第二男子寮の生活 (Life in 2MD)

       April 22, 2013. 6 months and 25 days Since I arrived in Japan. Looking back, I recount memories, both happy and sad, as I spend my remaining days in this memorable country I'm staying now.

10 months away from your country was too long, I realised. In fact, 7 months is already too long. I miss tons of things back home in the Philippines: family, friends, the scorching heat, the abundant beaches, the cheap food, everything. Last spring break, I was dying of going home. But now, as I get closer to going home, I can't help but be sad at the same time on how I will miss Japan.

Recently, spring term in ICU just started. This term i'm taking Japanese 3, Korean 1, and International Marketing. Though it's only 3 subjects, they take a lot of my time studying and attending classes. But i'm not talking about that (maybe on the next blog). I want to talk about one of the few and the greatest thing i'll miss about Japan: the dormitory i'm staying in, 大二男子寮 (2nd Men's Dormitory)

Let me recall the reason I chose this dorm. On my previous blog posts, I wrote (probably. i'm too lazy to reread LOL) that I wanted to go into this dorm because it was the dorm that got my interest. I really wanted to experience a real Japanese life. Not the ordinary traveller/foreigner experience. Well guess what, I definitely got it.

During the application process for the dorm residence, I recall friends asking me if I could handle it, or if I could live to this kind of atmosphere. "Crazy", as what the letter said, and so as from the students from ICU itself. But I thought that this dorm would open me to the real Japan, to the best Japanese experience ever. So I applied for 2MD.

The dorm's acceptance letter

I was happy receiving the acceptance letter from the dorm, with the rules and all, and that I should be at the dorm on the 31st of August. 

I arrived in Japan on August 29, stayed with my uncle at Kawaguchi in Saitama. When the 31st came, we woke up early, and my uncle drove me to ICU. We got lost on the way, since ICU was a bit hidden, it was hard for the car's GPS to locate the entrance of ICU. But when we arrived, we were too early. We arrived around 8am, and the dorm opened at around 10:30am (if I recall right). So we waited around the parking lot while I'm adjusting to the chirps and heat of Japan's summer. When the time finally came, we drove to the dorm (and got lost too because we didn't know that vehicles weren't allowed inside the school. So when we stopped at the dorm, brought my luggages out, and suddenly people from the dorm started to help us and orient me. I remember the first time I set foot on the dorm, a camera went to my face, and I was told to introduce myself. I had zero nihongo skills, so I spoke in english. My uncle and aunt left, and I was led to my room to unpack. 

Resting under the summer heat on Aoyama

When I finished unpacking, I went to the social room. I remembered giving out dried mangoes to my new dorm mates. :D Though it was hard communicating, but I guess language barriers didn't stop me from enjoying this time of my life. I remembered Joko , Isami, and Paul toured me around the school, and taught me the difference of Bakayama and Aoyama. It was a long day for me, So I decided to rest and wait for the night. When I woke up, we went out for dinner, and went out drinking. I got to know my fellow newcomers. We were four, 3 One year regulars (including me) and one September entry student. It was a really great start. I thought that was it. But boy was I ever so wrong.

So on the next day we went on to school orientations, residence cards, and dorm orientations. And we were oriented with our initiation process. And that's when they told us about THE Jingi (emphasis on the capitalisation). For those who don't know, the Jingi is one of the dorm's unique culture and initiation process, where we have to do a stand-up comedy-ish to the women's dorms. We keep on doing jokes until the head of the dorm tells us to stop (because we told a really good joke). And we do a certain stance and stay like that until everyone is done doing their jokes. We were shown and taught on how it worked. I memorised the lines and the position. But it really got me worried. So worried. I was the only one who didn't knew japanese. And I had zero knowledge on Japanese humour. So it disturbed me almost every night, thinking on what jokes to do. But after 4 days (3 for the women's dorms, and one for 2MD), we finally finished the jingo. It was a real relief. Though difficult, it was fun. And it was one way of socialising with the other newcomers. We got to know each other well, and some women recall us by the jokes we did like "hey you were the one with that joke" or something like that. 

Just when I thought it was done, we had another initiation to wear a costume to school for a week and dance on the last day in front of the whole school. It was a bit embarrassing, but it was really fun. People loved our performance. That night, as we were about to rest, we had our final initiation. It was finally the time of the dorm to welcome us as official members. We laughed, drank and all. A great (and tiring) 2 weeks of initiation. 

Wearing our gun dam-themed costumes to School

April newcomers! :D

Time passed, studying, exploring Japan, and other stuff. During my stay, my fellow 2 OYRs left the dorm for personal reasons. It was really sad, being the only OYR left at the dorm. But the dorm did not stop their craziness. It was still fun, and somehow it made me feel I really belonged. I was experiencing the real Japanese life. 

And now spring came. A new batch of newcomers came. They had more initiations than what we did. I wanted to join from the start, but sadly I wasn't able to because I was on Saitama until the last day of spring break. I was able to join at their Jingis and the dance at the school. Seeing them do their initiation, I can't help but see myself 7 months before, doing the things they did. It was so nostalgic. So happy. And I can't help but laugh at the memories and on how I did before. Especially that I know a bit of Japanese now, I can't help but feel stupid saying those lines and all and not understanding a word, just now. 

       Here are some pics of the dorm:

The first dorm meeting upon our arrival

This is how our jingi works

....and then we stay like this until everyone is done with their jokes

April newcomers after their last initiation :D

This was after our dance at Bakayama

Our signature pose after the dorm play

We won the most interesting play!

Club 2MD From our ball party last December

Alumnis doing the jingi pose on our Mochitsuki and 2MD alumni homecoming

Nabe party with Roomie his girlfriend and friends. :D

And now as i'm writing this blog post, I can't help but have mixed emotions right now. I already booked my flight for home, which will be in 2 months time. I'm excited to go home, to see my country and serve my fellow people again. But then I'm also sad. Sad that i'll be leaving Japan. Most especially the dormitory. I learned a lot of things from staying in this dorm, some things that other dorms could not teach me, and that was how to live a full Japanese experience. But this sadness also serves as my motivation. When I get back, i'm gonna try to graduate on time, and maybe apply for another program at ICU. And hopefully I can stay at this dormitory again. 

I won't be saying my goodbyes yet. I still got 2 months. 2 months to try and enjoy my dorm life and japan life to its extent. But as early now, I just want to say, 

第二男子寮、いご、よろしゅー、おーたーのーもーしーまーすー！　本当にありがとうございます！とても楽しかった！

Disneysea!

      Last February 8, me and my friend went to Tokyo Disneysea as a birthday celebration for my friend. It was both our first time to go, and we didn't know anything about it. So we just went with the flow. We met 7am, took the local train to JR station Maihama, and started our wonderful experience.

        Going down the station, we transferred to Disney Resort's private line. Apparently Disneysea was on the last stop (Resort Station-Disneyland-Bayside Area-Disneysea-Resort Station), so we had to wait longer. Everything was in a Mickey design (obviously). Passing by Disneyland, we were shocked to see a LOT of people waiting in line. By a lot I mean that if I were a politician, this would be the place for me to do campaigning. And to think it was a Friday. Seeing the crowd, I wished that Disneysea would have lesser people, but to no luck. It was still crowded, but I guess you can say its not as many compared to Disneyland. Luckily, we arrived just in time for the gates to open, so we didn't have to wait long. 

        Upon entering the park, a huge fountain with a globe at the center and Mickey's Fantasia scene will greet you. People wait in line to have their pictures taken at the fountain. But the rest of the people just rushed in to the rides so that they wouldn't have to wait long. So yeah, we took our time taking pictures and then went to the park's main attraction, the Tower of Terror.

        The line was really long. We waited at most 2 hours just to get to ride it. It was also dissapointing that most of the Japanese people are inserting in lines, or having friends reserving for them. I mean come on, everyone falls in line fair and square, everyone wants to get a ride, and somebody just slips in the line just because a friend fell in line for them. That is so unfair. Anyways, as we got in, we were already tired from waiting, but the first part of the attraction made us excited again. I can't describe the whole event because it might make my post too long. Anyway here's a video of the whole attraction.

Link: Tower of Terror Tokyo Disneysea

        Yes, the freefall was frightening as hell. As we got our seatbelts secured and seated properly, the lady assistant looks at us with fear as she starts to close the door as she says "Please come back" in Japanese. Then hell broke loose. I thought that it was only going to be a one long free fall. But then it was 4 scary, trolling free falls. After the ride, my legs were shaking bad, my organs felt as if they were now crammed in the place where my lungs are supposed to be.  ever riding that again.

        We decided to buy popcorns then went to the second ride, Toy Story Mania. The entrance was the  mouth of Woody. Luckily we only waited for about an hour, so it wasn't that tiring. The place was like you shrank down to the size of a toy. The ride is a competition for 2 people, shooting balloons, boards, and stuff for points. And I won! Haha enjoyed this ride.

        We then went and had some picture taking, then took a rest while eating pork ribs. After we got our energy back, we rode the attraction for Waterworld. As the title suggested, it was underwater and exploration on the species under the sea. It was also nice that we only waited for around 30-40 minutes. But the ride was quick too. So not that entertaining. 

        Next, we went out again to have a picture at the fountain before sunset would come. Luckily the gang of mascots was there, so we were able to take pictures with Minnie and Pluto. There was also a band playing disney music. We did a bit of shopping, then went back for another ride.

        We went to Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull. It was a short wait. The ride was a jeepney like ride, the one used in explorations. It was the best ride for me. The route was so fun, turning and making you sway with the car. And the fire and the boulder as we neared the end, amazing!

        Lastly, we went to watch Aladin's Magic Lamp Theatre. It was in Japanese, so it wasn't that entertaining at first. But the show with 3D glasses and the magic show was fun! Too bad it had to end quickly.

        There was supposed to be the Fantasmic, DisneySea's main attraction for the night. But we were too exhausted to wait for another hour and a half, so we decided to go home. Slept on the train. And were groggy by the time we arrived to the school. But it was a lot of fun! One unforgettable experience!

         Some pictures during the trip. Enjoy!

Disney's route

As expected from Disney

Your first sight in Entering the park

Mickey's Fantasia

The Tower of Terror

Me and Tatenda before losing our souls to the Tower of Terror

Creepy atmosphere

The elevator where the owner died, and so was our souls

On the process of losing our souls

Toy Story Mania and Woody's Mouth

On the attraction's entrance

We are toy size!

I expected this to run. 

In the middle of the park

Are there pirates?

Back to old times

Waterworld!

This was under maintenance. :(

Me and Tatenda resting. Look at my pirate Mickey Hat!

With Pluto

We wanted Mickey, but had no choice. haha

Band and their Disney songs

Found this while shopping.

Safari time!

Indiana Jones and the temple of the crystal skull!

You gotta hand it to them, they put a lot of details for the atmosphere

Before we hit the Boulder

Now to the place of magic

Magic Lamp theatre

Beautiful Scene of the park :)

Not Japan-ish

Roppongi, Tokyo Tower, Azabujuban, Minato

        Last October 27, our ramune the class went to Roponggi to look at its historical places. We had to meet at Azabujuban station in the afternoon. I also had to go to the Philippine Embassy to register as an absentee voter. Coincidentally, the embassy was also in Roponggi, so I was killing two birds with one stone. So I met with my fellow filipino friends and registered in the morning, and since we still had time before the class trip would start, we decided to take our own tour before meeting the class.

      On our way to Azabujuban station, we noticed that almost all of the embassies were situated in Roponggi. So since it really got me curious, I researched over it after the tour. According to Cybriwsky in his book “Roponggi Crossing,” I learned that foreign occupation in Roponggi dates back to the final days on the shogunate era, as the Zempukuji and the U.S. Forces occupied the place uninvited. Since then, Roponggi has been one of the most concentrated places of foreign residents and employments. He also mentioned that of the 146 embassies in Japan, 79 is in Minato ward in Roponggi, which is about half of it. We then proceeded to the direction of Tokyo Tower to look for something to eat for lunch. As we arrived in Tokyo Tower, I felt nostalgic in the view. It was just as the scene in the movie “Otogizoshi” has shown during the screening during class. There was the cemetery, the park and the view. It was true that it was a bit creepy of having a cemetery below a great monument like the Tokyo Tower. We also noticed a monument of dogs at the base of the statue. We asked some of the people who were working at the site, and they told us that that monument was about the story of the survival of 13 dogs chained in Antartica (good thing my friend was fluent in Japanese!). The story was so great that it was considered very important in the Nation, and many statues are all over Japan. For those who still dont know them, they were made into a movie by Disney, entitled “Eight feet Below.”

       We then ate and met with the class. We started by looking at a soba shop that dates back from the Edo period. I was amazed of how they were able to stay that long. We then went to the playground where scenes from Sailor moon can be seen here. I was really happy to be in that place, I've seen the anime and I still recall the scenes in the swings and the park. And since I was doing a personal research of visiting places that were depicted in the anime, it was another great addition to my research.

       We then proceeded to Zempukuji Temple. As I mentioned earlier, it was one of the first foreign things that came in Japan. The temple was quite very historical because of the things present there. In the temple, there was the monument of Townsend Harris, who propagated the first american legation last July 07, 1859 under the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which opened Japan to the world. Fukuzawa Yukichi, the founder of Keio University was also buried there. There was also the huge Ginkgo tree that dates back to 824, one of the oldest standing trees in Japan. I was able to know its history because of the description was in English. There I learned that the temple was founded by Kobo Daishi, founder of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism. Legend has it that Shinran Shonin, founder of the Jodo-Shinshu Sect, put down his staff which then started to sprout leaves and thus became the ginkgo tree. In the back of the tree there were burn marks that were scars from the war.

       We then went to other places, we passed by a shop famous for its Taiyaki, paste with red beans. The professor said that it was so famous that you had to wait for around 30 minutes to get an order. I wanted to try it, but we didn't had the time. We also passed by a shrine that had frog statues in it. It was said that the frog put out a fire before. There was also the small statue of the seven deities of fortune in a boat. As we walked further, we went in TV Asahi and looked around. Just beside the station was a beautiful garden, right below Mori Tower, one of the tallest building in Japan. The garden was also important because of its history. It was a garden of a former daimyo. More than that, it was also the spot where some of the 47 ronin committed suicide. Then we went to other places as well, such as the Stars and Stripes, a newspaper company for the US armed forces. We also passed by the National Art museum of Tokyo. We also passed by Tokyo Midtown. I was so happy that we passed by that place since Konami Headquarters was there. In the end of the tour, we were able to witness a real traditional wedding. It gave me an additional understanding of Japan's culture.

        What was really interesting was my trip to Tokyo Tower and Zempukuji temple. I liked the Zempukuji Temple because it was filled with a lot of very significant events from the early history of Japan. The most interesting was the Tokyo Tower. It was because I can relate to the scenes in the movies “Always Sanchome no Yuhi” (a must watch! A very nice movie!) and “Otogizoshi”, where Tokyo Tower served as the main point in those movies. Just the sight of the Tokyo Tower left me astounded, and gave me hope, just as it served as hope for Japan after the war.

Some pictures from our trip! Enjoy! :)

Sailor Moon! :D

Tokyo Tower :D

The Philippine Embassy in all its glory

Taking a rest from the trip

One of Mr Mori's architectural achievements

TV Asahi!

Links:

Cybriwsky, R.A., “Roponggi Crossing: The Demise of a Tokyo Nightclub District and the Reshaping of a Global City.” University of Georgia Press. Athens, Georgia. 2011.