I did all of this! ... And I studied a little bit too.

A lot has happened since the last time I wrote to you guys. I’ve settled into day to day life here in Japan. First of all, yes, Aunt J, the bread is amazing. There’s this great bakery just a couple blocks from my house that makes the most amazing cheesy bread. My host mother brings it for me most mornings. Otherwise, the food is ok. I tried tofu a couple days ago. It was pretty good. So was the “Soup Curry” that my okaasan made. Everything else has been mostly misses. But I don’t really like food in general, so it’s not that big of a deal. Oh! But I went to a festival a couple days ago where I bought the most amazing candied strawberry.

Class is going pretty well. I’m learning more than I expected to. The weather is starting to get cold, though I think it’s actually colder inside than outside, at my house. It also got colder a lot faster than it does back home. I’m not ready for winter!

At the festival, we also got to watch this Japanese dance. I forget the name. None of my pictures turned out very well, it was too dark and we were too far away. We also went to a zoo! It was a little bit amazing and we got in for free! All the better! The red pandas and the big cats were my favorite. In the US, there are two huge panes of glass and a good couple yards between you and the cage. Here, they were right behind one panel of glass that you could touch, they were so close. I never realized how big lions and tigers really are.

We’ve done karaoke, gone to a Cuban bar and danced salsa and watched 50s dancers during an Autumn Festival and went to the zoo. All in all, a good couple of weeks.

Now, to answer some of your questions. The weather is pretty nice right now, but it keeps switching between late fall and early fall weather. One day I don’t need a jacket, the next I’m bundled up under my winter coat and a scarf. It’s been messing with my sinuses and I’ve been getting headaches, but it looks like it’s mellowing out a little bit, finally. The train system is amazing. I can walk to school, but on weekends it’s the only way to travel. Much faster than riding my bike anyway.

My classes are ok. The Japanese Business and Japanese Culture ones are really, really boring. And by no fault of the content. The professors are just really monotone. My Shintoism class, however, is shaping up to be very interesting. It doesn’t hurt that I like my professor. He’s the guy that’s helping me figure out my travel plans for December.

My family is very nice. I’m sorry that I don’t have any pictures of them yet. My host mom is trying really hard to make everything feel like home for me. I’m also making friends. I’m having a lot of fun with them, going out and about all the time.

I haven’t tried sake, yet. But I’m underage, so I really shouldn’t. I will, however, once I hit my birthday. My business class is going to a sake factory for a field trip, so I will try it then.

Until next time!

Love you!

PS I'm having a difficult time uploading pictures. So go to my flickr page to see all the new ones!

Getting Settled

Hey everyone! No new pictures for you, today. I took some pretty good ones while wandering Sapporo this past weekend, but haven't had a chance to upload them yet. That will probably be in my next post. But, like I said, I spent most of this past weekend just riding the subway, getting off, wandering around, and getting back on.

Last night we went out for karaoke for the second time. It was a blast! Karaoke in Japan is very different from in the US, where you're singing in front of a bar or large group of people. Here, you're in a small room, with drinks and food and just your friends. It is a really good time, especially if you have a large group of friends with you. Things can get pretty crazy!

Other than that, there's not much else to report. My next post, I'll share my pictures from a weekend of exploring as well as a report from my first real class of the semester! Electives start tomorrow!

Sipping Coffee and Enjoying the Wifi

Hello again! I have finally gotten the chance to sit down at the local cafe to write up a post. I was too busy yesterday, but I'll try to get more consistent with my postings. First I just wanted to let you know that my Japanese class is going well. It's pretty simple. I got into the first level class, which is what I wanted. I needed review like crazy. And it's helping me remember the Japanese I've already learned, which has helped with communication with my host family.

I haven't really done much so far. The first weekend I was with my host family, we went to a park called Takino Suzuran Hillside National Park. Evidentially it's home to flying squirrels, though I didn't see any. :( I did, however, see two separate waterfalls and took some fabulous pictures!
This moth was about the size of my fist. It was huge! There were about three or four of them just hanging out on a vending machine. I thought they were fascinating but my host mother and sister would not go anywhere near the machine.

For more pictures, check out my flickr page.

My Japanese Needs Some Serious Work

I just finished taking my placement test for my Japanese class and I totally bombed it. It was ALL grammar. Grammar is hard enough in English, much less in Japanese. Oh well, I'm not too bumbed. I didn't really expect to do very well on it anyway. After all, the reason I'm here is to learn more and to further my Japanese language skills. And anyway, my oral interview went really well right up until she asked me what time it was. I've never been very good with time.

Tomorrow we'll meet our hostfamilies. I'm a little bit nervous. I'm nervous they won't understand me, I won't understand them. I'm worried about being isolated. But at least I'm making friends! The Hokusei International Student Commitee, the group of Hokusei studen,ts that welcome the international kids, had a party last night. We ate decent food and tried to work past the language barrier. It was a good time.

I will, hopefully, have pictures for you next time I post!

Love and kisses.

Sitting Around

Hi everyone! Once again, I can't do a full update, but I just wanted to let you know that a professor here has a program renting out phones to students. So if you ever want to call me, my number is 09094333231. It's free for me if you want to call or text me! ;)

Love you lots!

Checking In

Hi guys! Just letting you know that I've arrived at Hokusei University and am settling in. I don't know when the next time I'll have access to the internet, so I'm just letting you know! Love you all, so very much! Bye!

I have arrived! ... In Chicago

Due to series of rather unfortunate mechanical problems, the flight that I was supposed to be on at this time has been shut down. :( I'm very nervous because my university was scheduled to pick us up, but no longer can because of the rescheduling. I'm really hoping that they're keeping an eye on cancellations. I emailed Dixee, my study abroad director, but I'm not sure if she'll get the email on time or if the university will get her email on time.

So I'm sitting here, in my hotel room, eating a Cesar Salad and drinking pomegranate juice and hoping for the best.

Just Chillin

So I'm sitting in O'Hare, thinking that I may skip Tokyo and just go to Maui. No one would notice, right? Wouldn't even need my passport! Sounds like a plan to me! I'll spend the next four months lounging on the beach instead of fighting snowstorms and cold weather. That's it, I'm doing it!

... Just kidding. As much as I would love to vegetate in the sand, I have the sinking feeling that my parents, host family, and universities would be rather disappointed in me. Ah well. 18 ish hours until I reach my destination!

Leavin' on a jet plane

I know, I know. I told you my next post would be from Japan. Sioux Falls, SD is close, right? Well, I couldn't help myself. After a rather hectic hour trying to figure out my return flight, I am finally about to board the plane that will take me on the most exciting journey I've had thus far in my life. I had a tearful goodbye with my parents, but I think I'm ready. I'm nervous, excited, afraid, and anxious, all at one time. It makes me feel a little better to know you're all looking out for me.

I'll try giving you an update at Chicago, depending on whether or not they have free internet. I love you all so much!

Wish me luck!