Japan-Week 1 (Orientation for KUIS and Meikai)

Alright, so in the interest of laziness, I will summarize the rest of the week.

Orientation

For the most part, Orientation was dull. It was mostly policies, etc, nothing terribly exciting. Still, I love the IES staff and the students in my program are pretty cool too. For the most part, Orientation consisted of:

1) What to do when there is a earthquake, etc? (EVACUATE! HIDE!!!) [On a more interesting note, one of the lecturers said to us yesterday "I really hope you can experience earthquake in Japan."]

2) What not to do (Do not ride bike unless you're really good at it, don't eat while walking, don't talk on public transportation... and, especially don't ride a skateboard because the last guy who did "broke his skateboard... and his legs too.")

3) Communication issues ("In Japan, no means yes sometimes and yes means no.")

4) Money? (Pretty much cash is always the best idea and you can use the ATM at the post office for the cheapest.)

5)Alein Registration (GET A CARD! RAWR!!!)

We took a train one night and got dinner in Shin Urayasu (apparently they mash up meat in even their vegetable curry here. It's in the sauce?! I had to get spaghetti) and toured KUIS campus another day (the roof of the library has a path on it... and grass. They have grass on the roof.)

Karaoke

A few of us went Karaoke'ing the other night~! There is a place called Cote d'Azur close to OVTA and across from Kahin Makuhari station. At first we could only find english disney songs... including "Go the Distance-" the Japanese version (the only thing in english is "go the distance") and a techno beat version of "A whole new world." Yeahhhh... So, we figured out that you can not only change the key, but the tempo as well. So, we sang Barbie Girl as quickly as possible... it was awesome. haha (We had to leave so Tate picked the fastest song he saw and then we speed it up and all 5 of us sang.) We were really glad to find the paper catalogue because, at first, we only saw the electornic one... it was difficult to get around @.@

Endo-Ryo

So, on Thursday, Seung, Hannah, and I moved into Endo-ryo. All the staff made us a bit nervous with preparations for moving in- Kudo-san, Watanabe-san, and Shin-san all came up to us and asked "Have you been told about Endo-san yet?" So, in addition to things I had heard from Sarah before (she likes for things to be kept clean, don't touch her stuff, she likes to gossip), the IES staff warned that Endo-san likes to do favors for students and then charge them. Furthermore, she's terribly nosy and speaks very roughly.

Hannah, Seung, and I split up the rooms before we got here (I have the master bedroom facing the highway) and the apartment is, overall, very nice. We had a bit of a fiasco right from the start, however. We were to arrive Thursday afternoon and, despite Endo-san knowing this, when we got here, she wasn't around. Furthermore, Endo-san keeps the keys (since we essentially sublet from her) and so, we couldn't get into our room. Watanabe-san apologized again and again, calling a lot of different people and knocking on Endo-san's door repeatedly. Eventually, she went down to the lobby and Seung, Hannah, and I just laughed nervously and waited.

After about 30 minutes of this fiasco, a sturdy Japanese woman in her 50's came up to us, speaking loudly and in rough (borading male's language) Japanese. She asked us why we weren't inside and where Watanabe was. I replied that she was in the lobby, to which she asked which one and I replied the lobby of the building we were in. She apparently didn't like or understand this answer and went to the door, pushing it open and saying "See? It's been open all along! You should just go in." All of us were quite shocked and a little confused as to whether or not this was Endo, as she kept referring to herself in third person as "Endo-san." (It turns out, for the record, it was). Eventually, Watanabe-san returned with the building manager. Endo-san told the building manager that she was busy and had just left the door unlocked for us- Watanabe responded that since it is not her house, she did not feel comfortable just entering, let along trying the door handle. This set the tone for the rest of the evening.

We all then gathered at the kitchen table and had a discussion about the rules and an awkward introduction session with Endo-san. She eventually asked me what I ate and was quite shocked by vegetarianism. She then told us that she could only cook for Seung (even though Hannah eats fish? Interestingly, when Hannah also explained she was a vegetarian, she asked her if she ate ham... which was espeically odd, since Hannah was wearing a Star of David. Is it possible she doesn't know about Jewish culture?). Endo-san left and we began to get settled, but she came back later that night and made all of our beds.

I guess she came back last night and Hannah was the only one around at that point. She kept asking Hannah "Where are the others?" To which Hannah kept telling her we were asleep. I guess despite the fact that Hannah told her three times I was sleeping, Endo-san knocked on my door and opened it anyway, surprised to find... me asleep. She also demanded a copy of our semester calender in Japanese (we only have them in English) and for us to tell her what we're doing for Silver Week (vacation from 9/19-23). Eek! Hopefully she isn't over every night. It makes us all a bit nervous.

Shopping

Shopping! So, for groceries, we went to the local Seiyu which, to my surprise is... *drum roll* the Japanese division of Wal*Mart >>;; We mostly just got rice and noodles.

Then, yesterday, Hannah and I went to Carrefour (French version of... *drum roll* Wal*Mart) and the mall attached to it. Hannah got adorable bento and change purses and I got about 100 dollars worth of clothing. The most interesting thing is actually the fitting rooms. You need to take your shoes off as you go in. Also, before you enter, you give the clothing the the attendant who removed the hangers... And then, the face covers. Yeah. So, you place this mosquito-netting mask over your face, put the shirt on, and remove it... yeah. Face masks. In order not to get make-up on the clothing. Yeah.

Alright! That's it for now! Going to Shibuya with the roommies! =D

Japan- Week 1 (Trip over)

Hey everyone! So, I know it's been a while, but getting settled here took longer than I anticipated. Luckily, I've been keeping a written diary as well, so I can give you pretty accurate renditions of this week :3

August 31/September 1st

I arrived at the airport at Dad's insisting 2 hours and 15 minutes early... I was through check in/security in 15 minutes. (ahaha) The flight from LAX to Seattle was non-eventful and waiting in Seattle proved rather uneventful too, save for I had to go to terminal D to get food, as N had nothing for me to eat (the transit takes about 10 minutes between terminals). I bought some gifts in Seattle for people in Japan and hurried onto the plane. My seat was right behind the exit row (which had gratutious amounts of space) and I missed my chance to move up to it and would later regret this.

I was reading "How the Mind Works" with my earplanes in, shortly before take-off, when the Japanese man next to me asked me to open the window all the way so that he could see at take-off. Well, this turned out opening to things more than just a window.

Takahiro (Or TK- as his Japanese name is supposedly too difficult for me to pronounce, KT is a girl's name, and his business partners call him by his last name but that's not "fun enough for me") ended up to be quite the interesting seat partner. He gave me his business card and, following Japanese protocol, I asked a question in regards to it. I was not prepared for the onslaught. He proceeded to talk to me about everything- how he was a producer, a screen writer, walked on the red carpet at the Cannes in 2000, a copyright law student in Albany, a world traveler who bought all his plane tickets with miles, quit a big company 2 years ago and had an immense personal fortune but nothing to spend it on (hint hint?), his "Jewish lawyer friend," the sushi bar in Seattle that he spent $10,000 at, his "strong stomach" for alcohol, how easy English was for him but how difficult Japanese was for me... and that's not even the start of it.

This guy is allegedly taking me to Tsukiji fish market ("Oh! Vegetarian? They have vegetable rolls."), a fancy restaurant ("You would look very beautiful, I think, if your hair was not in your face."), Fancy hotel next to the US embassy ("People do not know about it. Only important people can get in."), Geisha in Tokyo ("You would be wonderful in Kimono."), Okinawa ("there are many beaches and we can go to onsen (public hot springs)")...Eek!

I mean, this guy released a movie the year I was born! Out of the 10 hr trip, TK talked to me (yes. talked to me. There was nothing about it that was a discussion. Just him rambling) for at least 5 hours of it. It would have been more if I hadn't fake slept for 3 of those hours and watched Doctor Who for 1.5. Also, he mirrored my actions... if I faked sleeping, so did he. If I ate my salad, so did he. If I watched TV or the Map, so did he. If I popped my ears, so did he... and even if we weren't talking at the time. Needless to say, it was nice to see Tokyo. But! The scariest this is, he has my email address. I felt rude not giving it to him at the beginning of the conversation when he gave his business card. Oh! And he has emailed me, but I've been too nervous to open it... =/

Apart from that, the rest of the evening went wonderfully! Customs and immigration were easy enough to pass through and I met some really fun people. We had a small party when we got to IES, but I was too tired to stay long. Soooo... :3

Honestly, the oddest thing when I first landed was the fact that there is no DST- so the sun is up by 5:30 am and down by 6:00 pm.

California Bound

The first leg of my trip officially started. Steve and I woke up rather early this morning and finished with packing, spent some time watching comedy online, and then it was off to the airport. Taxi costed $20, Bags costed $80, which was actually a $55 dollar improvement on what was originally going to happen. Because I wasn't flying straight to Japan, the weight limit on my first bag was 50 pounds and it weighed 87.5. The attendant suggested I go buy a new bag at a store in departures, so that I avoid the $125 fee for a bag nearly 38 pounds overweight. Thus, we went downstairs and bought a $30 duffel and proceeded to throw the food I had purchased for Japan into it, in addition to my medicine bag. My first bag was $20 to check and the second was $30. Needless to say, I should have bought the food in California.

That said, we are allowed two bags to Japan- with a weight limit of 70 lbs. Got to board. More later. =]

t-9

So, an update from last time- all visas are cleared for the year (thanks Sarah! [check her awesomely helpful blog out btw.]) That said, I checked the tracking number today and my visa is in the mail. Sadly, I won't receive it until our post office opens on Monday, but at least I'll have it. I'm glad I was stressed out about nothing.

Speaking of things that are going to be here by Monday, it would appear that my cell phone from PicCell will be arriving then too, despite my best efforts to cancel. They called me the other day and told me they couldn't deliver to my "P.O." box, to which I informed them it was different and that all the major companies that "don't deliver to P.O. boxes" delivered to CPU boxes (College Postal Union). When the man insisted I give him another address, I told him I didn't have one and would have to cancel if they couldn't deliver it. He put me on hold and came back on the phone, claiming it would be at my CPU box by Monday. I asked him about the plan and he reassured me that there was no monthly charge, just charges for outgoing calls and texts. Hoping this is so.

Oh! So, the other day (I think Tuesday?), IES sent out the housing assignments. No word on who my roommates are yet. I'm sure they'll be cool. A lot of people on my facebook group haven't responded. Also, no one, it would seem yet, is on the same flight as me... It's all good. A lot of books to read =D

Until then, I have work until Tuesday and Steve offered to drive me home Wednesday. Hopefully everything works out. I go to California next Friday. Crazy.

t-14 till take off

My COE finally came today and I turned around and sent it in straight away for my visa. Interestingly, my visa will clear my stay in Japan up through next July. Interesting, seeing as I'm leaving Japan in December. No time to send it back and get one only cleared for half a year, though, so I guess I'm looking at the ability to stay however long I want over there (sadly, I have already bought all my tickets, including the one back to Pittsburgh on December 28th, so it's not lookign like a return to Japan is really plausible). That said, I'm just happy to have my COE in, considering that two weeks from this very moment, I will be in transit for Japan. The thought truly sends chills up my spine.
Oh! So, an interesting note- express mail both ways ended up costing me about 32 dollars. It was quite the blow. Perhaps no visa fees, but it definitely felt like there were. I guess it was better than the alternative costs- flying to New York, missing a day or two of work, and getting my visa there. That said, I'm crossing my fingers that this will be back by next Thursday, seeing as next Friday morning I leave to see my family in California. It looks like next Wednesday I will be visiting my family in PA, if ever so briefly.
So nervous... wah! I'm sure you'll hear from me soon.

July Developments

Alright, so since my last update, a lot of things have happened. So, I'll go with them in order of when I figured them out.

COE

So, here's the details of my particular case. As I live in Rochester, NY, my local consulate is the New York City Consulate in which... well, it's not particularly local for me and I wasn't exactly looking forward to buying airfare, hostel stays, and food just to apply for my visa. So, I contacted IES, who redirected me to the NYC consulate. They were VERY helpful, and I was especially impressed when I realized that most of the information was already on their website and they could have just redirected me there. However, for your information, I'll post it here as well.
First of all, if you live outside of NYC, you DO NOT have to report to the consulate, which is very nice for saving time and money. Here are the instructions for obtaining your visa:

1) Complete and Sign an Application Form (Download). Note that even lines that have NOTHING to do with you must have "n/a" or "none" written on them. If you have court records, they must be included.
2) Download the release of liability form (Download) and fill it out completely
3)Buy a U.S. Express Mail self-addressed stamped envelope with completed express mailing label and the postage
4)Take your valid passport (that is fine for 6 months past when you are leaving Japan), a 2 inch square photograph taken within the past 6 months, your self labeled envelope, liability waver, and COE (the original and one photocopy)and ship them the materials through the US Postal Service (and ONLY through USPS) to:

Consulate-General of Japan in New York
299 Park Avenue 18th Floor, New York, NY 10171

5) At the moment, we are exempt from Visa fees and processing is estimated to take 4-7 days.

Yep.

PicCell

IES requires all students to have a cell phone. Well, getting a cell for Japan is a little bit of a headache, but what I found is that PicCell actually offers a pretty good deal... that is, if you're not bent on getting something fancy. In that case, you could still rent a pretty cheap SIM card from them. Personally, I'm only going to get the cell to make IES happy and really don't intend to use it. It's Skype for me. =] The 30 dollar one time activation fee is really all I intend to pour into this thing. But, here's where I got my phone.

Dorms and Strict Vegetarianism

Well, I got to thinking about how strict of a vegetarian I am and how odd it would be if they could actually place me in a homestay without placing a strain on some generous family or a strain on my diet. So, I let IES know that I am close to being a vegan. I received a frantic call from IES the next day, asking if that meant I didn't eat fish in any form. I found this interesting, since I thought expressing that I was a vegetarian on my application would have made this obvious. However, it apparently is not obvious. So, if you are applying through IES and do not intend to compromise, tell them you are a vegan. If you are a pescetarian or are willing to eat fish, noting vegetarian is not such a bad idea.
Their first solution to this was that I obviously could not be placed in a homestay and they immediately placed me in the KUIS Women's dorm. In ways, this was a cool situation to land in, in other ways, not so much. Suddenly, I had to budget 3,500 dollars for food and I had a strict curfew to return by 11 pm every night. I understood that it was different than America, but just the fact that the Get Set! handbook noted that they were very stringent with women annoyed me something awful. While the private room, bathroom, and kitchen were all nice assets, I cannot say that I was particularly hurt when I received news from Beth on Friday that they couldn't place me in KUIS, as it's for Society and Culture students only. Now it looks like I'll be in endo-ryo. If the pictures I have found of endo-ryo are accurate, I think I would rather be there anyway.

E-Pal

Oh! I applied for the e-pal program and got an email from Maika Sato, my epal. She sent me a short email and I kind of responded a little epically... I think I might have overwhelmed her. haha. Still, it was very nice to get an email from Japan! The closer I get, the more real it feels to me. It's crazy to think that in a little over a month, I'll be back in the country I left 6 years ago.

Well, that's it for now!

Mid-Summer Update

Alright, so, there is no doubt about the fact that this blog has been on an essential hiatus, and, well, I guess there hasn't been much in the way of developments. I still have yet to hear anything new from IES Tokyo, gotten in any sticky situations, etc, etc, etc. That said, I do want to make another plug for a great aid in my travel- STA Travel (www.statravel.com). My trip to Japan currently consists of the following legs with their respective prices:
Aug 28 2009 Rochester-Los Angeles, 122.00
Aug 31 2009 Los Angeles-Seattle, Seattle-Narita 627.00
Dec 20 2009 Narita-Los Angeles 889.00

I obviously still have to buy my bridge back to the east (which is dependent on what my significant other is doing for New Year's... whether I meet him or go home will be decided by the end of the month. I am anticipating about 150-200 dollars more in plane tickets, based on where I am going). Needless to say, STA has made my travel very resonable, especially considering: a) roundtrip tickets to Japan typically cost in surplus of $2,000 b)The time of year I am coming back home is a VERY heavy travel time. So, apart from that shout out, I'm just glad I finally remembered which email I put this blog under =) Expect an update from me as soon as I know where I am staying/when I know the action I need to take when I get my COE.