live with.  My feelings at this point are hard to describe. Sort of bright eyed and curious. A bit of anxiety for staying in an unknown persons house.

When I came in i was given house slippers to use while i stayed. The first person i met was the person whose room I would be taking as he was packed and leaving.  I said hello and good bye and was guided into the living room where i was offered a futon to take a nap until the room was ready. I happily excepted the offer and took a quick shower and took what i was told to be a 5 hour nap.  I took the two bags i currently had upstairs to a nice size room with TV, big desk, book shelf, closet, futon and big frosted sliding windows.  I loved the windows as they faced the street and i would spend mornings staring out and looking at the people on their way to the train. Especially women with their loud high heals, it became a mourning ritual the first few days as everything was still new.

I met great new people from different lands; Taiwan, German, Denmark, China, France, Italy.  We was not lacking foreigners in that house, that is for certain.  Despite the people it was still quite and i had my own space. Never had to wait for the shower or the bathroom. I was surprised about that.  And it was always clean.  So I think on the whole I was living better than I do at home.

My last night, I spent the early mourning packing , mid day driving to my new place(thanks to the help of my friend) and the family was nice enough to invite me back to the area to go to the local fair/matsuri.  I went and got to see the temple. Ate choco banana and was amazed my the mass of people on such small streets.  I'm sure i will go into more detail about specific events.  But for now I am thankful, and will continue my adventure in Japan till I see Kugahara again, I offer my small Good bye for such big memories.