防災館, E and a stop at the local 280yen izakaya

Friday, 26/9

Woke up with horrible stomach pains 5:00 in the morning and was unable to go back to sleep for an hour. It felt like someone was trying to rip my guts out, urgh. After this, I've gained more respect for my health, which I almost never think about. My mind started to make up all kinds of reasons for this sudden feeling-bad-ness. I had gotten four mosquito bites in one night a couple of days ago, what if I got some disease? I'm not even properly insured! Or maybe it was the few days old bread that I ate the morning before... But hey, I put them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh longer, shouldn't that be okay? Or maybe my stomach finally noticed that I'm eating different things than what I've had for the last 20 years and decided that it was a bad thing to do so. But an hour later (after a couple of rounds to the loo...) it settled down and I could go back to sleep for another hour until it was finally time to wake up. I decided to skip the bread and had half an apple instead.

Three hour class in the morning, I dozed on and off and it was really hard to keep myself concentrated. My teacher must've noticed, but I hope it doesn't get reported on the attitude part of the grades (they have something like that, yeah). I've never had such a hard time being in class and it's hurting my useless pride! Hah.

Because we were going to the Disaster Prevention Museum by 12, class ended early and we rushed to a nearby soba place to get some lunch. It's a so called tachigui (立ち食い) place, a fast food restaurant where you eat your food standing. I swear everything in Japan feels lower! I had to bend down like a cheese doodle to eat my noodles, and I can't cross my legs in class because the tables are so low. And that's only me. Think about O, for example. He's like 2 m tall so that's even worse.

When everyone had gathered in the designated classroom, we set off to the museum (forgot the station name). Oh, and this reminds me of something! When a non-asian guy takes a seat in the metro, you rarely see Japanese people sitting next to them. I mean, what's so horrid about sitting next to somone who's clearly not of the same nationality? We're all just people, we won't hurt you just because we look different. Well, I don't actually have this problem, but I still get upset about it.

At the museum, we were guided around by a nice Japanese lady. The purpose of this visit was to get an awareness of what kind of dangers you might be exposed to while in Japan, and in that case, how to make the best of the situation. First, we got to watch this 3D movie about a disastrous earthquake. How do 3D-glasses work anyway? Is it filtered with different distance-sensors? Naah, they looked pretty cheap. Hm. Anyway, after watching this, I'm hoping that if (when) an earthquake comes, I won't be inside a train. You'll die for sure. :(
Next, we went to a typhoon simulator and we had to pull on colorful bulky rain clothes gears. If we went out like that I bet people would think that we were a part of some underground sect or something, it looked pretty funny! So we went into the simulation room and had to keep firm grips on a couple of bars fastened on the floor. And then, the rain and wind all came at once and it suddenly got very difficult to breath! I've never had a panic attack but I suspect that it feels a bit like that. I had to think really hard and concentrate on just breathing to actually get through this simulation, it was horrible! ;_; Anyway, yeah, strong typhoon comes = death due to suffocation.
The smoke maze room was up next. Point: enter the smoky room and crouch your way out by staying as close to the floor as possible and follow the emergency exit signs. Cleared it without any issues! But then our guide tells us that in reality, there won't be any lights turned on (like ceiling lamps). So that kind of made this simulation useless. If I ever get into this kind of situation, I probably won't make it. Death due to smoked blindness.
Next up was the earthquake simulation! We went into this sort of 80s-futuristic-looking room and plopped down on the cushioned seats while our tour guide prepared the simulation platform. It looked like this:
The guide had problems making it work but after a technician came by to straighten this out it all went smoothly. I know I probably shouldn't say this, but this was actually pretty fun. We had to crouch down under the table and protect our heads while the platform shook up and down. Almost like a roller coaster ride I'd say, hehe! Apparently I forgot to hold onto the table, so if an earthquake comes and I forget this I'm probably doomed. Death again.
Last simulation was the fire fighting training. So now I know how to operate this red fire extinguishing tube thing, yay! Simulation consisted of groups people walking forward to a large screen, turn around, say "kaji da (it's a fire)!" and then proceed to shoot the fire with the contents in the tube. Some of the guys failed to extinguish the fire, so if I get stuck with them when an emergency situation of this kind comes up, I'm going to die.

Conclusion of the Disaster Prevention Museum: sure death. Nah! Just kidding. But yeah, if a natural disaster comes and knocks on the door, your survival will probably just depend on your luck in the end. Nevertheless, this is something I can't control. I'll take precautions and hope for the best. ^^;

Of course we had to take a memorial picture.

So this was our first field trip. Next time, we're going on a bus tour, that should be fun! I think it's in two weeks' time, so nothing to look forward to until then.

By the time the tour ended, I had two hours of free time before I was supposed to go pick E up at Shibuya. A couple of JLSP and the volunteers went to bowling and karaoke, so O and I went to Harajuku for a bit to check some stores out. I left early and finally met E by the green train thing in Shibuya! First time seeing her since Narita, and she seems to have had a good time with the family she's staying with. We walked around for a bit, but we were both tired and went home to take a rest before meeting up all the other JLSPers and a load of volunteers at an izakaya here in Shimotakaido.

Here's E and I about to dig in on a melon pan (melon bread). It tasted great! Oh, and the face E is making? That's a prime example of the Utan face!

We had a really nice time at the Izakaya! We reserved half the place (or so it seemed) because we were a group of 30 people or more. Luckily they had non alcoholic drinks, so I ordered a mango juice. Yum yum. But you get this kiddy straw with it, so it doesn't make you feel like an adult at all.

Mango juice - for kids?

Also got some chicken nanban (fried stuff again...) to go with my juice. I learnt something new, too. In Sweden, you usually order food for yourself, but in Japan (and other parts of Asia, like China) it's more common to order different plates of foods to share with everyone. Nevertheless, I missed that for this nomikai so I had all of the fried goodness for myself, heehee!

My food. Seems like I've been saying "this is great!", "this is awesome!", "this is yummy!" for everything I've been eating, but it's true! I haven't had a bad food experience in Japan yet. :D

Pirate ducks made by folding these wet towels you get to wipe your hands with. You can really sense the "neatness" everywhere in Japan.

E was really happy to actually have the chance to talk to people her own age, doesn't seem like she gets enough social stimulation in Ninomiya. XD But anyway, I had a great time at the izakaya and now I realize that you can actually be a non-drinker and socialize with other people just fine! People won't hate you because you don't drink. Well, except for this American guy who said that I shouldn't be having opinions of alcohol because of that. But he was probably kidding so I didn't take it to heart.

People outside the izakaya. We made the street crowded and difficult to pass through!

Some people were going to karaoke after this, but E and I were going to Harajuku early the next day to meet up one of her friends, Y-kun. So we went home, watched some drama and ate ice cream and then went to bed, ready to embrace another new day after a couple of hours' sleep!