Friends, and more Hirakata-shi!

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Being in Japan is so amazing, but lately, with midterms approaching, I haven’t been able to get out much.  However, that’s just given me time to bond more with my friends!  There are about five people in my dorm that I get along well with.  Adrian, Mai, Nick, Cameron, and Mark.  I don’t know where I’d be without them – probably feeling very, very lonely!

 

Adrian and I in alien shirts
Adrian and I in alien shirts
Kakigori!
Kakigori!

They turn the everyday life into adventures, during these trying midterm days.  Karaoke and kakigori, trips to the thrift store and out for ramen.  Believe me – anything is fun if you’re doing it with your friends!

And let’s not forget the most important friend…Marshmallow Face, the cat who lives across from the seminar house.

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He absolutely despises me, but I love him.  And sometimes he’s nice to me when I bring him treats.  He has a gang of cats who hang around with him, but they’re all far too scared to let me near.  Still, I have Marshmallow Face!

Hirakata-shi feels so much like home now.  I don’t know how I’m going to go back to America!  Gorgeous skies and quiet afternoons, everything you need within either walking distance or a two-hundred yen bus ride.  One thing’s for sure – coming here has convinced me I want to live in Japan again some day.

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This country is so fantastic – I can’t wait for midterms to end so I can get out there and see more of it!

Fรณx Cassius Bridges

*Texas Scholarship <i>Hello in your host country language</i>: ใ“ใ‚“ใซใกใฏ(Kon'nichiwa) <i>University</i>: University of North Texas <i>Expected graduation year</i>: 2019 <i>Destination</i>: Osaka, Japan <i>Program Provider</i>: Direct exchange; Kansai Gaidai University <i>Major / minor</i>: Integrative Language Studies <i>Language of study, if any</i>: Japanese <i>Housing</i>: Dorm <i>Demographic background</i>: First-generation, Caucasian male <i>Future career aspirations</i>: Work at Japanese publishing company