Well, I think that stating that my study abroad hasn't started off on the most solid of footing might qualify for a nomination for the 'Understatement of the Year' award. Due to absolutely no fault of my own, and a story that will likely need to remain classified until all those who remember it are dead and gone, I ended up spending my first week in Japan... well, homeless.
While this might sound quite fun to some of you, in reality it's a huge pain in the ass.
To add insult to injury, renting an apartment here is an exercise in pain and frustration. First off, the real estate people don't want to talk to you, so bring a Japanese friend. Second, be prepared to pay about a months' worth of rent in 'reikin' (legal extortion) to the 'fudousan' (real-estate yakuza). Third, they say they will clean the place for you, but it seems more accurate to say that they'll *think* about cleaning the place, while spending your 'reikin' on cocaine and hookers. And, finally, even if you jump through the hoops, your apartment will be given to someone else.
There are temporary housing options available, but they are all quite expensive.
Fortunately for me, a friend of mine (Keith) was willing to put me up for a week or two until I managed to get a place put together. What's even better, is that Keith is shacking up at an apartment attached to a gourmet udon shop, and so I've had gourmet udon and free beer for the past week or so, as well as a really fun set of people to talk with. Even more... uh... betterer is that, as of yesterday, I have a new host family, courtesy of a ton of hard work on behalf of our resident director (Kazaoka-sensei) and so my days of being a bum are at an end. And, my new host family is in Shibuya, so I can almost walk to school... and stagger home when need be.
So, all in all, being homeless hasn't been that bad, really, and things are looking up.
The CSU group went out for an all-you-can-eat sukiyaki run two nights ago, and when we sat down, the staff brought out a veritable mountain of meat. I'm not entirely sure, but the entire cast of Charlotte's Web might have been sacrificed for the sake of our dinner. Oh, and the raw egg is essential, and makes the sukiyaki taste so much better. Afterwards, everybody did the usual and headed out to the Hub, where Dustin proceeded to drink them our of Jagermeister. Thanks a lot, you jackass. *grin*
Other than that, school has yet to start, so I have very little to report on the academic front.
Life continues to be good. :)
