1st day of school!

I've actually looked forward to starting school. I look forward to learning about new things like kanji, Japanese culture, customs and Japanese school life. Most of the subjects I probably won't understand, but I can observe, participate and practice the language, which is more than enough for me! \(^^)/

I wasn't really worried about today - that was until I heard a couple of days ago that I'd be making a speech in front of the entire school. Students and staff included, I think that's about 1400 people! Quote Sid from Ice Age: "I'm fine! I'm fine! ...I'm gonna die~!" Still, I was told it was only supposed to be a short self-introduction (1-3 min.) with a bit about why you wanted to go to Japan, what you're first impression was etc. So with a bit of help from Madoka, I made a short speech in Japanese and thought "OK, this'll be fine. I can handle this".

This morning I woke up pretty early (like around 5:30 AM) because my traitorous body decided it had to pee. Now. So off to the toilet I reluctantly went. After this it was kind of hard to fall asleep again, so I half-slept until 6:30 AM when I got up, put on my uniform and ate breakfast while whimpering to my host father about being nervous because of the speech. (We made many jokes about this, of course. "Pretend the microphone's not working!") Then I got into the car with my host parents and drove off to school.

I was feeling quite nervous as I walked through the school gate with my host mother, but it was fun seeing the students (mostly girls) who looked at you, smiled and waved while saying "hii!". Once inside the school (which, let me tell you, is big), we met up with Daisy-sensei and Francesco, who looked rather pale. We chatted a bit before entering the principal's office. Here we talked about the speeches we'd be making and what the day would entail. This is where I learnt my first lesson: never lower your guard! Just when I thought that "OK, I'll be fine", one of the Japanese teachers handed Francesco and me a piece of paper. "Oh, and if you could add these two sentences to the end of your speech it would be great!" Wait, say wha!? Although I understood most of it, there were some kanji I didn't know how to read, so I borrowed a ball-point pen, asked the teachers and scribbled down the furigana over it. (Google furigana!) Daisy-sensei said something like "Sorry about this last-minute thing." and calmed us down by reassuring us that even if we went up to the podium and "completely butchered that speech", they would think it was great. Even if we spoke in Norwegian or Italian, it wouldn't matter - "as long as you go up there and do your best, that's fine."

Upon coming to the assembly hall, the first thing that met my eyes were Japanese. Millions of them! Gaaaah! They're everywhere! XD But in a way I felt more at ease too, because most of them were kids roughly my age, which is a bit less intimidating than Japanese Rotary men in suits with business cards...

When we followed our homeroom teacher in (while wearing green plastic slippers that I had trouble walking in and was sure I'd slip out of while giving my speech (oh, the terror!)), all the students clapped their hands. Now that felt kind of weird! XD

We sat down in some blue plastic chairs while the principal, a teacher and a student representative help their speeches and told the students about us. (All the while having things translated into English which I sometimes didn't quite catch. (A bit of Engrish and slightly funny mistakes too - "please sit down" actually meant "stand up"). Sometimes I understood parts of the speeches better in Japanese, haha! :P)

Then I was told it was time for my self-introduction. I walked up to the podium feeling surprisingly at ease. (I had thought the night before that I'd imagine this as my self-introduction upon entering the Japanese pop group Morning Musume, which made it kind of fun. A bit like this. XD) It was even kind of fun, although I was a bit nervous, of course. I finished my speech, reading the two last sentences off my piece of paper, and bowed to leave the podium... and lost my slipper! "Great success!" XD I whisked it up from the floor, smiling to myself. Upon sitting down next to Francesco again I whispered "I told you I would!" :P (He told me later it was behind the podium so the audience didn't see it. Too bad!)

After Francesco finished his speech, we went out of the assembly hall again. Daisy-sensei was really impressed, saying he thought those were the best speeches he'd heard from fresh exchange students. One of the Japanese teachers shook my hand and patted me on the back while telling me that it was really good and that I spoke Japanese better than a native Japanese. Well... I laughed and thanked him, relieved that it was over. The rest would be OK - I wouldn't understand anything anyway! XD

After this we sat down close to the main entrance and talked with Daisy-sensei about various school and host family-related things. Also he told us a bit more about himself - he's been working as a police adviser, among other things! We also talked about drinking, and Fransesco admitted that he does drink a little, and might want to try the special alcoholic drink they have here while on exchange.

Francesco: ...but only a little!
Helene: Don't do it. It's against Rotary rules. You'll get sent home.
Daisy: ...and I thought I was the one with police background! XD
(...Hermione, anyone?)

After having chatted for a while, Francesco and I were followed up to our classroom by our teacher. Here we held another short self-introduction, which really felt like entering Morning Musume because of all the "aaaah!" and "ooooh!" after my introduction. XD This was just fun!

It was followed by the Japanese students introducing themselves (seeming more nervous than we were!) some in English but most in Japanese. One of them was really nervous and stood there not saying anything, just fumbling until the teacher led him back to his place. He came up afterwards and said his name and "douzo yoroshiku". Everyone was really supportive and sweet saying things like "don't be shy!" and "go for it!" as he went up in front of the class. It made me happy to see. :)
One of the students (a boy) walked straight up in front of our desks, got down on his knees and said his name clearly followed by "yoroshiku onegaishimasu!" while bowing low to the ground. Then he jumped up and grinned from ear to ear while the class laughed and applauded. He seemed like a fun person, and is clearly the class clown. I liked him! :)

School ended pretty quickly today, so after school my teacher grabbed hold of me (well, almost) and rushed with me to catch my school bus home. (No. 14, which turned out to be rather hard to find. My teacher ran around stressing to find it while I followed as best I could. XD) The bus ride home was kind of weird, seeing as I was the only foreigner and didn't know anybody. The girl I sat next to didn't say too much either, but it's my first day, so I expect that'll get better when I start making friends. I managed to get off at the right bus stop thanks to my note written by Madoka, and bought some chocolate pocky and a small notebook for writing down new words at the convenience store before heading home. "Tadaima~!"

After lunch I went with Madoka to see some different things around the area, which was a lot of fun, but I'l blog about that some other time. It's late.

Tomorrow will be a regular day with bento (lunch box), timetable and everything. After school Francesco and I plan to go and take a look around the building. I'm looking forward to that!

Me in my school uniform, looking very gaijin (but oh so adorable).

The natives wearing the winter (indoors/outdoors) and summer uniform.

Location: Nippon!
Mood: tired ;P
Listening to: my host brother Ryotaro playing FF on the PS2
Eating: not now - I just finished a delicious dinner and taught my family the phrase "stuffed to the gills"! XD
Drinking: cold green tea (no wonder I have to pee at 5:30 in the morning...)