Getting Comfortable

In a move very reminiscent of the Steve Marr of years past, Eiji contacted me this evening when he was close to getting out of work and said "Meet me at the 'New South Exit' of Shibuya station -- but in order to meet up (since I don't have a cell phone yet), you'll have to leave RIGHT NOW!!"

So, I've been to this station maybe twice before, and that was at least a year ago with Eiji guiding me. This time I was unguided, illiterate, and navigating the evening rush hour at a train station which is positioned next to the busiest intersection in the world.
However, I made it from lounging in Eiji's house to meeting him & sitting at a noodle place in about 35 min without any lostness. Great success!
*Quick local anecdote: When nearing Shibuya, an older man hopped on the train and had a cloth bag from Longwood Gardens. Not that I have any special connection to it since I'm not really into botany and haven't visited it since I was 7 or so, but it's amazing how pumped I was to see something from a relatively obscure part of the greater Philly region on a train in Tokyo!

Of course, there's still loads more of Tokyo to get comfortable with, but this was a relieving step (so, any guests, take this as some confidence that I won't be a completely useless guide when you all arrive!)


Also, today marks my first use of a rechargeable train card to buy a drink from a vending machine! There's some special excitement to be had when I can hold my closed wallet up to a machine (the card has some sort of transmitter), then press the button corresponding to what I want, and then the beverage just drops! Eat your heart out PATCO! :-P