6.22.16
It’s June 22nd, and we are incredibly excited for the arrival of the LSA gang! Dorsey-sensei and I met quite early in anticipation for the first arrival at 11 AM. We met with Hori-sensei, one of the amazing professors within Dartmouth’s Japanese department, in the lobby of the APA Hotel for breakfast. As we entered the buffet, one waiter asked Dorsey-sensei: “How old is your daughter?” Hori-sensei and I began to cackle, as we realized that the waiter was referring to me. I must confess that as a five-foot-tall, petite woman, I was not at all surprised by the waiter’s comment.
After eating breakfast, Dorsey-sensei and I hopped onto the Keisei bus to Narita Airport. We picked up the first student, Patrick, at around 11:30 in Terminal 1. We hopped on over to Terminal 2 to pick up the rest of the gang, and stopped for a quick lunch. Dorsey-sensei, Patrick, and I waited in the arrival lobby for the other LSAers. As we were waiting, we noticed that a popular Japanese television show was scouting for foreigners to interview. We tried to catch their attention by standing nearby, but unfortunately were unsuccessful in catching a moment of fame.
As the other LSAers began to arrive, I helped them exchange money at the nearby exchange booth. Dorsey-sensei and I began to send some of the LSAers back to the hotel via the Keisei bus. I eventually made my way back to the hotel with some of the LSAers, and Dorsey-sensei stayed behind at Narita to pick up the remaining students.
Even though many of the LSAers had traveled a long way, they were so energetic, excited, and lively! Many of them were still processing the fact that they were in Japan, and they gazed outside of the bus window with eager eyes.
Once we got to the hotel, I gathered the LSAers and took them to the Kaihin Makuhari Messe Mall to take photo ID pictures for their KUIS student cards. We found a photobooth right next to a Baskin Robbins, and spent at least half an hour taking our photos. As we waited, Patrick tried his luck with a Neko Atsume-themed capsule machine. He got a keychain that he did not particularly like, and tested his luck again with the hope of winning the rare keychain. Unfortunately, he ended up getting the same keychain again. After everyone took their photo ID, we went to a nearby Sega (an arcade) and tried our luck at the UFO catchers (crane machines). We made it back to Apa just in time for our dinner at the hotel’s Chinese buffet. We were joined by several senpai (Jeremy and Alyssa) who are studying at KUIS.
An example of the student ID photo
We all introduced ourselves, and got a briefing for our Thursday excursion in Asakusa/Ueno. We filled our bellies with dumplings, chahan (fried rice), and other Chinese food before parting ways. Some of the LSAers went to bed, and others went back to the Sega.
All in all, first day of the LSA was a success!