Anyways, my first impressions were not what I expected. When the airplane flew in to Tokyo Narita airport I didn't see any skyscrapers nearby or anything...landing a plane near skyscrapers doesn't seem so wise upon retrospect. The airport was pretty easy to navigate through: a big plus! Especially for us gaijin who don't know enough Japanese to get around with signs posted in English (as opposed to 'Engrish').
I met a bunch of people who are also here at my school on the airplane, and after getting off--i was waaaay too tired to attempt to socialize in the boarding area pre-take-off for Osaka. I fell asleep on the plane....before take-off and didn't wake up until they were bringing around drinks.
The people I've met so far in the exchange student program: bunches of them are really nice and people I would probably hang out with and be friends with at home. I've been making friends who come from the states, australia, england, france, and other assorted countries. I don't think we have any african exchange students---that continent seems to miss representation.
The food: hit and misses, as well as in between. I'm enjoying the rice, and karage ( a chicken dish--or rather skewer) is pretty good. mmm kobe melon custard bread is yummy---it's kind of like a doughnut. curry rice is okay--i'm not a huge fan, but i'd eat it okay. Chicken katsu is good, but I knew that before coming. Oh and pizza is ridiculously expensive here, we're taking 1800 yen for one pizza---a small one by american standards. that's approximately 18 dollars folks. Ramen---that's surprisingly a miss. I just can't figure out how to get it in a flavor i'd eat at home---
oh and, of course, the oh so wonderful HEALTH question....first up, jet lag. Yes it is annoying, but it's not really so bad. You're so tired from coming to Japan from America that you crash and I arrived at bedtime here. It's hard to sleep in past 6 am or so though. Sleeping isn't too bad: despite being on the floor and all futons are actually pretty comfortable. The pillows could use improvement though.
And the second health issue: planes suck!!! the guy behind me was coughing throughout the flight, and I heard a few other people doing so elsewhere as well: i caught a cold. No worries about it being something serious i'm already almost better. I'm energetic and all: i just have a voice deeper than a guy's because of congestion. ugh, the congestion....and cold medicine is very very very expensive in japan. i should take a picture of one of the pills: they look funny too! and yes, hot green tea does help, if only to melt away some of the mucous.
tv here: FUNNY...okay the show on weird talents last night was, and tonight we watched the first ghostbusters. in english, with subtitles in japanese. so it was great! oh and somebody brought cake that we all tried: maple pancake flavored. it was actually pretty good.
and the final tidbit i've learned a bit about my homestay family: but i find out tomorrow when I move in (thursday for all you NOT on the other side of the time-date line). I dont think there's a father in the house---he's certainly not mentioned in teh info packet. there's a mum a daughter about two years older than me, and a son a year younger. And a dog. It sounds like most of them speak at least some English, so that's great. I'm kind of looking forward to baths.
Okay well....I can't think of much else to say at the moment--i'll work on some pictures before I move out of the dorms. Friday i'm going to Kyoto, and tomorrow i'm meeting my speaking partner.
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