I am leaving for Tokyo and am really nervous. I got my visa and all the necessary forms, but this is the first time I’ve ever traveled this far, let alone a foreign country by myself. It will definitely be stressful at first, but I am ready for this challenge. I depart on Wednesday afternoon and get there on Thursday night at Haneda Airport. I will have a day or 2 before I can check into my shared stay-home, so I plan on staying at a hotel and getting some rest beforehand. I just reserved a hotel at the airport so I can get off the plane and go rest after my flight.
I also went to the Japanese consulate office recently. It was a really interesting experience being on the 30th floor of a building in downtown Denver and going through airport-like security to be able to enter the room. The man helping me did say it was kind of like entering a foreign country because of the security and stuff I had to go through. This is what the building looked like:
One thing that I am particularly grateful for from studying abroad is the people. I have met so many great people that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. I find it amazing that people from all over the world, despite their different backgrounds, can share so much in common and somehow cross paths in a remote city in an unexpected country. It puts everything into perspective; we truly are all so similar and so different, and how beautiful is that!
I am learning so much about other cultures as well, something that I previously didn’t understand the depth of. One of my close friends here is from Northern India. She shares the complexities of her country and culture with me, showing me how India is far different from the way my Western perspective might have imagined it. We often exchange stories about out different homes, and yet always find something in common. It’s fate!
Although Australian culture is somewhat similar to American culture, it’s really fun to search out the subtle differences. I especially love when I find a word that is pronounced differently, or a fun new slang word. Here’s my working list:
Ranga – Someone with red hair
Jumper (Pronounced Jumpa) – Sweater/sweatshirt
Aussie (Pronounced Auzzie) – An Australian person
Bogan – Australian version of a redneck
Bottle-o – Liquor store
Op shop – Thrift store
Mozzies – Mosquitoes
Bathers – Swimsuit
Thongs (also called pluggers) – Flip flops
Car park – Parking lot
Servo – Gas station
Snag – Hotdog wrapped in bread
Bangers and Mash – Mash potato and sausage
Crikey – said when something surpising happens
Eskys – Cooler for food and drinks
Howzat – usually shouted, and used when something good happens in a sports game
Reckon – Often used as a way to say ‘think’ or suggest something (Ex: I think we should go. I reckon we should go.)
Keen – A way to say that you would be up for something (Ex. She would be happy to come! She would be keen to come!)
Mocha (pronounced Maka)
Tuesday (pronounced Chewsday)
‘Oh’ is pronounced as ‘Ah’ (Ex: Oh, okay! Ah, okay!)
Anyways, I am having the best time here. I know that I still have a couple more months until I go home, but I never want to leave! Being here has really opened my eyes to new people, places, and ways of life. Reminder: there is beauty in everything and everyone! Take the time to enjoy it!
DU Abroad 