Last weekend the international students got free entry to a Softbank Hawks baseball game at the Yahoo Japan Dome stadium. The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks played the Saitama Seibu Lions, who were ranked 2nd and 1st in their division, respectively. The Lions scored a few runs against us early on without letting us even get someone on base, but in the fifth and sixth innings we caught up to tie the game 4-4. In the eighth inning we scored three runs to bring the score to 7-4, but they did the same in the ninth inning so the game went into extra innings. In the bottom of the eleventh inning we scored two runs to win 9-7. All in all, a thoroughly entertaining game. Afterwards we got to go on the field and take pictures. Lots of pics of the game and the field after the jump.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Adapting to a new way of life
Time takes care of a lot of things. Adjusting to a new location, culture, and group of people is a process that doesn't happen overnight.
Feeling out the local area has provided a sense of stability here. The super market is just down the road, there are convenient places to get a cheap and delicious lunch, and there's a quiet little bar which provides a nice place to sit and relax while chatting with some friends in the evening.
Although I've been to Japan before, there's still a bit of a culture shock in some sense. Before, I was merely learning about the culture. This time around, I'm integrating into the culture. In Kobe, I just had to understand why something was done a certain way; in Fukuoka, I actually have to DO it that way.
Living with a group of strangers like this is something I haven't done since freshman year when I first moved in. Everyone wants a friend but is forced to rely solely on first impressions to pick who they want to spend time with. As it happens, first impressions are often wrong. Over time you get to know everyone and you find out who you sized up about right, as well as who you misjudged.
Feeling out the local area has provided a sense of stability here. The super market is just down the road, there are convenient places to get a cheap and delicious lunch, and there's a quiet little bar which provides a nice place to sit and relax while chatting with some friends in the evening.
Although I've been to Japan before, there's still a bit of a culture shock in some sense. Before, I was merely learning about the culture. This time around, I'm integrating into the culture. In Kobe, I just had to understand why something was done a certain way; in Fukuoka, I actually have to DO it that way.
Living with a group of strangers like this is something I haven't done since freshman year when I first moved in. Everyone wants a friend but is forced to rely solely on first impressions to pick who they want to spend time with. As it happens, first impressions are often wrong. Over time you get to know everyone and you find out who you sized up about right, as well as who you misjudged.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
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