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)
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)
I wanna side eye at the car situation, but I would've done the same thing haha. Put up some pictures of your dorm and school pleasseeee
ReplyDeleteI know, it sounds super sketch (cuz it kind of is), but it wasn't at all. it's one of those 'you had to be there' kind of things I guess, lolol.
DeleteI will, pictures will start soon. I'm using my phone as a camera again, so I'm going to wait till I get a new sim card
What Anima said. Haha! That's a super cute story to tell though.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad everything worked out well and I'm glad people were nice to you. I hope everything continues that way. Love you~
<3 <3 <3
Deletethings are going surprisingly well, and I'm glad people were nice too! I'll keep the blog updated, no worries