Kelsey, 22, warming up her vocal cords for Japan 4月から7月まで
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第1話:花粉症 (かふんしょう)
In some ways, it already feels like I’ve been here for forever. But really, my adventure has barely started. I know that by the end of this experience, though, I will feel like the time went by too quickly. I will probably yearn to repeat my first few weeks of awkward Japanese speaking and minimal understanding of other people talking to me.
But honestly? I love it. Even through all the awkwardness, I still love it. Because sometimes, failing is just another way of learning. Because sometimes, failing shows that I’m trying.
And I have been trying to use Japanese at much as I can. I have ordered at a cafe with no english menu and also no pictures of the menu items, either. I have applied for a membership card at a rental CD/DVD store twice because the first time, I wasn’t yet registered at my place of residence (and I understood the employees saying that to me, which I consider a great achievement for me). I have gone to a party at a restaurant with a room full of Japanese students who only spoke in Japanese to me, and I was able to hold basic conversations with everyone I talked to.
Although I’m far from perfect and even farther from fluency, I would consider my time here so far as successful. And i’m sure I have many more experiences to come in the next several months.
My visit to Tokyo Tower was blessed by this amazing Tokyo Tower mascot man, who was more than happy to take pictures with all of us foreigners.
So what have I actually been doing these past three weeks, you ask?
My study abroad program had some orientation activities for us to help us prepare for and adjust to life in Japan. One of those activities was a scavenger hunt in Tokyo where each group had to navigate their way on the JR trains using the extremely complicated-looking train map of Japan. But that activity helped us gain more confidence in using the metro system. I really appreciate CIEE for thinking of such a fun, creative way to help us learn.
I have also been living with the Hashimoto family as my homestay. It is usually just my host mom and I in the house, since my host dad is often on business trips. Sometimes their son will stop to have dinner with us, and my host mom is always yelling at him to cut his long hair because she says he looks like a girl.
So far, I’ve explored Shibuya, Shinjuku, Omote-sando, and a bit of Nakano. But mostly I’ve just been taking a million photos of sakura, or cherry blossoms.
The sakura at the Chiyoda-ku Sakura Festival were amazing! I love how they grew over the river, and people could rent boats to view the sakura from.
And food.
My host family took me to a local sushi restaurant by their house. I was soooo full afterwards from eating all the delicious food.
And tea.
Amazing dorayaki and amazing tea to go with it at a semi-hidden restaurant in Shinjuku.
I even caught the seasonal sickness which about half the Japanese people I met also had: kafunshou, or hay fever. With spring just on the horizon and the sakura beginning to bloom, it was the perfect time for my body to decide that it had allergies. So when in Japan, I did as the Japanese did and wore a face mask all day for about a week.
I think the face mask also comes in handy on the train when I am quite literally smushed against the door and trying not to laugh about it. So in this way, it serves a dual purpose.
But I’ll save my crowded train stories for next time.
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初めまして〜
Hello there! This will be my blog as I study abroad in Tokyo, Japan for 4 months. I’ll try my best to update at least once a week. I hope you stay tuned for all the wonderful adventures I will have!
ありがとうございます (*^▽^*)
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