異数
Real quick on the title, I called this post 異数 because it's what the dictionary returned for "phenomenal." I doubt it's used the same way in Japanese as it is in the US, but it's the best way I could describe my time in Tokyo last night. I also wanted to learn words other than めっちゃ (kind of rude as well as unspecific) to describe 大喜び (great joy). So like I said, it went well. Really well.
Maybe this example sentence from ALC will do better, because I think 異数 has a lot to do with the unusual aspect of 'phenomenal':
僕は丸の内でインタービュを満喫したよ。
Well, so, lately I've been in and out of Tokyo a lot and I'd like to describe my feelings in the words of someone else:
The lone critical/observant pedestrian's experience with the modern city, the way in which they simultaneously construct each other, is one of the sexiest things possible to me.
Me too.
もう一つ冒険だった
Josh had told me to meet him at Tokyo station, to which I asked which exit, since I'm so good at Japan and know that you gotta know an exit to meet properly (huge sarcasm/ignorance on my part, you'll see). He said central, so with that I was set. That afternoon I headed into Tokyo after changing onto the rapid line from the next station down from Chiba Univ, and got there about 20 minutes early.
東京駅
Tokyo Station is like an airport. I had to take 3 escalators to the ground floor from where my train stopped, and on the way I saw that this was where just about every Shinkansen line (bullet train) met. So there were tons and tons of people and tons and tons of floors, and, unfortunately, tons and tons of central exits!
Bought a coffee, checked to see if there was wireless (wasn't) and worked on words a little bit. There was Yaesu Central, Yaesu Central Underground, Marunouchi Central, and Marunouchi Central Underground exits. Haha, so I guessed Yaesu and was wrong :(
丸の内
I caught up via text messages and there we were. He had just finished interviewing with Michael Page International so he was wearing a slick suit much to the contrast of my jeans and stolen from a gay man gap shirt. But it was cool, I may be there soon enough. We found out that our interviewee had something come up and couldn't make it until 8, so we had to kill some hours.
To do so we walked around inside the Shin-Marunouchi Building and looked around, had some beers, and talked a ton. He advised me about a great deal of things, including a very feasible solution to having to choose between Japan and grad school. After that we still had some time, so he showed me to the Imperial Palace, which was very cool. The best thing about Meiji-jingu and the Imperial Palace to me is that they are important, green, historical, non packed areas right in the middle of the capital. We talked a lot, and then it was time.
Tokyo Tower from Marunouchi
A building of the Imperial Palace
Another view
Business District view of Marunouchi
These next two exemplify Tokyo's greatness, or at least one part of it. Like I said above there there are some very cool, non-urban places in the middle of the megalopolis. A good illustration I heard was that during the late 80s the land the Palace is on was worth more than the state of California.
Bridge behind which the Emperor of Japan lives
View after doing a 180
驚天動地
We met back in front of Shin-Marunouchi biru and went into the cafe right in the front. It was this dude's place, but the cafe version of it, so not a million yen for a 8 oz. steak and piece of parsley. We three had some coffees and had an incredible talk about her experiences working for both Nippon Koei and Nomura Securities. After that Josh had to head back for his part-time job, and we sat and drank a few more drinks and ate some nice light French sandwiches, during which time I got some very good advice.
Aside from a grade for and completion of the independent study course I'm taking, the advice I've been getting from the interviewees and people who connect me with them has been invaluable. That and life changing. I'm so glad for the few massive opportunities I've had to get together with really important people and hear what they have to say.
Another breakfast
Out the apartment, cross the street, under the bridge, and up the stairs
Maybe this example sentence from ALC will do better, because I think 異数 has a lot to do with the unusual aspect of 'phenomenal':
僕は丸の内でインタービュを満喫したよ。
Well, so, lately I've been in and out of Tokyo a lot and I'd like to describe my feelings in the words of someone else:
The lone critical/observant pedestrian's experience with the modern city, the way in which they simultaneously construct each other, is one of the sexiest things possible to me.
Me too.
もう一つ冒険だった
Josh had told me to meet him at Tokyo station, to which I asked which exit, since I'm so good at Japan and know that you gotta know an exit to meet properly (huge sarcasm/ignorance on my part, you'll see). He said central, so with that I was set. That afternoon I headed into Tokyo after changing onto the rapid line from the next station down from Chiba Univ, and got there about 20 minutes early.
東京駅
Tokyo Station is like an airport. I had to take 3 escalators to the ground floor from where my train stopped, and on the way I saw that this was where just about every Shinkansen line (bullet train) met. So there were tons and tons of people and tons and tons of floors, and, unfortunately, tons and tons of central exits!
Bought a coffee, checked to see if there was wireless (wasn't) and worked on words a little bit. There was Yaesu Central, Yaesu Central Underground, Marunouchi Central, and Marunouchi Central Underground exits. Haha, so I guessed Yaesu and was wrong :(
丸の内
I caught up via text messages and there we were. He had just finished interviewing with Michael Page International so he was wearing a slick suit much to the contrast of my jeans and stolen from a gay man gap shirt. But it was cool, I may be there soon enough. We found out that our interviewee had something come up and couldn't make it until 8, so we had to kill some hours.
To do so we walked around inside the Shin-Marunouchi Building and looked around, had some beers, and talked a ton. He advised me about a great deal of things, including a very feasible solution to having to choose between Japan and grad school. After that we still had some time, so he showed me to the Imperial Palace, which was very cool. The best thing about Meiji-jingu and the Imperial Palace to me is that they are important, green, historical, non packed areas right in the middle of the capital. We talked a lot, and then it was time.
Tokyo Tower from Marunouchi
A building of the Imperial Palace
Another view
Business District view of Marunouchi
These next two exemplify Tokyo's greatness, or at least one part of it. Like I said above there there are some very cool, non-urban places in the middle of the megalopolis. A good illustration I heard was that during the late 80s the land the Palace is on was worth more than the state of California.
Bridge behind which the Emperor of Japan lives
View after doing a 180
驚天動地
We met back in front of Shin-Marunouchi biru and went into the cafe right in the front. It was this dude's place, but the cafe version of it, so not a million yen for a 8 oz. steak and piece of parsley. We three had some coffees and had an incredible talk about her experiences working for both Nippon Koei and Nomura Securities. After that Josh had to head back for his part-time job, and we sat and drank a few more drinks and ate some nice light French sandwiches, during which time I got some very good advice.
Aside from a grade for and completion of the independent study course I'm taking, the advice I've been getting from the interviewees and people who connect me with them has been invaluable. That and life changing. I'm so glad for the few massive opportunities I've had to get together with really important people and hear what they have to say.
Another breakfast
Out the apartment, cross the street, under the bridge, and up the stairs
2 Comments:
Hey Bert,
Thanks for the breakfast pic!
Jen
(!html tags!)
Great that you enjoyed your interview.
Well, I was surprised at the coincidence by reading this blog.
The thing is, I saw Josh on the train back to Nishichiba.
I didn't talk to him as he didn't know me, but I was thinking if he was out doing something related to you(though I didn't know nothing about your interview!)
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