The name of the sport is Naginata. Mirek, Ayumi’s friend from Czech, came with us and we took lots of pictures. It was amazing to watch the women who were practicing. They were extremely concentrated and precise with their movements. Towards the end of the session, Ayumi’s friend who was in the class invited Mirek to try. He did a good job following her instructions as she slowly moved around and showed him the different positions. After she was done teaching him she turned to me. I was totally taken by surprise! I agreed but was worried that I wouldn’t understand her. She was very patient even when she had to keep moving my hands to the right positions. After the class had finished, Mirek and I were invited to come back any time. I have to wonder how much of that invitation is purely out of politeness.
My first photography class was today. The teacher, Watanabe, is fantastic. He may be my favorite teacher so far (I’ve liked about every one of my teachers). He has a great sense of humor and he’s very laid back. He basically said that in our class we can do whatever we want. When he asked me who I thought would be the ideal person to take a portrait of, I said Mai or Yui. Later he asked me why I liked photographing children. I felt very put on the spot and was surprised with what I came up with. I told him that in the States I worked at a daycare and that I love watching children. Their innocence and energy fascinates me. I told him that I love watching Mai and Yui interact, the way they handle situations when they are sad, happy, tired, whatever. And I said I wanted to capture their spirit. Watanabe sat back and nodded.
Our class is very small, about 10 of us, which is nice because it means Watanabe can be more personal with us. During the class he was asking me about my homestay and what route I take so he could help me find the best place to get supplies. I’m very excited about this class and being able to not only take the pictures I want but improve my skills. In the photography class I took at the community college our projects for critique were assigned. One example was taking pictures of things that represented line, patter, shape and texture. I love the freedom I’m going to have in this class.
Drawing was about the same as Monday. This time I spent the entire class time drawing just one hand. I posted pictures up of all three drawings if you are interested (unfortunately you can’t really see the shading on the last hand very well, that’s what took me so long). While I was drawing, I also listened to an interesting conversation with the girls at my table. One of them is from the States, she’s planning on transferring to New York next year. She was talking to another girl who lives here and has never been to the States. The girl from the States warned her that it’s very different there than here, you can’t walk by yourself at any time of the night. She recounted several times when she’s had to defend herself while in New York and L.A. I almost laughed because she made the States sound super dangerous, like anywhere and anytime you go outside you might be held up at gunpoint or get into a fight. But it is true that Japan is much different. When I walk home from the station it is already well past sundown, but I feel perfectly safe.
After I got home and ate I played with Mai. She has blocks with Hiragana (one of the types of Japanese characters) on them that she loves to play with. She stacks them up like Jenga pieces and sees how high she can make them. We stacked them carefully, making different patterns each time. When we were done we would take it apart block by block. After we grew tired of that game she started stacking them haphazardly. Every time the stack would fall, she would laugh with pure delight. If we were able to stack all the pieces and they didn’t fall, we would toss a ball over the stack until the blocks were knocked over. We played that game for a half hour. When we were done, Ayumi showed me a page that Yui had written for her summer "diary". On the top she had drawn a picture of Ayumi, her, Mai and me. She had written how happy she was that I am here.
These kinds of memories are ones I’m going to keep with me for the rest of my life. I might forget the funny thing someone said in a class or the lecture a teacher gave. But I will not forget the joy I shared with two precious little girls and their wonderful family.
My first day of school went well enough. I had Drawing first at 1:40 but I got there an hour early because Ayumi had to go shopping today. I had a question about my loan and the first person I asked sent me somewhere else. I went to the wrong room but when I got to the right room, they sent me back to the first room. I felt like a ping pong ball. But I finally got the information I needed.
Drawing was good. I don’t think I’ll have to really buy much for it, basically just paper. The teacher is very laid back. The class is actually several different levels of drawing in the same room. The first level (which I am part of) students drew their hands. It was very difficult and I could never quite get my hand to look 3-D. So basically I spent two hours drawing my hand. By the end of the second hour I was getting drowsy.
My next class was Art History. The teacher is from England and has an awesome accent. He seemed a bit absentminded because while he was going through his slides he kept going back because he forgot to mention something. At the beginning of class he said he wasn’t sure how many student wanted to be there and how many were in the class simply because it’s required. He apologized for the more boring subjects we’ll be talking about and said we would go over them quickly if possible. The entire class period was spent just going over the syllabus and him explaining what we’re going to be covering in the semester. Even though some of it may be boring, I’m looking forward to the class.
Japanese was my last class. I arrived about 15 minutes early and spent that time reading the handout for Art History. The teacher came in and rattled off a few Japanese sentences. I could feel the panic rising in me. Since I didn’t really pick the classes I was in, I wasn’t sure if I would be okay in Japanese II. The adviser who pick my classes for me must not have realized when I said I don’t really know Japanese I meant I really don’t know Japanese. After about 20 minutes in the class I had to tell the teacher (after a very embarrassing moment) that I didn’t understand her. I explained my situation and she tried to tell me to take the Japanese I class. Unfortunately it conflicts with my Drawing class. But after dropping Japanese I won’t be a full-time student. As a TUJ sponsored visa student (and a recipient of a scholarship) I’m required to be full-time. So on Thursday I’m going back to school to talk with another adviser and hopefully I will get everything straightened out.
While I was at school Ayumi’s two friends came over. One of them I met last night at the "chatting session". He lives in Czech Republic and he gave Ayumi a Czech cookbook. So the three of them cooked Czech food. When I got home I ate some of what they made, it was very good! Ayumi told me that she is very interested in foreign cultures and since she is married and has young children, she can’t go abroad. Instead she finds people from different parts of the world and learns from them. That is one reason why she participates in the homestay program. I asked her if she considered traveling when Yui and Mai are older, she said maybe. I hope that one day she will come to the States and I can show her around. Tomorrow Ayumi is going to take me and her friend from Czech to view a traditional Japanese sport. I forget the name but I’m very excited.
Oyasuminasi (good night).
I went to church today. When Dad was still here we went to see where it was. The way the subway is set up, for one station there are many exits that end up in totally different areas. I took the wrong exit and wound up walking for half an hour. I kept expecting the right street to be the next one, and the next one, and the next one. Finally I decided to ask someone. No one spoke English in the first place I went into, so I tried another convenience store. The guy behind the counter spoke a little English and when I asked him where Meiji University was he told me it was very far. He couldn’t even show me in a map book how to get there. On the back of a receipt he drew the station I needed to go to and what station to get off at. I followed his directions (which were very helpful) and finally oriented myself. I found the church about 45 minutes after the service started. Someone else was arriving just as I was and she showed me where to go for the service. I found out later that her name is Candice and she is from Singapore but her English is wonderful. She has been here since May and knows a good amount of Japanese.
After the service I met a few other people, including some Americans who told me to come to their house if I ever was missing American culture again. Every one was very friendly and after Candice showed me around the building we went into the basement and ate lunch together. I met a guy (I think his name is Tim) who said he went to ACU. I was so surprised to hear that! He told me he found it because he wanted a college with an undergraduate and graduate program associated with the Church of Christ. So even though I was super late, I am very thankful I made it. Everyone I met told me to come back next week, I definitely will. Next time I will know what exit to come out of.
After I got back Mai, Yui and Masayuki where playing a matching game with cards. We played one round and then took bicycles to the electronic store. We were going to make more stops but when we got out of the store it started sprinkling. Riding the bike made me want to get one even more. It’s a ten minute walk from the house to the station and having a bike would help save some time. The thing is that all bikes in Japan are registered. If the registration is not under my name, I could get arrested. Also I’m not sure how comfortable I would be with riding here. The rules are different than in the States.
Tonight Ayumi brought me to a "chatting session". People come who want to improve their English or Japanese. There was a big group from Spain there and a lot of them were learning some form of martial arts. It was a time filled with laughter and fun. At one point all the newcomers stood up one at a time to introduce themselves. One of the leaders, a Japanese man who talked extensively with me, told one of the guys from Spain to sing. We finally got him to sing and he had a very nice, deep voice. Mai and Yui did a little dance (Mai had no qualms about it but Yui was very shy) which everyone loved. They all wanted a picture with and of them. At the end one of the Japanese men who spoke English very well told me to please come back. Most of the Japanese men and women there know that I don’t speak Japanese but a few of them said a few sentences to me anyway, trying to help me learn a few phrases.
In short, I’ve had an amazing day filled with new faces and names (most of which I cannot remember). Tomorrow is my first day of class. I’m very excited and nervous. I hope I’ll be able to continue these updates somewhat regularly even when school really begins.
I forgot to mention about the heat here. One thing I miss about the Bay Area is the weather. It is very hot and humid here; by the time I have walked from the house to the station, changed from one line to another and walked from the last station to the school, I am drowning in my sweat. Fortunately the subways are air conditioned. In Japan they don’t have central air conditioning, it’s too expensive. Each main room has it’s own box attached to the wall. When no one is in the room, the box is turned off and when there is some one in the room, it is on. So when I come into my room, it is stiflingly hot but the air conditioner quickly cools it down. For those of you that live in the Bay Area, enjoy the weather! Go outside and take pleasure in the fact that you can walk around for a while and not come back inside looking like you took a hot shower. Ayumi told me that it will start cooling down in mid-September. I just have to survive until then.
The placement exam went well. I placed into Calculus which is very surprising because I thought I did horribly on the math portion. The English part when smoothly as well, I had to write an essay and ended up getting the topic I was hoping for.
After the test was over Dad and I waited for my host mother to meet us. She had tried sending us a picture of her and her family but it didn’t work so we didn’t know what she looked like. Fortunately Dad was able to send her a picture of us so she knew what we looked like. After we met, she showed me three different ways of getting to the school from her house. She wanted me to pick one of them so that I could get a pass. The subway systems are ingenious but difficult to figure out. While she was explaining, a woman who works at the school (Junko) saw us and started talking in Japanese to Ayumi. Junko helped explain to us what Ayumi was saying. We eventually left and I got my first subway experience.
There is a whole subway culture. Ayumi explained to me that the Japanese value their subway rides (she said it was precious to them) because they work very hard during the day and the ride on the subway is their "down time". I noticed that everyone seemed to be sleeping or reading or texting on their phones. I found out that it is very rude to talk on the phone. Even when walking around Tokyo I haven’t seen many people talking on their phones. I wish it was like that in the U.S. On the escalators if people want to stay put, they move to the left and leave space on the right for those who want to walk up.
The first day I went to school on the subway was during rush hour. When I first got on the subway, it wasn’t very crowded but on the second stop, many people boarded. I thought it was crowded until the third stop when even more people came on. I’m very glad I’m not claustrophobic because the people around me were very close. Every time the subway rocked, the people swayed against each other. Dad and I have made a few mistakes in the past several days but I think we’re getting a hang of the system.
On Tuesday I had orientation from 9 am to 5:30 pm. The first speaker, Jonathan Wu was very entertaining. He was born in the States and had a big, booming voice and a long, bushy beard. All the speakers through out the day were good, but as the day wore on everyone’s energy level dropped. By 5:30 I was ready to get out of there. But I did make two friends (Seyia and Victoria from New York). Their pictures are on the site. Before I met them I was talking with a staff from the school, Eric. I had noticed that since almost everyone else was staying in an apartment, there were groups already formed. I told him how I felt a bit left out and he assured me that I was in a better situation. He told me how many of them won’t stay friends since after this semester they will probably move out. He introduced me to Roary (I don’t know if that’s the right spelling) who now lives independently. I felt much better after talking with Eric and I didn’t feel so alone. The next day I met several other people. All of the students I’ve met have been really friendly which I’m very thankful for.
Wednesday I went to an orientation for people interested in Art or Communication majors. The head of the art department spoke to us and after he viewed my file, he told me he wanted to speak with me later. It turns out 43 of my credits transfer which means I’m basically half-way through my sophomore year. That was surprising. I figured I would be considered a sophomore but I didn’t realize that many credits would transfer. After waiting for a while, I met with him and he set up my classes for me. I only have to go to school Monday, Wednesday and Friday but I don’t get out until 7:00 pm. My first Monday class starts at 1:40 though. I’m taking Drawing, Digital Art, Art History and Japanese 2.
Today Ayumi took Dad and me to the Ward’s office so I could get an alien registration card and national health insurance. Afterward we went to a very nice bakery for lunch. It’s been amazing and wonderful to be able to share with Ayumi American culture and customs and have her answer our questions as well. She is such a willing listener and her desire to learn is very strong. When I told her that I’m going to a Christian church on Sunday, she told me she’s never been to a church and she would like to come at least once! God has set me up with the perfect family.
As far as food goes, it’s been an adventure. The first night with my family, they took Dad and me out to a Japanese restaurant. I tried eel, it wasn’t bad but I had to focus on the taste and not let what I was eating get to me. I also had salmon. It too was really good. Before we eat we put our hands together, bow and say "itedakimasu" which is something I’ve forgotten to do several times. Ayumi is very understanding though.
Tomorrow is another orientation and afterward there is a campus tour. The tour shouldn’t be too long since the campus is six floors of an office building. But I’m looking forward to seeing my new school. Classes start Monday. I’m starting to get that jittery, nervous feeling that comes with the beginning of every semester.
Our flight was delayed but we got here in 9 hours. It was pleasant; the stewardesses were very polite and the food wasn’t bad. There was a two year old girl sitting right in front of us. She seemed intent on proving the strength of her lungs and prove it she did for about an hour. After we landed, the parents apologized to us saying she was in her "terrible twos".
It was amazing because not only were there screens on the back of every seat, we had the option of seeing the view from the front and bottom of the plane. We flew above the clouds and when they finally broke, it was odd to sometimes see clouds suspended below us. When land came into sight everything looked green and lush. After we landed and got off the plane, we had our passports checked. I noticed how empty and quiet everything seemed. But as soon as we went into the lobby it got much louder and more crowded.
Dad bought our bus tickets and we stepped outside. The air was hot and humid and I immediately smelled smoke. Next to the door was a fenced in area for people to smoke and while we waited for the bus I could almost feel myself being surrounded in a cloud of smoke. The two-hour bus ride was not unlike the flight but this time we could see out the front window. Everything was so clean, every car and all the roadsides were spotless.
Tomorrow I’m taking my placement tests after which I will be meeting my host mother. She’s going to take me on the train to her house so I will know how to get from there to the school. I’m very excited about meeting my host family.
I’m sitting next to the opened window of our hotel room. We’re on the 10th floor and the view is pretty amazing. Buildings surround us on every side and there’s a two-lane freeway relatively close (but surprisingly not loud). Right now it’s dark and I can see people walking in their apartments. The crickets are ongoing and almost deafening and below our window I can hear lively conversations in the courtyard of the hotel. I can’t believe I’m finally and truly here.
It’s 7:30 pm on Sunday here but my body is telling me it’s 3:30 am. Jetlag is finally setting in so I apologize for the somewhat spacey post. Hopefully I’ll be able to upload my pictures soon. Instead of embedding the pictures into the post I’m going to post them up onto a site. I’ll give you the link for it as soon as I set it all up. Until next time.
In less than 12 hours I’m going to be on a plane headed for Tokyo, Japan.
I will be attending Temple University in Japan. Temple’s main campus is in Philadelphia where it was founded over 100 years ago. I found out about the school through a Japanese class I took two semesters ago. My major will be in Art and afterwards I would like to go into photo journalism after attending for three years. I will be staying with a host family of four. They have two daughters, 5 and 3 years old. My hope is to learn Japanese from them as well as the customs and culture of Japan and they would like to learn about our culture in return.
I’ve felt a pull towards Japan since I was little. Because I’m half Japanese I’ve always been curious about that part of me and when I found out about Temple, that pull grew stronger and more real. The process of applying and getting all the documents was not easy, and most of the time things happened right at the last minute. I like to see that as a test of faith since I’ve felt this is God’s calling for me.
This past week has been crazy as I’ve been packing and trying not to forget anything (as I typically do when I go on trips). I’ve also tried to visit people when I could. Though I’ve gotten a lot done everyday, it felt very slow and unproductive. At the same time, the days have gone by quickly and time seemingly slipped through my fingers. I’ve gone from extreme peace when I feel ready to go and extreme panic wanting to do anything but leave and every emotion and extreme in between.
The hardest part about leaving is leaving everyone behind. Getting e-mails is nothing to a hug (not that I don’t appreciate e-mails) and talking to someone on the phone isn’t the same as face to face. That will be the biggest challenge, not being a part of people’s immediate lives here. I’ll only know what happens through what people tell me and vice versa.
But I’ve very excited to meet my host family and make new friends. I have no idea what God has in store for me but I’m ready to find out. I appreciate any and all thoughts, prayers and e-mails. I don’t know how often I’ll be able to update but I will try to write as much as possible.