Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Appendix 17.3
Emic interpretation of a tour
of Tokyo with my labmates
in Tokyo, Japan
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
So many things have happened since the last entry that I don't know where to start. Of course I
spend the vast majority of my time in the laboratory. The resources and the environment in the
laboratory are so very good for me that it is hard to pass up.
June 30th, 2 Sundays ago, I went to Shibuya a second time; this time a bit more prepared for
what I was to see and of course I didn't forget my camera . . . The place was so full of people I
could hardly believe it. While there, I bought some tights, and these interesting slipper things
women put under dress shoes. I love them. Makes wearing dress shoes so much more comfortable.
More Shibuya
That following Tuesday, my labmates had a welcome party for me. It was great. We went to a
barbeque restaurant, which was essentially a heavy woodblock table with a fi re in the middle of
it. Individual fume hoods were above each table to remove the smoke. Most of the barbeque was
amazing, all different cuts of beef, chicken and pork. I would say the one thing I did not like
was 'cow tongue'. It was such a hard piece of meat, one could not chew it at all. The party was
an evening affair, starting around 7.30 and proceeding until after 10. They order food and it is
brought out continuously throughout the night.
The rest of the week was a lot of work, and I performed my very fi rst animal study on
Saturday. I'm not sure how I felt about it other than emotionally drained, but the results turned
out good so far so I was relieved.
Yesterday, the post-doc Tetsu arranged soccer. Apparently, the Peppas lab had left a soccer
legacy (Kristy and Nikhil are both excellent soccer players). I was able to hold my own; so that
was good. I scored 3 or 4 goals and assisted several as well. The group was about 10 people from
the lab plus a few outside friends. The soccer place is like every other place in Tokyo. Tall.
Afterwards, several members of the lab including Nunchan (who I will call Apollo), Uniquo,
and Tetsu (who I will call Arizona) met me. We went to lunch in Asakusa; a traditional district in
Tokyo. We went to this very inexpensive diner where we were served a rather large piece of fi sh.
Afterwards we went to a Buddhist temple in Asakusa. There was this mile-long line of little
shops leading up to the place, mostly selling trinkets, good luck charms and candy; one could not
get to the temple without walking past maybe 200 of them. This area was crowded with people.
