January 23

Today was a big, busy day. I started the day as usual with breakfast and daft punk, but I finished early, so I went to the 地下鉄 and caught the train that arrives before my usual train. It was unprecedentedly crowded. I spent the time trying to study a bit more for the “short” (30-minute) test. Luckily, the quiz wasn’t too bad (or so I think for now). After the test, we had four sessions of Japanese in a row. I’m usually good for three, but by the time the fourth professor comes, I am beat. I must have looked lost today because I was focusing on what the professor was saying, and afterward, she asked me if I was okay.

After class, we went in search of the “mega chicken,” a meal so big (for 500円) that Americans have a hard time finishing it. As it turned out, it was true!!! The meal was a giant fried chicken part (who knows which), rice, and miso. I got the “jumbo chicken” (smaller and 60円 cheaper) and I thought they had given me the mega chicken accidentally when I got it. I did learn from the experience though that Japanese fried chicken is overrated.

My next ordeal was to meet with my professor to go over my second entrance exam. Originally, I was supposed to go to room 206, but that room had a sign indicating room 210, and that room indicated 212 (I think) as the proper room. I followed the name on the door (and the name of the person I was supposed to meet with) and found that I was supposed to go to room 212 anyway. As expected, I did badly on the keigo and (unexpectedly, but not surprisingly) on the causitive/passive/causitive-passive portion. The professor told me to review at my home and to ask if I had questions. That means; I’m staying in 400!!!! Wooo!!!

By the end of the meeting, I was late for religions class (which I wanted to try out), so I figured it was too late to try it out, as I would arrive late to class and have to leave early for the other class that I am actually enrolled in. Unfortunately, I miscalculated an hour, and being 1:45, I would have gotten a lot of class time out of going to religion class (held from 1:30 to 3:45) even though my enrolled class started at 3:15. I’m not sure if I have a final chance to try religions before final registration, so I may be stuck with art and culture (so far, very boring). We will see....

Instead of religions class, I went to the 百円 lawson’s (where I bought nothing) with Keily and then to the on-campus Lawsons (where I bought a cream puff). I have to control my sweet tooth somehow. Luckily, I am growing bored of the sweets in Japan.

Art and culture class was expectedly boring. I fell asleep (against my will) in the middle of class. We watched a movie on top-knots (which was actually a bit interesting), but spent the majority of class talking about Perie and modernization of Japan. I couldn’t stay awake. ):

When class finally ended though, I got to have fun. I met up with JiWei at the 名古屋大学駅 (where my phone stopped working) and went to 名古屋大学 for the party. Apparently, it was a safari-theme costume party, but few people dressed up. It was a lot of fun, though it had its awkward parts. JiWei introduced me to a lot of his friends, and I got to practice my Japanese (successfully and unsuccessfully). There was also おいしい Japanese food (as well as other foreign food I didn’t try). There was, of course, a lot of drinking, but everyone was in good spirits, so it wasn’t a big deal. JiWei told me about being homesick and we were both happy to be able to see someone from State (in Japan!). JiWei wants to go exploring in Japan, so I think I’ve found a travel buddy. (:

I learned something about 南山 from one of the Japanese girls at the party today. 南山 is a private university, and as such, the students have money. Even the girls at Nagoya say that the 南山 girls dress particularly dressy, put on a lot of make-up, and wear high heels all of the time. No wonder I feel so under dressed all the time; I’m not a Japanese princess!

Tomorrow is おす with Keili, Anna, and Mike. I am very excited!

P.S. Japanese obaasan wear kimono in public. It’s really cool to see.