Dealing with Jetlag will be hard
This morning I had a hard time sleeping. Oh, the jetlag is intense! I have a difficult time adjusting to Pacific Time, especially here in Japan. Last night I failed to fall asleep and eventually had to take a sleeping pill.
The pill definitely did its job. I completely missed the morning shift and was so sleepy that even while Gab was talking during his meeting, I fell asleep again. I finally woke up after 11 a.m.!
Japanese Mall
After coffee, we went for a walk around the city. On the way, we wandered into a shopping mall, and I was completely absorbed by all the interesting and unusual things sold in what seemed like an ordinary store. I wanted to buy everything!
The pastries were also so unique and looked delicious. I was so distracted by everything around me that I forgot to take photos. The only picture I managed to take was of some French canelés with toppings. I had never seen canelés with toppings before! :)
I also brought my passport with me so I could get the tax waived on any purchases.
In the end, I bought a pair of hiking pants that actually fit me and some good matcha tea. Well, after all, Shizuoka is known for producing some of the best matcha tea in the world, so I had to buy some. 🙂
Studio Ghibli museum
I have been so excited about visiting the Studio Ghibli Museum in Nagoya. I have watched all the Studio Ghibli movies and I am a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki, so of course I wanted to see it.
Unfortunately, I learned that the museum is closed for maintenance until after we return to Canada. What a pity! And even if it had been open, my chances of getting in would have been slim. Apparently, people reserve their tickets weeks in advance.
Well, I guess I will have to save that visit for the next time I come to Japan.
Learning Japanese
My stay in Japan, coupled with the beauty and uniqueness of Japanese culture, has encouraged me to take learning Japanese more seriously. Up until now, I have only studied it sporadically.
When I get back home, I plan to create a proper study routine.
Plans to return to Japan
My goal is to return to Japan in 2028, so I would like my Japanese to be good enough to communicate comfortably with people here.
The level of English spoken by many Japanese people seems quite low. At least, I have not met many who speak English. Most of the time I rely on Google Translate, and when my phone is not with me, I do pantomime to get my point across. Hehe.
Good night and we will talk later.
July 18th, 2026
Shizuoka, Japan
