Nanzan Orientation

Today was my first day of orientation at school. I didn't have to be there until 9:30, but I left at 7:30 to make sure I got there with plenty of time to spare since I had never made the trip before. To get to school I walk for 10-15 minutes the the Chikatetsu (Subway) station, and then ride for about 20 minutes, switch trains, and ride one stop, then walk for about 10 more minutes. It took me a little over an hour today because I wasn't exactly sure where I was going or how to buy tickets, but it wasn't a bad trip at all.

Chikatetsu tickets are actually fairly easy to buy- you look at the map and see how much the fair is to the station you want to get off at. You put your money in the machine, press how many tickets you want, and then the desired fare. When you insert your ticket into the turnstyle you have to remember to pick it back up so that you can insert it again when you leave the station where you get off. You can get off at any station that has the same fare, but if you get off at the wrong one you have to go to the fare adjustment counter. Soon I will get a 3 month long commuter pass that will be cheaper.

At school I met up with all of my friends from Notre Dame (6 of us all together) and also met a lot of new people. It seems like a really great group. Most of the day was spent taking placement tests and in boring orientation, but we did get to go on a campus tour and have a welcome party. It was really nice to get to talk easily with all of my friends in English. At home we usually speak in Japanese, but the Yurikusas speak English very well, so they can explain things to me when I get confused.

At the end of orientation today all of the ND kids walked to the Chikatetsu station together and we made plans to meet at Nagoya Station downtown on Sunday to get lunch and explore the city. It should be really fun, and it's nice to have some plans for the weekend considering I don't really have anything else to do.

I got a little bit lost on the walk from the train station back to the Yurikusa's house, but after not too long I found my way and everything was fine. It seems like the streets look different when it's night time!

Tomorrow I think I might go for a run and then maybe stop by the store to get an umbrella and some other odds and ends. I don't really have anything else to do, so it should be a pretty quiet and relaxing day.

Well I guess that's about all for today- Oyasumi! (Goodnight)

Meg