dark creepy tunnel

Konnichiwa from Osaka on another potentially exciting day!

Right?

You all know how happy I am to have this experience, especially with Katie!  It  has been amazing in so many ways, with even the days that were overwhelming still filled with excitement!

Until yesterday, where the predominant emotion was OMG, what have I done to my LIFE!?!?!?!?

I guess I knew that day would come.  Maybe I felt it coming and that’s why I went to the movies and didn’t do much for a couple days.  I tried everything yesterday morning–played on the computer, worked out, ate well.  Luckily I had made plans to stay at Katie’s for a couple hours while she went to work so I could use her awesome wifi.  I made several video calls back home and felt much better afterwards.

No problem finding Katie in Umeda this time!  Guess I’ve mastered that place–yeah right!  Sunday is lunch at her burrito place.  She said she often felt overwhelmed and for a long time.

It was 59 degrees and cloudy.  I had not worn my coat, but a cloth jacket because it was supposed to get up to 64.  I noticed a lady on the train in a spring jacket and decided I might need one.  I described it and Katie told me exactly where to go–Uni Qlo (the store with the Magic Box from 3 weeks ago).

It was there alright and I decided that I definitely needed a jacket to get me from winter to summer.  When I checked out (no magic box at this store), they asked me for my passport.  What?  I never carry my passport, I carry a copy in case I lose my purse.  There was a conversation and a clerk shook his head and I really had no idea.  Katie said later it was about whether I should get it tax-free.  Anyway, they charged me less than the price and I had no idea still, but left happy and cozy in my new jacket.

I still wasn’t feeling right but thought that when I’m moving I usually feel better, so off I went.  Plus I figured it might help my legs, which were sore from working out the day before.  I decided to head due north towards the Yodo River.  Rivers are usually cool, with people fishing, boats, parks….maybe I’d get lucky again and see some new birds.

On the way I saw another timid looking cross, poking into the sky.  This was a Catholic Church or office, although the writing on the sign was in Japanese and Italian.  When I walked up to the door to peer in, it slid open; an automatic door–how 21st century!  Inside there were people talking and a lady waiting for something, and a little store.  I really wasn’t sure whether there was anything else so I left.

I kept walking trying to feel enthusiastic in my new jacket.  I was having trouble finding my way, and when my map wanted me to go under the train tracks by walking through a dark creepy tunnel, I thought–no way.  I’m going back.

But then a bicycle came rolling through like nothing, so I peeked in.  I couldn’t see the other side, but I could see light–not that far.  So I walked in and pretty soon I was running and then I was to the other side.

I got to the river and it was pretty cool.  There were people riding bikes and I could watch the trains on the bridges.  The bridge crossing the river had a bike/walking path and as I crossed the bridge I wavered from my usual feeling of Excellent, there might be something great over there!, to get me off this loud never-ending bridge and find me the train.

I noticed on the map a coffee shop called The Otherside–cool!  It was warm and full of people, and the guy pointed me to a little nook upstairs, where I had a delicious cup of Italian roast drip.  They had wifi so I caught up on Words With Friends 🙂

There was this crazy stairway up to the bridge, which I realized was built for people to take bicycles up those 45 stairs; and the stairs on the other side were spiral.  Nonetheless people were taking their bikes like it was no problem.

There were guys playing baseball in a pretty official looking game in a couple of different parks.  Baseball is popular in Japan.  I noticed even these fields had no grass on the infield and only dirt throughout at the other field.

Maybe it’s the weather; it definitely doesn’t help.  Maybe it’s the timing.  My first week it was like–WOW, I’m in Japan!  The second week was like an amazing vacation to an exciting new place.  Now it’s been 3 weeks and it feels like a lot.  But like my mom said, it IS a lot!

So when I got to the train station after my coffee break and could  not figure out how to get back I was feeling pretty bletch.  This was one of those stations that combined trains and subways, and I was definitely on the wrong platform.  When I tried to go back through the gates, they slammed shut and I had to find a guy to help me.  I still couldn’t shake that OH NO I’m never gonna get back and be stuck here for days feeling.  But I made it obviously and decided that I was going straight back for more chips and guacamole at the burrito restaurant and paid 630 yen for a bottle of Corona haha!

Today is a new day!  It’s supposed to rain all afternoon and there is zero sun.  I’m listening to YouTube highlights of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.  I called home a couple more times again this morning.  I just turned the TV channel when they were showing men who put cameras on those long umbrellas and peek up women’s skirts–sheesh, trying to keep it light here people!  I joined a group online of people here in similar situations; one lady said she just wants to email someone and there’s a meet-up in an Irish pub in a couple weeks, so we’ll see what comes of that.  If Katie ends up having plans today, I’m not ruling out a movie or even karaoke–going alone is not considered odd here and Katie said she won’t think I’ve lost my mind haha!   We have many plans coming up, not least of which is Todd and Priscila coming here in May, so I hope to talk to them today also; it’s definitely tricky with the time difference.  I knew that planning 3 months in Japan was going to be crazy and it is–and mostly in a good way!

Photo:  Tunnel under train tracks