Day 1 - Welcome
Mia and I woke up around 5, ate some yummy bread and jam, then went on a walk to see if we could find the dorms. We did, we were very proud of ourselves. It’s about a 5 minute walk. We are closer to the school, but they are closer to the train station and stores. Tradeoffs. The neighborhood is pretty, we need pictures for you.
At about 8:30 we all were collected by Yamanaka-san and shown to the school, taken to a classroom for our placement test. We didn’t start until 9 at least, maybe 9:20, and we finished around 12:30. It was a 4-part test, vocab, listening, reading, and a short interview. 楽しかった!(It was fun.) Very well prepared, but all multiple choice (except the interview).
The grounds are pretty.
Eventually, once everyone was finished, we went to a different location where our welcome party was! Money from the department’s own budget, I think, for sushi and other platters. Lots of sushi, some fried chicken, egg-things, and oranges. Fruit! Fruit is expensive. Bananas are actually good, grapefruit is decent, but apples are expensive.
There were at least 2 IBU students per U of U student, who all wanted to practice their English. (I had 4 focused on just me. I don’t do well socializing in my own language you know! First I accidentally called one of the girls the wrong name, and later I said I was 12 (juu-ni) instead of 20 (ni-juu — though I should be saying ‘hatachi’ anyway...). はずかしかった!(Embarrassing yo.)
At that time it started to rain nicely, thank goodness, so when a few of the students guided us to Fujidera station (the closest train station for if we want to go anywhere else at all) the air was bearable. The bus to get to the station is 240円, and we haven’t made it there yet but it might be a 30-40 min. walk. The train from there to the major one in Osaka is about 290円. The students showed us around Aeon shopping center near the station, which was gigantic.
We visited 2 百円 stores, like dollar stores, a food area, where we bought curry, an (red bean paste, right), and melon pan (bread) (left):
Then an arcade where we spent way too long, but it was kind of cute.
Ok. After that we finally went back. We were all exhausted. Even so, some people wanted to go to the store, so Mia, Ani, Andrea and I joined them. Walking to Mandai takes about 12 minutes, but it’s an easy route. We were dead tired by the time we got back though. Mia and I didn’t eat much of anything (a trend). Ani took up Cory’s offer of curry, he’d bought rice the first day and wondered if anyone wanted to split meals. She paid 250円 for lots of curry made by genuine Japanese students (as it turned out Cory had little idea how to make curry!).
End day 1 also fully 疲れた tired。
Wow the arcade looks cool! so what have you been eating then?
ReplyDeleteis it better being near the train station or the school?
where were you placed?
so you are getting along with everyone?
-Ari
We've mostly been eating bread and fruit, some gyouza recently, and various sweet breads. Ani has had curry and dango and other various stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt's better being near the school in my opinion, as we have to go there a lot often, but the difference is minimal.
I was placed 3rd, yay! I'm happy there are people who know more than I do.
We're getting along well I think, we know everyone's names at least.