I'm in Japan! I have been here for a week now, and have so many things to write about. I guess I'll start from the beginning.

I flew from Phoenix to Vancouver and then to Japan. Both flights were on time, but it was the longest flight I've ever been on. Fortunately there were several movies to choose from during the longer flight, of which I watched two. Upon arriving at Narita airport, I went to claim my baggage and instead found my name on a sign going by on the conveyer belt. I told a woman there that my name was on the list, and she explained to me that my baggage was delayed and would be arriving later that night. I had to fill out a form with the address of the hotel where I would be staying. I then went to the currency exchange counter, and as I was filling out another form, a caucasian man approached me and asked "Alexandra?" I said yes and he introduced himself as Matt, the program coordinator at JSP. Maybe the JSP handbook I had gave myself away. Matt was my contact at TIU before coming to Japan. After I got my yen, he led me to the bus stop where I could board the bus to the hotel. Once I checked into the hotel, I met my roomates for the night and several other JSP students. The hotel was a Holiday Inn, thus very Western styled and roomy. Breakfast was buffet style with Japanese and Western food. After breakfast Thursday morning, we boarded a bus and headed to TIU for the first time.

TIU is in the city of Kawagoe. It is two train stations away from Kawagoe station, which is in the main/downtown area. We arrived at TIU around 10:45am for our first day of orientation. We ate bento (Japanese lunch in a box) in a classroom where we watched Matt give various powerpoint presentations. We were introduced to the 4 peer assistants, and each student was assigned to a certain PA. After orientation, we followed our PAs onto the train to Kawagoe station. We headed to the Kawagoe Dai Ichi hotel where all JSP students would be spending the night. Nearby was Crea Mall, the main shopping/entertainmet street in Kawagoe. Each group went out to a different place to eat. My group's PA, Shosuke, took us to a good ramen restaurant. That night each student had their own, tiny room. The following morning we ate a traditional breakfast in a Japanese-style room. During day two of orientation, we had more powerpoints, more tour of the school and surrounding area, and dinner with our PAs again. Day three was the day of the Japanese placement test and JSP opening ceremonies, where we would meet our host families. During the ceremony each student gave a short introduction in Japanese. Afterwards we all found our host families and ate lunch there, then headed to our new homes.

My homestay's closest station is Tsurugashima, which is one station away from the university's nearest station, in the opposite direction from Kawagoe station. I am living with the Sekoguchis: mother Chieko, father Ryuichi, and daughters Yuuka (7) and Maika (10). Ryuichi's mother was living with them for a short time as well. Chieko speaks a bit of English, the others don't. At the orientation, the girls were a bit shy, but once we arrived at their home turf they opened up. I was shown into my room, which is Japanese style, meaning the floors are tatami (straw mats), and the screens over the window and balcony door are shouji (Japanese paper and wood), and there is no bed. When it is time for bed, I prepare a futon. I fold and put everything away in the morning. Once I was somewhat done unpacking, the girls hurried into my room with a deck of cards. Their little girl Japanese is somewhat difficult to understand, but we manage to communicate somehow. We played various card games, and then went down to dinner. Ryuichi prepared a special meal of sashimi (raw fish) including a type of fish that is eaten during celebrations. After dinner, Maika and Yuuka brought other toys into my room. We spent some time building various things out of puzzle blocks. Then it was bath time. For anyone who does not know, it is common in Japan for people of a same gender to bathe at the same time. You always shower before entering the bath, so the water is clean. The girls wanted to take a bath with me, so Chieko showed me to the bath room (separate from the toilet) and said "Have fun!" Getting undressed in front of two girls I had just met was a bit awkward, but unlike American children who might stop and stare, they just continued throwing their clothes off and started showing me how to use the shower. It is no big deal to them. Once we were all crowded into the bath, they showed me their little mermaid toys. They started running an imaginary café of sorts, using various cups and buckets to mix ingredients (bath water and little mermaid toys) to make drinks. Good times haha.

On Sunday I got my train and bus passes. To get to school, I take a bus to the station and then the train to school. Sunday night Chieko took the girls, their grandma, and me to her parents' restaurant. We ate lots of yummy food that was cooked at our table. School started Monday. We checked a bulletin board to see which level of Japanese we were placed in. There are 5 levels this semester, and I am in the fourth level. I am satisfied, considering everyone inthe fifth level has studied in Japan before. The Japanese classes have a strict "Japanese use only" rule, but elective classes are taught in English. I went to my Japanese politics class, which is taught by a British woman.

On Tuesday I only had Japanese class, so afterwards I went with 2 other students to Crea mall. We ate Indian food, took pictures, and looked around. I then went home and met Chieko's younger sister and her two children, a little baby and a 2 year old. Then Chieko and her sister, their mom, their children, and Ryuichi's mom and I went to a steak house. I see now why Japanese tourists love the steakhouses in America,though I did not try the steak… I had a hamburger patty filled and coated with cheese.

JSP students do not have classes on Wednesdays, but occasionally must attend meetings. Wednesday morning some students, including me, met at TIU to go with the PAs and another program coordinator to get our Alien Regstration Cards. We showed our identification at the City Hall, and the cards are currently being processed. We have to go pick them up by ourselves in two weeks. While we waited for our passports to be returned, we took a short trip to a famous and historic "candy street" where handmade candy is still sold. Sweets made from sweet potato are extremely popular, since they are aKawagoe specialty. After we left City Hall, I decided to go on a little adventure. We were near the most historic area of Kawagoe, which is known for retaining buildings from the Edo period. For this reason, Kawagoe is called "Little Edo". I wandered around and encountered various old buldings, shrines, a graveyard, and the famous bell tower rebuilt in 1893 after being destroyed by fire. From there I decided to go to Kitain, a famous Buddhist temple. I became slightly confused getting there, but once I turned a corner and caught a glimpse of what looked like a forest of tall trees, I knew the way. I walked down the street towards the trees, and soon I could clearly see the boundary of the concrete city and the lush greenery surrounding the temple and its shrines. Famous temples are usually not just a single building, but an entire area of various buldings and shrines. I walked across a bridge onto a dirt path, and was suddenly overtaken by the beautiful scenery and strange, exotic bird calls. I shortly arrived to the main temple buliding, in front of which there is a plaza. In the plaza is the wash basin, gift shop, and directory showing the locations of all the shrines. The old shrines were located around the plaza as well as further down other paths. The temple was originally built in 830, but was destroyed by fire in 1638 and rebuilt. Only the main gate was undamaged. After the fire, parts of bulidings from Edo castle (home of the most powerful man in Japan at the time) were moved to Kitain. Today Kitain has the only remaining structure from the original Edo castle. Other interesting things there include the Gohyaku-Rakan statues and Toshugu shrine. See my pictures for more detail if you are interested. Enough history leson for now.

From Kitain I went to Crea mall. I mostly wanted to check out the arcades. I went into each arcade I saw, and was very amused by the UFO catchers. Again, see pictures for more detail. I even tried one, and got a prize on my last chance! It is a keychain from an anime I like, but not the character I wanted. Oh well, it is my first arcade prize in Japan! Afterward I went to Atre, a 7 story department store with everything from clothes and gifts to restaurants and a grocery store. I heard there were crepes there, and I love crepes. I looked around a bit and eventually found the crepe store. I ate a yummy crepe, a really good fish shaped sandwich from the store next door, and peach tea with fruit flavored boba! If it isn't already obvious, I am loving the food here. I just love trying different foods.

Thursday I went to class, then went to another Indian restaurant, this time near the school. I was invited by a few other students, so I went along before returning home. At home I witnessed some sort of sibling fight, and then after dinner the 10 year old became my Japanese teacher, helping me with some homework. In the end I think trying to communicate with her made it more difficult, but it was interesting. Today, Friday, I went to my second elective class, history. All the classes are 3 hours, but the electives seem longer than Japanese. At least we only have 2 elective classes each week.

I was invited by some students to go to Tokyo this weekend, and accepted. Tomorrow we will hit some parts of Tokyo, and Sunday we are planning to go to Akihabara. I'll write about it next time. Until then, that's all!