I wouldn't call it 'homesickness', but
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I wouldn't call it 'homesickness', but Thursday September 15
I knew for certain before I left that there would be periods where I'd miss certain things about home. Now is one of those times. I wouldn't call it 'homesickness', but I'm sure the symptoms are the same. I explained it to Michael this way last weekend: in Champaign, I "knew" everything.
You want good Thai food? Oh, man, I know like three places. Never buy produce at Schnucks unless you have to, and if you have to, make sure to go early in the week before all the eggplants have overripened. Need a bike fixed? Todd used to live above this crazy dude who fixes bikes cheap, but the key is to take a pretty girl with you so he does it on the spot instead of making you wait. The Green bus' last trip to downtown is at 11:23 from Coler and Green Streets. I'm sure you know what I mean. These are the bits, coupled with all of the people I regularly saw and met along the way, that make 'home', well, home. Everyone knows that Crane Alley has half-priced pool on Wednesday, right?
Now, even if I moved within the continental United States, I'd have to start over again. However, the rate at which I could acquire such information would be significantly faster than I can here, and using the English language would enable me to make new friends faster.
Facing the language barrier setback, I have had difficulty as of yet making Japanese friends, and I'm still getting used to the way everything is done here. I shouldn't say 'language barrier'. It's not a concrete wall, but a new friend would have to have some patience with me. They'd have to want to make the friendship work. Oh, that makes sense now -- I guess that's why everyone jokes that I should just get a girlfriend.
Right, let me run down to the convenience store and pick one out. Wait, I like that one, no, no wait -- how much extra do I have to pay for this relationship to actually be an emotionally worthwhile endeavor? Oh. Right. Well, thanks anyway.
I suppose that really only leaves one course of action, which is to remove the language setback entirely. This is a difficult goal, but it's what I'm here to do. I guess it's back to studying. In the meantime, though, I did find a great ramen shop, but it's not that cheap.
I move in this weekend. Pictures to come on Monday or Tuesday.
