Hello Everyone! Sorry my post is a day late. This week was very hectic and I decided to take yesterday as a 1 day break to get my thoughts in order before I write my blog post.
I went to Asakusa with a friend last Sunday before my classes started on Tuesday. Since I was so busy with classes this week and ended up add/deleting some courses I first thought I'd take, there isn't much for this weeks update.
Asakusa & Meeting my Sophia Supporter
Asakusa
I meet up with a new friend I recently made at Asakusa on Sunday so we could get lunch and hang out. We met up at Kaminarimon which is the entrance gate to the Sensoji temple (which happens to be the oldest in Tokyo). It was crazy busy the day we went but there were also food stalls near the Sensoji temple that day which aren't normally there so we were able to eat a lot of fun food that day.
After giving our respects at Sensoji temple my friend and I went to 浅草うなな (Asakusa unana) which is really instagram famous for selling yaki-onigiri topped with a piece of unagi (grilled-rice ball topped with a piece of grilled sea eel). The restaurant was really small and cute but because it is so popular they have a very complicated ordering system. You have to wait in line to buy a ticket (which is like placing your order). The ticket will have a time written on it that you have to come again at in order to pick up your onigiri. My friend and I waited about 30 minutes to buy a ticket and then waited another two hours (getting other food) until it was our time to pick up. Totally worth the wait for me. It was so flavoursome and fun to eat. Personally, this ordering system didn't bother me because I've been wanting to try this restaurant for nearly a year now but I can see how it can be inconvenient for some people.
While waiting for our onigiri my friend and I went to look around at all the food stall and order some really delicious food. The first thing we tried was a もんじゃコロッケ （mochi, cheese, and spicy fish cod roe monja croquette). The best way I can describe it is having a crunchy exterior while being chewy on the inside. It was so delicious and I wanted to get another one but since there were so many food stalls I decided instead I should try something else. Next, I ate at あんず屋さん (anzuyasan). Which sold different fruits wrapped in a soft sugar coating. I got ume (pickled plum) and like everything else I tried it was delicious. It was my first time trying this but it was not too sweet and fun to eat (albeit messy).
One of the most interesting things I ate at Asakusa was "crab" on a stick. The reason I put crab in quotes is because it was actually a mixture of snow crab and white fish (like imitation crab) and flavored with ponzu. Very delicious and would recommend.
My friend and I ended to day with soft-serve, mine was grape flavor. It was a fantastic day and I definitely hope to hang out again.
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Meeting my Sophia University Supporter
At Sophia University, I believe every exchange student gets a supporter (who is a student at Sophia University who helps their exchange student with their acclimation to Japan). My supporter was so nice and we got lunch at this distinctly American diner themed restaurant. I got chicken and waffles which is ironic because it was my first time eating chicken and waffles ever. After we went to Meiji Jingu shrine which is literally across the street from Harajuku. It was so peaceful and beautiful. Honestly when you start waiting through the forest to get to the shrine it is like going back in time because all you see are trees no building. I definitely want to go there again just to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
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Starting Classes
If you read my blog last week you know I tested into a higher level Japanese class then I anticipated. Well class was very fun but it was definitely a level above where I actually am. I felt I was actively learning a lot each day but the class also had about 3 to 4 hours of homework each night (at least thats how long it would take me). But at Sophia University, I'm not only taking Japanese classes but also 2 other business courses that count toward my major. After 3 days of taking Japanese I realized I could not keep up with the course load. It was a very difficult decision that I actually ended up crying over. This lead to having to add another business course to my schedule and not take Japanese classes while I'm here.
I know some of you reading might be thinking "Why didn't you just change to a lower level Japanese class?" But the problem with that is the lower level classes I could take would not amount to any credit at University of Hawaii after they transferred over because I already took the University of Hawaii equivalent to those classes. Plus the class I wanted to add to my schedule was at the same time as the lower level Japanese class would have been. I also realized no matter the level of Japanese class I would be taking, I would still spend at least 1 hour and 1/2 each night doing homework just for Japanese because Japanese class was daily.
But I want to enjoy my time in Japan. I really only have about 4 months here before I return to Hawaii and I want to travel, make friends, and also enjoy time with my grandparents which I wouldn't be able to do if I decided to take a Japanese class.
But I will be honest the realization that I couldn't achieve all the goals I set for myself while in Japan hurt. But I will preserve forward and enjoy my time in Japan!
Hopefully more light-hearted stuff next week and I promise next week will be posted on time.
Until next week...😊
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