A MICAN'S Guide To Surviving Japan, Part 3

THE NEXT THREE MONTHS

       • Stick to a budget

                       I can't stress this enough. After I settled into a routine, my existence at OUA became relatively unremarkable.  However, shortly after arriving money became an issue, and I wish I had been able to get an accurate estimate of my expenses before departing. Upon arriving, I found my daily expenditures in Japan were not equivocal to what I was used to in the states. For example, though my weekly groceries cost $40-$60 in Baltimore, they averaged around $60-80 in Japan. That didn't seem too bad at first, but when I factored in a bento for lunch every day at school ($16-20), weekend trips into Osaka or another city (anywhere from $40-$100), and various, weekly trips to the combini ($15-$30), I realized I was spending much more each week than I had intended. This may seem trivial, but realize, because I didn't have a Japanese bank account, I had to use an international ATM, which allows a minimum withdraw of $100. I'm not used to carrying cash, especially that amount, so initially I burned through money simply because it was there. I suggest assessing your weekly expenses in Baltimore and then setting aside money for traveling, which was by far the most costly thing. Also, if you decide where you want to go before you set off  the money will be there. Spontaneity was expensive...            

       • Shopping and popular districts

                      Osaka City has everything you could ever want or hope to need, unfortunately, I lived nowhere near the city. The Kanan-Tondabayashi area had basic stores: a Daei Department Store, ¥100 Shop, and a Joshin Electronics. These met my base living needs, but when I needed something special I had to ride into town. Here are some of the places I frequented:

                               - Abenobashi

                                            This was where I transfered from the Kintetsu Railway to the subway when heading into Osaka City, and I would sometimes hang out there to kill time. Look for the arcade, movie theatre, and open food bazaar (under Tennoji Station) when exploring.

                               - Shinsaibashi

                                             A popular shopping district among Japanese people with seemingly unlimited income. Most of the stores here were WAY out of my price range, but it was my central hub in Minami, so I spent a lot of time there. El Pancho Mexican Restaurant in Shinsaibashi Tower was a favorite of the MICA group.   

                               - Dotombori

                                           Dotombori is the tourist-ridden food district in Minami famous for crab legs and fugu. I didn't spend too much time there because the hosts weirded me out...

                              - Den Den Town

                                           This is otaku paradise: manga, hentai, DVDS, music, porn, games, consoles, arcades, raw electronics, furniture, figmas, toys, models, and maid cafes. Go to Super Potato. Period.  

                               - Namba

                                             I rarely spent time in Namba, I just walked through it. It was predominantly Pachinko Towers and the Namba Station shopping mall from what I saw. 

                               - America-mura

                                            This is where I bought most of my clothes, shoes, books, and general souvenirs. Unimpressive at first, there is a lot to be found under the Neon Carribi-Cali-Lolita-Surfer veneer. Look for Orange Street to the south of the main strip, it has some awesome stores and boutiques. Also, the Standard Book Store is here, it was one of my favorite places to escape.

                               - Umeda

                                           Umeda is the central traveling hub within Osaka City, and there is a lot to be found in the surrounding area. Unfortunately, I didn't hang out there too much. HepFive Mall was a draw, but it didn't have too much to offer me. 

                               - Doyama-cho

                                           Adjacent to HepFive, this is the gay district in Umeda. Bars are hard to find and sometimes unwelcoming, but if you go with a native friend there won't be a problem.

        • Socialize

                       I won't sugar coat it, I failed in this department. It was very hard for me to make friends at OUA because of the language barrier. My limited Japanese never failed to let me down when I needed to say something pivotal and continually being asked to: "be friends and teach me English," got old quick. All I can offer is to persevere while simultaneously branching out by researching popular international gathering places in Osaka. The first time I had the opportunity to really meet new people was when I attended an International Night at a club in Umeda. I had a great time because I was around people from all over the world that were in the same boat as me. Through people I met at the club, I met more people and was able to create a small identity separate from the "MICA Group" at OUA. My only regret is that I waited so long to do this, by the time I had made friends in Osaka it was time to return to the states. 

       • School

                       I was more or less left to my own devices when it came to schoolwork. Homework was rarely, if ever, assigned and my teachers (excluding Hara-sensei) tended to avoid me. Basically, I knew what was expected of me and I worked at my own pace to complete it. This was discouraging, even disheartening at first for me and some of my MICA peers, but we were all soon able to make it work. I think because, for me, since none of my professors could give me feedback or criticism, I was able to do whatever I wanted. This was a hard thing to be presented with though, because it prompted me to question whether my time spent at OUA was, in fact, the academic experience I had come for.