Back to School

Alright, I've been back for sometime now, and I think it's interesting that my need to blog hasn't been quite what it used to be. However, I want to continue with this (even if no one reads it) because I can.

Well, I've started going back to school and the process has been more than a little intimidating. Not only am I student again, but I am a student in a field that is completely alien to me. I am no longer with the science geeks who get a kick about atoms losing their electrons, but rather with the strange breed who like discussing whether a phrase acts as an adjective or an adverb. At first, I was really excited about all of this, but now I'm wondering if I should be more frightened. I just never pictured myself drawing sentence diagrams. Maybe I'll get really into it, I think I need to give it more than four classes to know for sure.

I am discovering I am a better student this time (so far) and actually read the texts before class. (hooray for Leslie!) Maybe some of the Japanese study ethic has rubbed off on me. Since I commute to school and only am on campus Tuesday and Thursday, I don't really socialize much with my classmates. I hope to get to know them better, but I don't really see how that's going to happen. I have the longest commute, but it doesn't seem like much after waiting around for trains all the time in Japan. In fact, I take a commuter train to school and I find myself running out of the house in the morning much the same way I did in Tsuru. At least there's a sizeable sidewalk now.

My dad suggested that I put an observation I made on the change of my perception of the world. Coming back to America, I have really noticed the difference in diversity. Before, it never occurred to me that someone might not speak English unless they couldn't communicate with me, but after living in Japan I took on the belief that most people couldn't speak English. Even with other foreigners, I had to try and guess if they spoke English if I didn't meet them through mutual friends. I met so many people who weren't from English speaking countries that unconsciously I developed stereotypes of how people should speak English depending on their appearance. In a way, I took that back with me to America. I've been momentarily shocked when a white woman behind the counter speaks with a thick accent or an Arabic woman speaks perfect English. Somehow my mind has been rewired to think that white people are native English speakers, and everyone else isn't (at least for initial encounters).

This is really difficult for me to comprehend or even accept about myself right now, especially since I'm biracial. I guess it shows that there was a lot of influence from my surroundings in Japan. Occasionally I see Japanese-Americans and am surprised when they speak English. Weird! I hope I get over it soon, because it's really disconcerting. In fact, I think I'm mostly over it, now that I'm getting into a routine where I'm getting out of the house.

In other news, I've started practicing with my brother's taiko group. My brother has been really cool about everything, and I hope it will be a good bonding experience for the both of us. :)

Well, that's all for now. I will continue my adjustment to the States. I think it's going rather well.