Disorganized Rambling
久しぶり！(long time no post!) Hey all,
I realize I've been derelict in my posting duties, but life has been quite busy. Classes have been going for a few weeks now, and the Japanese language is extremely tough. My listening skills need to improve, and my vocab as well. I managed to test into the highest level class, but I am within that class, I am on the lower end of the skill distribution. There are kids in there who are ready to take, or have already passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 1 exam. Whereas I'm right around level 2, and let me tell you, there is a huge difference in skill between those two levels, so class is a little intimidating right now. My other classes are calligraphy (interesting enough, but an exercise in frustration...it never looks good), classical Japanese, Japanese History, and Japanese phonology. The Japanese phonology class is an open course, which means there are some regular Japanese undergrad students mixed in with all the international students, and we had the first class with them yesterday. It should prove to be interesting. When I got out from my painfully boring history class yesterday, myself and couple other exchange students were randomly approached by four Japanese girls who quote, 'wanted to have dinner with some exchange students.' A) That takes alot of courage. B) I was pissed because I had to say no. My host mom was probably already making dinner at the time. Ditching last minute would be rude beyond belief. So after politely declining we commented on the wierd chanting we heard in the distance. Apparently a group was practicing the Passion play. (Yeah, Nanzan is a catholic school, although I think a whopping twenty people are actually Catholic).
Anyway, rewinding a bit. A couple weekends ago, I went out to dinner in Sakae (the happening downtown area of Nagoya) with my host family, and was expected a nice dinner out. I realized the I completely underestimated jus how 'nice' it was going to be when I saw four guys in tuxedos greet us at the door. My host dad definitely knew one of the guys, and I think that's why the entire family was allowed in. Otherwise, this isn't normally a place you'd bring kids. We sat down in leather armchairs and sipped champagne while we waited for our table. We had to take and elevator down to our table, which was private room with one of those low to the floor tables. I tried some Japanese alcohol called shochuu( I think) and it was like most other alcohol I've tasted. But then they brought in a lot of sushi, and a bunch of other courses bit by bit. Seriously the best sushi I've ever had, and there was pork dish with pesto that was pretty darn good, too. I don't even want to know how much that bill was. At this point, I'm starting to think my host dad likes to live large...I would later be proved correct.
Fast forward one week, and it is a three day weekend, as Monday was "respect for the aged day." Sunday we went to the Higashiyama Park and toured the zoo (where they have koalas! I'll add the pictures later). They had a pretty extensive collection of animals, and it was a good time all around. Apparently those paddle boats are universal, and my host mom and I were slaves at the pedals while Yugo captained our trusty Panda steed. (which looked a lot cooler than the pink flamingo paddle boats...) After seeing the zoo, we went to the top of the sky tower in the park. We stopped off at the restaurant on the fifth floor for chocolate parfaits...which were a little small by American standards, but just as delicious. Then we scoped out the bird's eye view of Nagoya, which was rather impressive. It's a huge city, but my host family is technically outside the city limits in a town called Nagakute. (It takes me about 45 min. to commute, which isn't bad by Japan's standards).
The next day was "Respect for the Aged Day" which we honored by going the Osu shopping district and a really awesome eel restuarant WITHOUT the grandma. Go figure. I managed to find a proper two to three holes outlet converter. So I can recharge my laptop and now dump pictures from my SD card to my hard drive. After shopping we stopped at an eel restaurant that has apparently been there for over 90 years. The building had to be rebuilt after the war, and that same building has been there for 60 or so years. The interior was small, and had a really authentic atmosphere. For our appetizers we eel seared eel innards. I couldn't really identify what part of the body they were. I thought they looked with little brians, but apparently my host mom said it is some part of the digestive tract. I made sure to eat one before I asked what it was, though. I find that's a smart policy to adhere to. Overall, though, they were actually decent tasting. I also tried one of Nagoya's local dishes, hitsumaboshi. They give you about and eel and half's worth of flesh, and you eat it in three specific steps. First, just plain with rice and eel sauce, then with onion , rice and some other garnish. And finally you add dashi, a sort of soup broth, and make a little stew out of it. Really stinkin' good. I'm still a good week and a half behind in storytelling, but I need to study quick for my classical Japanese quiz. Six new, or should I say really old, verb tenses: Mizenkei, renyoukei, shuushikei, rentaikei, izenkei, and meireikei. Okay, I think I've got them memorized. Off to class.
-Collin
I realize I've been derelict in my posting duties, but life has been quite busy. Classes have been going for a few weeks now, and the Japanese language is extremely tough. My listening skills need to improve, and my vocab as well. I managed to test into the highest level class, but I am within that class, I am on the lower end of the skill distribution. There are kids in there who are ready to take, or have already passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 1 exam. Whereas I'm right around level 2, and let me tell you, there is a huge difference in skill between those two levels, so class is a little intimidating right now. My other classes are calligraphy (interesting enough, but an exercise in frustration...it never looks good), classical Japanese, Japanese History, and Japanese phonology. The Japanese phonology class is an open course, which means there are some regular Japanese undergrad students mixed in with all the international students, and we had the first class with them yesterday. It should prove to be interesting. When I got out from my painfully boring history class yesterday, myself and couple other exchange students were randomly approached by four Japanese girls who quote, 'wanted to have dinner with some exchange students.' A) That takes alot of courage. B) I was pissed because I had to say no. My host mom was probably already making dinner at the time. Ditching last minute would be rude beyond belief. So after politely declining we commented on the wierd chanting we heard in the distance. Apparently a group was practicing the Passion play. (Yeah, Nanzan is a catholic school, although I think a whopping twenty people are actually Catholic).
Anyway, rewinding a bit. A couple weekends ago, I went out to dinner in Sakae (the happening downtown area of Nagoya) with my host family, and was expected a nice dinner out. I realized the I completely underestimated jus how 'nice' it was going to be when I saw four guys in tuxedos greet us at the door. My host dad definitely knew one of the guys, and I think that's why the entire family was allowed in. Otherwise, this isn't normally a place you'd bring kids. We sat down in leather armchairs and sipped champagne while we waited for our table. We had to take and elevator down to our table, which was private room with one of those low to the floor tables. I tried some Japanese alcohol called shochuu( I think) and it was like most other alcohol I've tasted. But then they brought in a lot of sushi, and a bunch of other courses bit by bit. Seriously the best sushi I've ever had, and there was pork dish with pesto that was pretty darn good, too. I don't even want to know how much that bill was. At this point, I'm starting to think my host dad likes to live large...I would later be proved correct.
Fast forward one week, and it is a three day weekend, as Monday was "respect for the aged day." Sunday we went to the Higashiyama Park and toured the zoo (where they have koalas! I'll add the pictures later). They had a pretty extensive collection of animals, and it was a good time all around. Apparently those paddle boats are universal, and my host mom and I were slaves at the pedals while Yugo captained our trusty Panda steed. (which looked a lot cooler than the pink flamingo paddle boats...) After seeing the zoo, we went to the top of the sky tower in the park. We stopped off at the restaurant on the fifth floor for chocolate parfaits...which were a little small by American standards, but just as delicious. Then we scoped out the bird's eye view of Nagoya, which was rather impressive. It's a huge city, but my host family is technically outside the city limits in a town called Nagakute. (It takes me about 45 min. to commute, which isn't bad by Japan's standards).
The next day was "Respect for the Aged Day" which we honored by going the Osu shopping district and a really awesome eel restuarant WITHOUT the grandma. Go figure. I managed to find a proper two to three holes outlet converter. So I can recharge my laptop and now dump pictures from my SD card to my hard drive. After shopping we stopped at an eel restaurant that has apparently been there for over 90 years. The building had to be rebuilt after the war, and that same building has been there for 60 or so years. The interior was small, and had a really authentic atmosphere. For our appetizers we eel seared eel innards. I couldn't really identify what part of the body they were. I thought they looked with little brians, but apparently my host mom said it is some part of the digestive tract. I made sure to eat one before I asked what it was, though. I find that's a smart policy to adhere to. Overall, though, they were actually decent tasting. I also tried one of Nagoya's local dishes, hitsumaboshi. They give you about and eel and half's worth of flesh, and you eat it in three specific steps. First, just plain with rice and eel sauce, then with onion , rice and some other garnish. And finally you add dashi, a sort of soup broth, and make a little stew out of it. Really stinkin' good. I'm still a good week and a half behind in storytelling, but I need to study quick for my classical Japanese quiz. Six new, or should I say really old, verb tenses: Mizenkei, renyoukei, shuushikei, rentaikei, izenkei, and meireikei. Okay, I think I've got them memorized. Off to class.
-Collin
posted by Collin at 12:26 AM
4 Comments:
ATTA BOY COLLIN!
Just wanted to voice general support for your adventures and keep on going... maybe be "impossibly rude" and try to go out once in a while though? Such a tempting lead to go nowhere... Oh Collin! But keep at it brother man... school is rough, but work to live or live to work? Or whatevs. I'm tired. But keep at it!
Truly,
Busha
Don't tell me your dad is a member of the Japanese mob... actually, that would be pretty bad ass. So, if I come and visit you are you going to take me out to eat local speciality dishes? I am definitely coming to see you and Ken over my spring break (2 months long) so if you could do some research into cheap places to stay, I'd really appreciate it... Mol.
Collin, Collin, Collin... so polite. Japan sounds pretty rad though, have the time of your life!
(John) Damn, I'm behind on what's going on I guess. We just happened upon this through facebook. It's good to hear that your host family is really nice. It sounds like they'll make your stay very enjoyable. がんばって！
(Rebekka) Collin... I'm disappointed :( Where are all those thrilling stories about getting solicited by Japanese prostitutes and other exciting stuff like that? J/K ;) Anyways, it's great to hear that you're having fun. We're so happy for you. My only other comment is that if you haven't already, you should totally rescedule that dinner with the 4 Japanese schoolgirls. Sounds like it would be fun ;)
John & Rebekka
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