CULTURE SHOCK

18 May 2009
I went through period of fairly extreme homesickness/culture shock, where I did not want to go anywhere or do anything for like 2 weeks. I used my time fairly wisely, though: I knitted half a shrug and watched 3 seasons of Dexter. And studied. Spending Golden Week with Heather and Steve snapped me out of it, though, and barring an isolated incident the other day when I started crying in Morigiwa-sensei’s office I have been doing fairly well. I just miss everyone back home so much, and I am embarrassed and sort of ashamed that I don’t speak better Japanese.

It has been way too long since I last wrote. I am in the common room downstairs, hanging out with a bunch of people playing PSP and yelling at their little screens. It’s kind of funny. I can’t believe it’s already May 18--I have been here about 6 weeks or so. In 2 weeks I have midterm exams in Japanese language class, and I need to start really studying and practice talking more. My biggest problem is coming up with vocabulary on the fly. I know in my mind that we have been studying stuff like how to say “This ice cream is delicious. Won’t you eat some?” but I can’t quite fish out the Japanese words for these concepts.

I also have a topic for my independent study now, so that is a big relief. As I told my professor, I feel a renewed sense of purpose now that I know what my 4 credit independent study will be! And I have been putting in an hour a day doing practice LSAT problems. And trying to make sure I do some kind of upper body exercise every day. Actually I should make an hour by hour type schedule so I can prove to myself that all this stuff can be accomplished!

Overall though things are going pretty well. I think I am going to Hiroshima and Kyoto in the next couple of weeks. That will be a good cultural experience. Pretty soon May will be over and then June will arrive, along with the rainy season. One other project I have this summer is to learn the Thriller moves for the Halloween parade, and I have been thinking I want to get some people down here in the common room learning it. It may help me make sure I practice!