Getting ready!

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Well, our time on campus is more than half over. We board the plane 6 days from today and we’re all extremely excited. Our time thus far has proved to be a great bonding experience. Nearly all of our time here has been spent together, whether it’s meals, classes, of which we have six hours every day, or just hanging out, nearly everything is done together.

We started out the first weekend with a game of Japanese dodgeball, a picnic up at Elistoun, guest speakers talking about Japanese trends in art, and a photo scavenger hunt. From there we moved into what would become our regular routine throughout the week. We have language class every day from 8:30 to 12:00 at which point we have lunch. We resume classes with Japanese History at 1:30 and then have to endure the two-and-a-half hour stretch of class till 4:00. Once that ends we have our first break of the day and are able to do what we want (unfortunately ends up to be homework most of the time) until dinner at 6:30. Our cultural class, the last class of the day is from 7:30 to 9:00 and then we’re off.

We all seem to be doing a fairly good job of picking up the language and can now say certain key phrases but still have to have it spoken to us at a turtle’s pace in order to comprehend the meaning. We can count and ask the time but that’s pretty much it at this point.

Every once in a while we get a break from classes to do some other bonding activity like going out for ice cream at Fritz’s or playing a murder mystery role playing dinner game. It went over fairly well other than the fact that no one had any clue what was really going on. But nonetheless we all had a great time.

At this point we’re all getting extremely anxious to leave, getting excited for the plane ride, getting excited for Japan! It’s already clear that we have an exceptional group and a fun loving one at that and I can’t wait to see what happens in Japan.

I’m not sure if I’ll have time to do another update before we leave in which case wish us well with the flights and I’ll let you know when we’re in Japan.

sayōnara
さようなら

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Photos

A Happy Bunch
My extremely excited group members during the photo scavenger hunt.

Yukata
Tom and Adrian trying mens robes called Yukata.

Trace
Yeah this actually was one of the pictures we had to take. Of course, we spiced things up a little bit.

Caged Animals
pressed against the glass of the atrium.

Church in Alton
that's all that need's to be said

Fritz's 2
Getting ready to order ice cream after church.

Fritz's
A clever picture if I do say so myself

Class
Class out on the rainwater patio.

shopping
This is dan playing around in Schnuck's

Comments

[Tyler]

I know how to say (or rather, *sing*) Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes in Japanese. Can you?
I'm excited for you! Sure it's a lot of work now but it'll be so worth it when you're in Japan and you, that's right Eric, you!, are the tallest one in the subway. Take an arial shot of that! Your group's preparation this fall is getting me (even more) excited for New Zealand. Abroads are fun. See ya in March, I guess....

[steph trick]

taking Japan by storm
It sounds like you all are having a terrific time. It also sounds pretty intense...lots and lots of class hours! But you know you'll be ready for the experience. Thanks for taking the time to make this site so we in America can stay updated on your activities. Have a wonderful plane trip (overnight flights are so much fun...all you do is watch movies and get fed every 3 hours :-) ) and a great abroad! much love!