Rice, Stone and Woeless Groans

Aug 28th
Long ass flight of which I am still recoverin from as I slowly strech out. Also my mom's near emotional breakdown of me leaving. Luckily my step-dad prevailed in semi-attempts of calming her. Saw a zen monk on the plane to Tokyo, though never got the balls (I lack them on ocassion) to talk to him. So it was a quiet plane rideover.

Aug. 29th
Got into Tokyo almost went through customs and imigratio before realizing I was going the wrong way and proceeded to my flight to Osaka. Met some interesting people, who I have not seen since then. Though I swear I saw a kid that looked just like Aaron. Talked the whole ride to Osaka with Anthony, whom I met on the plane. He seemed decent, bio major with interest in anthropology and getting drunk. At immigration I was fingerprinted, my photo was taken and they checked me for a strain of the flu. I checked out clear, though now my fingerprints are on record. Took a 1hr and 30min bus into Hirakata, which seems to be a suburb area. Lots of housing, not much to do within walkin distance. Still great scenery with gardens, plants and rice growing amidst the city. Met 4 of my roommates for Orientation week, a little UN seems to be growing inside the rooms of this place. It seems lke a bad joe onsome level, a Canadian, an American, a Brazialian, an Austrian and a guy from England walk into a bar. Granted there is no bar, but rather a dorm, but you get the point. Ayways came in, put my stuff down and slept.

Aug. 30th
Bathrooms are nice and cozy in Japan, well in the dorms at least. So woke up, showered and headedout to explore the town in pursuit off food. Which at this point seems like it should be a new survival travel show, "In Pursuit of Food." Why? Cause we are not allowed to cook with anything except a teapot, microwave, fridge and stovetop. And the campus eatery is closed on Sunday Aug 30th. The no cooking utensils issue is only during orientation, they get them once us homestay people leave. So that aside, Jeff ( the man from Canada who has told me interesting things like dollar coins are "loons" cause of a loon being on them an most Americans refer to Canadian money as monopoly money due to each dollar amount being a different color. Which he brought up the point that when drunk, it is easier to distinguish Canadian money than American, so you don't tip the stripper a $10 when you meant a $1.) Anyway, explored the streets, found a grocery storeand a 100 Yen Store to which I am happy to say that going to the Asian Market at home helps alot. Left the store with nothing, just exploring and found a small cafe. While there Jeff not remembering his Japanese that well these days, pointed at the image of the food he wanted as did I, but more out of not knowing any Japanese at all really. Got a paninii sandwich with hardboiled egg inside, a salad and yogurt, that being a breakfast meal. Food being food, it was good. Really I should take pictures of what I eat, seems like a smart idea. Managed to work through an issue of telling the lady we wanted to pay seperately, then exchanged change with each other being that we got charged for each others meal. Came back to the dorms, met up with Ben and Pedro and headed towards the University. Long long walk in the heat and huimidity, punctuated by vending machines selling drink, beer and cigarettes. Nice university, really nice compared to what I've seen of universities in the US. Went back to the dorms, stopped at a 7/11, to which Jeff debated the issue of buying a beer and walking in the streets with it (fearing fines by the law). Small nudges of enabling aside, he did buy it and walked in the streets drinking it. Came back, it was 5pm when we got back, to which we all soon after passed out. I woke up later at 11pm, and being that the dorms lock down at 11pm and reopen at 7am, I was trapped with no food. See the "In Pursuit of Food" title is rather suiting. Remembered some delicious chunky peanut butter stashed in my suitcase, took a couple bites, drank some water and passed out once more.