The blogging Web site has decided that since I am now in Japan, I want to operate in Japanese. It's intuitive, is it not? But really I'd prefer to blog in English. I assume I'll figure that out eventually. This assumption is how I expect to get through most new things here. I've visited three times, sure, but I don't know how to become a temporary resident.

I'm now in the Keio Plaza Hotel in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, roomed with two other guys who flew in from Portland. We decided to trek out into the lively neighborhood with no plan, which turned out to be a success, be it an expensive one. First, we grabbed a drink from a corner shop that is somewhat like wine but higher in alcohol content -- and distributed in a box that reminds me of fruit punch or some other kind of kid-like beverage which requires a straw-through-foil piercing to begin enjoyment.

Eventually we found a billiards hall with a full bar, and this is where the three of us ended up with a $100 tab (not each but all together). In Tokyo, we suppose that's not too shabby, really. We played pool for more than an hour and each refreshed our drinks a couple or few times.

We face a 9 a.m. wakeup call at latest, with a 10 a.m. start to Monday's orientation events.

We decided a few moments ago that we should go ahead and drink the beer in the hotel room fridge, because either we'll end up getting it for free because the JET people booked the room, or they'll bill us for a couple drinks. No worries. Maybe we'll win out.

More tomorrow.