Comments and Observations

Today, I have been in Japan for approximately 1 month and 2 days. Time really goes by fast. I still feel so incompetant! I'm a slow learner, a slow grower, and a slow bloomer, so it's kind of frustrating in this situation where I want to learn and absorb everything so fast, but I'm trying my best.

Today, I thought I'd post some comments and observations about Japan that I've noticed/experienced so far.

1. "Nihongo, jouzu desu ne!"
Even though I've been here a month already, I'm still repeating the same answers over and over again. "Kenia desu." "Whea ahh you from?" "Washinton dee shee desu." "Ohh! Za capitaru! Kakkoi (cool)!" "Senmon ha nan desu ka? (What's your major?)" "Nihongo desu." "Heeh sou nanda~ (Huh, is that so) How rong you been in Japan?" "Etto...Ikkagetsu gurai (about one month)" The funniest part is when after all this they say, "Nihongo jouzu desu ne! (Your Japanese is so good!)" when I've barely said anything at all.

Today was a welcome party for exchange students, so I had to gather some courage to talk to some people. Like I saw Kai-san from the orientation tour and talked to him a while. However, it's really difficult for me to continue a conversation unless the other person talks a lot and keeps the conversation going. Kumiko and Hiroko-san talk a lot so they save me. The other day talking with Yuuko, I was able to keep talking because she asked so many questions. Otherwise, it's hard to keep the conversation going on by myself. (Well, I guess that's true in any language.) I feel like I leave a very weak impression and it's difficult to meet new people by myself...Then, I go over to Stephanie and she just keeps going and going. I'm completely outmatched! She's been my main source of meeting new people, though.
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2. Nihon hodo chian ga ii kuni wa nai [There's no safer country than Japan]
One of the first new phrases I learned in Japan was "chian ga ii" ("safe enviornment"). And appropriately so. Japan is one of the safest places I've ever been. One of the things that shocked me when I came here was that there are places to park bicycles outside of stores and such, but no one locks them up. The kick stand is down and that's it. The most there may be is a round lock on the back tire that keeps it from moving, but you can just as easily pick it up and put it in a car. The thing is, no one does. In America, it would be inconceivable to leave your bike unlocked on the street. It's as sure as gone. Then, in Spain there is a constant fear of pick pockets that doesn't even exist here. Even during my walk home from the station at night, although I am always alert, I do not feel any threat at all. There are always other people on the street anyways.

There is, however, a threat of being hit on ('nanpa' in Japanese) by overly friendly drunk guys on Shibuya streets...which happened last night. I was walking with Stephanie in Shibuya at 10pm (and it was still active and crowded) when this obviously drunk but happy young salary man comes up to us and says "HARO! WATS UP!" We respond to him in Japanese and he goes "OMG U SPEAK JAPANESE!" I tell him I'm from the US and he starts listing American people he knows, the only one that was distinguishable being Kobe Bryant. His friend was so drunk he was like "Wait what?! You guys are foreigners?!" Yes, obviously. They got kind of overly friendly, but in the end they apologized for being rowdy and left, telling us to enjoy Japan. It was a fun experience.
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2. Skin Shippu
There is a stereotype that Japanese people don't touch. While this may be true for many, I've seen a lot of people (especially young people) holding hands and girls grabbing on to their boyfriend's sleeve or shirt/sweater hem(which is so cute). Oh, but kissing in public is not really done.

It's surprising, though, how they can be so against physical contact when the train is full of it. The train is always always crowded. Of course, mornings especially. You have not experienced crowded until you've come to Japan. Last week on my way to school, the train to Shibuya was so crowded that I was literally sandwiched between two business men and could not move. That is when sexual harrassment happens the most. I was spared that at least, but it's really quite uncomfortable to have strangers' bodies pressing up against yours. At one point I felt like I was supporting someone's whole weight on my back. Not fun. My shoulders hurt...Well, at least they weren't stinky...Maybe more than skin shippu, it's that Japanese people are good at 'gaman'--putting up with things. "It can't be helped, so I'll put up with it" is how Japanese probably think. "Since everyone else is putting up with it, I might as well, too." Group psychology?
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3. My meals
I feel like I post so many pictures of food that it seems like all I'm doing here is eating! Even though that's not true...
Lately, I've been eating mostly in the school cafeteria. The South school building has a really pretty cafeteria. It's so chic looking and everything ranges from 100~500yen so it's reasonably priced.
Here are a few things I've tried:

Slightly spicy pollack roe pasta topped with lettuce leaves and nori (Mentaiko Pasta).

Salmon rice bowl with cabbage and mushrooms.

Also, since it got a bit colder last week, warm drinks have started to appear in vending machines. I studied about Coca-Cola Japan and their popular canned coffee "Georgia", so I decided to try one.

Emerald Mountain Blend. "A not too sweet, not too bitter miraculous balance" is the slogan, and it's true. It was actually pretty good and I don't even like coffee usually. Maybe it's just because it's Japanese...
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4. ~Zenryoku Shonen, Shojo no Kimitachi E~

Ahhhhh! After waiting 4 hours in line this morning at Hiyoshi campus, I finally got a ticket to the Sukima Switch live!!! I think because I waited so long, it made getting the ticket in my hand such a more exciting experience. The live is next month near where I live. So exciting!
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Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to do my homework...This weekend is a three day weekend (Monday is 'Taiiku no hi' aka 'Sports day' so no school) and next week, I'm aiming for perfect scores on everything!