Greetings from 京都!
 

Hey all! I'm an exchange student that's currently in Kyoto. It's about 4am 'cause I can't sleep, but oh well.

My interests vary, from art (I draw, play piano, guitar, and sing a little. Though I'm not all that good at singing :3), teaching Japanese, stuff like that!


I've been trying to get a community up as well, but I am no avail. The fruits of my efforts have yet to bear. But I'm confident that over time it will grow into the successful community I dream it to be! I'm glad to be a part of this wonderful community!


僕は名前はエスキュカイルです。宜しくお願いします!

Where in Kyoto are you staying? What school are you at. I like Kyoto a lot, but August is just hell.

Hello, Akihiko! I will be in Kyoto starting from September 13th, also as an exchange student. I'll be there for an entire year, attending Ritsumeikan University and living in Kamigyo ward.

Very cool! Congratulations!

Murasakino High School :3

Oh! A high school exchange! That is incredible. What's it like wearing a high school uniform every day?

I actually start attending it next week. But I imagine it'll be fun

Oh, I see. So are you at your host family's house now?

Yeah. They're pretty decent. Just got out of my buddy's house and went there. I should be staying for a minimum of one semester.

That's cool. So does summer break end this week?

that is soo cool, i love kyoto but not in summer :D

although lots of event in kyoto in summer. the burning of the kanji in the mountain should be happening soon.

ahhh i miss kansai so bad..

Yeah, what I don't miss is the weather there. Always a few degrees hotter than Osaka in summer, and a few degrees colder in winter.

oh yeah winter , its freaking cold there compare to osaka too.

Yeah...how is the weather over there, Akihiko?

It was rainy when I arrived in July. very rainy. now it's kind of mild. How's the weather where you're at MMM?

We are about to enter a mini heatwave where I am, in the Pacific NW. Not looking forward to it. Though it is more mild here than it is in much of the US. Kansai is often in the 90s and very humid this time of year, so be thankful if things are mild now.

You have been there since July and haven't started school yet? That's a bit unusual.

You are very lucky . . .Have a great time!!

I imagine the exchange kids might run on a different schedule to the main school so as not to clash with the US school timetables. Especially as OP is only there for 1 term.

Ah, I miss Kansai 懐かしい夏菓子夏河岸 8[

I understand what you are saying, but the Japanese school schedule is April to October, then October to April. Starting in the middle of August seems difficult to me, but I am sure they find some way to adjust.

I know the term dates, but that's how our schedule was run. We started last week of August and then worked over the break through till Xmas, then we got a month off through January. Sucked coming back second term though as of course, there were hardly any Japanese students around for half of it!

I guess it depends on the high school and how many exchange kids they take in. Either way, most high school exchanges don't require any kind of Japanese fluency, so it's not like they have to slot the kids suddenly into the set curriculum half-way through the term; they have their own lessons. Also gives the Japanese kids and teachers a chance to settle in before the excitement of foreign visitors. Certainly at my school here in England they don't even like doing school trips before half term.

How many weeks were you in Japan before school started?

I arrived really late, so barely even one. We were all also college-age, so less fuss and control over where you stayed at first, or when you arrived. Provided you were there for induction at the start of term, that was about it.

I have been a part of a few exchange programs, and that seems more normal. I wonder what the OP is doing all day while he waits for school to start.

Sitting inside hoping that everything goes well for the next week. Also, I take long walks to nearby shrines and pray for good luck.

Cool. Is your house close to the school?

There's a bus stop near by

Oh, so you have to take a bus to school? Early mornings...

So it's a good thing you found this site. Lots of people experienced with Japan here.

What kind of cultural issues have you run into with your host family? Do you have a host brother or sister (likely brother) going to the same school?

Yeah. But they're shinto. And I know it's not really a religion, I consider myself shinto. So no conflicts thus far. They're really cool :3

I bet they are happy you have declared yourself as Shinto, as well. They must have a kamidana in their home if they are that religious.

You didn't say if you have a host brother or sister. I bet it might be a bit boring if there isn't someone there your age.

Why is it that I find this conversation so ... oddly amusing?

こんにちは　Nice to meet you here.

Meh. My post got deleted.

So I just make this one.

Wonder what you said.

Nyororin: It's scary O_O

Don't be afraid. OP won't hurt you because he lives in Kyoto! :mtongue:

Doesn't matter if he didn't know what time it was in Kyoto when he posted a while ago. If he says he lives in Kyoto, he lives in Kyoto.