始めまして
Translation: Nice to meet you, how are you, used when you first meet someone.
You must have been wondering what the other half of the dynamic duo was doing that was keeping her from regaling you with tales of college life. I have been busy. Busy getting adjusted, busy trying to make new friends, busy trying to learn a new language, and most of all, trying to live without Bianca Bear (this one I am still working on).
Actually, those were all lies, except for Bianca Bear of course. I am too busy having fun! I feel like I adjusted very easily to Japanese life. I naturally wake up early (lots of Japanese people do), I already eat Japanese food (thanks to Bianca and I working on refining our palettes over the years at Trinity), I shop A LOT (a serious Japanese hobby), and I speak enough Japanese to get around. I made friends pretty quickly when I got here. I am a bit ashamed to say they are all American. My school has more Japanese people than Americans but I met the Americans on a miniature tour of our school and we stuck together. We have a lot in common so we all became friends pretty fast. We are also all homestay students. So, I make up for my lack of Japanese friends by living with a Japanese family. No, my family is not fluent in English. So how do I communicate? American sign language (eg. Thumbs up, point at everything I am referring to, etc) and Japanese. I am quite happy to say that my Japanese has improved immensely over the past month. Even my host parents said so. I can carry a normal conversation with them and even tell jokes! (According to my brother I can’t even tell jokes in English so I think this is a huge accomplishment for me). Here are some pictures of me trying to adjust...
Trying to dress like Japanese people. Haha. That is a lie. Very few people dress like this. I got dressed for a culture program.
Tokyo is basically Hello Kitty Heaven.
Ringing in the New Year on Coming of Age Day.
Lounging way up high in the Member's Lounge in Roppongi.
I feel like the luckiest person in the world because I was paired with such an amazing host family. As my brother so eloquently puts it I “hit the jackpot" with my family. Misato-san (mother) is very kind and funny. Misato-san was an exchange student in France so she is fluent in French. My host mother can barely cook but I love it that she tries. After I told her that I chose a home-stay because I wanted to try all sorts of Japanese food she began to look up new recipes to surprise me. Her husband, Shingo-san works for the Hitachi electronics company. He worked really hard to secure his current job (his certificates are hanging all over the house). Aina-chan is their daughter (she just turned 2 on Friday). Aina-chan babbles all day long but no one really understands what she is saying. She goes on and on and we just shake and nod. She knows how to make demands though, like “Tea! Candy! Milk! Open!? She also knows how to say my name. Misato-san’s parents come over often to talk to me. Their English is amazing. When they come over they bring cakes (making them instant friends). They manage museums and concerts (and Misato-san’s father used to produce movies… have you ever heard of Pokemon? He did one of those movies). So, as members of the awesome museums, they give us tickets to Roppongi all the time to see new exhibitions. Yesterday, we met up in the morning (around 10:30) and drove to central Tokyo. Misato-san’s father does not have a driver’s license so her mother drove. Man…she is one wild lady (I should have guessed it from the purple hair she sports). She likes to drive fast. So, we got there in record time. They bought me a ticket to go up Tokyo Tower. It was my first time and I was super excited. Unfortunately…going up Tokyo Tower is really only going halfway up. To go all the way up, you need to pay more (on top of 820 yen, which is ~$10) and wait an extra 30 minutes. I think not. I felt like we were high enough. We had lunch up in Tokyo Tower while Misato-sans parents were having a meeting with some artist friends who were displaying work in the Tokyo Tower gallery. So, afterwards, Misato, Shingo, and I went to a little playground. Ai-chan, Misato, and I rode a train with some cartoon characters that Aina loves. It was fun. When we were done, we went to Roppongi to visit the new exhibit at the Suntory Museum of Art. The Suntory museum is located on a whole floor in Tokyo Midtown (a super, SUPER ritzy shopping complex/skyscraper). We spent most of the afternoon in the member’s lounge. We lounged around all afternoon, eating sweets, drinking tea, and playing outside on the balcony. If we needed anything, we buzzed the attendants. The great thing about Tokyo is you don’t tip anyone and they offer way better service than people in America. It was so relaxing. (I did my homework while the grandparents slept. I have to fit it in somehow). If we were not in the member’s lounge, we were shopping downstairs (bookstores, cafés, high end boutiques, patisseries, basically heaven for me). I did pull myself away long enough to go to the museum. The last time I went to the Suntory Museum (also by invitation), there was an exhibit on Japanese lacquer ware, “makie" It was quite pretty. I saw a dollhouse that had a miniature chandelier hanging inside and furniture with gold dust. It was so gorgeous. So, the new exhibit was extremely rare, never seen before national treasures from Miidera temple. It was amazing! So many bodhisattva sculptures and silk paintings. Then we had dinner at a really cool restaurant. It was like endless appetizers. So I got to sample a variety of food and was really full at the end. The chefs made the food and talked to you. I love Japanese restaurants. Even the really shady ones offer tea and warm towels. And again…no tipping.
So, if you were still wondering…I LOVE TOKYO! I think my host family has really made my stay exceptional. I knew that if I stayed in the dorms I would not make any Japanese friends. I would be an American tourist. So, with my host family I can be more Japanese. I also feel really skilled at using the train system (which is incredibly efficient and punctual…I wish San Antonio had one like Japan’s). So, when I see Americans looking lost I try to help them. As a matter of fact, I am often on the lookout for Americans in need. They are surprised to see an Asian person speak English fluently. It cracks me up inside.
How are my classes? Fine. Temple University is incredibly dull and not much of a challenge compared to Trinity. I feel like Bianca when she was at UTEP. Also, I am not working on the weekends (at the library) so I have plenty of time to just hang out. At first I was really confused by my ample free time. Now, I have adjusted. I spend my free time exploring Tokyo and playing with Aina-chan and talking to my host mother. On the weekends I jog around my hometown in the morning; talking to random Japanese people, dissecting plants (I can never get away from my lab work).
What is my favorite thing about Japan so far? Patisseries!!!!!! You know that Bianca and I have been on an endless quest for real patisseries. Well, the quest stops in Tokyo. There are a million patisseries. In fact, a 10 minute walk will take me to a patisserie in my home town. Right next to Temple University (literally a 5 second walk) is a cute little café called “Minami Azabu." It has coffee, cakes, cookies, croissants, etc. My favorite cake is the Mont Blanc. I need to learn how to bake these. A 20 minute walk to Roppongi Hills (from my school) takes me to Le Chocolat de H, the BEST chocolate shop I have been to in Tokyo. Before I left for Tokyo, Bianca provided a list of chocolate shops I should visit (we are doing important research on chocolate that will rock the consumer market when the data gets published…so it was strictly business). I have been trying to do my best. On Valentines Day in Japan, girls have to give guys chocolates. So, I bought some for my friends and I got some for myself. I went to Pierre Marcolini and Marzoroff (known for their alcoholic chocolates. No I did not have any. I will turn 21 in April and even then I will not have any). The Marcolini chocolate was for me. It came in an exclusive Valentine’s chocolate jar. I love chocolate jars.
I eat this a lot... I need to. It is part of the Japanese diet.
Japanese cakes...I would like to say that the majority of my Japan budget has been spent on chocolates and cakes. Well worth it I think (for the research and all).
So, do I want to go home yet? Actually. My favorite Korean boy band (who happen to be extremely popular in Japan as well) is performing in May. So…I wanted to stay a bit longer. Unfortunately, research calls me home. The biology department gave me a scholarship while I was away (I got the news today). So…I should go home and accept it. As much as I desire to see Tohoshinki, I must leave. I bought enough magazines and CDs to last me for a while. Japanese CDs are really expensive. No wonder they have CD rental shops. 4000 yen for a CD is a little ridiculous. Adjusting for the poor state of the economy now…4000 yen is about $40. Shingo-san loves music. He used to be in a band. So, he has the hugest collection of CDs I have ever seen. Well, to each his own. I buy cakes. He buys CDs.
Next week I am going to Hakone, a famous hot springs area. Japanese onsens (hot springs) are quite cool. I can’t wait!! Also, my siblings are coming to visit in March. So I will have a lot to talk about in my next blog. Till then, have a most wonderful time wherever you are.
To Bianca Bear: Someone in Tokyo loves you.
私 は ビアンカ ベア (BIANCA BEAR) が 大好 です!!!
