So You've Been Made a Co-Author?

"The Art of Co-Authoring For Labbits"

So, thanks to the wonders of the internet, even though I'm currently a few thousand miles away from the original starter of this blog (Aimee), I am now a co-author.  What co-authors do, I have no idea, but I assume I can just piddle away on here to my heart's content instead of leaving flimsy little comments. 

So, let the piddling begin!

Well, like Aimee, I am currently living abroad as an exchange student, except instead of living in France for a year, I am living in Japan for one semester.

What does one do as an exchange student in Japan, you ask?  Well, one does lots of things, like seeing temples, eating ramen, letting your host mom make all of your meals, 

One of these every morning, neatly packed and ready. Bento anyone?

wearing stereotypical school uniforms, riding trains, chasing down sweet potato trucks (but that's its own story)...that kind of stuff.

Of course, I had lots of expectations that matched these, but some of my other expectations have become quite unreachable, it seems.  

For example: learning Japanese.  I had this great wish to be nearly fluent by the time I went back to America, but I'm already in the third month of my exchange with only about 6 weeks left, and after studying Japanese for over a year before coming here, I can barely manage a few simple sentences.  Am I disappointed?  You bet, but sometimes, the situation just isn't ideal (My host family speaks quite a bit of English, my class has several returnees who have lived in America for several years and are practically fluent, and I have been placed in two advanced English classes for returnee students with American teachers--this means I speak English. A lot.)  But while I probably could've worked harder at learning it, I didn't, so there's much else I can do....at least my listening has improved quite a bit...

Another example of failed expectations: I wanted to lose some weight while I was here.  I was so looking forward to the famed healthy Japanese diet, and also shedding a few pounds.  But unless I actually make myself diet (which I have had to do) I stay about the same, or even gain a bit of weight.  Of course, I wasn't too happy about this, but what can I say?  They eat a lot of carbs here, and everything else is just sooo good!

Ramen museum ramen...what will I do when I go back to America??

At least that expectation didn't die.  The food here really is infinitely better than most American fare.  I've had ramen, udon, and soba that would make anyone never want to eat instant ramen again.  Not to mention all of the little cake and tart shops that are EVERYWHERE.  

this is just one of many...

There's probably at least 10 specialized sweet shops in every main train station, not to mention the ones that are just sprinkled about along the streets.  I think I am now made out of gyoza because I eat it so much, and as for sushi, well, when they serve it from a conveyor belt that pumps out endless sushi, there's only so much self-control I can maintain...

Well, I think I've piddled enough.  Maybe next time, I'll write about my host sister's and my adventure with the sweet potato truck.

Until next time!