Week 3

Monday came, and it was my first opportunity to wear the school uniform, which consisted of long, dark grey pants, a belt, white shirt, Red and greyish striped tie, a maroon or grey jumper ( I went for grey) and a black blazer with the school emblem on the metal cuff buttons. It was a lot more comfortable than I thought, and I soon learned I didn't like wearing the jumper too much. 

I also received a workbook I requested with the complete Joyo Kanji List ( government-approved Kanji that all Japanese students must learn before they graduate high school. Any other Kanji in literature must have furigana, small hiragana next to or above the kanji to show how to read it) of which there are 2136. I already know how to write and the basic English meaning for just about all of them, but I decided to learn the readings for each one, making it MUCH easier to compound words up in a dictionary.

After school, Rina, Riho and I went to a small store on our way to yakiniku to eat some grean tea ice cream (which tasted better than i thought it would) and talk before we met the boys at yakiniku. (They couldn't get out of club activities). 

The food was interesting because it was cold as we received it on a platter, then put it on the small barbecue in the middle of the table and ate as we pleased. I decided not to eat too much, but my friends just kept on eating and eating, which seemed impossible because most of them were as thin as sticks. I soon learned the Japanese can eat A LOT, but for some magical reason it doesn't affect most of them, with people considered 'overweight' there having what would be a healthy normal body in Australia. This has probably got to do mix of reasons, such as he fact that food here isn't as unhealthy (less sugar) , exercise is a bit more regular (for students at least) and genetics. 

Wednesday was a public holiday, and so I decided to go to the book store to get some Japanese versions of some favourites, eventually settling for the prisoner of Azkaban. Japanese novels are interesting, as they are small, compact and suitable for tight spaces (e.g. crowded trains). My book was actually split into 2 smaller books, with the 5th Harry Potter being split into 4 different volumes. 

Thursday was interesting, no lessons but a massive 2nd year class v. class handball tournament. I was chosen as the team's keeper. In the end we didn't win, but our class's girl team came 3rd. After my games were finished I spent the day talking to the soccer boys and being introduced to some new people by old friends. 

Friday was lessons as normal, so it was a bit of a breeze, sleeping through my history classes. In PE we had volleyball, and my group smashed the baseball boys. I finished the day with a private Japanese lesson (I have one or two every day but one Friday I have 2, and another with the other exchange student) with Reiko Sensei, who taught me at Marryatville last year and this year, so it was nice to have someone around I'm familiar with. She commented on how much my spoken Japanese had improved, which was something I hadn't really noticed before then. It was true, when I took personal classes with her at Marryatville I struggled along but now I find myself having conversations with people, and it's only week 3! 

The host brother left that night for a week to do some skiing camp/ trip thing and so Otousan thought it would be a good idea to eat out. We settled on a sushi train place, but it's a bit different to Australian Sushi train, was people get there own cubicles and as well as having the train, food can be ordered using a touchscreen. Japan is one of those places where I think the food looks better in real life than in advertisements and pictures.(I'm looking at you Australian Macca's ads) 

Saturday was mostly a day of study, but my host mother insisted in the afternoon that we go get some sunglasses, as I didn't have any and I'd need it for the coming summer. So I was really blessed that the family paid for them, even though I offered. 

That pretty much wraps up my week. 

Week 2 Pt. 2

Haven't written in a while, just been too busy.

So Wednesday was pretty breezy, but I had my first training session for the soccer club.
I got to the clubroom after school to a crazy applause, and a bunch of guys wanting to take photos with me.
The clubroom smelt terrible. Shockingly terrible. Like someone who's kept their socks and shin pads in a bag for 2 week after training in the cupboard bad.

So I met the coach, one of the PE teachers and I could tell he was really into football as soon as he opened his mouth, even though he spoke Japanese it almost sounded Spanish. We did the usual stretches and drills, and then he gave me some keeper practice to see where I was at. He seemed impressed so he said I could be the 2nd year's (year 11 in Australia) keeper.

The rest of the week was pretty much the same, making new friends (most of which who's names I can't even remember XD) and studying. My old friends decided that Monday we'd go out for yakiniku, which is like an indoor Japanese traditional style barbecue.

On the Saturday we took drove to Kojima, where there was a fetival to celebrate jeans, the area's main manufacturing sector. So that was interesting, and I did some calligraphy. What I found interesting was that out of the thousands of people there, I was the only foreigner.

After a few hours of wandering around and eating, we took a drive up a mountain to get a view of the bridge connecting Okayama (on the largest island of honshu) to Japan's 4th largest island, Shikoku. The view was amazing.
** I put some photos up on my facebook page.

We then drove down the mountain to a fishing village where it seemed there were more vending machines than people. (Vending machines everywhere here)
We went to an old-style merchant house museum, but photo's weren't allowed.
On the way home we stopped for lunch at a ramen joint.

Week 2: Sunday 19th - Tuesday 21st

So Sunday was interesting because we went to see some kabuki , a type of Japanese traditional dance/drama/music. Otousan (Dad) had work and didn't come back until Monday (he's a train driver).

We went to a small hall thing where there were a lot of older people and young mothers with their children.
As we arrived we met okaasan's parents and ojiisan tried to offer me sake and dango. Obviously I turned down the sake XD.
So as it began there was a man who saved both as drummer and narator, with some flutists behind fancy curtains with kanji and symbols for the traditional families of soja on them. The actors played out various Japanese folk tails. It was pretty intense because it was more like a dance, and I think it would've been especially hard in the fight scenes. The actors were also good at doing fancy katana and  naginata tricks while fighting. The costumes were amazing. I understood nothing, but it was a very old form of Japanese and neither did anyone except maybe the old people there.
at hourly intervals the play would stop and some older people would throw huge amounts of food in the audience and we managed to fill a large bag.

That night I played on the wii with Tomoya and Mizuho and studied a lot of Japanese to make up for the past few days.

Monday was rainy and my first day at school. Because it was rainy, Okaasan took us by car. Miyamae sensei got me measured up for my uniform which should arrive on Saturday. It consists of inside school slippers, library slippers, tie, blazer, jumper, shirt, pants and a full sports uniform with sports jacket. I then went to the staff room to be introduced to some of the more important teachers as well as my teachers for the year, including Reiko sensei who came to Marryatville for a year. I gave my speech to the staff and they seemed to be very impressed.
Miyamae sensei then took me up to the english department and gave me my sports uniform, which arrived Sunday and luckily fit perfectly.

The school is mostly one big building with three main wings (South, North and Administrative) and the gym, kendo dojo and archery dojo. The building is 4 stories high and my homeroom is at the top. There's a large field for handball, baseball and football (soccer) and 4 tennis courts and a building about the size of Mazza's music block for the student's bikes.
There are three entrances for the different year levels; years 1,2 and 3 (10, 11, 12).
For some reason I'm in year 11. I think because of my age.
School begins at 8:30 and ends at 3:30. We get there at 8 and leave around 6 because of club activities.
I took an English class with one of the teacher's responsible for me, Hiramatsu sensei. He's about 25-30 and has a very American accent that sounds like Bernie from sesame street sometimes. But he's pretty cool and his English is much better than most of the other teacher's. In the lesson he got me to read some passages and then highlighted the difference between American and Australian accents.

After that he took me on a brief tour of the school, which happens to be a special interest art and dance school. I visited and gave introductions to some art and music classes who gave raucous applause. I then went to my class at lunch (at lunch we eat in classroom) and I think everybody in the year stood outside our class to oggle at me, which is a weird feeling. I wanted to make friends as all my friends that came to australia last year and mizuho were in other classes. So I decided to stand at the front of the class to introduce myself. I was so surprised when I got applause from everyone and roars from the boys. After that, some girls asked if I wanted to eat with them. So I did.

My desk is at the back corner of the class, surrounded by girls but there will be a shuffle in the middle of the year after summer break. I received my timetable and took some classes until school ended. Whenever I left the class everybody outside would stare at me, and I constantly hear people say 'Jeemuzu' in there discussions every time I go by thinking I won't hear them XD. It's funny because people think I'm a genius when I speak...

A bunch of people in my class wrote there names on a piece of paper for me to try and remember. I know most of my 'friendly people' by name now. Tatsunori especially. He's interesting and funny and popular I think but friendly at the same time.

For classes we usually stay in the homegroup and the teacher comes to us. There are some exceptions such as PE (obviously), Calligraphy and personal Japanese tutoring. I met the other exchange student from Mt. Gambier. She's been here 4 months and knows very little Japanese so speaks with her friends in English, while I do in Japanese.

After school mizuho had student council so one her friends dragged me off to ess (english speaking society). It was a bit like alcoholics anonymous in that we sat in a circle and stood up and made a short introduction (it's the beginning of the Japanese school year) and people took it in turn to ask 3 questions. It's funny because a lot of Japanese students make their english sound like they're reading katakana ( Habu a goodo day) and turned to their better friends and whispered answers to each other. The 3 questions I received were 1. What is your favourite singer 2. Do you have a girlfriend 3. What do you think of Japanese girls. It was pretty funny because I was the only boy and everyone, even Jessica the exchange teacher, was asked if they had a boyfriend.

The way home Mizuho and I were animatedly telling Okaasan about the day. Mizuho said most people are whispering about how cool I am which I then said I know because I heard some people who thought I wouldn't understand anything. I then said its funny because I really haven't done anything special.

Next day was much the same, lessons where bits and pieces were understood by teachers giving sermons but not enough to keep track yet. We have two types of english classes, one of which the teacher only said 4 sentences in English the entire lesson, and even then the pronunciation made 2 of them inaudible.
I rode the bike to school with Mizuhori, which took about 20 minutes. Today was interesting because I met some new people, and had lunch with my old friends and a couple of their friends. We talked mostly in Japanese, but one of the girls talked in English to me for practice.
Today was mostly filled with a lot of people having the 'courage' to introduce themselves to me. (My host sister said everybody wants to speak to me but they're too shy to speak)
In my homegroup one of the girls said my Marryatville uniform was 'cute' but I think it was more directed at me than the uniform, and 2 people asked if I had a girlfriend, to one of which I said
彼女いないよ。。。(No I don't)
girl: ああそう。。(Ah I see)
もう結婚した、三人子供がいるんだ (I'm married with three kids)
girl: 本当？？すごいね　(really? amazing)
And then the rest of the area cracked up laughing. So yeah.
I asked to be in the soccer team and they accepted me without even asking for a trial XD so tonight okaasan, mizuho and I went to get me some boots and shin-pads (I'd left mine in Australia). Lucky I brought my gloves. Training is every day after school for 2 hours, so I should be home by 6:30, which is ok because my host sister has student council until 6 too.
Throughout the journey we talked, now entirely in Japanese which is good, and okaasan went on how 'everybody' wants to be my boyfriends and all that jazz and then mizuho joined in to interrogate me about if I like someone. It was pretty funny, I had all these names thrown at me, 'are they in your home group?' 'okaachan perhaps its a boy'. In the end I just said 'not yet' and then okaasan said ' well you should eventually'

And now I'm writing this at 11 at night, having to do double Japanese self-study to make up for this tomorrow XD

Week 1: Thursday 16th - Saturday 17th

Some of you may be wondering what's taken so long to get a post up. Sorry for the delay, I've just been so busy studying and all that jazz.

So, dad and I had to wake up at 3 to catch a flight from Adelaide to Cairns and then Cairns to Kansai Airport. Usually flying is stressful through staff travel, not knowing until the last moment if you have a seat, but there were a load of seats available.
The plane rides aren't really much to talk about....

So late in the afternoon we arrived in Osaka (Japan is only a half hour behind Adelaide), where dad's old friend from his Thai exchange, Satomi, picked us up with her 3 young children, Natsu, Sei and Saki.

I still hadn't spoken conversationally very often in Japanese, and I generally spoke half in English the way to Satomi's house in Nara. 

I met Satomi's husband, Ken, and he was a very funny man. We felt welcome and had dinner with the family. The kids wanted me to play a game of hiragana snap, so I joined in, and I DOMINATED. 

So me and dad slept the night on tatami mats in the guests bedroom. Dad's snoring got so bad I had to listen to music to sleep and I had a nightmare that all I could hear was snoring. It was pretty terrifying. 

In the morning, Dad and I caught the train with Satomi to Kyoto, but Satomi had to get off at Nara city.
Kyoto is the most beautiful city I've ever seen. In between the main streets can be found walkways not big enough for guys, flanked by small cafes, ins, bars and temples. Kyoto was interesting in the way everything was traditional but with a modern twist. There's some photos of facebook of Kyoto. 

We want to a large temple site, with many buildings, several massive temples and gardens. We walked a bit further up the mountain and came across a massive cemetery with what would have to be tens of thousands of people. I think cemeteries on mountains is a cultural thing because there's one right near where I live in soja. 

After this we caught a train to Osaka and spent ages trying to find food (dad's vegetarian) when we finally got something we went to a hotel right next-door to Shin-Osaka station. It's strange that a train station is bigger than Adelaide airport XD. 

The next morning at 9 I met miyamae sensei and said goodbye to dad. We caught the Shinkansen to Okayam station (Okayama is the prefecture I'm living in, kind of like a state but smaller in size; there's 48 I think). 

I then was driven for about half an hour to my high school, Soja Minami, where miyamae sensei gave me a brief tour. My host family came to pick me up from there around 11. 

My host family, the Shibasakis, consists of Naoto the father, akiko the mother, Mizuho the sister in my year and 16, the brother Tomoya, still in middle school and 14 and Sakura the shiba inu dog. Next door is Naoto's parents. 

The house, like just about every house outside the city, is two story with the bedrooms upstairs. The toilets are probably more technologically advanced then my school laptop and the bathrooms are cool. There's a first room with basin, mirror and washing machine and then a door that leads to the bathroom. The whole room is wet when bathing, because we shower and wash first using the nozzle that we can either use as a shower or take off. Then after cleaning, we relax in the bath, which has a cover to keep the water warm for the rest of the family. 

All the doors in the house are sliding. The beds we have are like normal western beds. There's a small area at the front door to take off shoes and put on slippers or whatever you want. 

The area where I'm living is beautiful, with rice and vegetable and fruit fields all around with roads to connect the houses. Mountains and hills and forests surround the valleys that people live in. Sometimes there will be shinto cemeteries or old and tall temples on the hills but usually just forests. 5 minutes by bike or 1 by car will take us down the main road to central soja, which is halfway between a town and a small city. Like most of Japan, it's rural but lots of people live here, and its only a half-hour drive to the prefecture's capital city. 

When I first came to the house we talked and had tea, in Japanese nearly entirely because my host family can't really speak much english. It's good for my practice and I'm becoming much better very quickly. The host mother's a very good cook and Japanese food is amazing. the Sweets and bread are nice and not too sweet like America and more subtle than Australia. The fruit is amazing. 

My host family's very friendly and kind. It makes things a lot easier too when I can speak ok Japanese. 

We talk just like any other family and laugh and joke, but the brother and sister get along and don't fight. 

In the afternoon I got some stationary and went to the supermarket with the Okaa-san (mum) and Mizuho to get dinner ingredients. When I got back I played soccer with Tomoya, but we were worried the ball would go into the rice fields and decided to play badminton instead. At sunset me and Mizuho took Sakura for  a walk. 

Read the next post about my first few days at school.