It was a year ago today that i set out for Japan. Taking the first steps to a major long held dream since childhood. I remember the night before packing all of my stuff into two suitcases debating whether or not i want to bring that extra pair of puma socks. My buddy came over while i was packing, a simple jester showing that for reals the time we will be apart will be missed but at the same time support for the next faze of life. I don't think he left my place until 1-2 am.
My parents were taking me to the airport in San Fran early that morning. My girlfriend at the time called and was wondering if she was going to be able to ride with us to the airport. At the time i really was impartial, my heart was already distant in the relationship and to tell the truth i was unsure as to how long the r/s was going to last. Anyway she ended up coming with us.
We arrive with no problems. The time for me to get in line for security is when it really started to set in, i was leaving my family for a year and going to a country that I knew very little about. Tears and tears and tears. Especially for my dog Sam man i was going to miss him like crazy.
Steve called me while i was in line and it meant so much to me, i know he could hear the voice of a man crying, and still he let me know that I'd be missed and no doubt i would miss him in return. AAA
Anyway i get on the plane to Japan, and spent 11 hours trying to sleep from my self imposed insomnia the night before. I listened to a lot of TATW and Bethel Podcasts.
I arrive at Narita airport get through customs get my luggage and try to find my friend Yuya who was going to pick me up. After realizing my phone doesn't work, i scrambled to get internet in order to contact him. A major problem because my parents were extremely worried about me.We meet up and he graciously drives me to Yokohama where i was to meet my school issued tutor, aka Meg. She was the one who was to get me situated with everything i needed for my stay at YNU. This mainly included dorm room, school id, foreigner registration card and a whole bunch of other stuff.
The three of us travel to my dorm room where i say goodbye to Yuya and press forward with Meg to get me situated in the dorm. The dorms weren't that great, but they were cheap, and i'm not much of a complainer. I did have cockroaches for a little while tho, and they annoyed me. Instant death was award to everyone i saw in my room.
Afterwards me and Meg take a 5 min walk to campus in order to grab some food. While on campus we ran into a friend of mine who happened to be at dance practice. Luckily practice was outside in front of one of the cafeterias. They used the glass doors to rehearse. Rin, my opposite, studied abroad at my home university CSUS the previous year.
Meg and I traveled to one of the other cafeterias (3 on campus) and at some ramen, the best choice after a long flight and jet-lag sets in.
After we eat, we head back to the dorms and after a final run through of events for tomorrow i call it a night.
No comments:
Post a Comment