Vlog #1: oh heyy

This video isn't perfect, but I hope you like it!

Classes, Free Time, Tests from Latesia Manuel on Vimeo.

first week of classes

久しぶり！(but not really...)

So, this week I finally started classes. The first day of classes was cancelled because of a typhoon, so we ended up starting on Tuesday. Other than that, it's been a pretty good week; the first few days were boring because all we did was go over syllabus for the most part, and I had to force myself to enter school mode because not having to do anything academic for two weeks was pretty awesome, I must admit. I think I'll be fine in level 3; there are a lot of things I recognize, but was never 100% confident in my ability to use them appropriately. I feel like I would die in level 4, but maybe I'm just talking bad about myself (I'm actually not tho)

So, I have to take Intensive Japanese A3, which is grammar or something, Intensive Japanese B3, which is kanji or something, and Interaction 3, in which we apply our Japanese skill to various life situations. These three are compulsory, I don't really care to go into detail describing them; they're all intensive Japanese language classes. I have two out of three mandatory electives picked; skill up kanji because, duh, kanji; skill up written expression because it's with level 4 (what up Hannah!) and I suck at writing things in Japanese.

The third class is being a little taihen. I attended Japanese Sociolinguistics, but I'm not really feeling that as a class. It's taught in English, there are no Japanese students in it... yeah, no. Also, Socioling is on a during the last class period on Wednesday, and I have 3 other classes before it; I was a bit too tired by then for my liking. I didn't attend the first class of the Study of Japanese Culture II because I was tired (I had my compulsory classes before it), and just wasn't interested because I took a similar class at Dartmouth; but of course, after I miss the first class I read closer and realized that it is the one elective taught in English AND open to both exchange students and Japanese students open to students of my level. All I can really do is hope it's not full, check the student enrollment list at Kaede lounge on Monday and check it out next Wednesday if there is room. Me and Hannah both want to check out Skill Up Oral Expression, which is another level 3/4 combo course, BUT it meets on Monday; so the first class was cancelled because of a typhoon. Guess what next Monday is? A national holiday! Which means that we won't get to even check that class out until THE WEEK AFTER NEXT WEEK, but luckily the add drop period was extended one week because of all this Monday foolery. But still.

My level advisor/head honcho thinks I should take the Self Directed Learning course because I told him my grammar is weak (he whole-heartedly agrees), but I don't really want to take that; the way that class is described, I basically come up with my own study plan to increase my competency in an aspect of the Japanese language of my choosing. I feel like I can do that on my own. I get all flustered when I speak, I want to take Skill Up Oral Expression. So yeah, I don't think I'll be doing Self Directed Learning (I have a history of respectfully disregarding the advice of well-intending advisors. I know my weaknesses better than anyone)

So yeah, classes. They're coming together.

Oh, I also have a tutor!  Ayana <3 She's nice, and I like her, and we're going to asobu somewhere, along with Hannah and Saeko. It's going to be good times. Of course, the wonderful Yukina is an omnipresence via Line (and I will see her and the fam again very soon, I'm quite sure)

And sweet baby Jesus, I've been meeting so many people this week. Like, in such high volumes that I don't remember most of the people's names, just their faces, which is super awkward for me. I've also signed up for a Language Exchange, which will involve me meeting and speaking with a KUIS student(s); they help me with my Japanese, I help them with English, we become friends (?), BOOM. I had two people respond to my language partner ad, which is a little overwhelming for me to be honest, because, meeting people is actually a big thing for me.

Next week I get to catch up with Nami; we're eating lunch together! I haven't seen her for a couple of weeks, but we've been keeping contact via Line as well, so all is well; I need to redeem myself and be more talkative around her, she saw me at my worst right off the plane, waaaahhh

I'm going to a college fair in Akihabara tomorrow (Saturday); that will be interesting I'm quite sure.
I might do a vlog post about my extended weekend in a couple of days.

Jya

つづく

host families redux

9月12日, 木

Guess what I did today? I went and visited my first homestay, the Kitagawa family! I went to go have dinner with them and spend the night. At first I was worried I forgot how to get to the town they live in, but it all came back the minute I walked into Kaihinmakuhari Eki; board Keiyou sen train bound to soga, switch to Sotobo sen at Soga and get off at Toke Eki, try to find okaasan amongst the throng of high schoolers and salary men.

My family lives in a small town called Asumigaoka, inaka (country as they put it). Everything was so natsukashii, I couldn't even. I chatted with okaasan for a while, something I struggled with last year (read as could not do). No matter how bad I feel my Japanese is, I do need to accept I did improve a lot. Okaasan and I were the first one's back; she's cooking dinner ( I can't cook washoku so I am kind of useless to her), so I'm watching this  word game/charades type of show as Cookie (the doggie) alternates between asking for pets, grooming, and sleeping. And Cookie remembered me! That made me happy, good dog. Sadly, Cookie is quite old, so her health is warukunatteiru-ing. Apparently she wasn't able to walk for a while, but she's doing much better now (as in she can walk again...sorta...carefully)


I feel like old sweat; I hope I don't smell how I feel (probably do). oh, and i got a blister from my shoes, which makes sense since I didn't break them in) but no regrets. Anyway, Otousan and Yukina are both commuting, so they both get in a little late. We kept Otousan out of the loop that I was coming because we wanted him to be surprised; he was, haha. (We had to tell Okaasan because she was the only one home at the time, we told her I was here days after Yukina and I started planning my visit).  Yukina arrives not long after Otousan, and it is good times. Everyone is quite surprised (pleased) that my Japanese is so much better than last year; we were able to chat, and I actually sounded like a semi articulate person and understood basically everything they said, vs last year when I understood basically nothing. You know, if level 3 means I can understand and talk to my family over here, I'll take it.

Kitagawa Cookie is cuter than you. Sorry.

9月13日, 金
So cue Friday morning, and we have to get some bonding in before I go back to KUIS for health exam (vaguely described in aforementioned post). Otousan is gone I believe (doing fun stuff I think, I can't remember if he has Saturday off), so Okaasan, Yukina, and I kind of derp around (well, I derp around, Yukina gets to sleep in because she has a real person cool job and a long commute every day), and Okaasan is doing chores and whatnot so the house doesn't turn into a cesspool of regret (I don't think that would ever happen though); we depart around 10 o'clock and drive to a nearby mall full of restaurants and stores. We amble around for a while, because they want to take me to a restaurant, but it's not open yet. We end up looking at clothes (Yukina needs more work clothes), but mostly take a bunch of 試食 (shishyoku; free samples) from stores, all of which were really good and quite generously sized. And, once again, Kitagawa family for the win: yesterday I told Okaasan how I was struggling to grocery shop (it's not that easy when you don't know what all the signs, labels mean), and how I couldn't find salt/pepper in the grocery close to my home, so we went to a grocery store in the mall and they helped me find seasonings, instant miso (they had miso paste at the store near my dorm, which means I would need to buy dashi and toppings separately...yeah, no #poorstudentlyfe). Yep, everything was great until she paid for my stuff (it wasn't that much, but I was not aware she would buy it for me. Nice, sneaky nihonjin; is this because I brought them omiyage)?


So, once we were done eating free things/buying me spices so I can cook better and not starve, we went to the restuarant, which was a natural food buffet (almost literal translation, I forgot the actual name)  which was awesome! I didn't eat too much, because they were going to weigh us for our health check and I am vain; also, my sleep schedule is back in order now (I think), but my appetite is still not as strong as it used to be; not sure if it's because of the heat or jet lag anymore to be honest. And I ate well at dinner last night (it was tempura! yum) so I wasn't too worried. It was a fun time, because we got to chat more, and we ended up having a bilingualish conversation about health in Japan and America, and the prevalence of high fructose corn syrup in American food, particularly cheap unhealthy food. I think I've already had more complex conversations in this past week, then I did in two months last year? Of course, in true "I'm a mom and I do what I want" fashion, Okaasan paid again, but I am resigned to this. I at least promised to visit again, and cook for them one day; before the restaurant, we were eating shishyoku in a specialty type food store that had foreign/trendy foods (they had cream soda! (my great-grandma used to love cream soda <3) and oatmeal is apparently becoming quite trendy, but that store was so expensive, waa). Well anyway, they had these tiny, expensive cans of coconut milk in the store, and I mentioned about how I make it at home sometimes, so basically I'm going to cook them food one day. Gotta make it good, they're a crowd used to good food. They are also quite skeptical of cooking rice in a pot vs a rice cooker, haha. So, I departed from them, but I will be back. The Kitagawa saga will gain more chapters.Also, we ended up taking a family photo, but it's on Okaasan's nikon (she's so cool) once Yukina figured how to set the timer and we ended up propping it up with every book in the house. So, once again, no picture. We're an attractive bunch though, so you can imagine 

So, we depart from the restaurant around 12:35 and make a quick drive to Kamatori Eki, where me and Yukina get in a train; I have to go for my health exam (hehehe), and Yukina is going to the dentist (頑張ってね） I already wrote about the health exam, so after that Hannah and I hang out around Kaihimmakuhari Eki because we're off to visit one of her old host families from last year! We were supposed to meet Noah (a Dartmouth first year, well, second year now, doing an exchange at Keio), but turned out he couldn't meet us at Kaihim so we ended up eating shishyoku and eventually buying food at a new bread shop/convenience store/supermarket hybrid of wonder that had just opened; it was really good! After that, we went to Shim-Matsudo to go to the Indian Restaurant owned and run by Hannah's family (whose name I forget....hehe). Noah came about an hour after us, just in time for dinner. We have good times, basically. Dinner was great; another highlight of Friday was sending strange pictures of our faces to Kazuki and Masahiro as we waited for our transfer train.

dinner at Hannah's homestay family's restaurant, Babu

me and Hannah being attractive at Nishi Funabashi

Kazuki responding in kind to our lovely photo

9月15日、日
I accompanied Hannah to visit her other homestay family from last year, the Watanabes! They are so cute, I can't even. (I was supposed to go to a bbq turned into indoor party with Masahiro today, but because of the typhoon and the fact that I am feeling quite broke after paying my dorm fee, I had to cancel). We had lunch with them, and chatted about various things for a few hours before departing. Well, by departing, I mean they took us to another department store where we bought rain ponchos for the impending typhoon (on the first day of classes of course), and bento boxes and whatnot; of course, they tricked us and payed for it. Nihonjin paying for stuff seems to be a trend; I should have known something was up when they had us put our things in the basked Hannah's Otousan was holding. At least everything was only 100 yen; that actually doesn't' make anything better.In conclusionSo, uh, yeah, the last few days have been good. I need to stop writing now because I may be slightly tipsy and want to go to sleep. Don't judge me; I'm of age in both Japan and the USA.


Oyasumi!

テストタイム！

We took our placement tests!
And I am in level..... 3, which is meh. Well, I expected it, I'm pleased and think it is accurate.

Luckily, none of the tests were on a computer like that fiasco last week. We had three tests; a reading comprehension/grammar test, an interview (speaking test), and then an essay to write. Personally, I thought the essay was easiest, followed by the reading and writing test. Well, the first part to the reading/grammar test. There were two parts to it; the first part was pretty easy, and everyone has to take it cuz it determines if you get placed in level 1-3,which is basic to intermediary. The second test was given to people who wanted to see if they could be placed in the higher level classes (4 or 5). So, I took it just to see what it was like, cuz the first test was pretty easy. And yeah, no.  I recognized a bunch of stuff on the second test, in the vague panicked way of, "I think I used to know this??" Yeah, it was much harder than part 1. The interview wasn't too bad, I just stumbled more than I should.

But now, since I'm always slightly disappointed in how I do on any sort of test unless I get as high as humanly possible, I'm a little bummed because, well, level 3? It's not that level 3 is bad it's just...I've been at Dartmouth too long I guess. I feel average (which is okay! I know, but) Ugh, it's just so much easier talking outside of a classroom, like to my HOST FAMILY, WHO I VISITED AND SPENT THE NIGHT/DAY WITH THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

Level 3 should be fine (maybe?), but I feel like if I'm really super bored in class, I be like 'yo' to the bekka folks and try to work something out. But, personally, I feel too lazy for that; I'll just take the electives that place level 3 and 4 together.

And we had various orientation stuff this week; I have to buy accident insurance over here, but it's cheap, like 40 dollars, and we all go and register our addresses at our local municipality offices this week. Oh, and the health test will be so fun. That's the last thing. I have to pee in a tiny paper cup, then siphon it somehow into this little container, and it makes me uncomfortable. America definitely has Japan beaten when it comes to collecting urine samples in the least uncomfortable way.

EDIT: The health test wasn't that bad; it was pretty quick once it got started, a little strange at times, like when they just TESTED THE PH OF OUR URINE IN FRONT OF EVERY BODY, JUST SQUIRTED IT OUT ALL NONCHALANTLY, okay japan, okay, haha. But all my vitals are in order, even my vision I think, although I kind of messed up that test at first (I know, I just make all the mistakes)

Classes start next week, and I'm kind of glad. I'm feeling a little restless; need to get back in the classroom.

no pictures, sorrrry. Maybe next time.

heheheheheheheh

it's been 2 years in the making, but guess what I managed to find in Japan today?

?

??

???

that's right...

toes are such weird little fuckers, aren't they? well, mine are weird at least, but I like them anyway

SHOES THAT FIT ME.

And I didn't even have to go shoe hunting in Tokyo or some such nonsense. You might be wondering, why would you have to hunt for shoes that fit? You seem to have more than enough shoes at home, considering you have such a shopping problem.

First, hush about my shopping, you don't know my life. And, yes, I have no problem finding shoes at home, where my shoe size is quite average. But in Japan my shoe size is, well, pretty effin big for a woman, or so I've been told (not counting taller folks). But, I managed to find a shoe that fit, on accident, and it was like 10 dollars, so I had to get it. Right in good, old Chiba. My feet will be relieved; I brought mostly fall/winter shoes because, well, I thought it would get cooler sooner. 

These suckers are getting worn tomorrow. You don't even know how I feel right now.

9月４日〜９月８日 Pt 2: People

People, people, people. This blog post is all about people I've met, and the people I'm currently reconnecting with.

Let's start with new people first.

• Nami

KUIS assigns buddies to they're exchange students; these buddies are native Japanese students that attend KUIS, and they are a sort of peer mentor/tutor/de facto friend. Nami picked me up from Narita, and we had fun times getting to the dorm when I first arrived (detailed in the post about the Really-Not-Sketchy Car Ride). She's really nice, and I'm looking forward to getting to know her more. She also seems to be a firm believer in me not being all shy and introducing myself to people, so I think that'll be good to me because, surprise surprise, I'm actually kind of super shy about my Japanese and find it really hard to talk to new people because I'm afraid of sounding silly. I'm working on it. Hell, I'm also shy about introducing myself to people that speak English. Once again, working on it. I need to think of something to do with her to bond, but I'm really bad at planning things...

I do not have a picture of Nami yet, but this will be remedied one day. I do think we determined she likes sukiyaki, amongst other dishes, so I'm going to put a picture of that in her honor and to make you hungry and jealous

• Saeko

Saeko is Hannah's KUIS buddy. I'm a bit oblivious, but it turns out we were following each other on twitter, but I didn't even realize because I was too busy freaking out about everything. Anyway, we finally met over here and, she is also super nice. Like, how many nice people can I meet in my lifetime? I thought I well surpassed my quota back in the states when I left for college and made friends on top of high school friends (yeah, friends are the best. love y'all). I've had fun times with her already, and need to do something nice for her in return, without her finding out though because I think she'd find a way to not let me do it... Also, Hana and I ended up giving 'speeches' in English at a cram school where Saeko works (it was so official looking) Here a picture of us that they snuck; I'm looking pretty derpy right there. I'd post a picture of Saeko, but the only one I have is a purikura pic in which my eyes are scary huge (it's actually horrifying), so I'm not putting it here. No apologies

• Ikuko

Ikuko lives in Yatsu Ryou as well! She's an exchange student from Taiwan, and she's super nice. We're also the same age (for the win). I talked to her a bit on Wednesday when we had our orientation/computer test, but got to hang out with her more on Friday when we gallivanted around Tsudanuma (a town really close to Yatsu), then to Makuhari (where KUIS is located) to get my SIM card (kudos to Masahiro once again).  Ikuko is the one who is not me, obviously, come on guys

So, I've been doing some fun things aside from running around and handling business.

• Masahiro

Masahiro is the best. He is literally the best. He gets his own post thing. But, I met him last year: he was another classmate's host brother, but decided to befriend us to his eternal detriment

• Yukina

My lovely sister from last year (my first homestay <3). I imagine she'll get her own post soon enough #cough #cough #hint (I'm going to visit my homestay family, probably this week)

You wish you were as cool as Yukina.

• Kazuki

Last but not least, this guy. I met Kazuki last year too when I was doing the LSA; basically foolish kind KUIS students gave us (the LSA kids) a tour of the campus all in Japanese, and Kazuki was the poor sod that had to deal with my lack of comprehension and unintelligible Japanese-like-speech. We became friends last year, but I'm a derp so we didn't hang out too much, but we decided to not do that this time around because not hanging out with friends is silly. We had a long discussion over coffee last week (Thursday?). I don't have any pictures of Kazuki (rood), BUT I do have highlights from our catching up.

'80% of teaching is PAIN, but 20% is PLEASURE'

Kazuki knows math 

I am vulgar sometimes

we both appreciate cats

MUTUAL SUPPORT

sarcasm is hard

'Life is Pain'

I've met a few more people in the past coupe of days, but you'll get to hear about them next time

９月４日〜９月８日 Pt 1：練習しなくちゃ or I really need to review everything I know

IN WHICH TISH NEEDS TO REVIEW EVERYTHING

nothing says you need to review every aspect of Japanese like taking a test. And doing miserably on it.

I'm so rusty I'm surprised I haven't given myself tetanus yet.

(*this is based on the slight misinformation of getting tetanus from cutting yourself on a rusty nail. you don't get it from the nail per se... whatever, just google, you know what I meant)

We did a bunch of orientation stuff on Wednesday, and ended our day with a computer based test. And I did just awful. I mean, yeah, I did arrive yesterday and may still have a minor case of 時差ぼけ　jisaboke (jet lag), but I still shouldn't have done so poorly on that test. It's a disgrace.

Okay, I didn't do poorly per se. I just know I could've done better. Luckily for me (and any other wild-eyed foreigner studying Japanese who didn't do as well as they hoped) my eyes have been opened, and I will be studying intensely for the next week when we take the real ones.

Just, ew, no. The test was awful. I also really hate computer based tests :/

Also, bought some Skype credits to call the fam sometimes. Boom. (My family really likes to talk, so I decided to get unlimited skype calls to the US).

Think I have the phone situation worked out for Japan. We'll see.
Omfg, I finally got a functioning phone, but it was more just as difficult as I anticipated. I didn't want to buy a prepaid phone this time, so I decided to go the route of getting a sim card for my phone (I unlocked it).

But, it was a little taihen. Basically, I have a functioning phone because of Masahiro, but, he literally gets a post of his own because I owe him my life or something. He's another one of those super nice people that does super nice things that makes you cry inside because that's how nice he is.

But phone, yeah. I have a data only sim: I'm using Line, a free app that's super popular over here, and just useful to be honest. I'm not sure how prevalent it is in the US; I never looked into it because, well, I  have a regular voice and data plan at home. But yeah, hit me up on Line if you have it (or want to get it), or e-mail.

Line ID: latesia.m
e-mail: m.latesia@gmail.com

Oh, I bought my 定期券 (teikiken, school commuter passes) a few days ago. It was a tiny bit of a struggle (my kanji is rusty, and we had to use kanji on a form filling out the commuting info from our dorm to the school), but it worked out. I'm only here until December, so I got a 3 month commuter pass; I'll just get a one month pass for December then peace out.

On commuting passes: basically, they are cards you can buy that make travelling via train and bus a bit easier. They're rechargeable cards that you can put money on, and you just scan it when you enter a train terminal or board a bus, and BOOM: fare deducted. You can also use them to buy stuff from some vending machines, use them in stores, yeah. Pretty handy, and they keep you from having to buy tickets all the time.

The top one is my teikiken; it's a Pasmo. Yatsu Station, the station near my dorm where I start  most of my commutes, runs on a private railway line owned by the Keisei Electric Company; they use Pasmo (which is the card used by a lot of private railway and bus/tram companies) so that's what I had to buy. The green card with the penguin is a Suica; I bought it at Narita Airport, and plan on using it to explore, hang out with folks, etc. JR East produces and uses the Suica card. Pasmo and Suica have nearly identical functions, especially now that the different commuter cards have basically been streamlined and consolidated so that they're mostly interchangeable. Long story short, Pasmo and Suica are interchangeable, and can be used on eachothers routes. And I have both of them. So much powerrrrr

The things on the bottom are my KUIS ID and another paper card that we had to fill out; I forgot what it's called, and am too lazy to figure out the kanji on it right now (it's early in the morning right now, leave me alone) BUT if I show both of them together I am eligible for various　学割 gakuwari, or student discounts. Nice.

This is getting a little long, so I'll post the second half of my adventures in Part 2.

And I'll show you my dorm room eventually; I'm not done cleaning it, so you have to wait.

９月３日 優しい人 (kind people)

Things that happened after I landed in Narita International:

I made my way to baggage claim; realized my checked suitcase was heavy. I could move/lift it, ride trains with it, but it WOULD BE HORRIBLE.

Went through customs and all that, was found by my KUIS buddy, Itou Nami, as I was converting my USD to yen cash money.

Caught a bunch of trains from the airport to Yatsu Eki, got re-acclimated to being one of the most visibly obvious gaijin in the vicinity at all times, cried inside because my suitcase was so heavy, why did I pack so much stuff, oh wait, also packing for stupid winter (so stupid, winter, jk).

WE GOT LOST WHEN WE MADE IT TO YATSU EKI, because neither of us had ever been to the dorm before.

Just as a warning, things are about to start sounding sketchy, but I promise you, it really wasn't that sketchy. Believe me. Shinjite yo, and all that. So, me and Nami were standing in front of a kouban trying to read an overly simplistic map that was supposed to tell us where the dormitory was. We were double confused because we had also received conflicting directions as to how to get to the dorm. So, as we stood there, looking all confused and pathetic (I was more of the pathetic one I think), this dude drives up in his truck, parks, and walks up to the kouban (a police box). Oh, I should mention we stopped in front of the kouban assuming someone would be there; no one was there. Mr. Dude was also disappointed to find no one in the box. Just two, conspicuosly confused/lost, sweaty (mostly me) college aged folks standing with a luggage.

We promptly asked him for help reading our simplistic map, but finding the map a bit too basic I guess, he whipped out his smartphone and looked for the dorm on a map. Turns out, the Yatsu Station Ticket Guy who gave us the map and our first set of directions was right, and the well intending Obaachan who gave us the second conflicting set of directions was wrong. But, lo and behold, instead of letting us play the game of 'Dear-God-Are-We-Going-The-Right-Way?' and 'Wait-These-Streets-Aren't-On-The-Map', he offered us a ride, and drove us to the dorm, even stopping to ask for directions on our behalf.

Now, I know what you're thinking. 'Did you really get in the car with a stranger in Japan?' The answer to that is yes. Second question: 'Are you stupid, who get's into cars with strangers, are you asking for a lifetime movie to happen to you?' The answer to the stupid part is it depends on what day of the week, and the lifetime movie part is definitely, I would get so many royalties from that: but I want the bio-epic life type of movie, not the 'Everyone who even vaguely codes as feminine gets murdered/stalked/etc and whatnot.

(*For those who might not have grown up watching lots of Lifetime, basically that network plays a bunch of movies in which people, typically women [all cis het women in my lifetime watching experience] end up having horrible things happen to them till someone saves them, they are brutally murdered, or they reach a breaking point and take up an arcane martial art and exact bitter revenge)

But, no, I wouldn't recommend getting in cars with every stranger you meet, but firstly: I was not alone, I was with my buddy (*I can hear someone saying both of you would be killed, I swear I can hear someone yelling that). Secondly, Mr. Car Dude did not give off creepy/dangerous vibes. I know everyone doesn't believe in 'vibes' or 'having a feeling' or intuition: well, I do. The lack of danger vibes along with the pain of the suitcase plus the fact that it was getting dark and hard to see made riding with Mr. Car Dude a good idea in my books. No regrets, nope.

You gotta be careful, but sometimes it's okay to let your guard down and accept the kindness of people, even people you don't know. Cuz, it was the kindness of Nami and countless strangers that directed us to different stations, confirmed transfers we needed to take that got me to this dorm. Because I was pretty useless after the flight, let me tell you.

So yeah, encountered a bunch of really nice folk that took time out of their schedules to help us out. I got to the dorm pretty late (around 7), and I was the second to last; Hannah, who's flight was delayed, got to the dorm not long after me! (Read her blog here) I think we're the only American exchange students in this dorm. I met four girls; one was Korean, and the rest were Japanese (I'm assuming they live/grew up outside of Japan). And they all sound like they speak super good Japanese, waaa. I'll have to study hard just to try to chat with them!

I shouldn't still be up, plan on waking up early to explore the neighborhood with Hannah, then we have to go to KUIS for 10:00am orientation stuff. Funsies!

At least a little bit of my common sense is kicking back in; looked up and wrote down what trains we need to catch to get there...

Well, going to hit the shower then go to sleep.

Tish Out
(*I finally watched Star Trek: Into Darkness, on the flight. It was pretty awesome. And, I'm quite happy with Japan Airlines)

on departures

I am currently sitting in Boston Logan waiting to board the Japan Airlines craft that will whisk me to Japan, where I will promptly forget how to speak and how to person.

Yesterday was a good day, my mom had a little bbq since I'd be missing the holiday; my cousin Niecey (nickname), aunt Kathy, and grandma (nana!!!) came over, and it was quite nice to see them. I felt a twinge of regret for going, because my grandma was sad about me leaving. But what can you do? I suppose I'll find a way to call her without going to the poor house.

My visa and passport came on Thursday. I was so close to panicking, worrying  that I actually mailed my application in too late. My anxious thoughts ran something like this: 'Oh goodness, what if it doesn't come? The people in the visa department, they have to see my departure date, so they'll process it quickly, right?' and 'What if they all think I'm a horrible person for waiting so late to send my app, and decide to punish me by sending me the visa after September 2nd?', except my inner dialogue was much more panickey, made even less sense. My visa thoughts were also narrated in a high, shrill voice. And they were not always PG-13 (note: I've decided to eradicate limit profanity in my blog because, MON DIEU, WILL SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN? Any profanity in previous posts will be edited at my leisure.)

So, for my visa timeline: overnight mailed the application Aug 21st, it arrived at Consulate General of NYC Aug 22nd, I received passport and friends Aug 29, a whole three days before I depart the USA. It was a little horrifying, waiting for it to come, but once I had my passport in my hands, I couldn't help but think, 'Well, that was a little anticlimactic, wasn't it?'

And my mom was right. My visa picture is quite hideous.

At least my passport photo and CoE photo are nice. Not showing anyone my visa picture. Nope.

Also my family is resigned, but think I am quite insane (again). Because, well, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has been leaking radioactive water. I've been mostly spared from the family lecturing me about 'how I'm making such a stupid decision', how 'disappointed they are that I'm still going [to Japan]', etc. etc. I understand that they do it out of a place of concern, but it's a drag to constantly defend why I would want to go abroad to study a language that's part of my major, reasons why I think I'll be okay because 'everything is not irradiated, really'. But yeah, they're resigned to me doing what I will do, so I'm thankful that they didn't give me as much trouble as I thought. Also, disappointing grandmas is the worst, whether you think they should be disappointed or not : (

Oh, I suppose I should explain the Skyrim portion of my title. Basically, instead of studying for my impending placement tests at Kanda, I jumped headfirst into the Skyrim bandwagon (I know I'm late, I'm a poor student and just saved for a PS3 a few months ago, leave me be) and have been playing Skyrim for 60% of my waking hours the past few days. The other 40% have been devoted to not studying. I guess I'll be utilizing my airport time/ that 13 hour flight... Good thing the tests aren't till next week.

I play a female Redguard named A'tsun, who does not really resemble this random Redguard at all. But,  I am pleased to play a game that lets me create a black character and am surprisingly enjoying killing all the things. Pleased enough to mention the game in a completely unrelated blog.

So, moving on to what I've packed.

List of Important Things I Should Definitely Have:

1. Passport✓
2. Visa ✓
3. Certificate of Eligibility ✓
4. Wallet with Important Things ✓
5. CASH MONEY✓
6. Checked In ✓
7. Printed Itinerary ✓
8. Electronics In Backpack (personal item) ✓
9. Gallon Bag of TSA liquids in case my luggage gets lost so i can bathe ✓
10. Suitcase and all that entails ✓
11. Miscellaneous stuff.... sure, no check for this tho, too irrelevant

Anything else not implicated by this list is probably not that important/I need to get it in Japan anyway so... here's a picture of all my stuff:  EDIT: I didn't take a picture of my stuff.

I was planning on packing light.... yeah, no, didn't work out for me. It was a little difficult, because I was packing for winter too (I've decided to assume it will get colder than I expect), and being as I have to buy food/pay for housing, etc etc, I decided to accept the fact I won't be shopping that much so- no light packing. I mean, I have one checked suitcase and two carry-ons, so it's not to0 bad I guess. I just think my suitcase looks humongous. Curses to winter, always messing stuff up (sorry Isana).

I'll probably update the blog after I've started to take care of things in Japan. Who knows when I'll get a phone, but that'll be a post unto itself, I'm sure...

My mom took this picture. Just thought you should know.

Ittekimasu!