July 2012
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Combini!
So all the convenience stores in Japan are called combinis. They are a little different from American ones. The 3 main chains I’ve seen are 7/11, Sunkis, and Lawson’s. They have all types of food including instant. They also sell liquor and alcohol for pretty cheap. Conveniently, they usually have copy machines and fax machines and ATMs and you can also buy tickets for things like the...
June 2012
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I've been slacking!!
Sorry!!!
I’ve been busy with midterms TT^TT so it’s been a sort of hell for the past week and a half, but I’ll try to update as much as possible!
So Midterms here, are a big deal. There aren’t really any exams throughout the semester (at least in the english-taught classes I’m in) so all of our grades come from participation, attendance, and the midterm and final....
May 2012
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April 2012
24 posts
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Notes on Japanese Culture
I have been here for about 2 weeks now and I’ve noticed a couple things about Japanese people. Just thought I’d share ;)
Japanese people are VERY passive aggressive! They have a lot of rules about everything and for everywhere and they enforce them upon you with a smile and polite words. It almost makes you feel guilty that you didn’t know the rules at all! It’s very...
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Renescance
That is the name of the gym I am now a part of. I joined today! It was great to finally be able to work out and get back into it. I loved it. I did elliptical intervals for an hour and some abs. The gyms here are so different though! The locker rooms are suuuper nice, for one, and has it’s own “powder room” complete with vanities, a bath room, awesome lockers with hangars, and...
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Forever not alone
Today the bulk of the exchange students came in so I found new friends at last T^T I’m so happy haha. Most of the people who were here before were all friends already because of their programs but as exchange students, we don’t really meet each other until we actually get to Japan. Anyway, we all had a meet and greet late dinner/snack thing with sake and beer and plum wine (which is...
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Differences
Wow, after about a day in Japan, I’ve already noticed lots of differences between Japan and USA. Here are a couple…
The roads. Main thing: the cars drive on opposite sides and the drivers drive on the right side, not left. Mind-boggling, kinda freaked me out a bit. The highways are also very different, with tall walls, some with glass so you can see out into the countryside or city....
March 2012
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The journey begins...
I have anticipated the beginning of this adventure for so long, that it feels almost unreal that I will be on a plane tomorrow heading halfway across the world to Tokyo. Unreal! I cannot believe I’m going to be spending four months in the amazing country of Japan. Of course, I will miss America and my mom’s cooking… and the lazy couch potato days of the past 3 months of...