So this week has had too tones to it. On the one hand I'm in an amazing place I'm really enjoying and am making some great new friends. On the other hand, several important things are having major roadblocks. The class I really wanted most, which was OPEN when I registered and I registered for, somehow did not get entered into the computer. So now not only am I not in the class, the best they could do to fix their mistake is to put me at the bottom of the waiting list. But I will talk to the professor and see what can be done. Next, when I got my placement for spoken Japanese not only was I disappointed, I was insulted. They placed me in level 2. I feel like I should at least be in 3 if not 4. There is another test in two weeks, and I will try again and hope to be moved up. Surely it will become quickly apparent that I do not belong in that level, having finished Genki II and that class starting with lesson 10 (which is in Genki I). And now NONE of my sources of money work in Hirakata city. I am trapped with no way to get money, except perhaps to take the train to Kyoto or Osaka whenever I need more. This was highly embarrassing when I couldn't pay for my keitai today, not even with my Visa card. There was also some acute homesickness the second day I was here, but as soon as I made some friends I could hang out with day to day that abated. Still miss home and America a bit, but I am now able to fully enjoy where I am.
But I really am having a good time. I have had two wonderful tours so far. The first was to Makino station, which is the train station nearest to our dorms. We had some really fun and cute girls come with us. It was pretty informative and really fun. I had delicious katsu for dinner. The second tour was too Kyoto with my new friends Jessica and two Japanese students. We went to Kiyomizu temple and generally had a really great time. They were so funny, and a little bit perverted. After that we had some kagikouri (shaved iced) and in this heat it was SOOO good. For the evening we all went to another part of Kyoto to meet Jessica's friend the koto master. She got us Takoyaki for dinner which was so wonderful. Also after giving Jessica a nice long koto lesson she sat me down with a shamisen and proceeded to start to teach me to play it. We're going to be going back periodically for more lessons. So I'm going to learn to really play the shamisen. We've also been back to Kiyomizu and to a Kimono shop, and looked at some, one of which, miraculously fits me. Its beautiful and about $150 for the robe itself, which isn't so bad for a real kimono. I want to go back and buy it when I get money again, but I'll have to think about it. I really want to though. But with the undergarments and the obi it could be a bit pricey. But its a blue gray and sooooo pretty. The others think it suits me well. The shop owner was really kind too. Overall Japan is fun, I've been to city hall twice now to do alien registration and boy was that a chore. I've also opened a bank account, learned to use the L.L. and paid all my fees. I've gotten lost and walked more than I can ever possibly explain, in horrible damp heat. But I'm also finally learning my way around. And my suitemates in Seminar House 3 are all nice, we like to sit in the living room around our tv all on our computers. I've watched a couple of shows I know and seen plenty of celebrities I also know. Its been a busy week, but I feel like I'm finally getting started, and that this really was a good idea (thats the question you ask yourself when you are homesick).
Well that wraps up this post, I hope to get back soon with a couple pictures, as I'm uploading those from my camera right now.
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