For the 1st week, all I have done is fill out forms. They are all in Japanese, but we get by it. We had to apply for utility, our dorm room, national health insurance, cell phone, alien registration card, student ID, bank account, bicycle parking permit, library's internet access card, and library card. It isn't as simple as one id where it is utilize for everything on campus. I had to use my broken Japanese to apply for various things on campus.
To my surprise, the level of proficiency of the other foreign exchange students is much higher than mine. I live in the international housing in Inage, 20 minutes walk away from the campus (a subway stop away). We are more diverse than New York. The numbers seem to be very proportional. We have people from Hungary, Canada, Russia, Finland, Austria, Australia, America, Indonesia, Taiwan, etc. We also have people from Korean and Mainland China. The last two groups are, of course, segregated into their own group. Mostly, it is due to the fact that everyone else's common language is English but them. There seems to be a "rivalry" for years between the Chinese or Korean and the rest of the group. The two groups interests are too different. For example, they would make complaints towards the others about the noises.
My room is small, but everything is space efficient. I have everything I need and more. I have a shower, a toilet, a sink, a desk, a book shelf, a closet, drawers under the bed, a shoe cabinet, an air conditioner, a BALCONY, and clothes line (because drying machine is expensive here). I live on the 4th floor, and the building does not have an elevator. Therefore, I get quite an exercise. Then again, I got used to it after the first time I climbed those stairs because (since I don't have a bike yet) I have been walking a lot.
Everything is nearby. There is a parking lot for bicycles outside of our building, as well as mailboxes. Across my dormitory, there is a convenience store. (Imagine going to a Japanese snack shop; it's fun.) Within 4 minutes, I have access to dozens of restaurants, 99 yen stores (equivalent of 99 cents), more convenience stores, cell phone stores, etc. Within 6 minutes, there is a train station, McDonald's, coffee shops, a mall, supermarkets, and such. Everything is right where I need them even though I am an hour away from Tokyo.
The Japanese are extremely nice. First day, they carried my 2 EXTREMELY HEAVY luggages 4 flights of stairs. Also, we got a welcome package which included a cup, plates, a knife, and a pair of chopsticks. My most memorable experience is when the cell phone store clerks stayed an hour after the entire mall closed (meaning, all the employees had left besides security guards) to set up our accounts. I remember, lights were going off slowly, one by one. At one point, ALL the lights were closed beside emergency exits. At last, they escorted us outside the building. The story does not end yet. The next day, a new store clerk for that shift was waiting for all of us with our bags of cell phone. I feel as important as a CEO of a company.
We have been eating various Japanese food. I ate ramen noodles, takoyaki, yakiniku (not so sure if I spelled them right), etc. Once, the restaurant clerks must have thought that we were having a business dinner (most people look matured, and we are foreigners). They gave us 1000 yen off of a 18,800 yen bill. I didn't think I would get shocked in the food topic after the birth of "Fear Factor" and stories throughout my whole life about dogs and whatnot. Boy was I wrong. 2 days ago, a group of people ate RAW HORSE MEAT and pregnant fish. The most unusual thing I have eaten is raw tofu. Heh. On a side note, the coffee here is so weak. Ugh!
I have been having various problems setting up a cell phone account. First off, international students don't receive the student discount (which gives you 50% off of your bill). Secondly, I AM A MINOR HERE. Then again, I get buy alcohol legally in December (not that I would). Anyway, each cellular phone stores have been extremely patient. They look like I had just dropped $1,000 everytime I leave the store and wasted half an hour of their time filling out forms. So, I don't really feel badly for lots of things that I normally would in New York. It's their job.
I have a tutor, which is simply a student advisor. Her name is Haru. I feel like a giant when I am around her. I feel normal when I am with the international students. However, when I am alone with another Japanese girl, I feel like a giant. Mostly, it is because their bone structure is so small. She is extremely nice. Every now and then, she would invite me to lunch. Then again, I was heartbroken 2 days ago when I found out that she gets paid by the school. Now, I don't feel so badly to ask her for help.
As for my language skill... Throughout the summer, I have been asked what my proficiency is. I always answered, "I can get around." Speaking Japanese is harder than I thought. Although I have been "getting around," it is not until a day or two ago did I get used to it. It takes some skill to ask for a mosquito anti-itchy ointment and to apply for a cell phone in Japanese all by myself. I have been more willing to speak Japanese. At the same time, I speak English a lot (which is not a good thing).
I thought it was hard for me to go "hee" or "kawaii" or other typical "words" that we recognize in New York from a native Japanese. Then again, I realize how easy it is to become "fobby". Within a few days, I have been saying "Bye-Bye" with a Japanese accent. It's inevitable. It's like if everyone starts saying, "sup?", you would, too.
It takes a lot for me to be "shocked," because I have experienced lots of things previously in Japan. Moreover, I was well-prepared for them by learning about it and such.
Oh, the yen system sucks!! With all the different measurement (temperature, currency, etc.), it will take some time to get used to. There are way too many coins in Japanese currency. If coins are dropped in a puddle of dirty water in NY subway, you leave it. If you drop yens, you pick them up!!! You never know how much money there are in those coins you dropped because there are 500 yen coins ($5).
As for the last topic, I would like to talk about how I am always reminded of Japanese horror films. First of all, every place in Japanese reminds me of one or another Japanese horror film. Mostly, it is because I saw a handful of them in the past year. For example, the lights in my hallway and stairwell is censored. It reminds me of the "Grudge." It is quite frightening to walk up the stairs in the pitch dark for 2 seconds before the lights automatically flicks on. My balcony definitely reminds me of "The Ring" (1 or 2). Fortunately, I don't get frightened; I simply recall movie scenes every now and then.
Bye now, I must go buy myself a new bicycle. I never knew how skillful I must have to be to ride a bicycle. People are every where, and streets are narrow. Moreover, I haven't figured out if I am supposed to stay on the left or the right, because the bicycles are every where.
P.S. There are 2 pidgeons that visit my balcony every morning. I believe they are a couple~
