I'm too loud for Japan

Hey Everyone!

I safely reached Japan about 3 days ago, and it's been a whirlwind of activity! Before I get into any of that, I'd like to say that I hope you're all doing well and that I'm safe and sound. :D

-Day 1-

I arrived at KIX (Osaka Airport) around 3:20PM and went through immigrations and baggage claim without any problems. I slept most of the plane ride there so I was pretty awake. I caught a bus to Sannomiya, which is kind of the downtown area of where I'm staying (at least that's how I view it), it's in a central location to all of my travelling lol. I was then met by the head tutor, Wataru Mima who is a graduate student who helped guide me to my dorm, which is on Port Island (That's right, I live on a man-made island off of Japan LOL). We arrived and the office people gave me my key, explained the rules, showed me a map of close grocery stores etc. By now, it was close to 8:00, so Wataru headed home and Melissa, another student in the dorm, showed me around and took me to the grocery store and 100yen shop so that I could start personalizing my room :) She is so nice! I definitely would've gotten lost without her LOL With that, I unpacked most of my stuff and met some of my dorm mates before I went to bed.

Oh and special shout out to Noel for lending me his password to access internet! Without him, I would be without internet for at least another week! LOL

-Day 2-

I met with my actual tutor, Khulan (Right), who is from Mongolia! :D The picture also includes Amy (Center), a student from Korea who is my next door neighbor, she's super smart and nice!

Anyways, we met up and went to apply for a foreign registration card, an ID card for foreigners that is required. We had to run around a lot to gather the necessary materials, but when that was all done, we were told to pick it up the next day. So off we went and ate lunch, my first actual meal in japan! woot! (I had eaten snackfood/bread before this which I don't count as a 'meal' LOL)

                                           

Anyways, throughout the entire morning, Khulan kept telling me that it was going to rain super hard, but I kept brushing it off since I'm a seattlite (Seattle pride, woot! lol) Anyways, after we left, it was POURING. haha, I had my waterproof jacket so I was fine, but everyone around us was freaking out and running everywhere with umbrellas, which were highly ineffective since it was so windy, the rain was falling at a 35 degree angle LOL

                                    

We were trying to go to Ikea so that I could get some other knick knacks, but the trains were delayed since of the rain. We finally got there and it was so much fun. I love Ikea, I think I could spend the entire day there LOL The kid section was particularly cute! Look at the stuffed plushies! LOL

                                                 

When we came out, it was super sunny! But super windy! We tried to catch the rain, but this time, it was delayed because of the wind. Thankfully my dorm was only about a 20 minute walk, so we walked back :) Here are pictures of my dorm (with the blue IKEA bag that I had to buy LOL for 100 yen), I've actually rearranged the furniture so it looks a bit different, but not by much :) I also have a view of a park outside, people always play soccer in the morning.

After that it was kind of late, so Khulan left to go home (which I later found out took awhile because of the windstorm :/) and I showed some people in my dorm to the grocery store. It was fun, bought some other things that I needed. We then hung out and had a couple of laughs. The TJ's were definitely in effect LOL

- Day 3 -

So we went to school for our group orientation, so we could find out how to register for classes and I met Fujimura san and Hada Sensei. There were 4 new exchange students for the Business School: Myself, Ashley (also from UW who is doing everything the same school-wise as me), Jasmine (who is my next-next door neighbor), and Emanuel who's name I cannot pronounce correctly in the way it is supposed to be pronounced LOL We went and grabbed lunch afterwards with our tutors and were shown around campus, fun stuffs! We were obviously foreigners though, I am way too loud for Japan! lol Khulan had to leave, so I hung out with Ashley and her tutor as they opened her bank account, and got her phone (By the time I got my foreign registration stuff, it was too late to get a bank account since they close at 3, and you need a bank account to get a cell phone). It was so much fun walking around and learning the way from each of the stations. Random clover picture! Lisa wants!

                                             

Getting to school is quite a commute. I have to catch a train from my island to Sannomiya, and from Sannomiya I take a train to get to the base of the mountain our school is on. From there, I can either pay 200 yen to take a bus up to school, or walk for maybe 30 minutes? I obviously opt for the walk, it's like a mini-hiking trip! lol I'm not sure I'll feel the same during the super hot summer months, but right now, it's still pretty chilly and cloudy, very similar to how it was in Seattle when I left, but with a bit more chilly wind :)

Anyways, those errands took all day, so I didn't get back to my dorm until around 10pm. During the past few days, since I didn't have a watch, I just kind of floated around a lot LOL With not many obligations, and still adjusting to the new environment, time flew by.

- Day 4 - Today (finally!) Lol

Today I woke up and found I had a friend on the balcony. I managed to take a picture before he flew away lol.

                                              

Overall, today had to be the most productive day. I got my bank account first thing in the morning thanks to Janice, Ashley's tutor. She is so frickin awesome, she is the cutest, most adorable girl I have ever met! (We hung out a lot yesterday and she gets my humor so she's cool LOL) She's incredibly helpful, her Japanese and English are phenomenal, she also speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, and I think malay? She's amazing, I wish I could know that many languages! lol

                                               

Anyways, we then went to campus and looked around a bit more. There's a motorcycle parking lot! They were mostly mopeds but it would be beautiful if they were all motorcycles LOL

                                   

Since Kobe University is on a mountain, it appears that they have wild boars, and if you wander around at night, you might run into some LOL So they have really strict garbage rules. Anyways, there was this sign that used the boar as a mascot, so cute! lol

After that, I finally got my phone!! :D It's been the type I've always wanted ever since I saw Japanese phones, it's a white rectangular brick that is amazing and of which I still haven't had time to fool around with. Ashley took most of the pictures today, so hopefully when she updates her blog/facebook, I'll steal some photos and place them here.

Anyways, that's a brief overview of what I've been up to. It's only been 4 days but it seems I've already been here forever! I hope that this wasn't too dry of a ready, if it was let me know and I'll try to change it up :)

Oh, and random English that doesn't make sense lol

Until next time!

--Lisa