*~First week~*

I've been ridiculously busy getting stuff like insurance and residence fixed and exploring the area, but I'm having a lot of fun!

I've received a 5 on my Japanese placement test which means I'm allowed to pick both classes in English and Japanese; I was very pleased about that. I'm trying to pick my classes right now. On top of regular Japanese language classes, I think I'm going with Japanese Arts, a seminar about Japanese Budo, maybe a class about the local community of Kansai and maybe a seminar about Japanese Language and Society. Those last two will depend on whether I'll get the job I've applied for.

I've applied for a job as sort of an English assistant at one of the Japanese classes at the school. I'll have my interview for that somewhere next week. Since I'm not a native speaker, I'm not really counting on being picked, but I figured I might try anyways, who knows right?

I'm having a wonderful time at the dorm. It's very tiring and very fun at the same time. There's always some event going on. I don't know how it'll be once school starts, but for now I'm enjoying myself.

Had a takoyaki party and a nabe party this week. Both dishes were really delicious.

Takoyaki - Batter balls filled with squid (or alternatively: sausage or chocolate or what ever you want pretty much)

Nabe - Japanese hotpot

I'm really loving the food here. There's so much more things to choose from than I would have expected. There's so many bakeries with all sorts of bread things for example (and cheap too!). I've asked around about being vegan in Japan and most Japanese people have replied to me '無理', which basically means 'impossible', so that's a little bit of a bummer. I can pretty simply buy and cook my own food vegan, but when you're going out to eat, it truly is difficult to find anything. But I'm not going to sweat it; as long as I do my best when I eat alone I'm good.




 I went to Shinsaibashi-suji (心斎橋筋) today, which was tons of fun. It's basically a humongous shopping area in Osaka.

We went to the Disney store amongst other random places and I found an Etude House, which made me one very happy camper! °(^-^)°

And listen, I know it looks like I bought a lot of stuff (maybe yeah don't judge me!), but everything in the second picture I got for free as a gift (because Etude House is just that wonderful).

We had some cheap and easy kaiten zushi (回転寿司); the conveyor belt sushi: will definitely go there again.

Lots of the little dishes creeped me out though, like this thing with a gabazilion little dead sea creatures in it I have no idea what they are but I feel so sad about it

 

Another thing I'm loving: our dorm is right next to this beautiful park. It's on the way to school and I love walking there. I heard that one lap around the park should be about 2km, so I think I'll go running there as well.

I've still got one week off now before the semester starts. I like that I've got some time to explore the area. I already feel pretty at home.







With all that said, I do need to learn to take it easy a little because I notice how exhausted I am. Also, I caught a cold (which is ridiculous because it's so hot here), most likely because of the airconditioning.

But I'm not complaining. I'm happy!

Before I leave, here's some more food pictures because I can't help myself.

Leaf mustard onigiri

More takoyaki

Instant yakisoba

Sorry this was all over the place, I need sleep haha!

Anyways, until next time~!! ♥