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Published: September 7th 2007
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My in my hotel room
Just hanging out in my room Saa!
So, the last couple days have been fun. Good news! I did not have a bloody nose today! I was also not dizzy! I don't know if I am healthy or not, but I don't feel so bad. I went to the general doctor (they don't normally have them in Japan, but this one trained in America) who didn't check my sickness, but proclaimed my nose fine (blood test and everything). I had a fever, but I don't think I still do. Anyway, I'm just going to act as if I was alright and then if I find out otherwise I will inform my leaders.
Did I tell you Shin-san lost my cell phone? He is my leader (kind of?) and he had it on my hospital adventure, and lost it, so now if we don't get it back it's $100 for a new one! I don't know if I can get IES to pay for it or not. Ahh! I'm embarrassed to ask. I don't think I want to ask Shin-san, because I don't want him to feel bad. I think I'll wait until they ask if I have a phone. Or I'll mention it to him
Y's Restaurant and Bar
The restaurant we went to last night for dinner an some friends outside of it before we went in. again Monday (maybe tomorrow...)
Oh dear, I don't know where to start talking. There is so much to say! Last night I decided I was not going to just sleep time away. I didn't feel as bad and I was lonely, so I went downstairs to see if I could piggy back a group's idea. Sure enough I saw some people I know bound for dinner. They were going to an all you can eat restaurant, which was also an all you can drink bar, sugoi, ne! The idea would never work in America. It was a little expensive though, 2300 yen for girls (200 more for men). That's over $20. I figured, though, I ate quite a bit and had three drinks, so it was actually about right. It was also a lot of fun. I was able to meet people, and alcohol's like liquid courage, you don't worry so much about what you talk about. The food was so diverse! They had Japanese pizza (with funny vegetables and corn on it! also some seafood). They had lots of fish and such. The sushi was fine. I liked the dumplings. They had this cool beer dispenser. You put your glass in it, then it would tilt it back and fill it just perfectly. I got a video of it because it just amazed the guys I went with. They thought it was brilliant.
Side note: Drinking age in Japan is 20 (hatatsu). I am drinking legally. As for parents and little children: I am drinking responsibly, in large groups, with Japanese translators (aka Japanese university students) along for the ride.
Anyway, afterwards we returned to the hotel. But wait, there's more!
Typhoon! (spelt wrong, I know). I came in last night and was blowing wind so hard all our umbrellas broke! We were drenched and tried to jog all the way back! The wind was blowing so hard that the windows rattled all night! The trains and subways were shut down until late this morning! Even this afternoon when we went outside the wind blew so hard I felt like it would push me over. It was like a stormy day at the beach. Worse than any wind I'd felt before. But also, it was awesome.
I have met quite a few people these last two days, but I am still feeling awkward. I can talk to many people, but I haven't really made friends. I hung out with one of the girls I will be living in the same dorm as today. She seems nice, hopefully we will spend more time together. I should point out, though, that I am a dork. Seriously, a straight up nerd. But to be blunt, lots of these girls put me to shame. This girl Kate, as pretty as Barbie with curly blond hair and a great smile, total nerd. It's amazing. I'm not so into anime, some of them breathe it. I am taking an extra class because I wanted to learn more while here, but not one of my classes are anime or art. I like it, but I want to study. See, I am a nerd, just of a different sort. I like Japan for the culture, for the side streets and the average people. Many of the students here haven't seen that yet, so I don't feel they understand. When I came back last time, it was so hard to explain what it was that made Japan great, why going there changed everything. I just couldn't do it justice. When my friend Maude went, she came back and the first thing she said was "you were right." You just can't explain it. I think, in regards to what's Japanese, I will have more in common with the other students after a couple of weeks.
It's so fun practicing the language, though. At the restaurant (Y's restaurant and Bar), we started mingling with some Japanese. They didn't all speak English. I will point out here that tipsy Lynda's Japanese is not so great, but I was willing to try. I talked to a few, then I found the quietest guy in the bunch. Everyone else was talking to us American's, but he was sitting shyly in the back. He was big and tall, even for Americans, kinda a chubby guy, and I thought, I'm gonna make this guy's night. So I went over and hung out with him, and just chatted for fifteen minutes until we had to leave. It was a lot of fun, because we were both laughing and joking and other people joined in. I find when you start having a good time other people want to have a good time with you.
Anyway, tomorrow I move into my dorm. It is the furthest away of the program! An hour and a half comute! tooi desu ne! However, it is also the best dorm in the program! It has a spacious room (for a dorm, bigger than the singles at UPS, I'll take pictures for you). I'll have a TV, a mini kitchen, a walk in closet, a bed and bookshelf, and a balcony! sugoi! ii soo desu yo! It will be very nice. There are a lot of rules, the biggest being that not only am I not allowed boys as guests, I also can't bring anyone other than a female family member into my room! For security purposes, they say. My parents will be very happy. Well, the other girls in the dorm can come into my room, but that's it. Our curfew is also at eleven PM, so we have to be in by then.
I guess I'll have more to share later, this will do or now. I hope everyone in the states is managing well. I miss you! I am a little homesick, but that's just because I'm tired of trying to make friends. I don't like having to try, it feels unnatural. I suppose it will work out in the end.
Ja ne,
Lynda
p.s. still working out the photo thing
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David Corey
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o__o;
I can't believe I miss out on running through heavy wind and rain... that's so depressing. <__<; Those are some rules, but I can see why... O: You have a curfew?!?!?!? poor Lynda... I'd die... You'll get the photo thing down soon enough. ::Wants to see photos of your dorm, especially now cause he knows no male will be able to see it:: XDDD