Quick Update

Quick recap of the past few days. Using the computer lab because I am still internet-less at home (probably will be for at least 2 more weeks).

Everyday - random shopping/looking online for things to furnish my apartment. Unfortunately, it seems that despite my obsessiveness about prices, I have not been getting the cheapest things I can. I tend to regret purchases often. Maybe I should just forgot about trying to save a ton of money this year (aiming to save a third of my grant, which is ~10,000, but I also have to pay taxes, actually saves will be much much less).

8/29 - Moved into my new apartment. Played some ultimate frisbee with (mostly) foreigners. Most of them were not that good but it was fun. Got a fridge (which is probably too big for me to fill, but oh well) and was lucky enough to have it transported to me.

8/30 - Went to the internet cafe. Was raining outside and I crashed/wiped out my bike two times. The second time was just a usual crash for me; the wheels went out under me when I was trying to ride up a metal ramp at an angle. Note to everyone, do not do this, especially when the ramp is wet. I say this from (much) personal experience. Sadly, I do not learn from my own lessons.

The first crash was more serious; it was the first time that I actually experienced flipping over my bike head-first. Another lesson, do not have your umbrella dangling from the side of your bike. Mine got caught in the front wheel and I literally went flying over bike. I really was't hurt besides the usual scrapes and bruises but it is not an experience I would like to have agian. Bike had some minor damages as well but it still rides decently.

8/31 - Typhoon! Japanese typhoons (or at least in Tsukuba) feel slightly different from Taiwan ones. First, while the rain was nonstop, it really wasn't that hard and I could have gone out with an unbrella if I needed to. Oh, and I also appreciate how most umbrellas here are clear. That way you can have your umbrella literally sitting on your head (while biking) and still be able to see where you are going.

9/1 - Registration Day. Officially registered, though I have to wait a while for my ID card and all. Also, I was slightly surprised by the amount of Chinese students here. Of the 60 so research students that registered in the morning of the first day(you could register over a period of 3 days actually), there was one from Korea, Kazakhstan(I think), one from Taiwan, one from the US (me), and the rest were ALL from China. That is....over 90%? Maybe it is a small sample size but it was still surprising.

9/2 - Today, I registered for my Japanese placement exam (which will be tomorrow). Nervous about it, especially since they are (in theory) testing my weaknesses, and really regreting not studying over the summer. I just hope I do not totally embarress myself. Also got some used stuff (TV, rice cookers, etc) which I am slightly regreting now. TV is huge (non-flatscreen 29 in) but maybe too big for my small apartment, especially since I will get a monitor for sure. Also got a bike because it was cheap, but it turns out that the bike is not in the best condition and needs fixing, probably a tire replacement. Lock is also broken so it is sitting out there unlocked but if anyone really wants to steal it I would not be too disappointed.

Hope this was not too long. I really need internet at home...