First Steps

Hello Kitty pillow, airplane ticket!!

This morning, I hopped onto the plane from Taiwan to Haneda Airport. Waiting to board the plane at the gate, I was mixed in emotions: nervous, can't-believe-my-dreams-of-going-to-Japan-is-finally-happening, and excited! To make the experience even better, the flight I was about to board is a Hello Kitty plane, partnered with Eva Air, and literally everything was Hello Kitty: the boarding pass, the utensils, the TV screen, the apron the flight attendant was wearing, and even the toilet paper in the bathroom. Everything was really cute, and the flight was very relaxing.

The best: Hello Kitty toilet paperrr!

At the custom's gate, the officer handed me a 在留カードzairyuu kaado residence card, a new system in Japan in which all foreigners staying in Japan at least 3 months or more are issued a card which they must carry with them all the time, indicating the address they are staying at. The status said "留学” ryuugaku study abroad! Even the airport was prettier. The restrooms all had hi-tech toilets with ten million buttons that will do work for you: wash your butt, dry your butt, heat up the toilet seat, play noises to cover up your pee sounds, anything you can think of!

Japanese hi-tech toilet!

After going through custom's gate and picking up my luggage, I had to commute to International Christian University (ICU in Mitaka, Tokyo) by the train. Luckily, I was not all alone. I had met up with another study abroad friend, Teresa, and we both went to take the train together. Before that, Japan has PASMO or SUICA (Super Urban Intelligent CArd) cards which essentially are used for transportation fares. You pre-load money into the card and when you pass through the train gates or get onto the bus, you just beep the card and you are good to go! I bought a PASMO card right then.

Stepping from the airport to the train station, a burst of humidity brushed against my face, and it gave this warm welcoming feeling (although I was starting to sweat, because it was so hot!) We had instructions given to us by the UC Education Abroad Office, but reading it on paper and actually completing the task was something completely different. We had to transfer at least 2 trains and then take a bus to get to the school because it's not in downtown Tokyo, so Teresa and I looked like crazy tourists getting lost and trying to find our way. In a sense we were tourists, stepping into Japan for the first time. And that's what you are supposed to do when you are abroad, get lost and learn! The train stations were all packed with seas of people and it was definitely different and hard to navigate through with my big ol' luggage. But getting onto the train, seeing Japanese commercials, hearing people speak Japanese was great :)

<Culture Shock>
On the train, Teresa and I were talking and I noticed that Japanese people do not speak or chatter away on any transportation system. Usually they hop on the train and either sleep or read manga or books. There may be a few teenagers having some small talk, but nothing compared to loud conversations on the SF Muni bus. I think it is their way of being respectful of each other because their noises might be disturbing to others who want to have a peaceful train ride. Also, if you are near a priority seat, those for elders, pregnant woman, etc, you are required to either turn off your cell phone or refrain from using it because elders might have pacers which will be affected by cell phone frequencies. Very considerate country!

card for unlocking door!

We finally arrive at the school and I realize it is surrounded by a forest, aka a swarm of mosquitoes. Right when I got off the bus onto the ground, a mosquito bit me on my leg -_-" By the time I had walked to my dorm, called Dialogue House, another one had got me in the arm. Mosquitoes and I cannot be friends. They are deadly... But right when I checked in and went into my room, I felt a lot better. The dorm room is so beautiful! Everything was nice and clean and they provided a microwave, refrigerator, bowls & cups, utensils, and even dish soap and a sponge. This is so nice!! There was AC in the room, perfect to cool down from the summer humid weather, and the toilet was also hi-tech!! This is definitely the best dorm place I have ever lived in.
       

                               

                

The rest of the day was filled with unpacking and fixing my internet problems. The dorm did provide LAN ethernet cables for us to use with our laptop. However, my laptop was not picking up the ethernet cable. There might be something wrong with the port or something internal with my laptop. The housing office sent two people in from the IT and Integrative Learning Center (ILC) to help me and no success. I was freaking out, because there was no Wi-fi, or very limited Wi-fi in the dorm area, and there would be no way for me to contact my parents or communicate with the cyber world :( It seems as if I had to buy a new laptop to solve the problem. Luckily, the man from the ILC was able to create a Wi-fi guest account for me to connect to the wireless ICU network, which would be accessible until Saturday, the 1st of September, because we would be given our official Wi-fi accounts and passwords at the opening ceremony happening then. So I will have to rely on this limited Wi-fi to keep writing posts!! Hopefully it will all work out!

The first day has already been really crazy, exciting to actually be in Japan and breathing Japanese air. Although the day did not end so well with the internet problems. I am glad I have safely arrived in Japan and will be beginning a new chapter of my life for these 3 months here at this mosquito-filled, yet beautiful campus called ICU.

Welcome!

<although this is in Hawaii :)>

Hi! My name is Kristi Cheng, and I will be studying abroad in Japan in a few days! The university that I will be staying at is called International Christian University, in Mitaka, Tokyo. It is a little far from downtown Tokyo, but it will be an adventure exploring the rural and urban areas of Tokyo. This blog will follow my study abroad adventure and please feel free to contact me with any questions at krcheng@ucsd.edu. Can't wait to go off & exploreeeeeeeee.