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So, arrived amidst a darkened evening sky at Kansai International in Osaka. The landing was very exotic, I must admit. The plane lowered itself seemingly headed into the belly of the ocean; as we swept closer and closer to our date with the surface of the Pacific. Through a light fog came the outline of huge rigs and ocean ships, and water, and nothing else. We got so close that I was looking for patterns of wind forced onto the calm, coquettish surface. Then as our wheels went to touch down, a fence appeared, and we lit unto the island that is Kansai airport. It almost made me regret the fact that I won't be flying out. I definitely will have to fly out of here one day....
...The flight had been good. The best part was looking out of the window in Siberia continually seeing ice floes, until finally I looked down and spotted the rugged peaks of Hokkaido. It was magical.
Arriving at the airport and going through customs, a surprisingly easy process (much easier than at Beijing last year,) I met up with the other students heading for university, and we hopped on a shuttle. After some light conversation, and gazing out at the hazy evening scene of concrete, docks, and neon signs, I fell into a very comfortable, hour long nap. Finally, we arrived, and I got to my dorm. I met my temporary roommates and settled in. Arriving on the last day before orientation has its perks and its downfalls: on one hand, everyone else already has a feel about the area and knows their way around; on the downside, everyone else already knows one another.
The next morning my roommates and I wake up early and trek the winding streets of Hirakata-cho. We walk by a two-story supermarket that looks more like a gymnasium complex, a lazy canal complete with construction workers, and many houses with multiple flags set up in front. I took a picture of one of the houses with flags because it was just too exotic... why do some houses have them while others don't? Are they like our election signs that we post in the ground, just far more colorful and flapping in the wind? We snake down a side street and enter a tiny little restaurant. This place could sit--maybe, 20-25 people, if that. We sit down and ask for breakfast. When it arrives, it consists of toast, a hardboiled egg, and salad. I never would have thought of eating a salad with my breakfast, but it didn't turn out bad. I wonder what a traditional Japanese meal is like? Can't wait to find out!
Walking on the streets and getting lost on the way to an orientation session, I ask about three people on the street for directions in broken Japanese and English. I'm surprised that people know more English than I expected, but I assume they've had to deal with lost gaijin before. Either way, it was a very amusing process for both.
I like it here so far, but I must admit there is not much beauty in the immediate area where I live. Although the vista from a set of windows in one of the school buildings was breathtaking.. it brings to mind a song "everything looks perfect from far away..." Well, maybe not perfect, but misty mountain foothills definitely add appeal to any landscape. I'm looking forward to going to Kyoto tomorrow, and promise to write about all our antics there.. how lucky am I! Here less than a week, and I should be going to the city that most use to define the essence of "Japan". We'll see just how authentic that statement is...
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