Finally back here! (yeeha)

Original Posting Date: Saturday, October 6th 2007


Sooo ...

After nearly two weeks I finally found the time (and the Internet), to actually write something on my blog. Contrary to several requests I still decided to upload several pictures on this site, because there are simply too many pictures in my albums and the links to those would be too uncomfortable for my readers.

The first week proceeded without any major events, I just reacquainted myself with the city, went a few times to University and otherwise just enjoyed time here. Afterwards I was invited to the International Students Homecoming Day and the Global Career Seminar. It was quite interesting and the buffet really good.






I stayed at the same hotel as in the summer during the "Kobe University Summer Program in Japanese Language and Culture" (the report about this will be handed in later) (edit: way later as I know now).
Well, I have seen bigger shoeboxes than the rooms in the hotel, although those aren't even the smallest, the smallest one can find in the so-called capsule-hotels.
Despite that it was comfortable and first and foremost every room has an airconditioning device, which was really needed with temperatures still as high as 30 degrees Celsius (86°F). (By the way, there are hardly any rooms in Japan which are not airconditioned)






That's it for now, I have to go back to studying, but I hope, starting from now my entries come on a more regular basis and all the readers (all 5 of you) are going to give comments once in a while.


And now our daily column

Interesting (and funny) facts/opinions about Japan:

Japanese people are (especially here in the Kansai Region) very polite and nice to foreigners. You can't stand around for two minutes with an opened city-map without someone immediately asking if you need help. Of course often it is a little bit difficult, since many Japanese can't really speak English that well, thus one hardly gets relevant infos or real help, still it's the thought that counts.

Many Japanese are akin to the French when it comes to the language. If they notice you can speak a little bit of Japanese, they try to avoid speaking a single English word as good as it gets.
The difference: French are doing it because they think their language is the only true one in the world; Japanese are doing it because the have a kind of inborn fear of the English. Furthermore the might think they loose their face if the don't speak perfectly, they may could say something inappropriate (which just shows their politeness even more).