First week in 🇺🇸

I have already spent 2 weeks, but I'm gonna write a diary from now.
I have no courage to write well, but I want to challenge myself to write a detailed diary about studying abroad to remember all things in America after I come back to Japan.

On the first day, it took 19 hours from Haneda in Japan to Kansas. However, I had a fever while I was coming to the US! I thought, "Am I going to die?" so, I could not have a fun time on a long flight and eat anything. Also, I would cling to the toilet in transit due to sickness. Finally, despite the flight delay, I could arrive at Kansas Airport as planned. One of my friends who is an exchange student at my university picked me up at the airport. There was a long story, I started my new life in the US with a worse start. 

もう2週間目ですが、8/21学校が本格的に始まる今日からblog？を書いていこうと思います😄
上手く書ける自信もないので、出来事を細かく、この経験を忘れないための記録として書いて行こうと思います。
まず初日、日本から19時間かけてKansasまで来たが、まさかの微熱からの飛行機内で40度越えの発熱。このまま死ぬかと思った、、せっかくの飛行機内辛い体勢のまま、食事もまとも取れず、乗り換え先でもトイレにしがみつくぐらい気持ち悪くなったり、、ともだちも不安なのに隣に病人、、笑
なんとか予定通り、飛行機の遅れはあったもののKansasに到着し、桜美林に留学に前学期来てた友だちがお迎えに来てくれて、最悪のスタートの中🇺🇸生活が始まりました。😅

I have been staying at Lawrence of Kansas University of Kansas(KU) in the same space that is 85 times the size of the Tokyo dome, a scale that is serious… 
In summer the temperature is 18℃ー30℃, sometimes it is 32 ℃ in the morning and 43℃ in the afternoon. 
The rays of the sun are so strong that I couldn't walk without sunglasses, I thought I was going to get burnt to a crisp. It is definitely less humid, but not a pleasant environment. 

I was very surprised that everything was so big!! such as cars, houses, land, shops, and food. 
 Unlike Japan, I can not go anywhere without a car. There are no useful trains like in Japan. However, I find a good point. I can always see beautiful nature, even I can find squirrels and rabbits!! Almost everyone is very kind and friendly. There are cool guys and hot girls, I feel like I'm in a movie!!

私が来ているのはKansas州のローレンスってところ。大学の規模が東京ドーム85個分っていうまじで理解出来ない規模、さすがアメリカって感じ。気温は朝18℃〜30℃の時もあれば朝から32℃〜昼間には43℃になる時もあって、日差しが強すぎてサングラスなしじゃ歩けない、自分が丸焦げになるんじゃないかって思うぐらい、暑くて、、。確かに湿気は少ないけど、過ごしやすいとは言えない環境です笑

何よりも全てが大きすぎて(人も食べ物も家も店も笑)車がないとどこにも行けない、歩くのもスーパーで精一杯、立地が悪ければどこにも行けないような感じ。トラックのイケてるバージョンの車が自家用車の人達は沢山いるし、、まるで映画の中にいる気分。

The first week, I stayed for 3 days at a friend's house who is another exchange student from my university last semester. I was surprised again, the tap water had a different taste, too big Britor (after that, I disliked it. Sick people like me must not eat it lol ) and I bought a smoothie( more than a Starbucks venti)  so, I could not drink it all. I still have a cold, I ate Japanese rice and miso soup. It’s too delicious! I missed Japan…
I left my friend's house and moved to a hotel ( 4th day in the US) with a caught, a runny nose, and a fever that didn't go away. 

最初の1週間目はエルサって留学しに来てた子の家に3日間泊めてもらった。水道水の味が違う(なんかトロトロしてる感じ)、軽く食べるつもりのブリトー🌯デカすぎて、いきなりブリトー恐怖症なり食べれなくなった😅(体調悪い時に食べるものでは無い)。スムージー買ったけどデカすぎて(スタバのベンティ以上)全て飲みきれず。なので、非常食のサトウのごはんと味噌汁を食べて、本当に美味すぎて、染みた。。日本食って素晴らしいなと感動。そんなこんなで、咳と鼻水、熱がなかなか下がらない中、友だちの家を出ていき、ホテルに移動しました(アメリカ生活4日目)。

恐怖症になったブリトーちゃん。げき重ずっしり

I moved to Hotel. It is so smelly!! like the smell of mold. Probably, it’s because the window does not open.  I wonder if the window basically does not open in america? so I spent 5 days in a moldy room. It’s not my day…
I have participated in an international orientation for a week. I tried to talk to international students “I’m Karin, nice to meet you!” I made friends with everyone I met, but I was so scared of the world that I jumped into the English world. Also, I was very shocked because I felt my skills are very low, but other students can speak English very well. I managed to spend time with my friends with 3~40 % understanding. There are a lot of really nice people in town and at the school, so time passed quickly during my time at the school. 

ホテルは写真で見てたよりも古くて、何よりアメリカの家は文化のせいか窓が開かないの！だから日当たりが悪くてカビ臭い部屋で5日間過ごすことになりました。
学校のオリエンテーションに1週間参加することになり、とにかく会う人、隣の子に”Hi, nice to meet you! I’m karin from Japan!” って声掛けまくって、仲間を作った笑 いろーーんな国の子達がいて、見た目、発音の違い、知らない世界すぎてビビり散らしながら英語onlyの世界に飛び込んだ。日本人って、(自分が？)こんなに喋れないし、聞き取れないんだってことにショックを受け、世界の色んな子達はまぁ流暢に英語を話すこと、、3~40%の理解度でなんとか新しい友だちと過ごしてました。町の人も、学校の人も本当に優しい人が沢山いて、学校にいる時間はすぐに時が経った。

One day, I was taken to a street basketball game by a friend who is an exchange student at my university. Other day, I went to Chick-fil-A, an american burger shop and I watched “Barbie” without subtitles, so I can only understand 40%... but it is very interesting, I want to watch it again after I get enough English skills. I was surprised at the cultural difference, but I had a good time. 

桜美林に留学してた子達にストリートバスケに連れてってもらったり、アメリカのburger shop　チキフィレ　に連れてってもらったり、Barbieを字幕なしでみて全然理解出来なかったけど面白かった（またちゃんと見ます）😄文化の違いに驚いたり、楽しく過ごしたりもした★

It was relaxing to sleep in a bed at the hotel for a long time, but suddenly I felt homesick,” eh, it was something different than I imagined, so much pain? Study abroad. … “ and I can't help crying every day after I move to the hotel. I wanted to go back to Japan because of all the discomfort and anxiety. This is my first time to leave my family and lovely pets. Also, I have to do all of the things without my family’s help in this world, and I could never escape from here. I couldn't help crying just thinking about my treasures in Japan. As a result, I spent several nights like that.    

ホテルでは久々にベッドで寝れて最高で、でも夜になんだか思ってたの違う、え、こんなに苦しいの？留学。って気持ちが込み上げてきて、(まだ始まったばかり笑)いきなりホームシックで、毎日泣いた。
色んな心細さと不安で、日本に帰りたすぎた。初めて親元を離れて、自分で全部やらなきゃ行けない世界、絶対に逃げることは出来ない条件、大好きなペットたちにも会えず、思い出すだけで涙が止まらない。そんな夜を何日か過ごしました。

However, at the same time, I felt that I had to do my best because I had come here for a reason to improve my English skills, not just to hang out. I thought at that time whenever  I could hang out if I had money, but time does not stop us from achieving our dream. I felt like,” It is so hard, it’s only 10 months, but I’m going to enjoy this experience for 10 months. I know that hard times and experiences make me strong. I always thought ”Oh, I’m so glad I took on this challenge.” After something to challenge big. Therefore, I decided to study hard and have fun here, and as a reward, I would go to LA or something. 

でもなんとかしなきゃ、なんのために来たんだって気持ちも同時にあって、遊ぶのはお金があればいつだってできる、こんなに辛いならたかが10ヶ月されど10ヶ月この環境で楽しんでやるって気持ちになった。辛い時間ってすごい記憶に刻まれて、だけど振り返ると「あー良かったチャレンジして」って思うのがいつものオチって知ってるから。ならとことんこの田舎で勉強して楽しんで、ご褒美にLAとか行ってみようと、そんなことを思った最悪のスタートからホームシックになった1週間目でした。