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I have been in
Japan for
exactly one month. I have starting adjusting to everyday life and
school quite well, but this was not always the case. I started school
three weeks ago and what a fantastic three weeks it has been...
For all exchange students living in
Japan, the first
day of school means making a speech in front of the entire student
body... in Japanese. Of course the
outbound orientations prepared me for this tiny undertaking.
Of course my speech was
in perfect Japanese and was delivered with perfect pronunciations of
Japanese syllabaries. Of course not! All of my preparation (totaling
maybe ten minutes) served me well though. The night before the big day
my host mother helped me translate a paragraph of English into
Japanese. Then I went to sleep.
The next day I arrived at school and was ushered to the main
office. Here I was to wait for the opening ceremony (this is where all
the students and teachers gather into the gymnasium). A few of the
female students made several trips to the office to steal glances of
me and would giggle every time eye contact was made. The details
of what the ceremony are still a mistery as it was given in
Japanese. I was to deliver my speech at this event. After thirty
minutes of waiting it was time. I walk onto a stage, leaned into the
microphone, and began to speak. I'm not sure If it's possible to
"wing" anything in a language you don't know but I'm sure I came
close. Now that I think about it, none of the students must of been
paying attention because I spoke about myself, for example who I
was, where I'm from, how old I am, why I'm here, my hobbies, yet I was
asked all of these questions, which I had answered in my speech.
After the speech it was time for uniform, hair, and nails check.
Students aren't allowed to have long fingernails or dyed hair. I got
to watch the girls clip their fingernails. I snapped a picture or two
of this. Then I was escorted to my homeroom class: 11HR. I was told
that I am now a first year high school student. PERFECT!!! I am to be
hazed again!!! My grade is "ichinensai" or first year. I am the same
age as "sannensai" or the seniors.
I didn't stay long in my homeroom as an American ATL (alternative
language teacher) guided me around school. I soon learned that my
school was composed 70% of girls. "What a shame." I thought as the
tour continued. Girls were sticking their heads out all over the place
and giggling up a storm. some tried to say hello in English but most
just just stared, turned red then ran away. Most of the boys said
anything except for the seniors. They said hello and giggle like
little girls when I said "hi" back.
The second day of school was much like the first... except a tad
more hands on. I was swarmed my classmates (girls) and asked the same
several questions over and over and over and over again. "Do you have
a girlfriend? Do you like Japanese girls? How tall are you? Do you
have a cell phone?" I still get asked the first two questions many
times every day. Very few students speak more than a few words of
English by they sure are trying.
I has been three weeks now and it has died down, but only
slightly. I think I'm friends with all of the students by default. I
have recently purchased a cell phone. I have been emailing my friends
in Japanese and English... mostly Japanese. But, because of who my
"pen pals" are there is A LOT of motivation to learn Japanese...
quickly.
A month has pasted by and I'm told that my Japanese is getting
better but it doesn't feel like it. I'm going to keep studying
though!
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