I. Dorm Life

I have never lived in a dorm situation before so this is still something I am learning more about. In Nara we have 3 areas where international students live, but it used to be only 2 places, North and South dorms.

Originally there was the north and south and at least part of it was co-ed. Everyone has their own room to themselves, so no roommates, but people lived under the same roof and shared the kitchen and lobby areas. Then the university put in a wall and isolated half of the north for females and half for males only.

Apparently according to the students who were here before it happened, there were several incidents that led to the wall being put in and the men and women being separated. So now the women can visit the guys but they can't get in to visit us.

There are many rules, at least in our building, rules about drinking, smoking, where you can gather and for noise after 10pm.

We have monthly required meetings where we all clean the building together, you can only have 2 unexcused absences, and then the other residents hold a vote to decide whether you can stay in the dorms anymore.

The kitchen, showers and laundry are shared areas, meaning you don't pay for electricity, but in our own rooms we pay electric once a month. You take the bill up to the konbini (convenience store) to pay it.

So far it has been an adjustment to live in the dorms, as I am used to having my own place where I clean up after myself or not, but it's only my mess, not a collaborative mess from others living in the same building.

A huge bonus though is that I have my own room, and don't have a roommate. It gives me personal quiet time and a place to retreat after a long day of walking, biking, school and exploring.

II. On homesickness

I don't think homesickness is often explained properly, or if it is, I wasn't listening properly. For me I didn't think it was going to be an issue, and had this image that it would be mainly something younger college students felt because they missed their parents or something similar.

A cafe next to our dorms

For me it isn't like that, it's more a longing for the familiar. Since at times it can be hard to get out and face the foreign language and culture of Japan that surrounds us, at first it can be overwhelming, and make people feel inadequate in some ways such as doubting their language abilities and the like.

My biggest problem here is that an American student from another university constantly wants to do things together for the entire day all the time. I really am not that type of person and explained to them how I really need a lot of me-time to enjoy new places and experiences by myself. 

The view of Takabatake street where our dorms are.

Their Japanese skills are very beginner and they want someone to go with them everywhere for companionship and also for translation. After our classes started it got better for me since they are in a separate level so we only have one class together, and on the weekends I just try and leave the dorms as soon as I wake up so I can have lots of quiet time.

I also found some DIY postcards I can decorate myself and have been making those for friends and family, the artwork really helped me feel better and less moody today.

 Other things that helped were listening to odd American music that I typically don't listen to, lots of away time from the dorms out exploring Nara , and tons of unaccompanied time really have helped me.

The entrance to Nara University of Edu., you can see the mountains

There are so many differences  between Nara and Michigan (and similarities as well, though they take looking for), such as the night time animal sounds like cicadas, deer calls, and in the morning and day; crows that it really helps to reinforce a feeling of foreign-ness.

When I see signs in English, they often make me laugh like this one.

Things I never would have thought would be different for me often are. Purchasing internet or a phone often require 2 year contracts and auto withdraw from your bank account. 

Creeping over the neighbors fence.

So my habits of Google map searching new places are limited to when I am in the international room at school or the library where I have internet access during the week. So if I want to go somewhere specific I have to look it up in advance or have someone who knows where it is draw a map. I think it should get easier as I get more and more familiar with the area.

A view of part of Nara park

Personally, I have found familiarity or comfort in my music, renting books in English from the school library, and little things like my balcony plants since I miss my garden.

Nara park area

Many students in our dorm have given up Japanese foods after about 6 months, and just started eating and cooking foods from their home countries. Some guys I know started as early as the second or third day we were here, and now frequent McDonalds and KFC.

Bamboo and forest near Nara park area

III. On Nara 

Nara is not a place all foreigners seem to like after an extended stay. Many of the exchange students I have talked with much prefer places with lots of nightlife and entertainment and this may be why.

Nara has a lot of things that personally appeal to me though. I love the area of our dorms, which is very close to two mountains and a primeval forest that even has a small waterfall, with trees that haven't been cut since 841.

Deer wander wherever they like, there are tons of national treasures dating to when Nara was the original capitol city, and it's not a concrete jungle. These things all speak to me about Nara's personality and really help me to adjust.

Kasuga Yama Priveval forest

The deep ties with nature and tradition can be seen in the traditional food choices that are available in abundance here, especially since this is a historical city and prefecture. The buildings too are well known to be old and are a tourist attraction alongside of Nara park and the many temples and shrines.

Natto, the fermented soybean food that has brought many Westerner to vomiting. My fav!

Nara may not be the best match for some students who crave the super fashion and hot nightlife entertainment of places like Osaka and Tokyo, but it suits me well and I am excited to become better acquainted.