My time in Sapporo was really wonderful because after a month of intensive study we really had improved\u2014 and the weekend gave all of us who went a chance to see the results of our learning. I searched for and ordered a fatty tuna\/salmon egg rice bowl at a small shop full of salarymen picking up breakfast, explained to the staff at a baseball game that I was not in trouble but rather just waiting for my friends to show up, and asked the staff at a second hand store how I could use my passport to make a tax free purchase.<\/p>\n
Coming back from Sapporo was hard, because I knew that I would only have a few hours left with my host family before moving into a dorm for the second month. I played with the dog and we chatted about a few things as the time approached. They helped me move, and right as they left I said \u201cosewa ni narimashita\u201d\u2014 \u201cthank you for all your help.\u201d They shook their heads and said \u201cno, not yet.\u201d Thankfully I would see them every weekend after that.<\/p>\n
Living in the dorm was maybe a little easier than the homestay, because I could disappear to my room after class with no stress. The dorm mother had run a restaurant before, so the food was delicious.<\/p>\n
The first week back was fairly laid back. Nothing much happened until Thursday, when I went to another jazz cafe and did an interview with the proprietor. I asked him four questions about his experience running a jazz cafe. I think he had thought that I understood more than I did, so he talked pretty quickly and colloquially. Thankfully, I recorded the interview, and while I didn\u2019t understand much at the time, I transcribed the first half after I headed home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My time in Sapporo was really wonderful because after a month of intensive study we really had improved\u2014 and the weekend gave all of us who went a chance to see the results of our learning. I searched for and … Continue reading