I am Alive

---Previously sent out as an email on 6 June 2007. Edited and updated with pictures.---

I am here in Japan at APU (Asia Pacific University). The university is located on the island of Kyuushuu (southwestern island of Japan) in Beppu city (village is more of an appropriate description), which is in Ooita prefecture (central-eastern part of Kyuushuu). What little bit of Japan I have seen so far is very interesting. In comparison to America, Japan has many differences and similarities that I have observed so far (surprisingly many similarities in fact). Some of the differences I am still becoming acquainted with; so, maybe I will discuss those later when I have a better understanding of them.

Beppu is a hot and humid place at the moment. The university is located on the top of a hill and the sea is about 22 kilometers to the east I think. The weather is interesting in that it is about 27 degress celsius, 50 to 60 percent humidity, and it rains at random intervals. Moreover, in the morning we get this fog that is so thick that you can barely see 5 or 6 meters in front of you.


The crazy fog. It's not so thick in this picture, but this was taken at 1800 after it had dissipated a bit. ---


My view in the morning. Below in the background is the sea. ---

Beppu is famous for onsen (hot springs). There are tons of them; they are everywhere. You can walk down the streets and in random places there is steam coming up from the ground. People come to see them, but they are also used in a variety of practical ways (ie bathing, cooking food, etc).


Myoban Onsen ---


If I understood correctly, this one is used for making natural medicine. ---


I don't remember what this is, but it looks really cool. ---


Same with this one. ---


Hot clay ---


Steam coming up from the ground. To the right was a little eatery where they cook food using the steam. ---


Eggs being cooked using the steam. ---


Steam coming up from the ground on the side of the road. ---

The countryside is beautiful; I have never seen a place with scenery quite like this. The second day that I was here, I went to this tower (guroobaru tawaa or global tower) that stands about 100 meters high. The ticket cost me about 300 yen (roughly $2.60 I think) and the elevator takes you to the top at about 150 meters per minute. Not only am I afraid of heights, but I am sightly claustrophobic as well, and the elevator is really small; so, I was pretty nervous on the way up. Then the elevator doors opened and I saw the view. Simply incredible. You can see all over the city and countryside, and, like I said, the countryside is really beautiful. (At the moment, we are in the middle of Japan's rainy season; so, I can't take any good pictures of the countryside, but, soon as I can, I will post pictures.)

Now let me talk a bit about APU. I think I am very lucky to be attending this university. Not only do I get to see some of Japan and meet many Japanese people, but there are many students from many places all around the world. The univeristy has about 4000 undergraduates I think. Of those 4000, 2000 are Japanese and the other 2000 are foreigners (primarily Asian and mainly Korean, but all together there are people from around 70 different countries here).

I have met many people here. About 50 of those people I know well enough to be able to tell you their names, ethinic background, why they are here, what they are studying, so on and so forth, which has really challenged my memory and I've had to keep a list in order to remember. Of those 50, I spend time with about 20 of them each day. Even though everyone speaks basic English and Japanese, most people have friends that are from their country of origin or thereabouts. For instance, one group that I hang out with is composed of people from India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan (Enam, Ali, Murad, Rana, Part, Dipti, and Kush). Another is composed mainly of Japanese and a few Koreans and Chinese (Takumi, Takuya, Aya, Ayako, Airi, Hiro, Masa and Masa, Daichi, Ko, Taku, Chi, Eriko, Minae, and Grace). They have been wonderful friends to me so far and have been very accepting.


Some of my friends and I (back row from the left: Jay, don't know, me, Aki, Takuya, and Ko; front row from the left: Fumi, Tama, Yuusuke, Takumi, and in front of Takumi is Kazuki). ---


Me and Enam. ---


Ali working away on a paper about culture shock. ---


Masa and I. ---


Me, Yukari, and Hiro. ---


Masa and Masa looking ever so sexy at the World Festival. ---


My friends, Daichi (2nd) and Ko (4th), dressing up in skirts and bunny ears to perform Sakuranbo at the World Festival. ---

Finally, I will briefly discuss the Japanese language program. At Chapman University, we spent a total of 32 weeks to cover about 6 lessons of material (roughly one lesson every 5 weeks or so). Now, I was told that the program here was very intensive, but, let me tell you, I had no idea. Here, we cover one lesson in three days! Yes, three freaking days (this includes about 20 kanji per lesson). We use the same textbook as Chapman; so, for those of you who have taken Japanese with me, we are covering lessons 7 to 12 in Genki Vol 1, and then lessons 13 to 18 in Genki Vol 2. It's about 4 hours of Japanese language class everyday of the week and then my history class on the side someplace. +_+

Well, that's it for now. Please check back soon for more.