First Day

The bean bag style pillow wasn't too bad to sleep on, though I still didn't sleep too well. It's very hot, and I was sweating constantly, and the noise of the air conditioning isn't helping. I woke at 5, 6, and 7, and eventually got up. At 7.30 the Westminster Bells played across the PA system, to signal the start of breakfast. I would have gone, but I thought at the time that it was the end of breakfast, having gotten confused about the time. Oh well.

I was the first one up, and over the next few hours, everyone else emerged. I looked if Hannah was online, as she said she'd let me sleep and then call me at 11.30. It wasn't until the morning that I realised that that would be 3.30am in the UK. I couldn't get through in the end, as she was sleeping, and got up to call me. I love her so much, and talking to her is so reassuring. I trust her totally and can tell her anything, and she'll support me. My relationship with the rest of the guys here isn't good enough to express my fears yet.

I walked with Ciaran down to the convenience store again to get something for lunch. I got bread (it's only sold in doorstep sized packs of 5!), and some eggs, as well as some chocolate Pocky, and a bottle of Pocari Sweat!

Seb came at 1.30pm and told us a bit more about what's going on. He then showed us how to work the washing machines and tumble driers, and afterward we had our group picture taken downstairs in the foyer. Then we went on a tour of the building. Cambridge House has three karaoke rooms, two billiards tables, a tea ceremony room, a little shop, and a canteen. We also have a foot locker, since you're only allowed to wear slippers in doors - it's a hygiene thing - and a bicycle assigned to each of us (they're not flashy, they have a basket on the front).

In the afternoon we went on a trip to "You Me Town" (pronounced yoo-meh), which is a giant supermarket-cum-department store. Everything seems to be really expensive, though, which is putting me off eating. For example, 4 bananas: ￥298 (£1.50), or 6 apples: ￥598 (£3.00). Even the rice is about £4 per kilo! The pot-noodle style "just add hot water meals" on the other hand, are very cheap: about 50p.

On our walk to You Me Town we discovered that the traffic light crossings don't beep, but randomly play tunes. The Japanese are truly crazy.

In the evening, Brendan, Drummond, and Flick went to a UN party, and the rest of us went down to the cantine for food. My first proper Japanese meal! We had curried-chicken with rice, and a potato cake. With a yoghurt style thing to finish. Yummy. We then went into Fukuoka on the train for a drink and a look around. Every bar, though, seemed to want an entrance fee, and the prices were high too: £4 for a beer! In the end we found a tiny underground rock bar with no entrance charge. The place was empty, and the barman spoke English. Since we were new he gave us a discount, though it still was £2.50 for a rum and coke. Though he did have a free foosball table.

We left at 10.30 to go and meet the UN party-goers, and then we went to a small restaurant, where they let us have just drinks. It was nice and cosy, and maybe we'll go one day to eat at a similar place. The workers were all dressed in a judo-style blue gown, and the proprietor banged a drum everytime somebody came or went.

Binks, Lauma, and I left to catch the last train (11.30pm) back home, whilst the others stayed out later and got a taxi home. I chatted to Hannah on MSN when I got in, which was wonderful, and then I went to bed. We're trying to figure out some way of talking over the internet, but Skype is P2P and Hannah isn't allowed to use it at uni. I think Google Talk is just what we need, but I'm not too sure if it is P2P or not. Hannah's going to go and ask at the I.T. office when she goes there.