Second Week of Class and Rain

Today marks the second week of class. I felt so tired. I studied elementary grammar for two hours last night (Sunday, June 28), and some more this morning for about 40 minutes. I think I know and understand more, but I am also getting more confused as teachers explain the nuances in the grammar.

We got our grammar textbook today (of course the Institute provided it for free of charge). It is for the first session. We go through about 2.5 lessons per week.

We had a guide to online library catalog search today after class. I need to start to look for books, especially primary sources to write my master's thesis and doctoral dissertation later.

Today also marks the second rain in Osaka since my arrival. The scenary outside my window is so mesmerizing... I wished I could hear the sound of the rain more clearly.

Osaka Namba

Carla, Yu and I went to Osaka's southern downtown area, Namba, yesterday, Sunday, June 28. We rode the train for 40 minutes and walked all around the Namba and Nipponbashi (Japanese Bridge) areas. I did not visit those areas when Jason and I were in Osaka last year. Last time I wanted to see historical sites. This time, at least in Osaka, I wanted to see contemporary people's lives and spaces.

The main shopping areas, Dotonbori, Sennichimae, and Shinsaibashi. We walked into electronics shop, saw restaurants, cloth shops, thrifty (cosmetics, snacks, drinks, etc) shops, among other types. We also went to Kuromon Market, where vendors sell fresh vegetables, meat, fish, and other things.

I bought some souvenir and one yukata set (Japanese bath rope that most people wear to festivals nowadays). I have the yukata, the cloth around the waist area, and the sandals. I apparently did not only got attention from men for my red shirt, but also at least one woman. While deciding which yukata to buy, Yu advised that I get a red one because she says I look good in red. She based her advice on seeing me in the red shirt the day before. I cannot help it but felt happy.

We shared 6 takoyaki and ate okonomiyaki for lunch. Okonomiyaki is another famous Osakan food. The batter is the same as takoyaki, but the "stuffing" are cabbages, seafood or meat, and egg. The original Osakan okonomiyaki is what I have described, but the "modern style" includes noodles. I ordered the modern version. Hiroshima is also famous for okonomiyaki, but it includes noodles. Jason and I had one last year but I do not remember it much. I know it was delicious.

We left at 8:30am and came back after 5:30pm.

Magokoro

Saigoto, Anya from Poland, and I went with the birthday lady Mai (Maria) from Spain to Magokoro, a Japanese grill-and-bar place on Saturday night, June 27, at 9:30pm. We biked there in the dark. My bike light never came on.

We talked a lot, none about our program. Anya asked me a lot about Jason and some about Taiwan. We all talked about marriage and kids (plans or lack of). We had fun.

The only downside was how much I paid for the celebration. I had apple juice and three small sticks of yakitori (yaki=grill, tori=bird, chicken). My order should have costed 700 yen and maybe plus tax, but I ended up paying 1600 yen. We split four-way and some people had two beers and order more food than I. Since I have no idea what the cultural practice of payment is in India, Poland and Spain, I did not say anything.

I realize that I should be asking people about their country of origin, and not always center the conversation on the program.

I ate the first raw egg in my life. I do not think I will desire to eat it again. I only ate it because I am poor, and it was included in the meal.

Tajiri International Club

The Institute allowed people from the Tajiri International Club (Tajiri is the name of this area that includes Rinku Town) to come to talk to those of us who want to have international exchange. They divided us into three groups where approximately three Japanese sat with six foreigners (non-Japanese). I thought the conversation was okay. I really wanted to ask "hard" questions such as if Japanese were aware of their prewar history, and to what extent. I want to ask about their lives. I did not end up asking any question because I thought it would be too abrupt and appear rude to them.

I wore this red shirt that Lindi gave me for my Bachelorette's party with a pair of black slacks because I ran out of non-T-shirt top (or I thought so, I later discovered I had one more). Two guys (Saigoto from India and Julio from Spain) in my program had interesting response to my shirt. Their faces brightened up when they saw me, "Oh, you are so beautiful today! You have become so pretty." They even took pictures with me. Saigoto-san said similar words to me again after the international exchange.

After the official round-table exchange, I talked to this Japanese college student. We had a good conversation. I felt fine until he asked if I was free then. Before that, he asked if I had been to the movie theatre in Japan. I took a chance to move away from him and got Carla and another colleague, Mutia, to leave and go to dinner. This was my first encounter with a potential asking-me-out type of situation... I felt weird...

I have four more international exchanges on my calendar. I will blog about them as they happen.

Takoyaki and Karaoke Party

We the six-month participants learned and enjoyed making and eating fresh-off-the-pot takoyaki on Friday after our oral test. Teachers bought ingredients and provided the recipe. Tako= octopus, yaki= grill. Takoyaki is an Osaka food. We made batter and put ingredients such as octopus, green onion, hot dog, and corn inside the takoyaki. I think our takoyaki tasted good, probably only because they were fresh off the pot.

Most people brought drinks, alcohol and soft drink. Teachers also brought some Japanese snacks.

At least half of us karaoked. The administrator in charge of our program has the best vocal. Aliza from Russia has a beautiful opera-like voice.

We made takoyaki from 4:30pm to perhaps 5:30pm, and most people stayed until 7pm. I stepped out to have dinner for half hour, but otherwise was in the room until 10:15pm. I did not sing that many songs, but I watched many people. I had fun.

First Oral Test

I had to explain my research topic in Japanese last Friday, June 26. Teachers provided interview questions beforehand, but they still asked questions not listed on the form. My advisor (Yazawa Riko) asked me:

1. What exactly are you researching within the history of women's education? Research questions.
2. What sources are you looking for?

I answered something with broken Japanese because I did not prepare for those two questions. We are supposed to get the same interview in 5 more weeks. We will see if I improve by then...

Teachers gave me two major pieces of advice:
1. Talk faster (I was talking at the rate of a banana slug).
2. Have pauses at appropriate places, i.e. particles.

Rinku Town

This Rinku Town is what I would call a small town, with some agricultural areas, residential area, temples and shrines within residential areas, small shops, supermarkets and a few bigger stores as well as shopping malls. I see many children around the town almost every time I go out. Rinku Town is located at the southernmost area of Osaka Prefecture.

I like this town because it is by the ocean and the bridge. Too bad I do not cook, otherwise I can buy and cook fresh seafood all the time. The view outside my window is always so beautiful to look at any time in the day and night. The town has at least two hyakuyen shops ("hyakuyen" means 100 yen, which is similar to U.S.'s 99 cents store). The residences are not too close to each other, and there are not many tall buildings (at the most probably six or seven, except for the Kansai Institute with 18 floors).

While we the six-month program participants walked to sign for alien registration today, Japanese students from all ages were walking back to their homes. Some (elementary boys) greeted us, well, they seemed to target the non-East-Asian looking participants.

Television

I watched one full episode of Pokemon on Monday, June 22. I am so used to English names that I felt too weird to hear "real Japanese" names for the characters.

I came across this Korean drama, "The King and I." I started to watch it because it took place during the kingdom period, and I wanted to learn more about Korean culture and their clothes. I was not sure if the show was every weekday or not, and thus missed it on Tuesday. I happened to see it yesterday, Wednesday, from 7:30pm to 10pm. Yes, you know it means I did not study much as a consequence.

The show has original Korean sounds with Japanese subtitles. This means I am probably going to learn a few Korean words, while reading the subtitles fast (knowing the kanji really helps).

Today I began to watch it at around 7pm (not sure when it starts because it was already in progress when I turned on the TV). I am not sure if it will go on for a long time again. I am trying to do some homework and studying in between. I have an important oral test tomorrow.

I hope to watch this Korean show when I return to the state or so. I missed the first 20 episodes or so and I do not know if the show will end by the time I return to the U.S.

I want to watch Japanese drama and shows, but I do not know when they are on...

Shiroi Neko

A white cat mom and her four kittens live in the Institute. They seem to live under these bushes right outside Class Room 1, where I am on weekday mornings. I just want to pet the kittens. They remind me of Lindi's little one.

The mom hissed at me two or three times when I took pictures of them today.

Note: Shiroi neko means white cat.

The Third or Fourth Twin

I discovered from our icebreaker today that Kaigan (he tells me to call him by his name's Japanese meaning, but his originally name is Saigoto) from India has the same birthday as me.

He is either the third or the fourth person with the same birthday as I. Kelly Chen (?) from UC Berkeley's Asian American Association has the exact same birthday (i.e. same year) as I. Jerry Kong (and his twin brother) from UCLA Graduate Division has the same birthday (not year). Kaigan is the third or fourth one (I remember there is someone else, but I am not sure...) I have yet to ask him the year. If you saw pictures on my picasa, he was the fisherman and cook for the fish this past Sunday. We karaoked together three times already.

Rain, Sleep, Studying

Last night, rain and strong wind passed through Osaka, the first time since my arrival. As I looked out my window at the ocean, harbor, city, and the bridge over the ocean and listened to the sound of the wind, the lights and rain drops created a out-of-the-body experience. I felt as if I was a movie character in a hotel room, lonely and lost, looking out the window and pondering about my life.

The rain is supposed to come all week, but it has not yet arrived today.

Also for the first time since arriving in Osaka, I got a "normal" sleep. I felt the same waking up as in the U.S. I would like to think the sound of the rain helped, but I could barely hear it. I love listening to the sound of rain as I sleep.

I was not motivated after class yesterday to do my homework or study. I forced myself to complete the homework last night. Today is much better- I finished my homework already. I plan to study (i.e. studying for new grammar and making flash cards for new vocabulary) either after posting here or after dinner.

Session One Class Schedule

Class began yesterday, Monday, June 22. I liked the teachers (different teachers for the same courses everyday) and the pace of the class. I learned mostly new grammar and vocabulary.

My schedule for the first session: (sometimes different events take place in different weeks)

9am to 10:50am: "Everything"- grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension from Mondays to Fridays.

11am to 11:50am, Conversation on Mondays and Tuesdays; Kanji (Chinese characters) on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

11:50am to 1:20pm: Lunch time.

1:20pm to 3:10pm: "Everything" review on Mondays; Computer and electronic resources class on Tuesdays; Japanese for Specialists on Wednesdays; Presentation/Speech Practice on Thursdays.

I have no class after 10:50am on Fridays. I should make it a study time, reading monographs in English and Chinese.

Japan Foundation Kansai

Sponsor: The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Kansai

Program: Japanese-Language for Specialists in Cultural and Academic Field, 2 months or 6 months.

Duration:
June 17, 2009- August 14, 2009 (2 months)
June 17, 2009 - December 16, 2009 (6 months)- I am in this program.
Participants: graduate students, librarians, and researchers.
--- 6-month program participants: 15 people total = 6 Koreans, 2 Chinese, 2 Americans (Carla and I, both from UC Santa Cruz!), 2 Spaniards, 1 Indian, 1 Mexican, and 1 Polish.
--- 2-month program participants: 30 people, include American, Azerbaijan, Bangali, Bulgarian, Canadian, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Kazakh, Koreans, Russian, Ukranian, and Vietnamese.

Shelter: Provided by the Institute, free. Each person has their own room with a full bathroom, a refrigerator, hot water pot, plate, mug, drinking glass, spoon, fork, food tray, safety box, book shelf, clothes cabinets, television with video player, cassette tape-CD-radio player, alarm clock, phone, desk, chair, lamp, alarm clock, and mirrors.

Food: Provided by the Institute's cafeteria, free.

Kitchen: has everything you need to cook your own food- pots, pans, utensils, bowls, plates, etc. Free of charge.

Laundry: free wash and dry.

Study lounge: computers, language books in various languages, participant's mail box, movie and other videos, and manga.

Library: free with over 40,000 books. We can also obtain books from university and library books from all over Japan through inter-library loan.

Gym: small but sufficient; tennis and ping pong rackets for borrowing free of charge.

Lounge: sofa, table, and massage chair.

Karaoke room: big flat screen karaoke machine with multiple languages, tables, chairs, and massage chair.

Bicycle usage: free.

Shop: sell books, especially Japanese language books, at 10% off. Also sell other daily supplies, stamps and few souvenir. Fax and dry clean services are also provided.

Other: visa application free, alien registration free (professional photo included).

Grants: Some money on the move-in day; 40% of food money are in cash deposited in the bank; travel money for research is also available.

Everything is in this 18-floor building.

As an American Abroad

I had my first unfriendly encounter as an American abroad. Thus far, when I said I came from America, the Chinese would ask if I went to America to study because they always assumed I was Chinese studying in the U.S. Usually after I told the Chinese that I am an American, they would stop talking and approaching me. Non-Chinese would just react "normally" and continued to be friendly. Well, except this Russian girl I met at the karaoke after dinner. She appeared to be friendly toward me at first, at least until I told her that I am from America (aka U.S.A). Her face changed immediately, and said something like, "I do not see you" with an uncomfortable laughter. I told her that not everyone in the U.S. is the same. My words made no difference, she moved to another table. Another Russian girl I met, Duya, who has East Asian facial features (resemble Korean or Japanese features), is my friend. There are always people with different views everywhere we go.

Fear of Quarantine

I woke up with the biggest and most disoriented headache this morning. I had to dragged myself up to breakfast before the cafeteria closed. I napped from 9am until 1pm and rushed to lunch. After lunch, I had enough energy to do a bit of my Japanese homework before I napped again at 5pm. I set the alarm but it did not go off. I woke up at around 7:30pm.

Luckily we did not have to turn in this health check-up sheet for the weekend. Everyday from our first day to the tenth day after our arrival in Japan, we must measure our body temperature and record it, and check to see if we have any symptoms. Today I checked that I had headache for the morning. I hope to get well before Monday morning. Class starts then and I do not any quarantine.

If I do not feel well after waking up tomorrow morning, I will likely have similar agenda as today.

Happy Friday?

It looks like Fridays are going to be easy days. At least for the first session (we will have three sessions total), I only have class until 10:50am on Fridays.

I only had a 25-minute meeting with a teacher and a 30-minute library tour today. Yet it felt like the most stressful day, at least in the morning. Apparently, I did worse on the placement test than I thought. The teacher assigned a basic grammar homework for me over the weekend.

The Institute divides participants into seven levels. I am at level 2 for grammar, and level 3 for conversation and kanji (Chinese characters). I really hope to improve to level 4 or 5 (or higher)for everything by the end of the program.

With Yu, Chan, Anya, and Duya, we borrowed bikes from the Institute to bike to get money from the ATM machine and to Aeon mall today. Yes, the Institute even provides free bicycle rental until the evening. I liked the peaceful feeling as we biked in a line on the street. Sometimes we forgot to stay on the left side of the road. We biked through residential areas and saw men, women, old and young, cars, bikes, and motorcycles. We also saw agricultural land, train tracks and train, the ocean, and night lights. We biked up and down the road and road bridges. I did my exercise for the week.

Chan and I karaoked for about 30 minutes today because we thought someone else was using it aftewards. Anyhow, Chan, Anya, Duya and I are likely going to karaoke every night if possible. Chan has a beautiful voice and always supports me however I sound. :P

I had the same ramen bowl for lunch and dinner. I was too full to have the special combo (rice and tempura) for lunch, and came back too late to have the combo for dinner. I liked it but I probably should not have it in the same day.

I will likely gain weight in Japan, contrary to common beliefs. Breakfast is all-you-can-eat. Although we have to pay different prices depending on the food for lunch and dinner, two types of soup and at least two drinks are always free. Not only am I eating all of my food, I also tend to get both soups and two drinks for each meal. For today's breakfast, I had one bowl of miso soup, one bowl of vegetable soup, two glasses of milk, one glass of apple juice. In summary, I am consuming more liquid during my meals than ever before.

Orientation Day

Crazy day today~ the most Japanese exposure ever in my life! It will be this way until I leave on December 16th this year.

Orientation was long but okay. The placement test came as a surprise to me- I did not know! I knew I was not good, but I now think I am worse. I probably scored a 80% on the grammar part, followed by the listening section, then the reading/writing section, but the kanji (Chinese characters) section was by far the worst test I had ever taken (except for my first science quiz in sixth grade within one week after I started school in the U.S.). I estimate a 20% or below grade.

After dinner, I dragged Chan and Carla to karaoke- Yu was supposed to come back but she never did. Yes, the Institute has a karaoke room, equipped with Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, and other foreign language songs! The Chinese section includes Taiwanese songs. I am not sure if Cantonese songs are in there. I sang two Japanese, two Chinese, and two English songs. Three more people joined us (now my friends too?)- we had lots of fun. I imagine myself visiting this room often during my time here. :)

Efficiency of my program= High
Proof: We completed the ATM card application in the morning (10am or so), and received the bank card by 4:30pm, same day.

From Awaji to Kansai Institute

June 16-17, 2009

I rode in a comfortable bus shuttle from the Kansai airport to Osaka Umeda, then took the train to my colleague Michael Jin's place. Michael is a fifth year Ph.D. student in my department. I used a public phone for the first time in Japan (and my first time in probably 15 years) to call Michael. He then led me from the train station to his lovely apartment where I met his wife Neda. I enjoyed walking around residential areas because I felt as if I was one step closer to understanding Osaka (and perhaps Japanese) culture.

Michael and Neda treated me like royalty with nonstop tea, snacks and home cooking. Neda made this delicious Persian dinner (my first time!)and Michael made yummy breakfast. I also had my second cold alcoholic drink in my life (first was Southern Comfort ordered by Albert Tseng from the Formosa Foundation Ambassador Program I was in Summer 2006). Michael made the drink- vodka with cranberry juice and something else. Later, orange juice was added to dilute the vodka after I drank half of the glass tumbler. I became disoriented and had trouble concentrating. At one point Michael actually told me to stop drinking so fast. I did not finish the last one-fifth of the glass because I thought I should not. Because liquid was added to my one glass a couple of times, I should count that I had one full glass of some type of mix drink.

I fell fast asleep- within one minute after I laid down. The breeze from the outside made my sleep comfortable at Michael's. I work up after 5am, after falling asleep after 9pm.

After parting with Neda first and then Michael who sent me off in Umeda, I went back to the airport to meet up with my ride. She was not my ride, but she called a taxi for me and another program participant. Yes, it was my first time in a taxi in Japan! It will probably be my last time because it is too expensive.

My life in Osaka officially began with meeting my "ride." We talked for at least 20 minutes almost exclusively in Japanese (she use few English words when I could not understood her at all). I continued to listen to and speak Japanese with various people until I saw Carla Richardson, a colleague from the anthropology department at UC Santa Cruz. Even though I told Carla I would speak exclusively Japanese to her once I arrived at the Institute, I changed my plan. I had been exposed to the most Japanese continuously thus far in my life up until I saw her (7 hours). I would only speak Japanese to her when we are not alone.

My first new Friend is Yu (Xiong Ying in Chinese), a Chinese Ph.D. student at a university in Sydney. The next friend is Chan, a Vietnamese librarian from the national library in Vietnam. The next one is a strange one, and I have decided not to actively befriend her more. Her name is Shelly, but she is nothing like Shelly Chan in my department, who just finished her Ph. D. I introduced Carla to Yu and Chan.

I spent about $14 already on snacks and shampoo at this fairly cheap supermarket. I need to control myself and not buy everything I see the first month here.

En Route to Osaka

Recaps for before June 15th
Friday, June 12th- full day
- Jason had his major dental procedure.
- I processed some travel grant application for the Graduate Student Association.
- I attended Shelly Chan's graduation, my senpai (aka the person comes before me who learns under the same teacher) after her six years as a Ph.D. student. My ever-awesome adviser Gail Hershatter sponsored a wonderful party at her house afterwards.

Saturday, June 13th
- I drove from Santa Cruz to Los Angeles with only two toilet breaks (unusualy for me).
- Jason and I too off the 'tainted window thing' on our car front windows (I got a citation) and went to the Glendale police station only to be told they were not authorized to sign off on the form.
- Jason and I took my sister to Glendale Galleria to buy See's Candies for my host family in Japan; my sister bought a gift for her friend at Target.
- My mom talked to me until 2am, I was exhausted beyond words.

Sunday, June 14th
- (Early) Celebration of my father's 60th birthday.

June 14-June 16th, 2009 (from Pacific Standard Time to Japan's timezone)

I finally arrived at the airport at 11pm on June 14th for departure to Osaka at 1:15am. The line was long. I thought I wasn't going to make it.

For the first time, I felt very old because my knees and legs hurt while I was sleeping on the plane. Meals were acceptable, but the cup of noodle was the highlight, although I "stole" it from an old man. What happened was I asked for one, but this flight attendant told me that were going to eat breakfast in 10 minutes. It must had been over 15 minutes when I saw my flight attendant serving three cup noodles to others. After she told me there was none left, I simply told her what I was told earlier by another flight attendant. What did she do? She took the noodle from the last person she served to give to me.

Flight was about 13.5 hours from LA to Taipei. After a 2.5 hours wait, I hopped on the plane to Osaka. It took 2.5 hours.