05. Entering the Home Stretch

It's Friday again. If you asked me where this week went, I probably wouldn't be able to tell you. All I know that it was a blur of midterms, group projects and 4 hour long marathon-style lectures. Although the weekend is technically here I still have a Saturday morning class to suffer through tomorrow.

Many people who ask me about my class schedule have heard me complain about my six-days-a-week class schedule, but I'm thankful for the experience because it's something I would never be able to experience in America. Maybe this schedule is unique to International Christian University, but I'm not quite sure. I remember when came to Japan on exchange in high school I was surprised that high school students regularly had to attend a half-day on Saturdays, so it seems like it might be a common practice. The plus side is that this class will give me credit towards my International Relations certificate at my home university, and I will have only attended a dozen classes (albeit 4 hours long each) at the end of the trimester. 

Now that this week is over we've officially entered into the final few weeks of the Autumn term. It's passed by so quickly.  My friends have planned a picnic in Shibuya this weekend, but other than that I don't have much planned aside from just taking it easy, doing some exploring by bike, and maybe checking out a new cafe near the station. Should be fun!

じゃ、また。

03. Settling In

Eeeeek, it's been almost a month since I last posted. I had no idea maintaining a blog would be this difficult. I'm always thinking about interesting things to post, but I never get around to actually typing anything. Whoops.

It's hard to believe that it's been over a month since I arrived in Japan. At this point, I can definitely say I've settled in and adjusted to life in Tokyo. Unlike being back home though, I don't feel like I'm stuck into a routine yet. Although I am plagued with homework for 5 classes (18 credits worth... 6 days a week... bleh...) I'm still getting to try new things on a weekly basis. That being said, I plan on taking fewer courses next semester so I can do more exploring.

Since starting school here, I feel like I've entered into some kind of weird time paradox. Tokyo is indeed a city that never sleeps, but although I attend class, have club practice, run errands, participate in dormitory events / chores and spend an inordinate amount of time doing homework.... I can't help but feel that my life has slowed down at the same time. I have crazy, long days but I enjoy the process of it all because it's so different and new.

There are a lot of things I've begun to appreciate about my life back home since being in Japan.

For example, I cook for myself 3 times a day (almost) 7 days a week. I was so used to the convenience of the dining hall at school and the well-stocked fridge and pantry at home that I didn't realize how much planning it takes to feed yourself. I share a small fridge with my roomie, so I can't buy a week's worth of food at a time, so as a result I go grocery shopping 2-3 times a week. The closest major grocery store (which is also by the nearest station) it's a 30 minute round-trip by bike, so I have to plan in advance when I need to go since I'm usually busy with class until 7:00 pm some nights.

(side note: There are convenience stores close to campus, but it's hard to eat well on a 7/11 diet! That being said, the selection of food in the convenience stores here is impressive, and there are wayyyy healthier options than in the US).

typical lunch: steamed cabbage, brown rice with furikake, spicy tofu

The upside is that I consider cooking one of my hobbies, so I always enjoy these breaks in my hectic schedule where I can just stop and do something for myself. The kitchen in my dorm is a popular place to socialize, and spots at the table are often full around mealtime. Getting into a habit of cooking for myself has also given me a new awareness about the foods I consume, and as a result I've been eating a lot healthier! The bike ride to the station is also a decent workout. ;)

There are some things I'm still not quite used to yet... like the group showers, the smaller portions at restaurants and all of the customs surrounding shoes in buildings. I'm already thinking about the subtle changes that I'm making to my behavior and normal habits and I wonder how I'll feel once I return home having totally embraced my Japanese lifestyle. I suppose that's a question better left for next year.

As for now, my goal is to update at least once a week for the remainder of the month and *hopefully* get around to posting some pictures that I've neglected up until now!

じゃ、また。

02. Arrival

Since getting off the plane at Haneda Airport over a week ago, I've barely had time to breathe let alone sit down to write a blog post! It's been an exhausting but rewarding week, and I'm finally hoping for some downtime this weekend (but not until after my class on Saturday morning)!

I'm finding that life in Japan is much more of a juggling act than being back at my home university and I'm slowly learning to adjust to all of these minor things. One of the most difficult things is the fact that International Christian University, like many other Japanese universities, does not have a meal plan. Although there's a dining hall on campus, it's only open during limited times and the average price per meal is around $5, but it depends on what you want to eat. The food is delicious and the portions are generous, however, my wallet and waistline will probably not be as appreciative by the end of autumn term.

Tonight for dinner I made チャーハン or chahan, which is just a general name for Chinese-style fried rice. The ingredients for it cost maaaaaybe $5, not including the kitchen staples like soy sauce or oil. It's cheap, filling, and isn't totally loaded with sodium and fat. My favorite part about this dish is that you can adjust the amounts of each ingredient to your liking, although I recommend using 1 egg per serving. 

Here's how I made mine:

Chahan, or Fried Rice

Cooked rice

Frozen veggies (or use fresh ones and steam them beforehand)

Eggs

Milk

Garlic

Canola oil

Soy sauce (or other preferred condiments)

1. Prepare your rice, preferably a glutinous sushi-rice variety. I find that one handful of uncooked rice is about enough for one serving.
2. Begin by slicing the garlic and frying it in a healthy splash of canola oil. The amount of oil necessary will depend on how many servings you want to make. Once the garlic is cooked, pour the garlic and oil into a separate bowl for later.  
3. Prepare your scrambled eggs and use about a tablespoon of milk per egg. This makes them nice and fluffy. 
4. Use the oiled pan to cook the egg mixture.
5. Once the eggs are mostly cooked through (slightly moist looking but not runny) add the cooked rice, veggies, garlic/oil mixture and splash of soy sauce. Add salt, pepper, or whatever seasonings you prefer at this point.
6. Allow the eggs to cook through the rest of the way and then serve hot!

I'll have to write a longer post about International Christian University and my first week in Japan, but I wanted to at least do a short update before I'm buried under mountains of schoolwork! 

じゃ、また。