Day 1!

We slept in until about 10:30 since we didn't have to be up to campus until about 2:00. First things first -- the shower room.

We had expected things to be a little bit dicey with the showering situation, especially since the bathing situations in most Japanese homes are pretty different from what we're used to. However, I was pleasantly surprised! The shower situation here is actually better than that back at college! You walk in, and there's a little changing/drying off area that's hidden away with a curtain, complete with shelves and towel racks and things to keep your clothes up off the floor. Then there is a really nice shower -door- and a separate light inside the shower. Also, the shower sprayer can be removed from the wall. The water can get REALLY hot and it doesn't seem like it'll ever run out. Plus, there's an option on the faucet to cut the water flow without turning off the faucets, so you can save water by turning it off while you wash your hair and still have it the same temperature when you turn it back on! :D

Awesomeness of the shower aside, it came time for us to find our way to the campus. Equipped with nothing but a map (not even knowledge of pedestrian laws >_<) we ventured out into Japan. The walk to campus was filled with so many curiosities that I decided it would pointless to describe it in words. I will be video taping the walk next time I go out so you can see firsthand what it's like! Again that won't be up until my computer is registered. Japanese roads are crazy. I learned that at first when we were riding the bus last night. The highways twisted and turned, and the side roads are even trickier to navigate. Plus, you know that people drive on the left in Japan -- you know it. But you don't realize how many of your everyday habits are dependent on the way traffic flows on the road until you experience a reversal. I always look left first when crossing the street, when I know that the closest on-coming traffic comes from the right. Hopefuly I won't get hit....>.>; When you go up staircases, you usually choose the right side -- not in Japan! Same with entering buildings (going in through the left side) and passing people when you're in each others' way. It's just...weird!

We successfully made it to campus without getting lost, and wished the security guard at the gate good morning, bowing all respectful-like. We found our way to the Center for International Education, but we were pretty early in arriving because we wanted to see how long the walk took (about 25 minutes). We found our mailboxes and checked them -- Kaylie ended up having those tissues that Japanse people distribute as a way of advertising. It's very handy to have tissues in Japan, because in some public bathrooms, they don't supply toilet paper. She's equipped and I'm not. Oh well...maybe I'll get some tomorrow.

While we were looking at ads for events for International Students, these two Japanese girls, Yuki and Hikari, came up to us all giggly and starting introducing themselves and asking for our names. They offered to be Kaylie's speaking partners since she doesn't have one, and it was just a really fun little conversation we had. I also discovered that my name is officially "kawaii" (cute). Yuji, the RA, told me when I signed in that my name was cute, and so did these girls! It made me happy though. I don't know if we'll ever manage to find those girls again in the sea of Japanese people on campus, but it would be really nice if we could!

I then went through orientation for the Language Lab, then took a campus tour. The campus is really handy, as it has its own convenience store, bookstore, cafe (Seattle's Best), McDonalds, and ATMs. I avoided going to the McDonalds and went and ate in the normal cafeteria instead -- my first Japanese meal! We had tsukemen (dipping ramen) in which they give you cold noodles on a plate, and you dip them into a small bowl of broth.

Ours wasn't fancy like this...just noodles on a plate and the broth with meat in it and such. But it was actually pretty good! I just might not starve after all! We then went and looked through the convenience store. They have pretty good deals on prepaid phones, and I kind of want the super fancy one. Once I get all my fees paid, I think I'm going to buy it! Then maybe I'll be able to text my friends back home again.

We walked back successfully, met our temporary roommate Nikki, who actually knows a little bit about the area due to her being a second semester student, and now I'm here in the lab! I'll be sure to write more as my adventures continue, and I hope that my computer gets registered quickly so I can get some pictures up!