Late late late!

So we arrived and the very next day we had a horrible test which I actually did pretty badly on and am in a low group which is probably the best thing for me. Maybe I would have done better if I had had time to settle in and get used to Japanese. Most other international students arrived a week ago or earlier. I was told not to come until the 5th and then missed the orientation at my halls on the 4th. Very helpful. Classes started last week... I was fed up of waiting to go to Japan, so really it would have been nice if they had informed me that I could actually come much earlier.

Never mind, I am here now and getting used to hearing Japanese everywhere and having to try and speak it all the time despite being incapable.

The good thing is, they are very caring about my mental health. (Not just mine, everyone's.) We have done multiple questionaires to check we don't want to commit suicide etc and were given a leaflet to explain the correct procedure. The important thing is to call the helpline after 9am. It seemed a bit over the top but I suppose Japan does have the highest rate in the world and the following health check also seemed a bit much... we had to do all sorts but the best bit was going into this weird mini bus for.... an X-ray. The X-ray bus seemed very random at the time but now I have seen so many crazy things it all blends into normality.

My course is going to be mostly Japanese but with extra Japanese classes and an elective called Explore japan where they go for a picnic in Yokohama and lots of trips. I can't wait until I get to see places. I am starting to feel a bit more confident with speaking to people but my listening skills have certainly improved. I feel particularly Japanese when I respond to any sentence with ah so so so so. I do it in English a lot... but also in German. There are loads of Germans here (only 3 English) so I can practice loads. It got quite confusing at the welcome party last night though because I was mixing German and Japanese which I didn't realise was possible. I also think my accent has changed and is more American/Japanese.

I know this post was a bit rambling, sorry. I am blaming Jet-lag and just the fact my brain is addled by Japan in general. Jap-lag?

Bai bai desu!