Welcome to Japan

After three days here in Japan I'm already noticing my vocabulary improving. :) I'm learning terms that I should be uing on a regular basis that just aren't taught in class....for example when entering someones house with ouot knocking (like my neighbor who i know) I should be saying ojamashimasu...literally i am going to bother you and when I leave I hould say ojamashimashita basically I have bothered you.

When I arrived in Japan my biggest hurdle was making it from Narita to Kanazawa. Thankfully on my first train (Narita to Tokyo station) I impressed a “salary man” with my Japanese—basically I ordered a bottle of water and asked if the lady selling treats on the train had kakuro soda (a really tasty hard candy). He'd ask me questions in english and I would reply in japanese, anyways, he offered to take me to my next connection on the shinkansen (bullet train). thank god for that because Tokyo station was hectic—everyone was going everywhere and I had to go up FOUR flights of stairs. Once on the Shinkansen (picture) my lack of sleep caught on—unlike normal trains the shinkansen is such a smooth ride that it can put a weary travelere lie myself to sleep—I had a few scares thinking I slept through my stops but I made it to Echigo yozawa a hot springs area in which onmy own I made it to my ast a final connection to Kanazawa. (picture) this would be an hour after my arrival when moost of the other trains arrived. I think our exchange group stuck out alot. haha!we were concerned standing outside the waiting room in a big group since it was 10pm and the Japanese people would probably start wonder who the hell invite those many gaijin (foreigners) to this station?

I arrived safe and sound and bone tired...unfortunately jetlag didn't let me sleep past 4am onmy first day...I am proud to say that now I am waking up at 6 am. (I'm swly working my way to 7:30). blog

I had my living orientation two days ago during which I learned all the different rules of maintaining my apartment. (picture of dorm) my room comes with a desk bureau and japanese futon which is surprisingly comfy. I even have my own balcony area where I can air out my futon on nonrainy days (which are few and far in between).

Yesterday was opening ceremony so we got to get a speech from the president the final count for us students in 16 students from Rose Hallman (sp) institute of techology, 14 from RIT, 8/7 (forgot) from University of Illinois and 1 students from the University of Hawaii. Then we met some SGE members (Students for Global Exchange) who conduct the bike rental service we're allowed to use. The also threw us an awesome party where TONS of KIT students attended. (picture) I definitely brushed up on my Japanese then I also me a student who is from Mexico, he was so happy to be abe to speak spanish with someone. before the welcome party though there was lunch and (dun dun dun) my placement exam. since xams are extremely boring to talk about lets talk about lunch.

I would like to say that the wa I have been chosing what to each it by pictures. Since my kanji is not necessarily up to par I read parts of what the menu says and decide if the picture looks good enough to eat XD so far so good I haven't had a bad experience dining yet. the most fascinating place though was definitely the school cafeteria (picture) its kinda like a veding machine where you pay for your lunch, take a ticket, bring it to the right line and get your delicious meal (picture) I had some soba noodle concotion—don't about what's on top of them, all i know is that there was shrimp in it.



After the welcome party me and my new group of friends went with some of the japanese students to the place I had been waiting for since I got here to go.....

drum roll please.......

A takoyaki shop!! (picturesx2) since there was 7 of us we filled up the whole shop and share yaki soba (soba noodles stir fried in tasty sauce), takoyaki (pieces of octopus that are mixed with batter and some other ingredients topped with bonito flakes) and okonomiyaki (it's like hotcakes but savory with cabage and meat).

It's pretty funny since we're so new all the exchange students travel in huge groups we get stares wherever e do especially my room mate shella who has blonde super curly hair.

Today we're heading out to the festival that is in town as well a the kanazawa castle—fun fun!

more pictures of my adventures (about 200+) can be seen here <--link