October 12 , 2006

Two weeks into this adventure, and this trip has finally stopped feeling like a vacation and more like real life. That’s not to say some pretty unusual things haven’t happened recently… In the past two weeks I’ve hand fed elephants; had a monkey steal sunglasses off my head; accidentally stumbled upon the conclusion of a traditional wedding, bride and groom decked out in beautiful kimonos; fended off very persistent deer intent upon eating my map; hiked up a mountain trail dotted with small shrines bearing offerings of canned pineapple; and fished for fugu in a roadside river.

I suppose that doesn’t quite sound like “real life” to the average American, and even here a lot of that is meant for tourists. However, in between the weekend adventures to Akiyoshido and Miyajima I’ve started classes at YPU and have more or less settled into the routine of the Akabane household. There are dishes to be washed and textbooks to be read, classes to attend and errands to be run. It is these simple daily routines that keep us grounded, while the inevitable surprises of this different culture keep life very interesting.

One thing is certain: while we certainly feel more comfortable with our surroundings these days, we exchange students definitely stand out. Our clumsy attempts to figure out simple daily routines have provided plenty of comedic fodder for pretty much everyone we come in contact with. My family got plenty of giggles out of my confusion about automated Japanese bathtubs, and Gerard has become legendary for his issues with chopsticks.