Monday 15th

The start of the week was a little bit miserable to be honest. It was grey and cloudy. We are going into Typhoon season so we are expecting a lot of this week. This was the first day that we had university stuff, and it started with a job interview. Issie was first, followed by Coral and then me.

So we went like an hour early and ended up wandering around the area a bit and exploring. Eventually it became time and we ended to the ECZ. Which turned out to be beside the IAO. It's a room where people can learn English to get a better grasp on conversations etc. The interview itself was only 5 minutes and they only really asked us why we wanted the job and if we would do overtime unpaid. I thought the interview went well, they laughed and seemed happy with my answers.

After we ended back to the I-house to chill and relax for a bit. I did some kanji practise. I'm trying to do at least 2 hours of Japanese a day to get ready for the placement test. Eventually Tom appeared, and hung out as well.

For dinner, we headed out to a burger place called 'Mos Burger'. I had a hot dog, didn't really enjoy it but the chips were good. Tom ordered a huge meal and struggled to finish it all. He also ordered this bright green concoction which was melon soda. It was actually quite nice, but I'm not sure I would want to drink it regularly lol.

I think there was something in it though because we spent the rest of the evening hyper and giggling as Issie and Tom spoke 'Yorkshire' to each other. We also had a giggle when we used 'make my baby generator' to create a picture of Issie's love child. So yep. Still having lots of fun.

Tuesday 16th

Tuesday started at about 8am. Coral, Issie and I were once again together to open the back accounts. Chantelle had done it the day before and make it out to be really hard and that we had to sign our names the exact same way about five times, but nope. It was all really easy. The bank had set up a meeting room to show us how to fill out the forms and it was all done in about half hour.

It also gave us a chance to meet a few more of the international students. On our walk back to the I-house we chatted to a few. Unfortunately after than we had about a four hour wait until our next thing. So I got some more Japanese done and then Issie appeared with Chantelle. Tom appearing not to long after.

Can't say we did much other that sat in Coral's room and chatted about s***. We listened to retro 90 songs while Issie plaited Chantelle's hair. Once we finally got to 4pm, we headed down to the 'meeting room' in the base of the I-house, leaving Tom in our room. The first half was quite fun, we got to go on a earthquake simulation to show what an earthquake is like. Y'know living in a country where they get them all the time. I didn't go on myself but Coral said it was kinda like being on a rocky boat so :P

After we sat through a presentation where they introduced some people to us. The police warned us to stay safe and not leave our windows open when out. Standard stuff really. We got told that this one of the worst areas in Tokyo but apparently there are no murders so yeah, that's good news. We also got told about some events which are in English around the area which was nice.

Once that was all done with, we all headed to Akihabara. Literally all of us, well no not all, but most. Somehow it seemed most of the I-house decided to go in various groups and we all bumped into each other along the way. We headed to an arcade and played some games, including a dance one before taking some more Purikara. Issie, Chantelle and I got separated from Coral and Tom at the arcade but eventually met back up with them at the animate stuff where Chantelle got some stuff.

That night Coral and I made Spaghetti for dinner. Yumyum. To be fair, we are doing better than Issie and Chantelle who are still living off instant food from the convini. We have moved on to pasta sauces.

Wednesday 17th

Wednesday was a long and busy if not slightly boring day. We had orientation sessions all day, which were all informative and full of paperwork and introductions. It was all useful stuff, like how to pay our rent using a really complicated machine. To be honest, it properly would be easier if we could read kanji but maybe we will be able to by the end of the year.

We were also given our student IDs, computer login-ins, and much more. We saw the library. Not that I intend to spend much time there. In Japan, libraries are silent. There is like a room which is sound proofed where you can do group room. I can understand but I prefer having a bit of background news while studying otherwise I can't focus right.

For lunch we went to the cafeteria and had some Japanese food. Umm. In Japan you choose what you want from like a ticket machine and then they take the ticket and make it for you. But as we don't know many meals, we were left guessing. I went for a dish were had beef in it. It was rice, and beef with an egg cracked on top of it. Lovely. It actually tasted quite nice.

I still took a photo of the meal so we can translate it later though. Not sure I want a year of guessing what on earth I am having again. But we've started making friends now. Including some of the guys we went to the arcade with and two Irish girls.

That night we had Tom over and just had a chill evening in as it was Tom's last night in Japan. Going to miss him lots and lots. Also, sadly I failed to get the job, as did Coral. But Issie got it.

Thursday 18th

Raining again. But it was a fun day today. To start off we meet our LEPs. Language Exchange Partners. Coral and I were grouped together with 13 students, though only six turned up. Originally I wondered if they had chickened out, but the some of the American's explained later it is still there holiday at the moment so some may be at home or travelling etc.

So yeah, we had 6 very cute girls. One girl, Maki, spoke very good English. We ask asked a few questions and admittedly didn't speak a lot of Japanese, but hopefully we will be able to arrange some time to be able to practise. We were both a little nervous and didn't really know what to say.

They took us one a tour of the Toyo campus, showing us the medical centre, where the teaching rooms for Japanese were etc. At the end of it we arranged to see them again on morning and had lunch together. It was really nice and I think they enjoyed speaking English with us so they got something out it.

In the afternoon I saw my advisor. Not going to lie, i'm not particular hopeful with the business side of the courses. Issie and Coral pointed out though that this year is meant to be focusing on Japanese though which is making me feel a bit better about them

Courses decided, Coral and I headed to the shops to buy some real food and more importantly, a pillow! Finally we can sleep properly.

Spend evening with Issie practising Japanese and laughing

Friday 19th

Slept in, went to uni, handed in receipt for rent. Paid money into bank. Grumble about bank transfer

Phone attempt. MASSIVE fail. Spent evening with Issie practising Japanese and laughing.

Saturday 20th

Was a very fun day. J First of all it was the opening day of the 'kuro no burger' at Burger King. This is quite literally a black burger. It's a black bun, black cheese with squid ink inside. So we set of in search of this magical burger. Kamau, the leader of this expedition didn't actually look up where Burger King was though. So we went to the station (Ikebukuro, where else?) and Sorcha had to navigate us using google maps as the only person with a Japanese phone.

Still not happy about how expensive they are.

Anyhow, after much wandering and getting lost a few times, we finally ended up at the station. I didn't have one, but everyone else did and reactions varied. Coral's reaction video is fantastic though. XD.

Afterwards, we headed out to the cinema. Once again not really knowing where it was, but I had spotted one the last half a dozen or so times we had been so we went there. We got tickets for the English dub, but that left us with about 3 hours to kill. So what do we do in Ikebukuro? Show people where the Animates stores are of course!

So yep. More shopping, and then we all ended up chilling out in the park which is opposite the cosplay store. There were a ton of stray cats running about, much to Hunter's delight. Everyone tried to pet them, but the cats kept running off scared. Coral managed to pet a few, and in the end Kamau managed to convenience one to play by playing with a bag and making the kitten try to catch it. It was very amusing.

Eventually we wandered make to the game centres and played several very epic games of air hockey. Where little plucks appear as well as the normal one. It was very fun. Finally it was time, and we all headed to the cinema was watched Guardians of the Galaxy. Which is awesome. Though from what I understood of the Japanese subs, wasn't subbed very well. So yer.

My last week of freedom for a bit.

Sunday

Spent the day chilling and generally preparing to go back to school. It was a festival day as well, so we watched a lot of shrines go past, being carried by people and in processions. They were cool.