Hurdles

Minor update really, but it felt like the sort of thing I could group together as one. It's just short a few days, but I've been in Japan almost a month now, and I'm starting to notice a few little things.

The first one is that I've got a good feeling now of what it's like to be foreign. Having lived in Britain my whole life so far, I wasn't exactly used to being treated differently. Having been stared at solidly, caught a few glances in my direction, had people move away from me on the subway and on a couple of occasions, even change seats when the oppurtunity allowed, and had English yelled at me despite speaking in Japanese to someone, I've got a fairly good idea how that feels. I knew to expect it, I just didn't really know how it might bother me slightly. I know it's not something I can move away from through, so I'll simply have to cope.

Also, around the time of my arrival, I was speaking much more Japanese than I did previously in Sheffield, which was essentially nothing. I noticed that I was speaking more and more and developing better sentences, but I think that wasn't anything more than what I knew coming out to be used. Now, that seems to have peaked somewhat and evened out, meaning I'm beginning to get frustrated when there's something I'm unable to say. I'm constantly trying to resist the urge to slip back into English, but it can be difficult at times.

Additionally, I've finally succumbed to an illness which has been going around the boy's dorm for about a week now. Thankfully it's not anything other than a cough, but a couple of people have developed flu symptoms, so I'm hoping I don't have that strain. Due to that, I'm getting myself well acquainted with Vitamin-C drinks and what I can only assume are the Japanese equivalent of Tunes, only they taste better and they're much smaller. They haven't killed me yet either, so my first experience with Japanese medicine has been a success! That is, of course, if lozengers qualify as a medicine.

Aside that that, that mostly brings us up to date. I haven't managed to find employment yet, the English language cafe I found wanted me to work the entirety of every Sunday, open until close, which I don't think I can manage, so it's back to the searching stage at the moment.