#63

I am here.

One week has passed since I've arrived here, the United States of America.
I've already experienced lots of things here, and I'm getting used to the life in the U.S.

The biggest problems are my English skill and lack of my experience of living in dorm.
Although it happens to English learners, I sometimes can't catch what my friends are talking about. This problem happens all the time. Native speakers' English is totally different from the English in textbooks or TOEFL. There are lots of idiomatic expressions and slangs in the conversations. I get the meaning of the expressions literally. Then, the conversation gets messed up.

My university is surrounded by a beautiful nature, and this is one of my favorite points of this university.
The atmosphere of the U.S. is comfortable for me. Actually (as some of you may know), I'm very low-key person, and it was so difficult for me to speak to strangers and to make friends at first. However, a lot of people in this country chat with me friendly and kindly.
I always say "Hi. Are you taking this class?" "Hi. Can I have a seat here?" "I'm ○○, and I'm an exchange student from Japan. So, I don't have any friends in this class. Could you be my friend?" "Do you have an Instagram account?" etc.
These expressions may sound strange to native speakers, but I could make friends with these sentences. I'm always relieved whenever people say "Sure!" with smiling.
Also, my rugby teammates are VERY friendly. I'm sooooo exhausted after each practices, but I enjoy them.

Also, this is the first time of living on campus. So, I'm concerning if I'm doing something rude to my roommates. They are kind, and I think they won’t tell me even if I do something wrong. I’m doing my best not to do something rude.

Although, I have some problems, I enjoy the life in the U.S.
Truth be told, I miss Japan. This doesn’t mean I wanna go back to Japan soon, but I  just wanna eat Japanese food more freely.
I’m planning to go to Yoshinoya at Narita airport or Chubu international airport when I go back to Japan in December.

Anyway, I’m living in the U.S. now. I’ll do my best to make this study abroad great experience.

Many thanks for reading my note.
See you.