A New Mile Marker...

I have successfully navigated the bus from and to my destination of Izumi-chuo!!! This is a big deal! I have in the past experienced great frustrations because I have not known what bus to take. My co-workers have stated time and time again that I need to get on the "right" side of the bus. This would be great advise had anyone else been standing in a line waiting for my bus. However, as on all occasions, there was no one there but myself and a couple others (who hadn't any better idea about what bus to take than I), we got on the bus. The first time, the driver understood enough English or rather the words "Mey-sen Kind-er-gart-en", that he dropped us off in front of our very own apartments. I have no idea if that will ever happen again but it was nice. The second time, we got dropped off 40 minutes walk from our lovely apartments. I didn't like walking in the cold, at night, when I had just spent 5 hours walking downtown. After that experience I was most definetly avoiding the bus system if at all possible. That was about 2 months ago. Then, yesterday, my coworker Becky showed me what she has been talking about all along....getting on the right side of the bus. I know this seems so simple yet, when you see the pixs, you will understand why I had no clue. So, although, I wasn't so fond of the way in which she pointed out it's simplicity, I was happy that I finally got an answer as to getting on the "right" side always. This is another mile marker in my Japanese Adventures. To be able to get to and from home, simply and assuredly, has to count for something, right?!



This is the Bus Terminal Schedule for coming home. It is okay to read but still causes a bit of trouble sometimes This is the Bus Terminal Schedul for going from my house. Green means M-F Blue means Sat and Red means Sun & Holidays.

This is the sign where I am to always get on the bus on the "right" side. Now looking at this bus, would you know if everyone stood on the right side or the left side? Yep, me neither! This is, in fact, one of the buses that would take me every where but my house. A definite "No Go!". So I have learned that I must look for a symbol that reminds me a Tahitian god and then an asterisk tree (one asterisk on top and two right below it). That is my ride home!