Studying abroad Diary2 Departure-Move into the dorm!
A previous summary
I’m a regular university student in Tokyo, who challenge an exchange program!! Not having specific experience abroad or concrete goals, I gradually have positive motives thanks to the family and people around me!!
Today, I wrote it in English.
The last few weeks
I had only a half month from the end of the spring term examination to the departure, which prevented me from meeting every friend I wanted to see. But, to be honest, I used to feel too sad to be said "Take great care!" by each person I met, which made me think that it was not so bad to leave Japan soon. Surprisingly, it made me most tearful to be told by the ojisan chief ( gentleman chief) in the yakiniku restaurant that " You would experience a lot of trouble in NY, but probably, you can have more opportunities which make you feel happy as well”. I think I have a tendency to become tearful easily when given gentle words with a gentle voice.
By the way, what will typical Japanese people do if they are supposed to leave Japan in a week or so?….. You know, you will probably eat a great lot of Japanese food, and so did I. Though I thought I ate a lot, I wish I had even more.
Pics of Fabulous Foods in Japan
After I spent several days with great friends, the day to leave Japan came.
Tearful Airport and Flight
Thankfully, my girlfriend came to the airport with me and supported me mentally. One of my best friends in university, Mr.M also came to the airport and cheered me a lot. Though I had known that he had a great personality, I started to respect him to see he gave me a message directly.
I did not take the video of departing from land and decided to start this note instead to record my days in NY. I had a super tasty, gorgeous meal on the plane. Plus, I enjoyed watching Green Book and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, both of which I have never seen before.
I arrived at NY!!
What I felt first
After 13 hours of comfortable flight, I arrived at JFK. There are 13 hours of time jet rag between Japan and NY, so I couldn't help feeling strange to some extent. After I got to the airport I had the passport check, of course, but I did not have my baggage checked at any time! I felt slightly worried about that, but there was no reason to go through the gate when available, so I just arrived safely. I don’t know for sure, but my baggage check was done before I knew it.
As it was the first time to came to NY, I actually didn’t feel so good about the smells, temperature, or atmosphere. Not specifically, but mixed with the worries about upcoming lives, I felt like it was not usual.
Saying about an unusual thing, I came across the old homeless man roaming around the subway I took from JFK to Manhattan. He tries to put his shoes in his hands to the passengers, saying ” Pay them, pay them!”. People on the same train do not seem to care much about him while saying “NO” to him when asked. I don’t wanna become discriminately, so I won’t argue about what he should do or something like that, but I just feel how subways are different between Tokyo and NY. I understood why I was told not to sleep or be too relaxed in the subway.
I got too hungry!!
After I checked in to the hotel I booked, I felt relaxed for the first time after I arrived here.
Feeling so sleepy I took a nap, which turned out to be 4 hours of sleep. Of course, I felt starving, but there were neither microwaves nor electronic pods, plus I felt too scared to walk alone to the grocery store on my first night in NY. So, I couldn’t help but eat some snacks and cold miso soup, but fortunately, the date of moving into the dormitory was just the next day of arriving.
After I got up at the hotel, I went to the ramen shop near the hotel. It is said to be important to eat Japanese food if you feel homesick, but I don’t want to be discouraged by the taste of ramen in such an important situation. So, I decided to try it beforehand. (I mean I was just too hungry tbh). It tasted so good, and I ate it with one Susuri ( as if I drunk it).
After I walked a little, I could reach the dormitory!! It was on 17th August. I had almost a week to the beginning of my semester. I will write about what I was doing the meanwhile.
大変だった到着から寮までを思い返して、少し嫌でしたが何とか寮までたどり着けました。ちなみにホームレスの方は、最終的にそれを見かねたアラビア系の男性が１０ドルを渡したことで、電車から降りて行っていました。
英語で書くと書きたいことがかけていない気がしますが、成長を期待して続けたいと思います。集中して二時間くらいかかりました。ひゃー――。
次回：20歳のBaruch College留学記 3 入寮～授業開始！！ 生活編
次々回：20歳の Baruch College 留学記4 入寮～授業開始！！ イベント編
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