Over the Puddle

Coming back to America has got me slightly offbase. With the dry summer and the dead grass, it looks like autumn to me. I always have to think twice about which side of the car to get in on, and driving on the right side of the road looks bizarre to me now.

I am still sticking to the 10:30pm to 6:30am sleep schedule, because I’m still used to it. Sleep is fitful, it just doesn’t feel quite right. It was rather nice to sleep on my futon again though, even if the mattress is really flat.

It’s a little rough getting used to American food again. I know that in time I will probably go back to my old ways, but for now, the idea of grease, and huge portions really doesn’t appeal to me.

My dad and I stopped at McDonald’s when we were coming back here. The regular size fries were enormous, greasy, and salty, the soda huge, and the chicken sandwich dripping in mayonnaise. I finished the sandwich, and poked at the fries before giving up. It’s kind of sad that the regular size now is the large size of yesteryear.

I had my first dose of American people again at Narita. I was in a store buying an Aquarias, when some obese American woman came up to the counter after me, and in a loud voice asked “Do you have any of those pens that light up?”. I shook my head and walked away.

I’m sure it’s because I have been away for a while, but I’m really noticing how obese a lot of people are. It’s plain disgusting to see someone who is so obese that they can’t even walk anymore, but have to use a scooter. One would think that at some point self-pride would force them to do something about their diet.

Japan cuisine has been nice to me, and as a result, I have lost 10 lbs that I’d like to keep off, and lose even more. I ate salad almost everyday in Japan, and really wouldn’t mind continuing to do so here as well. Hopefully I don’t slide back into the regular pizza routine.

I’d also like to drink less soda. Generally, you can only find soda machines around here in the states, and only the occasional juice machine. We’re a culture built on unhealthy food and drink. It’d be nice for juice and tea to be as readily available as soda is. Perhaps I’ll start carrying around a water bottle more.

Because of how busy I was in Japan, I’d generally like to stay more busy now. I would like to take piano lessons, but the classes are full right now, which doesn’t bode well. Perhaps someone will drop, but I doubt it. I brought a keyboard and my classical guitar back from my dad’s place, so if I can’t take lessons, I’ll have to pick up some learning books.

I’m also thinking of taking up Akido again. This semester is for all intents my last real semester. I’m taking all English classes, so I don’t think my workload will be as bad as last year. I’ll have to start all over again in Akido, because I don’t remember any of it really.

I’d really like to take Kyudo (Japanese zen archery) as well, but there isn’t anything around here that offers it. The closest is in Madison, and after talking to one of the campers who was taking Kyudo in Japan, it sounds rather nontraditional. Perhaps after graduation I’ll have to do more research.

I have all English classes this semester, and generally have an easier time getting English homework done. However, I do have an Honors course (even though I’m not an honors student!) of British plays which will probably keep me on my toes. In addition, I have a Mythology course (I really like Mythology), and a grammar course (which should be boring), and a couple others I can’t remember right now. I think it amounts to a 13 credit semester, which should be easy. I can’t afford to slack off though, as this semester will finish off my English major.

So, now hopefully the worst of the jet lag is over, and I can go about adjusting back to American college life. I don’t remember my schedule, nor do I remember when my first class is tomorrow, which should be interesting.

I just got back from the graduation ceremony for the Japanese students. This time around, I knew more of the students, so definately had to go. It’s these graduation ceremonies that let you know how much you have affected the study abroad students. I’ve been there, I can relate.

Each student had prepared a speech to give, and most of them were surprisingly long. Each student’s English has come a long way since they got here. As is usual with these graduation ceremonies, they are very emotional. I was a little surprised to see Chihiro (my conversation partner) even falter. She always seems to come off as the tough one.

I posted some of the pictures from the graduation ceremony. Unfortunately, the digital camera I am borrowing from my dad, well, sucks. I need to buy a new one. Most of the pictures turned out fuzzy, and those that didn’t, weren’t that great of quality. If you have just the right lighting conditions, the pictures are nice, if you don’t….

I went bowling with the gaming club here on campus, and we had two of the Japanese students come with, Ikuko, and Ayumi. The bowling was fun, even though our lanes seemed to have the habit of not returning the balls.

Later, we returned to the house, and I got a chance to talk with Ikuko. I hadn’t really gotten to know Ikuko before, even though Don and Seb knew her from Japan. Don showed them a little Gundam Seed, which we are showing at the anime club here on campus, also the Rurouni Kenshin manga he had collected, and momentos from Japan.

Later, they wondered where my room was, so I showed them (after doing a whirlwind cleanup job). What I thought was funny is that they noticed my Love Hina manga pretty quickly on top of my bookshelf, and started reading them.

While they were reading, I asked them if there was any music they liked, and Ikuko mentioned Mai Kuraki, which oddly enough, I actually had. This threw them off, and they spent the next ten minutes asking me why I had Japanese music. In retrospect, I get this question alot actually. It seems that Japanese music isn’t terribly popular with the Japanese students that come here, as they prefer American music and bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Backstreet Boys.

So, in the end, both of them borrowed some of my Love Hina manga, and I gave Ikuko a copy of the Mai Kuraki CD I had so she had something to listen to.

Well, it appears that Kirsch is enjoying himself over in Japan. He got his blog up and going over the weekend, and has several pictures up. I sort of envy him to be honest. He looks like he’s having entirely too much fun.

Check out his blog at Kirschzilla.blogspot.com. The picture gallery only works correctly under IE at the moment. I’ll have to pester him about that.

In other news, Seb and I went over the study abroad today to tell them we were going to head back to Japan come the spring. I have decided that spring would be a better choice. As much as I would like to go in the fall and winter, I think that spring is just going to be a better idea overall. Oh well, the sakura season is quite a spectacle anyway.

It seems that the Japan bug has been quite infectious around here lately. We just had a send-off for my friend Kirsch as he departs for home until the weekend, at which time he too begins his journey to Nagasaki, Japan (Have fun!). The good thing is that I will be over there for about the last month of his stay, so it’ll be fun to meet up and do stuff there. Besides, how often can you say “I’ll see you in Nagasaki!” as a parting comment? As soon as I get an address for his blog, I’ll make sure to post it.

It sounds like he will be living near the Sumiyoshi area in Nagasaki, which is a good location. From there, you have readily available bus and streetcar transportation. In addition, it is a decent commercial district. He’ll be going at a good time too, as the sakura season should be right about when he gets over there.

In addition to that, Jim is planning on going to Japan next spring for his first time, and Seb and Nathan are also planning on returning to Japan that same semester. It also sounds like Nathan is seriously thinking about joining the JET program afterwards.

This is all in addition to my own summer program for Camp USA, and a possible fall study abroad. The fall study abroad is still a little fuzzy, because I need to find someone to take my place on the lease. If that happens, then I’m all clear for study abroad. I just hope I can find someone relatively soon, so I can start on the scholarship applications.

It’s rather odd to think that there will be at least 5 people from Platteville in Nagasaki during the next year. Granted, three of them are returnees, and that is noteworthy by itself.