Two weeks in

Vaguely trying to keep to an update per weekend schedule. Here we go!

I have now been in Japan for a bit over two weeks, although it seriously feels like far longer than that. Maybe because I'm used to not really doing much with my time, and these first two weeks have had what feels like a mandatory, or strongly recommended event every single day. It's been fun, if a little tiring and has made me feel like I've lived four weeks here instead of two.

Of course, my classes have started too, but my usual tactic of 'go to classes, then go back to my room, study and lurk on the internet or watch random things' has been disrupted by the nightly parties/meetings/things that have been going on. We had dorm tsukimi about six nights in a row. Tsukimi was a word I had actually never heard of before coming to Japan. It translates literally as 'Moon Watching' and is the term that is used all the time at ICU for the 'welcome new students' parties that go on in the evenings. The ones I went to were held in my dorm, and students from one of the other dorms would come over and we would all introduce ourselves, then play some random 'getting to know you' game (I know, I know, it's a WILD live I lead!) It was actually really fun, if slightly exhausting to have to many social events. I also discovered a new favourite game – Uragiri (Traitor) Basket, a much more entertaining version of the Fruits Basket game. 

Still, despite my busy social schedule, I have managed to explore a bit. My getting lost in Japan count so far is only at two for this trip sadly, but I'm sure that will increase as time goes on. Especially as one of my lecturers recommended that we all went out and tried to get lost because that's when you find the interesting places. I'm still not convinced that wasn't his way of trying to cover up for getting everyone lost on the first field trip they took the class on... Still, it is advice that I intend to follow diligently.

The big news since my last post has to be, of course, that I have found vaguely affordable cheese. Heh, just kidding, no the big news is that I have had a full week of classes, including switching one of my classes for a more interesting one. A lot of the week was spent wearing a really-not-me outfit for initiation, which is now, thankfully, over. The fake nails actually didn't last past a day. They were just far too irritating to put up with. Which was sad, because they were kinda cool, just too long.

It's so...girly :(

So I know very few people will be interested in my classes, so I'll just say a bit about each.

Japanese: it is really disorientating to have Japanese taught at a level I can understand it at, keep up with, and actually learn something through. I like it.

Introduction to International Relations: Really awesome and interesting class, but the timetable means I have no time for lunch.

Contemporary Japan: Ramune to Anime: Make this class an hour shorter, and it would be the nicest class conceivable.

Right, now onto other, less tedious academic things. Grocery shopping in Japan is very interesting, especially for someone like me, whose main method of cooking is heating stuff in a microwave, or cooking things from frozen. That is definitely the most expensive way to eat here, and so I am having to, after many years of resisting, figure out how to cook real meals. Pasta, noodles and pasta sauce are figuring a lot, as I try to figure out what foods contain protein that I can afford and cook (bearing in mind that I really, really dislike cooking raw chicken). Also, I need more ways to cook eggs than scrambling them. Nice as it may taste, I need variety.

Another thing I have learned is that apparently I look half-Japanese. When three people on separate occasions make comments about it, or ask me if I am, I started asking why. Apparently it's the hair. Naturally straight hair is apparently not a western thing. The fact that it is currently black might help, but I haven't made a secret of the fact that it's dyed. Now, I'm not saying its a bad thing that people wonder if I'm half Japanese, it's just odd. Also, if people who know me think that, maybe the random strangers on streets think that too, which might affect my ability to play the 'oblivious foreigner' card. These are the important things in my life to think about.

Speaking of cards, I am now officially an alien! I have an alien registration card to prove it and everything! Ok, granted that was just a bad translation of 'foreigner', but it is the official translation, which is what counts, I feel.

Initiation, Harajuku and mosquitoes

It is actually exceptionally difficult to type right now. The reason? I have just glued fake nails on to my fingers for the first time in my life. I am also wearing a tutu, although that does not appear to be affecting my ability to type, just the level of my pride...

Pretty, right? Or maybe just tacky...

It's not a new fashion choice, it's initiation week! Now, I haven't actually posted anything for a while. The reason being, that orientation to my study abroad university has been long and tiring. Also because I procrastinated. This is also the reason I haven't yet written and sent home the postcards I promised (sorry guys... soon! I promise!)

So last Thursday, I arrived in Japan. The flight was fine, except that there were too many good movies, so I didn't actually get any sleep. My first impression on returning to Japan was that, once again, I had underestimated the heat. I was wearing my winter coat, because it was too big to go in my suitcase, and it was a bit chilly in England. Not so here! And with a typhoon on the way, it was horribly muggy too. Still, I met the guy from the Netherlands who I had arranged to meet, and we started the journey to ICU. Heavy bags, a long journey, and humidity are not my favourite combination, but it was great being back in Japan. Eventually arrived, and went to my dorm, Global House. My dorm is a very international one, and has people from loads of different countries, which makes it, in my opinion, a very exciting place to live.

I was very surprised at how much like a home, or a family, Global House is. Dorms in England seem to be just a place to sleep, but Global House has pride in being Global House. They even have a football team (which won the tournament last year. The cup is displayed in the communal lounge) I guess its because in England, you are in a dorm, usually for only one year. Here, students will stay in the same dorm, though not the same room, for the full four years.

Anyways, the reason I am wearing fake nails, far too much tacky plastic jewellery and a tutu is because every time there are new students, a bunch of the dorms have initiation, where the new people have to dress up to a theme for the first week of class, then perform a dance or something on the last day. We, for some reason, rejected the theme of pajamas, or vikings vs pirates, and chose our theme to be two types of Japanese fashion, one for the guys, one for the girls. Ours is called 'gyaru', and whilst there are many types of gyaru, the main ideas include tacky, glittery, coloured hair, and really bright colours. Also tanned (or makeup darkened) face, white makeup round the eyes...you get the picture. Guys are being 'chara-o', which I have probably spelt horribly wrong, which is basically a cross between 'pretty boys' and hipsters.

A trip to Harajuku was definitely on the menu once the theme was decided. For those who don't know, Harajuku is the Camden of Tokyo. It is the fashion district, where all the alternative people go to shop, or just to walk around and show off their outfits. It's also the place I dream of having a shop selling my designs in one day...

Anyways, we weren't able to spend as long as we wanted there, as we had to get back for yet another meeting. I have to admit, by one week in, I am really meeting'd out. Although I ended up missing it anyways, as pretty much as soon as I got back to my room I felt really ill. I have indeed finally caught the Global House cold/sore throat. I think, especially amongst the girls, there are few who haven't caught it now. I also developed a headache, probably brought about due to my reverse insomnia, or whatever it's called when your body wake you up after five-six hours sleep every single morning... So, feeling really ill, I crashed. I woke up at about 10pm to realise that somehow, between the morning and waking up, my legs had been bitten so many times by mosquitoes.

I really, truly hate mosquitoes right now. I finally start wearing skirts again, and they make me regret my decision... foul play, little insects, foul play.