ÿþ<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>My Time as an Exchange Student</TITLE> <CENTER> <P><A HREF="nihongo3.html"><IMG SRC="arrow_ls.gif" ALT="Tillbaka till huvudmenyn"></A><A HREF="nihongo.html"><IMG SRC="arrow_le.gif" ALT="Back to main menu"></A><A HREF="nihongo2.html"><IMG SRC="arrow_lj.gif" ALT="CQn0Ú0ü0¸0x0;b‹0"></A><A HREF="mailto:dubl@swipnet.se"><IMG SRC="em.gif" ALT="Send e-mail"></A><a href="http://two.guestbook.de/gb.cgi?gid=475969&prot=zlgndx"><IMG SRC="gb.gif" ALT="Sign guestbook"></a></P> </CENTER> </HEAD> <BODY BACKGROUND="bg_satsu.gif"> <CENTER> <P><IMG SRC="_wavy.gif"></P> <P><H2>A small journal concerning my time as an exchange student at Hokkaido Tokai University in Sapporo, <I>2000-04-12~2000-07-15</I>.</H2></P> <P><H3>2000-08-07</H3></P> </CENTER> <P><H4>Okay, I meant to write one final entry into this journal before I left Japan but there was some trouble with the Internet connection to the computer, and now that I've gotten home I haven't gotten around to writing anything before now. Anyway, on the Thursday before last I and Meedia decided to buy one day tickets for the subway, allowing us to ride around as much as we wanted for one day. First we went from Makomanai to Odori, where we switched to another line and went to the terminal station, Shin-Sapporo (New Sapporo). We strolled around in a department store by the station and then went to the surface. It had gotten hot as hell, and there weren't really much to see except for a pretty impressive hotel so we went back down and continued our journey. Next stop was Shiroishi where we went to a Mister Donut place to eat. The funniest thing happened there, by the way. I ordered in Japanese but the girl at the other side of the counter kept speaking English with me. She tried to ask whether we were to eat there, and tried to show us directions to the smoking section, all in really bad English. I kept answering in Japanese such as "hai", "wakarimashita" and "onegaishimasu", but she insisted on continuing in English. Yeah well, funny girl that one. Then we went on to the other terminal station on the same line, Miyanosawa. There was absolutely nothing there to see so we hurriedly went on to Kotoni where after a brief stop we decided the subway riding was over. We went to Sapporo station for some shopping and then to a sushi place in Susukino where we met Anna. When our stomachs were full and satisfied we went to a place called Potato Circus, where we met Nicke and some Japanese for a final party. I, Anna, Meedia and Takumi went on to sing karaoke afterwards, and I thought it was a successful day indeed. On Friday Anna left Sapporo, and then we were only three people left. Erik had left for Tokyo on Wednesday. On Saturday I and Meedia went to Otaru, a city about 45 minutes from Sapporo station. I instantly fell in love with this place upon arrival, and it didn't take long before we could hear someone beating on Japanese <I>taiko</I> drums. We went in that direction and to our surprise discovered that we had had the fortune of coming in Otaru during their festival! Thousands of people were dancing and singing in the streets, and when we got to the harbor there was a big stage and lots of stands selling foods and beverages. We bought a <I>takoyaki</I> and a beer each, and enjoyed the music and wonderful atmosphere. After strolling around on beautifully picturesque streets for a while we returned to Sapporo. Since this would be the last night at the guest house we stayed up long, talking and playing Playstation with Tsuyoshi. Then Sunday came and it was time to round things up. After a lot of cleaning and packing Tsuyoshi was kind enough to give me and Meedia a ride down to Makomanai station. He had to take us one at a time because all the luggage wouldn't fit at the same time. Nicke got a ride from a friend of his and they stopped by Nicke's newly found girlfriend's place on the way to the airport as well. With all that heavy luggage we first got to Sapporo station from where we took the train to Chitose airport. After a lot of sweat we got to the gate and waited for our plane. Since Nicke hadn't bought his ticket until the week before he couldn't get a seat on the same plane as mine and Meedia's. Instead he flew with a plane that departed 15 minutes before, and when we kept our eyes open for him but couldn't see him we thought he had missed his flight. He was, however, only very late and almost missed the plane but didn't. I and Meedia found our seats and watched the rest of the passengers board when suddenly I saw a face that I was pretty sure I recognized. I said to Meedia "hey, wasn't that the girl in 'Morning Musume'?". Morning Musume is a very famous music group consisting of ten or so girls. Meedia had missed her but moments after one after the other of the same group entered the plane and walked past us. We found the coincidence very amusing but that was not the last surprise. After just another moment it was Meedia's turn to point fingers and ask if that person over there wasn't that very special person. This time it was the drummer in another very famous music group, Luna Sea. It was him, and we were completely stunned by the bizarre coincidence we had experienced. Anyway, we reached Haneda airport in Tokyo, met Nicke, and really had to hurry in order to catch the last train for Hamamatsuchou in central Tokyo. We made it and disembarked, constantly struggling with the luggage. We got outside of the station and thought we had missed the last train for Ueno, from where the trains for Narita airport go. I and Nicke asked an employee at the station and apparently we still had time to catch the last train. So we did, and when we reached Ueno they were just closing down the station for the night. We got outside and since we had four hours or so before the trains for Narita would start going we decided the easiest thing to do would be to stay where we were, so that we wouldn't have to drag the luggage any longer than we had to. Thus, we sat down on the stairs just outside the station and waited. And waited. Nicke fell asleep beside some shrubs across the street, and myself and Meedia tried to make time pass by playing games of different kinds. Some really weird people passed by or sat down a stretch away from us, but it was really okay. Finally the time came, but we didn't realize the hardest part of transporting all suitcases and backpacks was to come. We found out that the station with the trains for Narita wasn't situated at the same place as where we were, and so we had to walk through Ueno park and down a couple of stairs to get there. We walked short distances at a time. Meedia's hands really hurt. My hands and back hurt. We were all sweating like pigs. But we got there after a while, and we got on the train for the airport. Since we all had too much luggage we had been a bit worried that we would have to pay to get all of it home, and now the time had come to find out. I went first but didn't even get a remark. Nicke seemed to be in trouble but managed to get away by taking more luggage as hand baggage. Meedia, however, could not get away with her 50 kilograms and had to send home a suitcase by mail. It will not arrive till two months later, and add to that that Anna had gotten away with even more luggage two days before us, so that was really a pity. We met Erik, who had had a nice but sometimes hard time in Tokyo, and he told us that he had had trouble with his luggage as well. He had bought so many Japanese cartoon magazines that he also got 50 kilos or so in total. He had also gotten away by taking much more hand baggage than he was supposed to. I think it weighed 30 kilos or something and he had a really hard time carrying it to the gates at Narita and Schiphol in Amsterdam, where we transferred. Shortly thereafter we left Japan and four months of experience behind us for this time, and although I felt a bit sad I can't say that it was that difficult. This planet of ours is after all not very big and if I really want to go back to Japan, which I'm sure I will, I don't doubt for a second that I'll be able to do it. At that time I instead looked forward to seeing Sweden again. Unfortunately I got a seat separated from the other three on the plane, but I was really tired and needed to rest anyway. The eleven hour flight to Amsterdam went smoothly I think, and I managed to fall asleep a couple of times. Oh, another thing. At Chitose and Narita as well as Schiphol I had trouble passing through the security points. I removed my freestyle, camera, keys and stuff I thought would make the alarm go off, but still there was always something that made it go off anyway. Either it was the belt or wallet, or perhaps my glasses. At Chitose and Narita the security people were happy with just looking me over briefly with that metal detector thingy, but at Schiphol the guy looked really pissed and had to frisk me thoroughly. He thought I might have hidden explosives or something in places such as my hat, the lining of my jacket and between my legs. Yeah well, I was really tired and didn't really care about anything at that point. After a 1,5 hour flight to Landvetter, Gothenburg, I saw my parents and sister again! That was an incredibly nice experience, and now that I've been home for a week I still haven't gotten really used to Sweden again. The day before yesterday I went out with some of the classmates who studied Japanese in the beginning but for different reasons stopped doing so, and Erik was there as well. Meedia and Anna couldn't make it, and we haven't heard from Nicke. That was nice, and I hope all of us who were in Sapporo will be able to meet pretty soon. That is excluding Petri and Erik J. of course, but I hope we'll see them sometime in the future as well. I will write some kind of summary of the whole trip one of these days, but here I end for today. </H4></P> <CENTER> <P><H3>2000-07-24</H3></P> </CENTER> <P><H4>Once again it's early in the morning, 6 o'clock, and I can't sleep now either. My aching tan has started itching like hell instead, and I keep scratching myself all the time. That doesn't help when you want to sleep. But that's not the only thing I guess... The time for departure is really drawing near and that gets me thinking about things. This last week the others are meeting with friends they've made during the stay here; wanting to say goodbye for now and showing appreciation for the time they've spent together. I, however, although I exchange a few words with some Japanese now and then still feel I haven't really made any real friends here, except for the Swedes of course. The thing is, it takes time for me to get to know people, and perhaps there wasn't enough time here. I'm not like many others who can just start talking to almost anyone about anything the first time they meet. That's how I am as a person, and now that I experience the effects of that personality trait in such a tangible manner I get a little bit down. Of course it's not that I wish my friends here didn't have Japanese friends! On the contrary, I want them to meet all the people they can, but it's when I see the contrast in my situation that I start thinking. I've always been a lonewolf and will always be I guess, so I'm used to it anyhow. I'm perfectly happy being that way, and regret nothing about what I've done or what's happened here. It's really been a blast! Now I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing my family and friends back home again, and adding to the above words I must say that I try very hard to keep the friends who care about me and whom I care about. Perhaps this was a very revealing entry in this journal, but I guess only people who know me are reading this and I want the people who know me to know more about me, in order to perhaps understand me better. It feels good to open up sometimes! Thank you, and hopefully you didn't fall asleep. ;-)</H4></P> <CENTER> <P><H3>2000-07-23</H3></P> </CENTER> <P><H4>The time is now close to 6 o'clock in the morning but I can't sleep so why not write another entry in my journal. Last time I forgot to mention that on the day after the exams were over both Petri and Erik J. left the guest house to hitch-hike their way down Japan. Erik reached Tokyo, where he was supposed to meet up with his girlfriend some days later, in about one day. Petri reached his destination, Kagoshima where he will live with his wife, daughter and wife's parents, in about two and a half days. Apparently they had a lot of luck with finding drivers willing to transport foreigners on the road. They even got invited to places to eat and drink on the way, and Erik's last ride took him a walking-distance away from his final destination. Incredible. This only proves the Japanese people's hospitality and kindness. I doubt it would be as easy in Sweden! Erik H. will leave this Wednesday, Anna on Friday, and I and Meedia on Sunday. Nicke is apparently not sure yet what he'll do from now on and when he'll return. Last Monday I went with Erik and Meedia to the city to withdraw some cash. After that we thought it would be nice to go to place and drink a little. We met up with Anna in Susukino but she got tired and returned to the guest house instead. The three of us went to Tiki Tiki Bar, and it was pretty early so we were the only ones there for quite a while. That felt kind of weird because it's a big place, but people started pouring in after a while. On Wednesday I and Meedia wanted to see some other place so we took the train to the second biggest city in Hokkaido, Asahikawa. It was interesting to try out another means of transportation, and the trains were very quiet and smooth. Although they surely move faster than in Sweden it certainly doesn't feel that way. Anyway, we arrived in Asahikawa and were met by a very nice place with lots of flowers and a long street ahead. We started walking down that street, enjoying the heat, peeking into a store or two, until we reached the end. Hmm, we thought, and wondered what else there might be to see, but we couldn't really find anything else of interest. We ate some <I>tempura</I> in one of the few places that were open, then went to search for icecream, which took quite a while. Finally we got to a burger place where there was icecream as well, but of course the machine making the stuff crashed as we were there. We went to McDonald's instead and I got a milkshake, and Meedia finally her icecream. One other thing, both I and Meedia got the feeling that the people in Asahikawa were very quiet and almost seemed depressed. We didn't hear much talking at all, and many people just walked staring into the ground. It was an interesting trip despite all! Close to midnight that day, when I was really tired and thought of going to bed soon, the people here and Jonathan, a Canadian guy, decided they were going to party in the city. Yeah well, I thought and joined them. One problem was how we were gonna get there. The trains and buses had stopped for the day, and taxis won't take more than four people. We were five. After some discussion with a cab driver he agreed to take us as far as Sumikawa, about half the distance we were going. Jonathan called a friend and got him to pick us up there and take us the rest of the way. Well there, after a lot of strolling about and searching for a good place, we ended up at a place called Chikyujin, which was really picturesque and cozy. Jonathan disappeared with his friends and only came to say he couldn't stay a lot later that night, but we Swedes enjoyed the atmosphere in that place. We took the first subway and bus, and as we were back home the sun was shining and the weather was wonderful. I had been up for almost 24 hours at that time, and I decided to "get to bed" on the terrace. In the sun. I did, and woke up some 3,5 hours later. I had fallen asleep on my stomach, and I thought my back kind of hurt a bit. Sleepy as I was I ignored that and got into my room to sleep there instead. When I woke up in the afternoon, however, I realized that what had kind of hurt actually hurt like hell. I was completely burned by the sun, on my back, arms, legs and left side of my face. Now, almost 70 hours later it still hurts but it's gotten a lot better. I've spent the last few days taking it really easy, blaming myself for being so stupid to inflict this malice, that makes it hurt to wear clothes, sit, walk and lie down, on myself. ;) On Friday I decided to join Meedia and Anna to meet Jonas, despite the well-done tan. It was his last night in Sapporo before he goes on a trip to Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and eventually Sweden. Therefore we wanted to meet him, and he took us to this really small and nice place where you instantly got a buddy-feeling with the employees. Later on Anna went home and the rest of us met Jonas' Australian friend, Sarah, with whom we sat in Odori Park just talking and drinking beer in the middle of the night. That was really funny. With only two hours left till the subway started going I and Meedia went to Rad Brothers to kill the time left. These crazy party-folks in the guest house went out Saturday as well, but I was really too tired to join them this time. I think three days of going out one week is quite enough, actually. ;)</H4></P> <CENTER> <P><H3>2000-07-15</H3></P> </CENTER> <P><H4>On Wednesday last week Satoko, one of our teachers from Sweden, and her husband Sven came to the guest house to stay here two nights. On Thursday it was finally time for our speeches. We got to choose the order in which we were supposed to present them earlier that week, and because I wanted to get it overwith as soon as possible I immediately said I wanted to be first. So, I made the first speech of twelve, six from us exchange students and six from groups with Japanese students. It was not until about an hour before the speech that I began to get nervous, and it was kind of hard to keep the calm while I was speaking but I guess it went fairly well anyway. It felt really good to get it overwith. That evening Sven, who is a musician, made a performance using unusual instruments from Sweden and other parts of the world. Satoko explained many interesting thing about the origin of the instruments and what they had been used for. Some of the instruments he played were bulls' horns, bagpipe and various kinds of flutes. I was really impressed by the whole thing I must say. On Saturday I and Anna went to another sushi place, and once again I got incredibly full due to eating too much, but this time I think it was worse for Anna. ;) On Monday the exams began. The grammar exam was first and I didn't find it that difficult. The first exam on Tuesday was rather difficult but I managed pretty well anyway. After that it was the spoken Japanese test. I talked with Morikoshi-sensei for ten minutes or so, and that went rather smoothly as well. The last exam on Tuesday was reading comprehension and that was pretty tricky. On Wednesday we wrote the final exam, another reading comprehension test. When I got my grades yesterday I was very surprised and content. I got AA (the best possible grade) in three subjects and A (next to best) on four. The night after the last exam we went out with some Japanese students, Jonas, Cogen-sensei and Kawasaki-sensei. It was fun but I got kind of tired after a while. ;) When we got back home I noticed I had lost the key to my room and so I had to sleep in the living room that night. The next day I went to the administration office to pick up a new key, upon which Erik remembered my first key was in Meedia's bag. Apparently I had dropped it without noticing it, Erik had found it and put it in her bag. Yeah well, now I have two keys until I leave. Yesterday there was a final ceremony in the principal's office. We received our diplomas and talked for a while with the principal, some employees and some teachers. Now that that is over we are finished with our studies here at Hokkaido Tokai University in Sapporo. Time really flew and now it's soon time to return home. That feels both really good and a bit sad since I'll miss this place.</H4></P> <CENTER> <P><A HREF="ryuu2.html"><IMG SRC="arrow_l.gif" ALT="Former entries"></A></P> <P><IMG SRC="_wavy.gif"></P> <P><H6><IMG SRC="_paw.gif">Copyright Hans Wadsten 2001<IMG SRC="_paw.gif"> <BR>Last updated <!--#echo var="LAST_MODIFIED"--></H6></P> </CENTER> </BODY> </HTML>