New Friends

Yesterday was mostly spent in orientation for the new international students. After a riveting 3-hour long powerpoint presentation that taught us lessons we had never heard before, such as not to drink too much alcohol and not to go out alone at night, we split into three groups and went to City Hall to get a residence card and sign up for National Health Insurance. Everyone is Japan is required to sign up for National Health Insurance, including citizens and those who are residing in the country for more than three months. NHI will cover 70% of all medical fees.

We were led to City Hall by two Japanese students, Reimi and Yuko, who volunteered to accompany us and translate for us. When we were gathering in the lobby of the dorm to leave, I went up and introduced myself to them. Yuko is going to be a freshman at ICU and Reimi is going to be a sophomore. I think they thought it was very interesting when I said I was from San Francisco.

Along the way to City Hall, I tried to get to know Reimi and Yuko more. Reimi grew up in Tokyo and is interested in intercultural communication, which is why I think she volunteered to be our interpreter. She expressed excitement when she found out I had taken an intercultural communication class at UCSB. At ICU, students don’t declare their major until their junior year – their first two years are spent in general studies. Reimi also likes fashion a lot, and she says she goes to Harajuku, Tokyo’s fashion district, almost everyday. She was happy when I suggested we go there sometime. :)

Yuko is beginning her first year at ICU this September, and currently lives in an apartment off-campus. Similar to Ami, Yuko has to live in an apartment off-campus because there isn’t enough dorm space on-campus for all the students. I feel bad that short-term international students are taking up dorm space that new freshman could be using. But we would be hopeless trying to get an apartment around here, I think. Yuko says her sister is currently studying in France, and when she returns to Japan they’re going to live together.

Along our journey to City Hall I also made friends with some girls who live on my floor who have been here since summer. They are also from University of California. After getting back from City Hall we took the bus to Musashisakai and went to a large department store to buy toiletries and groceries. Sarah and I got dinner at a Japanese restaurant and I had ramen with pork, green onions, and egg. It was good! Sarah taught me how to ask the waiter to get something on the menu in Japanese politely (while pointing at the picture of the item you want): “Kore o onegaishimasu.” (This, please/I’ll have this, please). The most important and polite thing is to say, “Arigatou gozaimashita.” (Thank you very much). A lady at City Hall seemed impressed and smiled warmly at me when I said that to her as she handed me my residence card. Also to bow slightly at whoever helped you as you leave.

Yesterday was fun and interesting, even though it started off with a boring orientation. At least they gave us free lunch. Today my roommate Kim and I are going to a cat cafe in Shinjuku and then to the famous Shibuya Crossing, the busiest crossing in the world (I think?). It seems really easy to get around – there’s a bus straight from campus to Musashisakai station, then take the Chuo line from Musashisakai to Shinjuku, then the Yamanote line from Shinjuku to Shibuya.