Host Family and Fun

In the Okuma Garden, On campus. Notice the fish!!!
Me and the Waseda Bear- the mascot of waseda
The Koshi house, where I now live.

Sorry this post took so long to create! On my form, it said to use the Internet at school, so I couldn't use it in the house. But I told my host mom I was leaving early for school for the computer, so she said I could use their line! These last couple of days have been super busy, so there is probably a lot to write.

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The day of meeting our host families, the Waseda students took us around campus again. We had lunch and then headed toward the building where we meet our families. Earlier, we had to write a short speech for the introduction period. I was nervous and thought I would forget the order of saying things, so I wrote the main order on my hand (to everyones amusement later)...Then, they made us go into the room one by one to meet the families. Only my host dad ("papa") was there, because the mom (mama) and child (Tsuki-chan) were in Taiwan for a kimono show (I am pretty sure she is a student of making kimono...). After all the introductions, I left with papa to his car, were we drove to his house, which was roughly 20 minutes away.

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There, because his wife was not there, we ordered pizza from pizza hut-yes, more pizza. This one, I think, had squid tentacles on it, I am not sure. Then, as papa had explained in the car but I didn't quite understand, Tomick (sp) their Polish exchange students for only a few more weeks, came in. His English is very good, so we talked a little bit. Until he leaves, I sleep in the Tatami room. Then we went to pick up mother and child-who seemed to have had a good time. We all came back and went to sleep.

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The next day, mama took me to the school on the trains (my route is pretty uncomplicated...I only change trains once) but I have no experience riding public trains. Because we went in the morning rush hour, it was very crowded...you see those crowded trains where the conductors are literally pushing people in in pictures, but maybe I thought it didn't quite happen to that extent. However, this is exactly how it was-it was crazy! Luckily, there are women only cars, so I don't have to worry about perverts (which I guess is a big problem on the trains).

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From the train station, I was on my own to get to school. I made it with about 5 minutes to spare for the Japanese placement test. Originally, i was scared that if I didn't get a certain score I could not complete my Japanese major, but it turns out that you get credit for the next year you were supposed to enter regardless, so now I dont care what level I get into.

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I rode the trains back with my friend Su, who takes the same train before I switch. It was nice to have her there, because I certainly would have gotten lost. But now I have ridden the trains twice, so I think from now on I will have not problems.

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I had told my papa that I liked curry a lot, so when I got home we had a curry dinner. It was very delicious! Now I was able to get to know the family better. Because my family is very young, they have a more modern approach to things, and are very busy. Mama seems to like prada a lot, for I have seen several prada items. Her english is quite good, so if I don't understand something, she will explain to me in English. Also, if I don't know a word, I can give it to her in English and she will tell me the word in Japanese.

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Papa, as I told you, is a fireman, and sometimes has to work 24 hour shifts! He is very funny, and only speaks Japanese. We had a fun time at the city office trying to acquire my alien registration form, which is too difficult and complex for me to really understand in Japanese. We have a good time trying to communicate, though.

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Tsuki-chan is still a little afraid of me, but I think he is warming up. He watches a lot of anime, especially ones with bugs and dinosaurs (he has some of those kabuto bugs in the house, and I was just told he found a mantis outside). He is a very energetic child, and could be compared to a monkey, because he climbs and rolls around a lot.

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Because the family is young and modern, they use very casual speech. They want me to use casual speech with them too. I learned very little casual speech at school, so now I am having a crash course. I understand more and more everyday, so soon, hopefully, I will be able to survive in Japan.

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Today, I go to get my cell phone, have ANOTHER orientation, and will go to nomi-kai with the Waseda students. (nomi-kai is a traditional Japanese drinking party...) So, stay tuned!