It's Been One Week...

So I've been here around a week now, and at the moment I'm actually really enjoying myself! (Yes, this does come as somewhat of a surprise to me.) I can't actually remember what I've been doing. Let's see...

The first few days here, I didn't do very much. Got used to the campus and the like, and how things work in general, and met some awesome people but pretty much just stayed up on campus. From Wednesday, the 15th, we had orientation-things - it was actually nice to feel like we had things to do, just sitting around was getting a little tiresome.

Orientation itself was... long. There was some useful information, but it was mixed in with a lot of boring stuff. One good thing was getting to meet by buddy (older Japanese student who can help you out with whatever) - mine's a girl called Nana from Fukuoka, she's lovely. After all that, though, we had to do a (surprise) Japanese test - that was a bit horrible. After sitting staring blankly at the test papers, I got put into the Foundation group, which is good; although I've already done the basics I can't remember very much, and couldn't cope with anything harder anyway. And I did get to meet some other nice foreign students, they're all really nice.

After that, we had an evening playing cards and games, and that was really lovely. Met some more nice people. Later on, I took a look at my possible module choices, and they all look great! So I got pretty excited. Need to check how many I have to do, though.

The day after that, it was my friend Adrian's birthday! So after sorting out boring paperwork and registration stuff, we went for a really nice walk around campus, taking photos and just chilling. We had to do a practice emergency drill, which was annoying as it really broke up the day, but after that we all (me, Adrian, Sarah and Scott from UH, Tim, Nick, Bill and Taka) got the bus down into town to do some karaoke! It was actually so much fun. We went to one of the big shopping centres first for food and stuff, then went on to this karaoke place. You get your own private room, so it isn't as scary as it sounds. And it was great! I had such a good night. 

The day after that... I don't actually remember what we did. O.o We had this entrance ceremony in the morning, and people had to wear their national dress! I didn't really know what to wear so didn't really bother, but it was nice to see what everyone else was wearing. The first half was speeches from various people at APU, which was a tad boring (as I was very tired). But the second part was great! A few societies did performances, and they were so good. I want to try Yossha-Koi, a Japanese traditional dance that looks amazing. There was also an Indonesian one, a cheerleading one and... another one I seem to have forgotten right now. They were great! 

I don't remember what happened in the afternoon, but in the evening, some of the guys and I went to an onsen! Onsens are hot springs, and this area is famous for one. You go in naked, but guys and girls have separate bath-things. It was amazing - incredibly relaxing. Because I was the only girl that went, I pretty much had mine to myself! Coming back again we weren't sure where the bus stop was, so we walked pretty much halfway back. But we found it eventually.

On Saturday we had to go to a guidance thing about using the library - it was all pretty straightforward and fairly boring. So I couldn't be bothered to go to the other guidances in the afternoon, and went into town instead! It was nice, we explored a little bit and bought the new Pokemon game! Woo! Sadly mine doesn't work, but I'll get it sorted soon. We had to be back in the evening for another welcome ceremony - it was pretty similar to the first, but we had a buffet afterwards, and a performance by the RAs, which was fun. After that Sarah, Tim, Dani and I sat outside on the amphitheatre and talked for a fair few hours! It was really nice.

Yesterday was Sunday, and we finally had a free day. So we decided to go to the beach! Which would have been fun, except fifteen minutes after arriving, Scott managed to cut his foot horribly deep on a shell, climbing up onto the concrete breakwater-thing. So although he claimed he was okay, he was rushed to hospital to get stitches. The rest of us didn't fancy sticking around, so we went for a wander and found this amazing little place for lunch - a proper traditional little restaurant, and the food was amazing! Not too expensive, either. We also bought important supplies, and food and things. When we got back we found Scott (who was fine) and Nick, who'd gone with him, and we had dinner together - Bill, Nick and Adrian all cooked various things so we had a mixture, and it was so tasty. Then hung around a little and chatted.

Today is a national holiday so I'm just chilling again! Might go to another onsen tonight to make sure I'm even more relaxed - you can buy these passport things that you get stamped whenever you go to one, and if you get 88 different stamps you become an onsen master. This is my aim for while I'm here! (Also, I meant to say this in the last post but forgot - I have a film recommendation for y'all! I watched it on the plane, it's called Ondine and it's so beautiful. Stars Colin Farrell, who I usually hate but he's actually good in this, and it's directed by Neil Jordan who is wonderful. So you should all watch it. That is all.)

So yeah, everything's great so far, I'm really enjoying myself. Hope you're all good too! ^^

Autopilot

So it looks like I'm in Japan! It certainly doesn't look like home, at any rate. Everything's still very surreal, but I'm sure it'll sink in eventually.

The journey was fine - I travelled with a girl called Sarah who I'd met before, she's fun - though we weren't sitting together. The first flight took around nine hours, then we stopped in Seoul for a few hours, before doing the last leg to Fukuoka. Korean Air seems to be nice, though I made the mistake of trying the Korean food - seriously:

 

The goop is rice porridge with green tea - needless to say I didn't eat a whole lot. And can anyone identify the odd pale circular things? They were crunchy and kinda sweet. The other meal was good, though.

We arrived at Fukuoka Airport at around nine in the evening - and it was still incredibly humid. Met a couple of American guys also going to APU, they seem nice. We all got a bus up to the university, which took an hour and a half. From there we were shown around by the RAs, who are lovely (though it was dark, so I couldn't really take much in) and taken to our rooms. They're quite small, but definitely livable in. Only problem is the beds, which are kinda solid:

But other than that, it's all fine. That evening I (eventually) managed to get my internet working, so stayed up a lot longer than I should have! Then this morning, I met Sarah and Scott (one of the other guys I'd met before) and we walked around campus a little. Right now, I'm feeling a little fuzzy from travelling and lack of food, so I ended up staying on campus rather than going into Beppu with the others. But I'm sure I'll get plenty more chances.

My view is awesome, incidentally - I feel very lucky, of the people I know I seem to be the only one with a sea view. But lookee:

It's so pretty! So that's something, even if I'm still feeling a little iffy about the whole thing. I'm sure it'll get better, once I've remembered how to talk. In both Japanese and English. That's another thing, my Japanese is so rubbish and it makes me feel so bad! Really need to work on that, though it'll be a while before I can actually hold a conversation and stuff. There are a few orientation events organised for this week, then we start classes next week - I'm kinda looking forward to it, though I can't remember what modules I've chosen. Not looking forward to having to do a Japanese oral exam, though. Eeep.

First impression-wise, I really don't know what to make of it all. So far it mostly just feels bizarre, especially when I realise just how long I'm going to be out here for. But after I've been here a little longer, I'm sure it'll sink in properly. I'll keep you all updated.

Think that's all for now!
- Rackle (and a pretty picture)