Best day, ever?

So ya, this probably was one of the coolest days I've had so far. Unfortunately it rained all day which was of course a downer. Steve and I rode our bikes to campus to meet with my tutor and my academic adviser at about 9:30 this morning. My tutor met us and told us that we couldn't meet with the adviser till about lunch time. We then decided to grab some breakfast (although I had an apple and OJ earlier in the morn) at the campus bookstore. I grabbed two small OJs and Pocky!

We kept going to Steve's academic adviser so I could meet him, but he was in a meeting with this students. After walking back between the international office and his adviser's about five times his meeting ended and we walked in. His name is Ueya-sensei and his English was pretty awesome, but he wanted me to speak in Japanese. Sadly, my speaking skills still have not leveled up, but my listening is still awesome and getting better. They served us coffee while we waited and I didn't think it'd be that hot and I burnt the living shit out of my tongue. After talking to Ueya-sensei we went to meet with my tutor, Gan-san.

We met Gan-san outside building J (buildings aren't named after ppl) and we walked up to meet my adviser. My adviser is very nice, Morita-sensei, and he's a French language teacher. They put me under him because I'm interested in cultures and they felt he has a broad understanding of them. We (Patrick, Steve, Gan, Morita, and I) all went to the cafeteria where I finally ate some Japanese-like food, CURRY! I actually liked it too, although I didn't completely mix in the curry with my rice. I gotta pace myself. Morita-sensei nominated me to be the US representative at an upcoming BBQ we're planning! My first committee!

Then the fun really started, Steve finally stopped being mother hen to Patty and I. There was only enough room in Morita-sensei's car for four people so there wasn't even enough room for Steve anyway. We jumped in the car and headed down to the courthouse to get my gaijin card (it's not actually called this but when you say it like that they know what you mean). Unlike Steve and Patrick I had my visa and I didn't have to pay for my gaijin card. Morita-sensei soon left us to go back to work on campus and Gan-san continued to help us out.

Patty and I went to the one place that has Iphones but I figured it wouldn't be worth it because most Japanese phones are ahead of the Iphone other than the majority aren't touch (and the Iphone her would not work over in the US). We hit up a couple of phone places to figure out plans and what have you. Finally we ended up at a store named AU where we both got our phones. Here's the skivvy on it, I paid NOTHING at the store, my phone was free, and my monthly bill is about 32 bucks! I signed a two year contract (why you ask?) because doing so actually cuts the bill in half. Meaning I would have to have paid about 60 a month for the plan I have, there is a cost for cutting the phone off before contract but even counting what I have to pay to cut off I'll end up saving about 150 on my bill for a year! The phone I have is made by sanyo and does the following: still photos, video (video conference as well), infared (nice for sekigaisen [transferring phone number and name to another phone instantly]), mp3s, email, internet, TV, and probably more shit I have no idea about.

Gan-san left us while we were still setting up our phones, but we left shortly after she departed. It was still raining when Patty and I left AU, and we walked backed to campus to get our bikes. Patty still doesn't have a tutor so we stopped by the international office. Patty still doesn't know his tutor, but the good news for me is that I already have a part time job! Two people would have been nice they said but although Patty was standing there they didn't even offer it to him, I guess because they know my listening skills are at a decent level. In the end Steve told Okamura-sensei that he'd like to try and do it, which means less money for me, but it's only one day a week for just a few hours for 50 bucks, so I figure that will pay for my rent, phone, health insurance, and internet each month!

Steve made hamburgers tonight and we've decided to make that a weekly thing seeing as they were very very tasty (and cheaper than McDonald's). Later we grabbed a few beers and tried to play Rock Band 2, but Steve had to help a Chinese student with their English. Emily (one of the Japanese RAs) ended up playing with me for a bit which was fun, but in the end I was too tired to play after Steve was finished. Now I'm off to bed, catch yuns on the flip side!