Currently Listening Unhallowed By The Black Dahlia Murder Thy Horror Cosmic see related

So I've just finished my first week of school.  Overall I would say its gone pretty well.  There is alot though that I know I still need to get used too.  Communicating with people is obviously a big obstacle to overcome.  I kind of feel like because I cant express myself that well in Japanese, and none of the students speak a bit of English, it might be hard to make actual friends.  It seems like it will be hard to have people actually get to know me because of the fact I cant speak their language that well.  I do have alot of time though, so this probably isn't something to worry about that much.

I know though that no matter how long I'm here, the fact that I'm a foreigner will greatly effect everything I do.  You really do stand out here, and everybody has prior thoughts on what foreigners, specifically Americans, are like.  Alot of times I think any hesitations one might have about speaking to an American are quickly overcame, as this as been the case with practically all my classmates.  Everyone was a little nervous at first, but after I introduced myself and showed that I'm more or less just like them, everything seemed ok.  Yesterday though, when I went to watch kendo practice, I experienced my first occasion of someone not talking to me because I was a foreigner.  After I had watched the team practice, I said to one of the kids, "that was really cool."  This kid gave me one of the worst looks I have ever seen and then turned his back and walked away.  I was really taken back by it, but at the same time expected something like that to happen eventually.  Personally, I understand why it might be hard to initially associate with foreign people, as there are so few in Japan.  Many opinions are based on stereotypes, and there are few chances to correct this.  At the same time though, its hard to believe that just because a person is from somewhere else, they will be treated differently.  Of course, I am from Oak Park, so I inherently will have a very liberal view on issues like this.  Regardless, I still have trouble understanding the stares I still get in the halls or why this kid wouldn't talk to me.

I don't by any means though want to make it sound like I'm having a bad time or being treated badly.  That kid walking away from me was only one occasion, and an extreme one at that.  The stares I get might also have alot to do with my height, and not so much with my being a foreigner.  Aside from that one kid, everyone I've met so far as been extremely nice and as helpful as they can (despite the communication barrier).

I also got to make in into Nagoya to see Nagoya castle.  The grounds surrounding the caste as well as the castle's exterior and extremely beautiful.  I honestly think traditional Japanese architecture is what originally got me wanting to learn more about the culture.  It was really exciting to go, because I finally got to see firsthand an example of all the pictures I've admired in books.  I have to say though, the inside was a little disappointing.  When the castle was rebuilt after the war, the inside was made into a museum and nothing of the old interior was recreated.  I guess the exhibits were interesting, but the elevator and the 3-D movie theater were a bit much.

Tonight I'm going to go see if I can rent Lost in Translation to show my family.  My English teacher said she saw it once at a video store, so hopefully the store by my house will have it.  What a good movie....