My time until now...

Hello friends!  I had a crazy idea today.  I want to talk about Japan for a little bit.  Maybe no pictures today, just some interesting things.

So before I came to this country, I studied Japanese language, history, literature, and culture for about 4 years (total).  I feel like I know a little but about all kinds of things in Japan, but not a lot about anything.  I did alright in my language classes at Ohio State, but there is something different about really living her and studying from home.  

All of the little phrases that people use all the time, I don't know.  I hear the same words and phrases everyday, but it takes me time to learn them.  Once I understand, it becomes like a game of call and response.  They say something, and I say the something back.

The classes that I studied in were interesting because the teachers all say how "polite" Japan is, but honestly when you are here... You can tell the difference in sincerity, and obligated "friendliness".  For instance, when I talk to someone that doesn't know I speak Japanese, I hear all kinds of things that are kind of "rude".  Not really mean things, but just belittling things about me or other people.  I understand, and one of my favorite things to do is to say something advanced in Japanese after they make a comment about me, so they know I understood it.  The faces I get sometimes are priceless.  I thought this one cashier was going to have a heart attack when she called to her other coworker that 'she would rather her deal with the "foreigner" because she doesn't feel like trying to explain things in English to one.' After they know I speak, I get all kinds of honorifics thrown at me from all kinds of people.  I think the more proper use of honorifics in this area are to show that they do not want to be close to you, and rather, just get done with the interaction, and have me leave.  Now these occurrences are VERY seldom.  But just like every country and even city, not everyone is going to be nice.  

However, I honestly have felt sincere friendliness from many more people in Japan.  One of my families that I taught in America came to visit me last weekend.  They took me all over the place for 2 days.  I had such a good time. (this trip will most likely come on my next blog post, it is the coolest place I have ever been to).  Even after they left, they keep texting me and calling me, and even emailing me.  I talk with them everyday.  It was fantastic for my Japanese ability also to spend all last weekend only speaking Japanese.  Also, I went drinking with a new friend last night.  Lisa and I will go out with him and some of his other friends this weekend again, and then in 2 weeks, he is going to take me to a Japanese style BBQ all day in a neighboring town about an hour away by car.  I cannot wait.  

It is the people like this here that make me love what I do and love where I live.  

As far as my hardships go, there have not been many right now.  I have been getting used to how things work here and I have landed in a small rhythm.  I know how to do what I need to do, when I want to do it.  My language barrier is closing quicker and quicker.  

Now away from the heavy stuff, (I just felt like giving a deeper opinion of this place my first month of being here and compare them later in the year when I am still blogging!!)

Now onto somethings that are humorous to me and surprising to me.

The wind...

It is ALWAYS blowing in Gunma. I go to hang my cloths out to dry and I constantly find everything bunched up at one end of the line all wet still...

I feel like I live in a perpetual wind tunnel.  Everyone talks about the famous wind in Gunma.  I can see what they are talking about.

The bugs...

I ALWAYS have a bug bite...

Every morning I wake up, and find a new "itchy" spot that was not there before last night.

If you plan on coming to Japan, please bring bug spray.

Just this morning I woke up and I have a bug bite on my pinkie finger!  It is SO itchy! I have been contemplating all day weather to either bite my finger off, or cut it off.  However, anytime I see a rough surface, I feel like I need to rub it up against it like a cat rubbing between your legs when she is hungry (I'm sure my brother knows what I am talking about with the cat back home)

The food...

Oh my god....................................... Oh my god...

I cannot tell you how good it is....

Before I came here, I thought it was going to be good... The actual flavor of things that I eat here are so much better than anything else I have ever eaten in my life.  Yesterday, I was given a small bag of eggs... The person that gave them to me said they were laid this morning... (it was still morning when I got them)

Even food from the damn gas station is absolutely amazing!  

I went to a restaurant last night and had just some fried chicken like food... I honestly laughed out loud when I took a bite..  The person I was with had no idea why I was laughing, but after I told them it was because the food was so good, he ordered all kinds of other things for me to try. Just amazing all over.  Even food that is crap in America is good here.

The Drinks...

Cheap... CHEAP! I can get a cocktail here for $1.30. And a good one too.  I'm talking Beefeater Gin and ginger ale for less than $1.50.  Beer here is $5 for what would cost $10 in America.  Just tonight, I walked to the station, bought some food and a beer, drank the beer on the walk home (because as discussed before that is legal here) and ate the food when I got back.

The American stuff...

This country, just like America, tries to put its own spin on other culture's foods.  Sushi and Japanese food in America is SO much different than it is in Japan.  I am being very serious.  If you think you like Japanese food, please come to Japan and eat it here.  Now American food is VERY funny here.  The sizes are all strange, and the flavors are kind of wrong.  Japan always puts a little bit of Japan in their food.  Like if I order a hamburger at a restaurant, there might be soy sauce on the meat, or there might be pork mixed with the beef.  The bread is different here too... I don't know exactly what is different about it, but I like this bread more.  I think it is that they cut it thicker.  I only need 1 piece and I usually fold it to make a sandwitch.

Also, ALL dairy products are different here.  Milk tastes different and yogurt is very different.  The yogurt here is very soupy.  It is not a liquid, per say, but it is not as thick as American yogert.  The cheese is also very different.  In ANY store in America, there are walls of cheese.  The selection is CRAZY big.  In Japan, you basically pick what color cheese you want to eat that day.  And that usually consists of white (but not swiss) and a yellow.  I think they taste the same, and neither is to die for.  It basically is the same flavor but different colors.  

I'll give it to America on this one, junk food in America in awesome.  The selection and the variety of that selection is unbeatable. Today I walked to the station when I got my beer, and I saw a snickers... Bought it.

It was a little piece of America that I was able to just sit and realize that it was the same.  I wouldn't say that I miss America (yet?) but I do like to have things that remind me of it.  

The heat....

It. Is. Hot....

It is VERY hot.

It's not even summer yet, and it is HOT.

Sometimes when I ride my bike to work. I petal very fast to try and get some wind on my face so the sweat can dry before I get there.  There have been days when I honestly drip sweat when I work.  The kids are dripping also and no one seems to mind.  It is just the way it is here.  No one really has air conditioning here, and if they do, no one uses it. I need to drink so much water everyday.  

Not much to say, but Gunma feels like I live on the Sun from day to day.

The older people...

Today I talked to an 80 year old that is going to go climb a mountain this weekend...

(just let that sink in for a minute)

And if that is not crazy enough, he said he is going with a group of his friends from high school (all of them in their mid 80's)

This country is just healthy. If you have to walk to work everyday, and walk to the store and back everyday, guess what... You will always be able to walk and do things like that.  I see people that look like they are in their second millennium ground golfing everyday.  It is cool to think that I might get to be that healthy when I am that age.  When I see it, I just hope it becomes me.

Well I feel like I have rambled long enough.  I hope this was eye opening.  I sure have learned a lot since I have come here.  I feel the last few posts have had a more serious tone to them.  I'm not trying to be serious, but I have not needed to take any chances yet recently.  When I have to do something new, or take a chance that is where the turmoil that everyone was enjoying came into my life.  Like I said, everyday I live here, it get easier.   Some things to look forward to soon, are my trip to Tokyo next month (I have to do most of the traveling alone) and cleaning the birds next from my window... (I still haven't done that yet).

I am sure other things will come, but right now, I'm finally just living comftorably.  I DO however need my care package from my family.  I think I have watched every movie I brought with me 3 times now.  New material is needed.

I hope you enjoy and look for many new posts coming soon!