Yesterday was as about insane and somewhat catastrophic as it gets...Running around last minute, being yelled at, and dropping my suitcases constantly set the mood around my house before I left. It was difficult to say goodbye to the family, and more difficult to say goodbye to the animals (Kitty and Kumo of course). However, I pretty much was fed up with the airport and just wanted to get there.
The plane ride went very smoothly for the most part... 14 hours of mediocre, airplane food, and sleep... or no sleep. Apparently, a woman fainted on the plane near the row I was sitting but I was asleep with headphones on... oops.
So right from the get-go I am overwhelmed by how fast everyone speaks Japanese... and, wow Marissa, it's most likely because EVERYONE IS JAPANESE. Although I have failed to perceive this I am a bit intimidated. However, the convenient store down the way has friendly employees who accept our inability to communicate as civil human-beings... good. The people on the program seem nice, and my roommate seems very cool. So, that's about it for the time being. I have orientation today at 8:45 and I guess we're riding out very own bikes around Hikone. Also, I literally have only some of today to figure out if I want a host family so we'll see... but so far, I am thinking I love apartment life. Until then, This is Marissa signing off... You stay classy San Diego.
OH BY THE WAY! Every time some SUPER weird Japanese item pops into my line of attention, I am going to write about it.
1. ナポリオンスパゲティパン。pronounced: Napoleon Spaghetti Pan. It's a piece of bread with spaghetti on the inside... haha mmmm!
The first few days were really overwhelming for me with the Spanish, but I'm sure you'll get the hang of it. Also, just ask them to slow down a little.
ReplyDeleteHost families are fun, they really help you learn the language well and they take you cool places and make sure you don't die or get lost then die. Although apartment life would be nice too (sometimes it's a hassle to have a host mom and the like).
Also, I should just comment that the Japanese really love their bread and seem to think that if one food item is good, it must be even better with bread! I'm sure you'll have many adventures with that. The Ecuadorians feel the same way about cheese. Ask Lolo about it, she's got better stories than me.
Good luck with Orientation!! Love from Ecuador!!
Marissa!! Reading this makes me miss you! But you're in Japan, which is awesome! The first day was ridiculous here too, give it two weeks and you'll feel fantastic. I still can't understand my padre, although now I kind of think maybe he talks fast because he knows I can't understand...but most other people make an effort to slow down once they realize you just missed the entire paragraph they just said in ten seconds. I've found the best cure for language-overload is a nap.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck and stuff! Heart heart!
And ok you know what Kt, I've been thinking about that hot chocolate all week and the more I think about it the more I want another one :p
I'm pretty sure that's not how you actually pronounce that Japanese gibberish. Toni and I thought that "Napoleon Spaghetti Pan" sounded pretty much like English.
ReplyDeleteJust thought you should know.
Love and miss you
Erin (and Toni!)