Let's see, it's hard to write like 2-weeks' worth of stuff in, so I'll try to briefly recap.
-My host family is awesome. The dad is usually off with work business and doesn't converse much, but I went to a soccer game with him during my first weekend here. My mom on the other hand loves to talk (sometimes it gets to be exhausting, but I do my best to at least look like I'm following, haha), and my sister Akiko is always willing to help me out and take me around to places. The brother Naoki lives in a different city, so I don't usually see him, but he came to the house to see me for a couple of days, and he's cool. Typical Japanese dude though. Lastly, the youngest, Mayumi, is currently studying abroad in Canada, and won't be back until after I leave, so I'll never get to see her, but I got to see her on Skype the other day. Everyone seems awesome. My family used to have two dogs, but one of them died, so they just have the one shih-tzu now. He's adorable. I've yet to hear him bark. Kind of amazing.
-CIEE stuff is a pain in the butt, but at least the orientations don't usually last all day. We sign up for classes soon. I have to sign up for my IU classes soon too, but I don't have a list of next semester's classes. Eek.
-I can't think of anything else major to add, so PICTARS
The very first one hurr is a picture of the fancy schmancy chandelier that was in our first hotel in Narita. The hotel itself was okay, nothing memorable. The chandelier was cool though.
This is one of the entrances to the university, though not the main one, apparently, even though it's the side that faces the city. Anywhere, here's the gate.
Not the best picture, but you can kiiiinda see the name at the top.
This is the dinner party we had. We were originally supposed to go somewhere else I think, but plans changed and we were crammed into this restaurant. They somehow were able to accommodate us, and brought out plates upon plates of food. Good lord.
The girls I was sitting across from.
My host family got tickets from someone for the local team's soccer game, so I went with my host dad. I didn't get a picture of him though, sorry. Too awkward. XD;
The mascot is a squirrel couple, lol. Kei's sister would have been delighted.
The Japanese fans are hardcore. That entire side was cheering relentlessly for the entire game.
The next day, Akiko took me to Harajuku to window-shop, and since crepes are apparently super popular to get there, we got some for lunch. They were DELISH.
Fast forward a few days to Asakusa. Took a lot of pictures there despite how boring it was, lol.
Sorry, I don't know the names of these buildings and statues. I wasn't paying much attention, lol. >_>
OMFG THE PIGEONS. They were so fat and cute, and they got SO CLOSE.
OMG This was taken without zoom. I could have touched it if I had extended my arm. I almost did, too, but my group was like "JESUS CHRIST LEAVE THE PIGEONS ALONE" so I didn't get the chance. D:
Moving into the touristy area..
The Imperial area.
Again, don't know what building is what. I had to pee like hardcore so my mind was occupied on holding my bladder. I KNOW not to drink coffee right before trips like that, but alas.
You can soooorta see Tokyo Tower in there.
This whole area was in/around the Imperial Palace area.
Pretty.
Statue of a samurai.
Nothing special, but I thought it was pretty.
Shibuya is huge.
The famous dog statue, Hachiko.
Here's the famous intersection that everyone and their uncle crosses at once. To be honest, I thought it would be bigger than it was, but it was still fun.
I thought this restaurant building looked neat.
Saw this in the DONKI in Shibuya. lol'd. Do you really need a costume for that?
Then Akihabara. Since it was getting late, we didn't get time to really go anywhere, but I took a couple of pictures.
