Getting Accustomed

My first few days in Japan have been ridiculous. I walked around, trying to get accustomed to my new home on Tuesday since there was nothing assigned that day. Shopping was interesting, and it's really easy to do without much exchange of words. I'm getting better at asking for and receiving directions, and I'm finally very thankful for that chapter at the UA.

Although I had been looking forward to it so I could meet friends, orientation (yesterday--Wednesday) was actually pretty boring--we learned a lot about a few international clubs, filled out a lot of paperwork (in Japanese: takusan moushikomiyoushi o kinyuushimashita = I filled out a lot of forms), and learned very little about the program itself. We did get a small campus tour, however; it's gorgeous! There are big trees everywhere, and the buildings are all lovely.

Today (Thursday), we turned in the paperwork we filled out yesterday to start the process of getting alien registration cards (gaikokujintorokusho), bank accounts (ginkou no futsuyoukin), and health insurance (your guess is as good as mine). It was a long process--we started at the dorm at 7:30 and didn't get done until around 2. There was a two hour break in between, so we got some coffee and went sight-seeing to this skyscraper with a tremendous view of Tokyo! We had to pass through security where they checked our purses/bags; some of the people from other countries seemed really surprised. They told me that they'd never had to go through those types of things at home, and it sparked an interesting discussion about...security.

From the top of the tour, the city just seemed to go on and on and on....


I've met quite a few people thus far; many of them are Japanese and many of them are from various other countries. I've spent a lot of time with a guy from Utah named Garrett, and today I spend the majority of the day with Clare, James, Daniel, and Nicci from England, Ashley from New Zealand, and Courtney from Hawaii. I know a few people now from France and Germany, and there's more from all over the world! I'm one of 4 Americans that I've seen so far.

Some random things I've learned:
* My dorm is 2 years old. SO new!
* The shower/sink is on the same piping; I turn a spout to control which one the water comes out!
* Toilets and stores here are very different. Toilets have all sorts of weird functions depending on where they are and what was needed at the time, and stores are very neon-bright and full of loud sounds and music.
* Paperwork for being allowed to live in a different country is RIDICULOUS. I feel for our illegals (but at least I'm doing it!).
* Tokyo is big.
* I'm a little more normal-sized here, but I'm still kinda short.
* Everyone keeps saying it's hot. They don't know anything! It's really just very humid, but that's difficult for them to understand.