NUFS Study Abroad: First Week

ARRIVAL

Arriving at Japan after a long 13hr flight was more than a little confusing and very hectic. Additionally, with tall the luggage, I had to carry was unable to take many pictures, so I will narrate those experiences instead.

I had always been used to passing through Customs and Immigration at my final destination, not at a stopover. However, in order to board my flight to Nagoya, I had to pass through Immigration at Narita International Airport. At the end of the line in Immigration there were airport staff directing people, that was when I noticed that mostly everyone else had a form I had never seen in their hands, a form required to pass through Immigration.

Fortunately, there was a counter, which the staff directed me to when they saw I didn't have the form, with empty forms and pens. I was so nervous and disoriented, I ended up having to fill out 3 of them, since I kept making mistakes. Once correctly filled out, I was again placed in line, luckily from the counter and not the end of the line. When I was finally called to the counter by the Immigrations officer, he had to direct me to a different counter when he realized I was traveling under a visa and not as a tourist.

By this point I was starting to get worried that I might miss my flight to Nagoya and therefore my hotel reservations. I happened to look behind at the line and saw that it had quadrupled, so I sighed in relief that I hadn't had to do that long line. I was then called up again, got my fingerprints and my photo taken, a stamp on my visa, and my residence card with instructions to inform the municipality my address within 14 days.

Afterwards, I had to go to baggage claim to collect my checked luggage. Since I had taken so long in Immigration, my luggage was to the side with the other unclaimed luggage. I grabbed it, had to fill out another form about dutiable items, pass through the duty checkpoint, and go to check-in for my flight. Then I went up to the gates, went through security, and finally arrived at my gate about 15 mins before boarding time.

The sights on the flight from Narita to Chubu Airport were beautiful.

About an hour and a half after leaving Narita, we finally landed in Nagoya. Exiting here was simpler than in Narita. I got the last photo I had a chance to get before having my hands full and all my luggage from baggage claim and followed the signs that pointed to the train.

Since I had arrived before September 1st, I wasn't going to be picked up so it was up to me to figure out where to go. As such, I was again overwhelmed at the ticket stands, and my mental and physical exhaustion weren't helping matters. After two minutes of unsuccessfully trying to figure out the train maps, I gave up and asked for help at the manned ticket counter. The staff asked me if I wanted a green car ticket, in other words First Class, or regular. I chose the cheaper option and he directed me to the station, where the train was waiting and getting ready to leave. Not wanting to miss the train I rushed to the platform and got on the train. Not two minutes later the doors closed and the train left the station. It was only then that I realized that I hadn't asked which stop was my stop.

After my panic attack ended, I decided to put my somewhat limited Japanese to the test and ask two women which was the Nagoya Station stop. As fate would have it, they were also getting off at Nagoya Station and said they would show me. When we neared, they warned me to get off at the next stop. Once off the train I followed them to the exit, where they asked me where I was staying. In answer I showed them my reservation which had the hotel's address. They looking at my luggage asked me if I was taking a taxi. I said no, that they were too expensive for me, so they took out their smartphones after telling me that they would take me to the hotel. They'd never been there before, so using the map on their phones, they proceeded to show the way to the hotel. To my amazement, they walked me all the way to my hotel, a 15 minute walk, all three of us with luggage. I thanked them profusely for going out of their way to help me and they went their own way.

Checking-in was uneventful, more paperwork. Then, I went into my room where it took me a few minutes to figure out how to turn on the lights. After trying every switch I could find, to no avail, I saw a slot next to the door with the shape of the room key. Once I inserted the keychain, the lights finally turned on. My next scare was in the bathroom when I used the toilet. I sat down and was surprised when water started flowing by itself. The toilet also had a handle with buttons; curious, I pressed one and jumped when, after a while of nothing happening, I got hit with a spray of water. It took me a minute to figure out that the spray wasn't going to turn off by itself and had to press a few more buttons to manage to turn it off.

Afterwards, I went downstairs to go out to grab some dinner. I remembered that I needed to turn in my key at the front desk before leaving the hotel and went out. Luckily, there were a few restaurants in the same street as the hotel. I walked along the street looking at the different menus, trying to figure out what in they world they said. I had not, however, studied food in my Japanese classes, so I decided to play it safe and stop at a cafe. Once seated, I realized that the waitress didn't speak much English, but I managed to ask for more time to look at the menu. Not really hungry, but knowing I had to eat something, I ordered the cheapest item in the menu, toast, and orange juice. I got full with only half of my toast, but finished the juice, settled my bill, and left. Exhausted, I walk back to the hotel and go to sleep for the first time in Japan.

APARTMENT

Again, taking pictures was impossible with all the luggage. I leave the hotel for the last time and headed to the accommodations Nagoya University of Foreign Studies had assigned to me, Proxy Friends Apartments. Since I had arrived early, I had to find my own way there. The university does provide instructions on how to get there on your own. Fortunately, my hotel was very close to Nagoya station, so it was no problem to walk there, luggage and all. I went down to the subway and followed the signs, which were written in both Japanese and English. I needed to take the Higashiyama line to the last stop, Fujigaoka station. The signs, however, only direct to the different wickets, so I ended up needing to ask the guard, who didn't speak English, where I could buy tickets. He understood my very basic question, but I, on the other hand, couldn't understand his directions, so he had to resort to hand gestures.

At least I had already figured out how to use the ticket machines, so I didn't have to ask for help once I found the machines. Using the machines is simple, you put in the money and buttons with numbers light up. Since the cheapest ticket is ¥200 a button will light up once you insert ¥200, it is followed by ¥210 and so on until ¥290. The price is based depending on the distance of the destination, since I needed to go the last one, I had to pay ¥290. I went to enter the wicket to go down to the platform, but the guard stopped me and told me that there was an elevator that would take me down. I followed him, thanked him, and took the elevator down to the platform. Getting on the train was a little complicated, but I was lucky enough to get a seat before the train got packed; and trains in Japan get really packed, very similar to sardines in a can.

I have no idea how long the train ride took, but as the stops went on the train started to get empty and I was able to get more comfortable before, finally, the train made it to the last stop. Without the rush of people getting on and off, getting off was easier for me than getting on. Once I reached the exit of the station, I asked a guard where I could get a taxi. It was close, just straight through the opening between the building and the taxis where waiting. I took out the card the university had provided with the directions and we were on our way after putting my luggage in the trunk. It cost around ¥1300. Since I had gotten my key the day before, I went straight up to my room and began unpacking.

The shoes closet is by the entrance, right next to the doors, since you have to take off your shoes.

The space in between where you put on you shoes and take them off.

The hallway.

The kitchen.

The bath, which is separate.

The toilet room. They provided one roll of toilet paper.

The closet.

The bedroom. They provide the bed, the desk, the chair, the bookcase, and TV.

Also provided.

The sliding door to the balcony, with the curtains they provided.

A view from my balcony.

A drugstore just across the street where I went to buy water and something I could eat for breakfast the following morning. They also sell the garbage bags required.

Schedule of Orientation

Upon arrival at Proxy in addition to the schedule, you get these papers, which include a garbage collection calendar, garbage booklet on the different types of garbage bags and how to separate your garbage, a map of the area, and instructions on how to connect to the internet. There isn't wifi at Proxy, instead you get a modem with and ethernet cable. However, the ethernet cable is really short, so I suggest buying a long ethernet cable.

ORIENTATION

The RAs had told written in the board on the lobby that we would need to meet in the lobby by 8:20am on Monday because they would walk us to the University and the room where our orientations would take place. The whole week would practically be taken up completely by orientations. There's a strict anti-copyright policy so I didn't dare to take photos. The first part was just a welcome and they had a packet of documents for us. The university was taking care of everything, notification of address, opening bank accounts, etc., for us and all we needed to do was sign where we were told. After that part was done, we were taken down to lunch and shown how to use order our food. The entire university has a cashless system set up; you use your student card to pay for everything and at the end of the month the university will take the money you spent out of your bank account. The food was unfamiliar to me, so I have been choosing lunch at random. I still have no idea what I have been eating, but it's all been tasty.

After lunch we were divided up into smaller groups and taken on a campus tour. After the tour we had to take the first part of the placement test, the one on the computer. This placement test would determine which would be the next placement test we would have to take, either the one on Tuesday or the one on Wednesday. At 5:00pm, I went on a tour that the RAs gave on the area. They showed us how to get to the 100 yen store (a dollar store) and the supermarket. Despite the fact that it's a 100yen store, everything costs 105 yen when tax is added.

To the supermarket from Proxy:

The drugstore near Proxy, cross the street as if you were going there.

The drugstore is on the right, just keep walking straight. Turn left at the next light. The red sign that says center, that's the place

A home center store that is attached to the supermarket. That's also where I bough my bicycle.

The supermarket.

The pedestrian entrance.

To the 100 yen store from the university:

The university is behind me, cross the street and keep walking straight for a while.

The entrance to the university, after crossing the street.

It's a little far, but that's where the 100 yen store is. Underneath the black is the entrance. I couldn't take photos inside, but don't get fooled, that whole thing isn't the 100 yen store. It's actually a small area inside. Once inside go upstairs, the elevator and stairs will be to the right. Go to the end where the big Pikachu is at and next to is an area with a green line on the walls. Everything inside that area is the 100 yen store.

On Tuesday, we met up again at 8:20am in the lobby and walked to the classroom. That day we had orientation on the student handbook and the accommodations policies. After the orientation we had lunch and would have to go check which placement test we would need to take. This one was hand written and very long. It was divided into three main parts: grammar, reading, and kanji. Each part would then have various pages, which you would get one at a time. We were also informed that we would need to check at the office if we would need to take the third part as well or not, before the test which was scheduled for 9:00am.

On Wednesday, everyone went individually to check whether or not we needed to take the test or not, most of us did not have to take the test and just returned home to wait for the afternoon when the Computer orientation would begin. The time for that orientation varied since we were divided into two groups, I was in the second group so my orientation didn't start until 3:45pm.

Thursday morning we had orientation until noon on the different programs and classes that would be available to us. After that there was a welcome party with food provided and different clubs came to give demonstrations and invite us to join their club.

Japanese language classes started on Friday morning and depending on placement had different classes. Classes were followed by the last orientation, which the first part was given by the police and the second part was given by locals that belong to international organizations and told us of upcoming events.

NAGOYA CITY TOUR

We had Saturday off, which I used to rest, but on Sunday we had an optional tour to the city. We met up at the International House, the second accommodation that NUFS provides for its exchange students. We then walked to a bus stop next to a 7 Eleven. I took pictures on the way back.