Getting used to the life

Even before arriving, the challenge of figuring out our living arrangements loomed over us. Opting for the dorm seemed the simplest solution for the first six months, with plans to reassess later. Little did I know that this choice would lead to some of the most meaningful connections with newfound friends. Upon securing our living arrangements and gaining acceptance into the school, we found ourselves in a new country and town, ready to call it home, at least for the time being.

Upon entering our dorm, the reality struck – it was even smaller than we had anticipated. I shared a room with another person, our sleeping quarters adorned with a bunk bed. Despite the cozy space, I was content to spend 5 months there with Randy, an American with a treasure trove of stories to share. A mere 10 meters away was Andy, a mischievous German always up to something. The room lacked a kitchen, and there were only two kitchens on the floor for about 30 rooms. Most residents weren't students but workers, predominantly from Nepal or Vietnam. I can hardly find the words to describe the perpetual chaos in the shared kitchen space. However, we were fortunate to have a delightful cafeteria with an amazing lunch lady, whom we continued to visit even after moving out.

Living in the dorm presented countless challenges – from encounters with cockroaches to the lack of a proper kitchen, compact rooms, and occasionally raucous neighbors. Yet, amidst the chaos, we forged countless great stories that I'll delve into in future blog posts.

Upon arrival, the dorm lacked essentials, including suitable bedding. Promptly, we made a beeline to IKEA, procuring better mattresses and necessary items. School provided us with a comprehensive document outlining what we needed to prepare for tests and the opening ceremony. Among the essentials we lacked were mobile internet and a telephone number, crucial in Japan. Additionally, we needed a Hanko stamp, equivalent to a signature here. In those initial days, we navigated the city on foot, realizing the considerable time investment involved. Debating the need for efficiency, we eventually purchased bicycles after scouring online options and settling on the most affordable ones. In hindsight, getting bicycles proved indispensable, and I can't fathom how anyone manages without them in this vibrant city.

In the initial stages, we procured essential items for the dorm and bicycles, setting the stage for countless adventures to come. Now, what's next? Ah, the Hanko stamp – an indispensable item needed for opening any account or processing documents. Our school provided a paper guiding us to a place where we could obtain one, but the directions were vague, leading us on a few laps around a sprawling shopping mall. Eventually, we secured the Hanko, but in my pre-school excitement, I mistakenly wrote my name wrong on it. Surprisingly, it still works, but a new one is on the agenda for the future. Another task checked off the list.

Navigating the grocery shopping landscape presented another challenge as we didn't know the names of the stores. We explored various options until discovering Gyomu and Lumiere, our go-to shops for specific items at great prices. For those visiting Japan, Youme, Sunny, MaxValue, and others are also solid choices.

After school started, we tackled the task of obtaining a Japanese telephone number, a process requiring a Japanese bank account. Gratefully, the school provided assistance in this regard. Opening a bank account and acquiring a SIM card proved to be time-consuming endeavors, with explanations galore, but patience prevailed, taking over an hour for each. My recommendation: Rakuten, offering affordability and ample data.

Reflecting on these initial challenges, they seemed more formidable at the time than I recall. Getting an apartment emerged as one of the significant struggles, but I'll delve into that later without jumping too far ahead. Perhaps there will be stories from friends about their experiences, but for now, this is my side of the story.

到着前から、住居を見つけるという課題が私たちの前に立ちはだかりました。最初の6か月は寮が最もシンプルな解決策と思い、後で再評価する予定でした。しかし、私はこの選択が新たな友達との意義深いつながりを築くことになるとは知りませんでした。住居が確保され、学校に受け入れられたことで、私たちは新しい国と町にいる自分たちを見つめ、少なくとも当分の間、これを家と呼ぶ覚悟ができました。

寮に入ると、予想以上に狭いことが現実となりました。私は他の誰かと部屋を共有し、二段ベッドで寝具が飾られた狭い空間でした。こぢんまりとした空間でも、アメリカ出身の友達であるランディと5か月過ごすことができて嬉しかったです。10メートル先には、いつも何かを企んでいるトリッキーなドイツ人であるアンディがいました。部屋にはキッチンがなく、30室ほどあるフロアには2つのキッチンしかありませんでした。ほとんどの住人は学生ではなく、主にネパールやベトナム出身の労働者でした。共有のキッチンスペースの永続的な混乱を表現する言葉が見つかりません。しかし、私たちは素敵な食堂があり、素晴らしいランチレディがいたので、引っ越しても訪れ続けました。

寮での生活は、ゴキブリの出没から適切なキッチンの不足、狭い部屋、時折騒々しい隣人まで、数え切れないほどの課題を提供しました。それでも、その混乱の中で私たちは無数の素晴らしいストーリーを作り上げ、将来のブログ記事でそれについて深堀りします。

到着時には適切な寝具を含む必需品が不足しており、迅速にIKEAに向かい、より良いマットレスと必要なアイテムを調達しました。学校からは、テストや開会式に備えるために何を用意するかについての包括的な文書が提供されました。携帯インターネットと電話番号がないことが不足している中で、これは日本では重要なものでした。さらに、ここでは署名と同等のハンコが必要でした。初日は市内を歩いて移動し、かなりの時間がかかることに気づきました。効率性の必要性を検討しつつ、最終的には最も手頃な価格のものを見つけるためにオンラインで検索し、自転車を購入しました。後で振り返ってみれば、自転車を手に入れることは不可欠であり、この賑やかな街でそれなしでどうやって過ごすか理解できません。

最初の段階では、寮と自転車の必需品を手に入れ、これからの数々の冒険の舞台を設定しました。では、次は何でしょうか？ああ、ハンコ - どんな口座や書類も開くのに必要な不可欠なアイテムです。学校は私たちにハンコを作る場所を示す紙を提供し