The Racist Pigeon

There were lots of issues about Japan that I really wanted to write about on this blog when I got time such as how irritating it is that Japanese people wont bend any rules no matter how menial or pointless they are but unfortunately I am going to have to save that rant for another day. You see, yesterday I had the most horrific and perhaps embarrassing moment of my life.

I encountered a racist bird.


So the story goes like this-

I was standing with my Japanese friend Yui outside of Yokohama Station, just chatting away whilst waiting for my friend Josie to arrive. It was a normal, pleasant day and I was talking about all the things that I want to buy whilst here but can't afford. There were lots of people stood around or passing through the station too.
We were minding our own business when I see from the corner of my eye a mangy pigeon. Next thing I know it's flapping in my face so I swipe it away thinking that'll get rid of the little bugger but to my horror it comes back for more. So there I am, in the middle of a crowd of Japanese people, having my face and eyes pecked by a bloody pigeon. And it wouldn't leave. There was nothing to do but flail my arms wildly, scream and run like a mad woman. It even followed me into the station.
At some point in my mad rush to escape death by flea-bitten bird the pigeon disappeared. Thank God. I was so shocked that all I could do was stand grasping my chest looking terrified. Whilst being stared at by about 50 Japanese people. Nice.
After being comforted by Yui we discussed why the pigeon was so intent on killing me. She said it must be because I have a nice smell. Bu I know the real reason. It saw my hair, my eyes, my face and thought 'bloody Gaijin (foreigner), get out of my country'.
Even the birds hate foreigners here. Sigh, that's life in a homogeneous, racist place.

I have recovered from the horror of it but I think from now on I am always going to be scared of pigeons. And all other Japanese birds. And going outside.

Lodging!

This weekend has been really good as I went 'camping' with Chris and all his friends from Rikkyo university. I use '' marks because it could only be loosely defined as camping since we stayed in a lush log cabin rather than tents.
The place we went to was called Okutama and it's about 2 hours out of Tokyo. Going there felt really bizarre because it seemed like the gray suburbs of Tokyo went on forever then suddenly we came out of the horrible gray mass of buildings into huge mountains that were covered in trees. It was very beautiful.
It made me feel really nostalgic because it reminded me of the village I lived in the first time that I was in Japan in Hyogo-ken. It makes me want to go back and visit all my friends that are there...

Everyone from Chris' uni seem nice and really fun. It was quite nerve-racking at the beginning of the trip as I didn't know anybody and everyone knew a bit about me through Chris. There was no need to worry though as everyone was chatty and wanted to know why on earth I was going out with Chris as he is so rude to them (joking. But seriously!).
The campsite was right by a river where everyone gathered to have barbeque's and drink. There were a few problems with lighting fires at first since nobody had a fire making qualification from scouts but after a heavy dosing of paraffin the fires soon got going. I didn't actually eat much of the food since the choice was either meat or meat. I snuck off to a supermarket to buy my dinner... good job I did or I would have ended up very drunk from lack of sustenance. Actually, I ended up very drunk anyway!
In the morning I got up stupidly early (8.00!!!!!) to go to a local onsen. I was too tired and hungover to even talk but at least I didn't smell of bonfires anymore.
Overall a really good trip.

So much to do, so little time!

Sorry about how irregular and late my blogging is already; it seems that even though I have only been here for two weeks my little schedule book is quickly filling up and finding time between studying Japanese, going out with all the other international students and harassing Japanese people to write my blog is really difficult.

This week is the second week of lessons at Yokohama and I think I am getting used to the regime already. Luckily for me, because Yokohama is a national university, the timetable isn't so difficult and quite different from the stereotypical view of Japanese working hard at all hours of the day.
University is a three year holiday for Japanese between the hell of Cram school when they are in High School and the ridiculous pressure of joining the working world. It's not so difficult for us international students on our year abroad; the 'Joy program' that we partake in here is nicely renamed the 'enjoy program'.

On the second day of being at Yokohama we were all forced to take a placement test... it was awful! From the test I got placed in an intermediate group which I was quite disappointed with to be honest but I gave it a chance and went to the first class anyway.
The class was horrendous- I had studied everything before in my first year (Kanji, vocab, grammar etc.) so was incredibly bored and inspired to complain about the level I had been put in. Anyway, it turned out that I had been marked down for the harder class as well (probably due to Maria, the exchange girls from Sheffield that was here last year) so I was allowed to change classes no problem.
The harder classes are so much better. They are actually challenging and even though I don't understand anything at the beginning I know what is going on by the end of the (1.30 hour long!!!!) class. Other than Japanese lessons I do some random modules taught in English which are very similar to those back at Sheffield so they are nice and easypeasy but difficult to stay awake in.

In my time off I either come back home and study Japanese as I'm quite behind after not doing any work all summer or go for lunch, dinner with friends.
I can see already that it is very easy to get into the habit of not speaking Japanese and clinging together with other international students so I am going to make an extra effort to meet more Japanese people and chat pointless crap.

That is a picture of my lovely little box room! I hated it when I first moved in because it was so empty and boring but I have bought lots of random stuff for it so it feels much more like home. The best buy is my massive rug so it feels like I have a carpet and can sit comfortably on the floor. Just need to buy more mugs so I can have people over for tea now...

Righto, I'm off to see Chris in Tokyo now, I promise I will write more often in the future!

Made it!

I'm finally here! I feel tired, busy, stressed, excited, confused... a bit of everything really. I've been so busy since getting here last Friday that I have barely had time to sit down.
It's three in the afternoon at the moment and since my classes finished at 12 today I have the afternoon free to get my room sorted, contact people and, more importantly, relax for a bit.

So I guess I shall start from my first day then. There is so much to tell that I will make it brief, I really can't talk about everything.

I got to the airport ok after a 12 hours slog on the plane and was picked up by a rather late Chris. I was incredibly happy to see him again so I didn't mind too much though. Then we went straight to my friends Saoris house where I stayed for a few days which was great because I was so tired and her family were really nice. They kept me well fed so I was a happy Liz.
In my first few days I didn't anything touristy around Tokyo but met up with friends from my class who are also studying in Japan and some Japanese friends that were in Sheffield last year. It was really nice to see everyone again and good to know that there are already friends here.

I came to Yokohama on Wednesday and this is the first time since coming that I have had a decent enough amount of time to make an entry.
So far everyone I have met seems very nice and lots of people that are keen to go out and have fun. I went out with some of my senpai last night (the study abroad students that have been here since last April) and a couple of guys who also do the 'JOY' program. I had a really good time and it made a really good night out. We all went to an izakaya (Japanese pub) that served Chinese and Japanese food. I tried lots of random food and drank lots of cheap beer that has given me a rather nasty hangover today. And then , of course, we went for some Karaoke!
Now, I know that my singing voice isn't up to scratch but being rather tipsy and having already been made to do the first song along with one of the other new students anyway I decided to sing along to every song no matter what it was.
Off out tonight too as it's another course friends birthday. More of the same I think!

The dorms that I am living in seem quite nice. There is a ping pong table on every floor which is good random fun. Haven't had a chance to do it yet mind.
My room is really bare at the moment and I have a million things that I need to buy for it. I think when I have got all the stuff I need sorted it will be quite a nice room. It's bigger than most hall rooms i've seen before and I have my own kitchen and bathroom which is really good.

If anyone wants to send me any lovely things (please????) my address is-

Elizabeth Leigh
Foreign Student House of Y.N.U C318
2-31-1, O-oka, Minamiku
Yokohama-shi, KANAGAWA
232-0061
JAPAN

and if you're ever really bored send me and email to my brand new shiny phone on lizbuff@ezweb.ne.jp