Last day of peace
Hrm, today is a one-day respite from the chaos of orientation that has enveloped the campus, as the new school year officially begins tomorrow. This has been a long week. Not only are there people everywhere, but the sheer number of hyper Japanese frosh interested in the foreigners is kinda overwhelming. O.o;; Of course it sucks, `cuz I`m only in school for another month.
Oh yeah, I`d sort of lamented that the Japanese college experience doesn`t include dorm life (of course it doesn`t include homework either) But... they have the "飲み会" (literally drinking party) where you sit at long low tables on thin cushions on top a tatami floor (like feet, ow) eat various Japanese appetizers (whole (large) fried shrimp, tripe, and some unidentifiable stuff that was white), mingle, and drink. I went to my first yesterday with the nagoya and seto branch of the Shoulinji Kenpo club-- very fun.
I thought I was pretty numbified to the foreigner prejudice, but yesterday I managed to get startled. I was walking with my friend to the station and I hear a bicycle behind me- we were blocking the sidewalk so I step aside "すみません、どうぞ”(Sorry, please go ahead) but as I look over my shoulder this 6 or 7 year-old boy on a bike sees my face and stops in his tracks with a look of abject horror on his face. I was reminded of the insult: "you make little kids cry when they see you" feh-
Oh yeah, I`d sort of lamented that the Japanese college experience doesn`t include dorm life (of course it doesn`t include homework either) But... they have the "飲み会" (literally drinking party) where you sit at long low tables on thin cushions on top a tatami floor (like feet, ow) eat various Japanese appetizers (whole (large) fried shrimp, tripe, and some unidentifiable stuff that was white), mingle, and drink. I went to my first yesterday with the nagoya and seto branch of the Shoulinji Kenpo club-- very fun.
I thought I was pretty numbified to the foreigner prejudice, but yesterday I managed to get startled. I was walking with my friend to the station and I hear a bicycle behind me- we were blocking the sidewalk so I step aside "すみません、どうぞ”(Sorry, please go ahead) but as I look over my shoulder this 6 or 7 year-old boy on a bike sees my face and stops in his tracks with a look of abject horror on his face. I was reminded of the insult: "you make little kids cry when they see you" feh-