R.I.P. Orientation

Got through orientation. It was boring. On the plus side, it seems like most of the new students are decent enough. In fact, my new roommate is the only other iaidoka here... and his sensei back in the States set him up with the same iaido club I'm with in Urayasu... how's that for a coincidence?
On that note, Joey, I will probably be heading to the sword shop sometime this week, so please respond to my last email ASAP (if anyone could let him know, that'd be great, as I'm trying to cut down on my transit costs ^_^; )

On the topic of general bullshit...

So, I had planned a small (around 6-person) pre-semester pizza party. I checked with my landlady to make sure it'd be okay, and adjusted the time to be somewhat earlier for her convenience. Then, less than 48 hours before the party is supposed to happen, she comes in and tells me that the IES housing director said that the party is canceled. She proceeds to lecture me for about an hour in Japanese about how I have to be an example to the new students who'll be moving in in a few days, because one of them is such a problem child, blah blah blah... well, the one she was referring to is someone who my landlady hasn't even met, but apparently the IES housing director told her all sorts of horror stories about him. Well, I happen to know the guy. He has lots of piercings and several tattoos, but he's a perfectly decent fellow.
Later that evening, I received an email from the IES housing director, basically filled with Japanese-style quasi-threats about how they may have to 'be stricter' with the rules in Endo-ryo in the future. Now, anyone who knows me knows that threatening me is not a good way to get positive results. In fact, it's a damned good way to make me into your enemy, particularly when you don't have the guts to do so in a direct manner. Due to these proceedings, I may have to revise my opinion of the on-site IES staff being decent people who try and help the students out. After I politely tolerated it being implied that there was indeed some sort of Jewish conspiracy for world domination at a speech I did as a favor for the IES housing director, this sort of back-stabbing seems to be an awfully poor way of repaying said favor. Depending on how far the housing director decides to pursue these back-stabbing endeavors (and whether I can get my money back for this semester's tuition), combined with how much I don't look forward to having to deal with a certain neo-Nazi shitface for another semester, there is a slight chance that I may be back in MN sooner than anticipated. I'm too damned tired to put up with this crap.

another post

Now that I've had a day and a half to get over the jetlag, I'm posting again. I realized as I arrived at Ichikawa-shiohama station (the station closest to my apartment) that even though I've only lived here for around 4 months, it has become home to me. As soon as I saw those three sleazy-looking 'love hotels' just outside the station, I felt like I was home. Also, I see why the Tokyo area is seen as a constantly changing place. Even though I was only gone for 3 months, there are several things I've noticed that are slightly different, even at tiny Ichikawa-shiohama station. Also, Domino's in Japan raised their prices... a 'large' cheese pizza is now a full 4oo yen more expensive than it was when I left =( I guess I won't be getting delivery very often. I'm hoping that Cosco didn't also raise their pizza prices, because that would suck majorly (although I'd still be getting their pizza from time to time, as it's the only actual American-style pizza I've been able to find in Japan).

Back in Nihon

Well, I'm officially back in Japan. I didn't end up opening either of the boxes of girl scout cookies on the plane ride, so I now have 2 boxes for the Possible Purim Pizza Party. My checked baggage didn't make the weight limit (it was like 65 pounds), but the lady who was checking baggage didn't charge me any extra for it. Of course, it took me about 2 hours to make it from Narita airport to my apartment by train (which involved a great deal of hauling my shit up and down escalators, and even worse, stairs). I found out that I still don't really understand my landlady, but that's to be expected after not really practicing my Japanese for 3 months. I was initially thinking I'd order a pizza before going to bed, but I think I'm too exhausted to deal with that right now.

I'm back! ただいま！

For some of my Japanese friends who only understand Japanese, I'll be writing this post in English and in Japanese.

I got back yesterday, though my plane was delayed because of the snow in MN. Also, they sent my luggage on the wrong plane, so I didn't get it until around 11PM (at which point I was already in bed). So far, I haven't done much besides sleep. I did have a grilled cheese sandwich for breakfast, which was good, as cheese is expensive in Japan.
Now I've gotta clean my room and unpack, so catch ya later.

日本語だけわかる日本人の友達ために、英語と日本語で書く。

機能帰ったけどミネソタで雪がふっていましたからひこうきはおそくなった。にもつはちがうひこうきに入れたから、１１PMまでにもつがなかった（でも、私はもうねっていた）。機能、あまりなにもしなかった。でも、朝ごはんにチズサンドウィッチを食べた。おいしかった。日本で、チズは高い。
今、部屋をそうじしなくてわいけないので、じゃまったね。

...

Well, got through the last of my finals. Got through the sayonara party. Got most of my stuff packed. Pretty much everyone else has left, so I've got the apartment to myself, and it's really empty. I've now got two days to kill, and it seems like almost everyone who came here for the program has left, and my Japanese friends all are busy at work. Really boring. I'm done with most of my packing. All that's left is killing time for two days (and hoping my flight doesn't get canceled).

Updates (some of which might matter to non-Iaidoka)

It's been a busy few days. Friday I had my final presentation for my hellish Architecture class. It was made even more 'fun' by the fact that my rib started giving me serious trouble while I was on the train to head to class. I managed to make it through the presentation without dying, though, so it's all good. Just have to get through my Japanese final on Tuesday, and I'm good to go.
Yesterday, I spent time in three different prefectures (Chiba, Tokyo, and Saitama). Finally met up with Risa (my Japanese conversation partner from last Spring at the U). She's doing well, and is hoping to make it back to MN to visit people in February (although that is likely the WORST time to go to MN). We wandered around Kawagoe, a city known as 'Little Edo' due to the large numbers of Edo-era buildings that are preserved there. We then had some traditional Japanese food for dinner; she thought it was hilarious that I had never eaten raw fish before, so she ordered me some raw tuna. Also, I ate too much wasabi.
Today, I went to the budokan for Iaido class as usual. They decided they were testing everyone today. The guy who's been teaching me decided that he wanted them to test me, too, although I've only been training there for less than two months. He told me to just do Mae, Ushiro, and Uke-Nagashi (because those are all similar in Japan to the way I'm used to doing them back home). I managed to survive it. I'm really gonna have to make time to buy a Japanese hakama and dogi before coming back to the States, though... they are way nicer than the ones I've been able to buy in the US. Also, surprisingly enough, doing Iai in an Iai hakama is alot more comfortable and convenient than doing it in an Aikido hakama.
I think that covers just about everything. I'll be back in MN a week from this Tuesday, so expect me in class at the dojo on the evening of the 26th =D

Also, finally got around to uploading some more pics: http://minnesota.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2402882&l=d15b9&id=13933871