So I survived my 1st week in Japan. This past week has been full of so much I am so overwhelmed...I wanted to blog a lot more but literally have not had a free moment!!!!
Hmm...so where to begin...
Sunday I went to Harajuku with Jen and Kate. It was everything I've ever dreamed of and we are going back this Sunday! Supposdely there was an English speaking guy who worked at the Softbank (cell phone company) in Harajuku so we went there to get phones. He was not Japanese, and a complete jerk and was trying to rip us off saying we must get a plan! not prepaid! so we left and went to Akihabara's softbank. The girls there spoke like, no english but we used out 日本語 skills to get a prepaid phone with unlimited texting for just 6,200 yen (about 75 bucks) The girl who worked there was cute, she knew little english but sure knew who Lady Gaga was!!!
This past Monday 1/11 was Seijin no Hi, or "coming of age day. This national holiday is held the 2nd Monday of January to celebrate those who have turned 20 over the past year. 20 is the age of adulthood in Japan. It is a very big deal here. Many 20 year olds wear kimono for the special occasion. The girls all looked very beautiful in their kimonos and had their hair done in updoos, a lot had on fur scarfs as well. It was cool to see, especially me being 20 as well. Me and Kate were going to go to a few holiday festivities but we had too much to do!
Looking at a hand drawn map, we tried to navigate our way to the 100 yen store, but of course got lost. I keep getting lost/confused wherever I go! There are barely any street signs and barely anything in English. Memorizing kanji is a must. I have learned that Jiyugaoka is自由が丘, Shibuya is 渋谷, and so forth. We asked a cute little couple if they knew where the 100yen store was. They were about early-mid thirties, and had a little baby and a dog they were walking. Not only did they tell us, they walked us there! They said in English "together", and walked a whole 6-7 minute walk out of their way with us! These people were しんせつ人です！（kind people) we thanked them over and over for their kindness. we got to the store and stocked up on soap, dish towels, toilet paper....the necessities!
Tuesday was my first day of class. I only have classes Tuesday and Thursday.
12-1:30 I have Crime, Deviance and Social Control in Japan. This class is taught by Kyle Cleveland, the study abroad advisor and head of the Asian Studies department. He is a really cool guy and I'm excited about the class. He has some field trips planned including a trip to Fuchu Prison (one of the largest prisons in the world), and a late night trip to a town run by the Yazuka (Japanese gang)
1:40-3:40 I have Japanese Elements 2. My teacher is Chiho Okada sensee. She is a tall, thin Japanese woman with long dark hair and shiny pink lipstick. She is very beautiful!! The class is very intense, especially only being two days a week. Japanese language is the main thing I want to get better at during my stay here. The language is essential. Its like being illiterate without it. Its also rude and embarrassing to live in a country and not speak the primary language.
5:30-7 i have Cognitive Psychology. My least favorite out the the classes. My teacher is a British guy with a very thick accent and he mumbles a lot. Its kind of boring as well, but we shall see.
Tuesday night after I finished class at 7, Kate and I met our friends Ryoto and Takashi in Shibuya. They are Japanese guys around out age who have some mutual friends. We went to an udon shop with them and got some dinner. udon shops are my new favorite thing ever. Basically its a little restaurant that has pictures of all the meals in the window. You put money (they only cost about $5) into a vending machine and pick your meal, then a ticket prints out, you bring it inside give it to the worker and tell him if you want soba(thin spaghetti like noodles) or udon (thick noodles). Then you get your meal (meat, tofu, veggies, whatever you choose) over a broth with noodles. Oishii desu!! After dinner the boys took us to The Pink Cow, a laif back bar in Shibuya, Tokyo. A band from New York was playing and there were a lot of college aged kids there. 3 shots of vodka and 2 shots of tequilla later, (haha great night!!) me and Kate took the Tokyu line back home.
Monday Wednesday and Friday I work at my Internship with the Japan Times. So far its really great. I work with such an array of people! A few of my co workers are from England, 2 are from Canada, many are Japanese as well. I did not think I would need to know Japanese for my internship but this is not the case. There is not anything or anywhere in Japan where you do not need to know Japanese. I am working in the digital media department. I mostly handle their online feeds with Twiiter, Facebook, The Japan Times Pulse Blog. Today I learned how to pick the photos that go in the paper for the tv section. On my way out, Sean pulled me aside and asked me if I would like to write a few articles for the paper. I have one coming out in February. I am so excited about this! An article written by me is going to be published in the Japan Times! The national newspaper of Japan! What a great honor!!!
Overall I love Japan so far. I really do not miss home. Infact this lifestyle makes me really not like America. Well, Philly particularly. People here are so kind, quiet and polite. It makes me angry about the ghetto dirty part of Philly that I live in.
There is still a lot here I'm not used to though, just different ways of life and different social norms!
Firstly the language is a big thing. This morning me and Kate had to go sign up for National Health insurance and get alien registration cards. I am actually very proud of myself. I know nothing about insurance or paperwork or any of that back home as my mom takes care of it all...somehow with barely any English used we managed to find our way to the offices, and sign up for everything.
Today at the internship the whole office went out for lunch as a farewell dinner for Henry, he's an intern too but today was his last day. The menu was all in japanese and I was the only one who could not read it. I know I'm new to the country but its still kind of awkward not being able to read. Japanese is not even close to English like Spanish or French, where I could guess what the food was. Luckily some of the people at the office helped me out, and no one made a fuss about it.
They brought out our food all separately and its a good thing I was one of the last people to get my meal. Even with a group of 15 people Everyone waits to eat until the last person is served. I probably would have just started digging in if I had not noticed this! Also, chopsticks are the only utensil they offer at 99% of places. I am really awkward with chopsticks. imagine seeing someone who could not properly hold a fork? You'd think they were kind of strange eh?
This weekend I plan on doing homework, going back to Harajuku and relaxing! for the first time all week!! I am looking forward to skypeing with my boyfriend and my family tomorrow. I might not miss PA but I do miss the people in it!!!
マリッサ
