Becca Goes to Japan

When there is a nomihodai invite at Hirakata Station, the dorms will be empty.

Nomihodai (飲み放題 nomihōdai) is an “all-you-can-drink” option at some clubs, restaurants, nomiya-san (bars), and most karaoke establishments throughout Japan.

JET.Wikia.com

…give me strength.

This week…This week has been full of ups and downs.  It’s shark week so I’m super emotional and tired all the frikkin’ time.  Found out last Sunday that my credit card would not let me withdraw any more money.  Okay.  I was pretty bummed out because I was going to Gion on Monday and wanted to buy some omiyage (souvenirs).  Told my mom the deal and she called the credit company and got everything worked out.  Or so we thought.

I tried to withdraw money again on Wednesday (I think, maybe Thursday).  Still wouldn’t let me.  Talked to my parents again who talked to the credit company and they came back with this bogus answer.  Apparently, Seven Bank has charged my card twice on two separate withdrawals.  Okay.  So, my mom figured it out (after several hours on the phone)…So everything is good now, right?  NO.  IT’S NOT.  I STILL cannot withdraw money and I have all of 2000yen and some change left.  This wouldn’t be such a big deal if I had my freaking bank card that was applied for during orientation week, but since Japan’s banking system is ridiculous, it takes up to a freaking month to get your card.  Absurd.  The closest Western Unions are in Namba, Osaka or in Kyoto.  I was planning on going to Fushimi Inari shrine tomorrow, but that won’t happen because of the money issue.  I know I will have plenty of chances to go because it’s just in Kyoto, but still…This was going to be with a class and a teacher explaining stuff.  A friend offered to spot me train money, but I declined because 1)I don’t like going around with barely any money and 2)I really wanted to buy some omiyage there :[

So, earlier today, after hitting the 7/11 and no cash to show for it (it’s nearly a 30 minute walk), I had quite the piss poor attitude.  I came back to my dorm, laid down and turned my headphones on for a good hour.  I was hoping to fall asleep, but nope.   My mood did perk up a bit, tho…Ate some ice cream, surfed the interwebs, flipped through some manga, fixed dinner (yakisoba for like the 2nd week in a row, it’s good)…and here I am.  Bored as hell and quite disappointed that I will not be seeing that beautiful shrine tomorrow.

Kansai Gaidai’s website says to bring “At least” 50,000yen with you when you arrive.  Screw that mess, you need to double that and bring 100,000 with you, no kidding.  

So, unless I can my card working again, I will be eating soba noodles and rice until I get my bank card. :\

…why do you FAIL so horribly?!?

I just want to mindlessly watch some AMVs and fart around on the internet, is that so horrible?

Well, holy crap, y’all…I made it to Japan! OMG!!!!!! lol

My flights were good…my FIRST time flying, I’d like to point out, lol  It was like riding a giant bus…in the sky. 

When I got to Japan, the first thing that hit was “IT’S HOT!!!”  More humid, than hot, but HOT.  I wasn’t quite sure where I was supposed to go, but I followed the good advice of my friend, Tori: Follow the people who look like they know what they’re doing.  And I did!  That got me to immigration, whoooo!  It was a stupidly long wait, but a fairly easy process.  I had to get my resident card, but of course, I didn’t know my actual residence as of yet, so I have to get it updated within 2 weeks. :P

After immigration was security and omg…compared to US security, this was like…child’s play.  I basically just went up there and they knew who I was because I had a yakkan shoumei that they were expecting.  They looked over my medicine and was like OKAY! YOU’RE GOOD!  I thought surely it can’t be that easy! But it was! 

I made it to my hotel, all very easy, but I was dripping with sweat by the time I got to my room.  I ripped my clothes off and just sat for a minute on the bed going Ughhhhh…I tried to figure out the internet, but got frustrated.  I needed to call my parents asap because it had been over 2 hours since I had landed in Japan.  I finally said screw it and called them.  They were very glad to hear from me and said they expected it to be a little while, which was a relief.

After talking with my parents, I went down to the front desk to get some change so I could buy some water.  While waiting for my money,  I noticed a gift shop.  How could I not go?  Not only did I see a bunch of cute crap, but I got water cheaper there than in the vending machines! Lol  The lady was very sweet.  I can’t remember how she asked, but I told her I was a ryuugakusei (exchange student) at Kansai Gaidai.  We had a small conversation and she was like “hora! Jouzu desu ne!” (see! You are good [at Japanese]) Very sweet lady.

It’s been pretty neat using my (limited) Japanese when I can.  LOTS of sumimasens (excuse me) and arigatou gozaimasu’s (thank you very much)…I’ve even used shitsureshimasu (pardon my rudeness) a few times as well as daijoubu (I’m okay, it’s okay).

That’s all for now…Dorm post will be next :]

Hey, guys!  I’m in Jaaapaaaaan~~~~!!!

I got here Friday and arrived at the dorms yesterday.  I basically zonked out yesterday after our tour of the campus, supermarket, 7/11, and the rest of the town/city.  I don’t know if Hirakata is considered a city or not…It’s small.  And pretty rural.  No big stores or anything.

It’s friggin’ hot. ohemgee, y’all.  I mean, maybe not so hot as it is humid?  But when you add heat AND humidity together…It’s friggin’ hot and that makes Becca drip with sweat. DRIP. I do not lie.  I have my dad’s genes when it comes to sweating (thanks dad :P ).  I don’t think the walk to the school would seem so long if it wasn’t so dang hot.

Sooo…culture shock yet?  Not quite.  I woke up from a nap today and felt extremely nauseous with the thought “WHAT HAVE I DONE?!?”  It went away shortly after waking up, but it was a horrible feeling.  I am a little intimidated by the area.  While small, it seems easy to get lost, (but it’s probably not, haha).  I just get nervous about getting lost…Not just here, but even back home.  Just scares me.  So being in a new area in a new COUNTRY is just a tad bit daunting.

I’ve been sucking down water like crazy…probably because of the heat, but also because I’ve had very little appetite and when I try to make myself eat, I gag. I felt like that after and during my flight…so, idk.  My roommate was nice enough to pick up some bananas for me when she went to the supermarket…I’m hoping they’ll at least give me some vitamins and stuff that I need for the time being.

I had my first melon pan!  It was a frozen kind that you microwave, so not the freshest, but it was still tasty.  I’m very grateful to my RA for helping with the ingredients and allergens listed.  I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned in on this blog or not, but I am deathly allergic to peanuts!  While Japan is not really a nut/peanut country, I still have to be careful.  I know the kanji for peanuts, but I just want to triple and quadruple check.

Um…I have some videos and pictures, but I’m too lazy right now to upload those. =w=  I’ve also wrote a more in depth entry about my flight and arrival last night when I didn’t have internet, so I’ll post that later.  I’m just feeling tired.  I don’t FEEL jetlagged, but of course…I’ve never HAD jetlag, so I really wouldn’t know. ^^;  

Okay, enough for now.  Hopefully, I’ll have a more thought out post another time.  I have my Japanese placement test tomorrow and I need to study. =w= 

Person: Wow, so you’re going to school in Japan for semester?

Me: Yeah, I’m really excited!

Person: So, what will you be studying?

Me: …………….? Really?

Person: ???

Me: GERMAN. I’M STUDYING GERMAN BECAUSE JAPAN HAS SUCH A GREAT GERMAN PROGRAM.

JAPANESE! I’M STUDYING JAPANESE! WHAT DID YOU THINK?!?!?!?  THE BREEDING PATTERNS OF POKEMON?!?

JAPAN = JAPANESE