Spring Break 2019

This week we had Spring Break.  I have been focusing on doing some of my course work, but I also was able to do some fun things as well.  Monday and Tuesday were course work days and I didn't get out much.
Wednesday, I went to see the movie Bumblebee at United Cinemas with a couple of friends.  One thing I love about watching movies in the theaters here in Japan, is that it is generally quiet throughout the movie.  They also require that you shut off your phone and to monitor your noise level while you're eating. You also stay all the way to the end of the credits.  The lights don't come on until the end.  :) 

The Bumblebee that was a yellow Volkswagen Bug

The movie was entertaining and a good movie to see during spring break and an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
Since I am Pastoral Support Coordinator at Tokyo Union Church, I have the privilege of meeting with the pastors to see if there is anything that can be done to help them.  I was able to arrange a meeting with Pastor Johann on Thursday morning.  I typically take the train to church.  There are only two parking spots by church, so driving isn't really such a good idea.  It can also take longer to drive than to take the train.  I had toyed with bicycling, but the weather was a bit iffy, so I took the train.  I do live about a kilometer and a half away from the Kiyose station.  I can take a bus or I can bicycle.  They have a large bicycle parking lot under the plaza by the station.  It only costs 100 yen, so usually bicycle to the station and catch the train. 

Panoramic picture of the bicycle parking (taken on Sunday, March 24th)

During the week, the bicycle parking can be super full, with many of the top rows filled up.  I have a bicycle with baskets and usually they don't go so well on the second tier, so Thursday I decided to walk to the train station instead of bicycling.  The bus schedule wasn't timed well and I made it to the station before the bus arrived. 
Harajuku, where the church is located, is a high end shopping district.  There are stores like Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Dior, Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger.  They are a bit too expensive for me.  After my meeting, I did some wandering around.  There are some interesting things to see around that shopping district, not all the stores carry expensive merchandise.  You will fine more foreigners in this area than in Kiyose where I live.  I find there is more English, but it doesn't always make much sense.

"A Bathing Ape In Lukewarm Water 1997" Store is called BAPY

I stopped in the Apple Store and one of my favorite gadget stores, Flying Tiger.  It is a store that is carries a lot of merchandise from Copenhagen. This store is like an IKEA store, where you follow a path throughout the store walking by all the merchandise. 

At one of the stations near by another English sign.

"My City, My House The Theme is Beautiful Communication"

Friday, I went for a 30 km bicycle ride with a friend.  It was a sort of destination bicycle ride, with a couple of activities at a couple of our destinations.  We headed towards Tachikawa.  We stopped at this cute little cafe that served coffee and sandwiches.  It is a sort of mom and pop type cafe that looked like it was in a house.  You walked into a room where they had tables and a kitchen behind the counter.  We were warm from our bicycle ride, so opted to sit outside.  What is really nice about Japan, is if you sit outside by a restaurant or cafe, many times they have blankets available.  This little cafe had blankets.  The owners were concerned with us getting cold, they brought out them out for us.  The coffee was served in a cup and saucer, but we didn't have matching cups and saucer.  I loved the uniqueness of this place.

After having good coffee, we moved on to the next destination.  A place where you can have a foot bath.  The water is wonderfully warm.  We sat with our feet in the water for almost an hour.

There were beautiful tulips planted in gardens around the baths.

Taken from where we were sitting.

The super hot foot bath. 

After our foot bath, we headed over to Starbucks for a coffee and a light lunch.  We went back home after that.  It was a great ride with fun things to do.   
I do not have any special plans for the rest of the week.  It has been a good week with a balance of writing papers and entertainment.  Monday we start again for our final push to the end of the school year.  I am very grateful for weeks that allow for different routines and rest.