First Proper Week Draws to a Close

Recently my breakfast has included toast rather than bread, as I finally realised that we do have a toaster in my dorm. What had fooled me was that it looks a bit like a tiny oven - you lay the toast horizontally then open up the door on the front. I can't think of any particular advantages or disadvantages this design could have over the European style, so I suppose it's just an interesting difference. The Japanese (nationality) students have returned to Nanzan, so there's more hustle-and-bustle at the Uni now, not so much of a ghost town. It was raining for most of Thursday, and I was surprised that everyone I saw had an umbrella - I felt more keenly than ever what a unique sight my cat-eared hood and I must be.

The Toaster

One of the things that has been ongoing this week has been trying to open a bank account. The last orientation session was about this, and took place on Monday. All the strange forms and documents overwhelmed me a little bit, so I put the folder containing them in a corner of my room and have gone back to them every day since when I feel like I can manage them. I now have everything I need to open an account, but since the bank closes at 3 o'clock it's a bit tricky to find the time to get over there. It is quite cool to have my own inkan - the design's nothing special, it just says "CAL", but it's mine and my own so I like it.

As an interesting rounding up of the week, on Friday I had my first lesson for Japanese Religions, and though it was one of the longest classes I have had so far, it was also the most enjoyable. In terms of content we just covered a quick introduction to the idea of religions, types of religions, Japanese religious mindset and some specific things to do with Shinto. I think I enjoyed it so much as it was something I'm interested in and have studied in my own time, but doing it in a classroom sort of legitimised it. It all felt rather groovy and SOASian, and it's comforting that I have one lesson taught in English.