Listen to the Rain

So, Americans don't know from fast food.

Last night, schoolpsychnerd and I went wandering around Shinjuku again looking for food. After skipping out on an Italian restaurant because it had a long wait and we didn't have much time, we found some hole-in-the-wall noodle place (the third one we looked at). There was a large display of plastic replications of the dishes on the walls. I picked something that I could read ("クーリライスセット", Curry rice with noodles on the side), but it turned out I didn't need it. When we got inside, there was a big machine just inside the entrance with buttons on it. Each button corresponded to the number of one of the displays outside. You pushed your order, got the ticket, and gave it to the womean behind the counter, who then made your order.

It took her about 30 seconds to make both schoolpsychnerd's and my food, which is the least time I've ever waited. After she was done, she asked both of us "Soba de mo udon?" (at least, I think that's what she said?) and then "Atatakai de mo tsumetai?" which means "Hot or cold?" Until yesterday, though, I only knew atsui and samui, which also mean hot or cold but only refer to weather or places, whereas tsumetai refers to objects, so I heard it as "takai," which means "tall." I asked "takai?" and she looked at me a bit oddly, but we got it straightened out. She later stopped by our table and said something--I'm not sure what, but with the hand gestures I'm pretty sure it had to do with the fact that I was a foot taller than her. :-p

Good food, too, and only 800円 for the both of us. Who says you can't eat cheaply in Tokyo?

A lot of women were walking around with open umbrellas yesterday even though it wasn't cloudy. I'm not sure if they were for protection from the sun, insurance against the T-storms that were supposed to show up later, or what.