Japanese self-diagnosis site or North American one? Whichever, you've got insurance - why no use it and shut your host family up. Would you have visited your family doctor at home by now? If so then why not the Japanese family doctor - in a hospital yes, but that's the system here.DragonChan said:Well, I just looked up some stuff and it looks like I have laryngitis. YAY. Also, unless it persists for more than a week I'm apparently not supposed to go to a hospital since the most likely cause is that I just killed my vocal cords
I've had a very similar problem learning to write kanji while I'm there which has almost caused me to fail two courses (how stupid is that in this age of word processing and text messaging?). I simply don't and will never have the visual/artistic talent necessary for it, even my handwritten kanas look terrible, but the schools unfailingly insist everyone can improve just by motivation alone and consistently putting in that extra effort. When there are a million more important aspects to the language.....I mean it's good to have the philosophy all students can learn, but applying it so blindly and in exactly the same way for everyone is pretty destructive in my opinion. Especially when the classes are for credit which mine were not....I also really dislike the school system, and I also face a problem in that I need to use alternate methods for learning things like math and kanji...I don't understand the usual ways. But the school insists that if I just spend a few hours a day I'll be able to read all of them by the time I leave. It's an ongoing fight that makes me feel rather stupid each time they pull me aside. They have very unrealistic expectations when it comes to the other exchange student and I.
In the end...the things that drive me crazy are the ones I have to do everyday.
Elizabeth said:but the schools unfailingly insist everyone can improve just by motivation alone and consistently putting in that extra effort
For me as well -- some of the best insights about the culture have come from not being afraid to strike up conversations with strangers on the street. Although the Japanese friends with you may be a little embarrassed, the people you're talking to are usually very pleased a foreigner is taking that much interest in them. Plus, for the real-time language practice and you can't go much wrong. At least you won't be mugged or assaulted.Talk to people, talk to EVERYONE, when your waiting for a train/bus/cashier say hi, introduce yourself, ask how they are. About 9/10 they respond and you'll have wonderful conversations and find out so many interesting things. Make some penpals and maybe meet them.
I'd run away for a few years. It's not that hard.DragonChan said:mr.sumo.snr - Hah, sorry I had to laugh at the insurance bit. I have it I think. My dad swears that he got me some but I think he didn't in an attempt to save money. So I'd really rather not test it unless I'm actually sick. Besides my voice came back a bit today. I can talk somewhat though I think I sound sorta like something crawled in my throat and died. Anyway, thanks. I'll feel much better when I can talk again, though I recent figured out that I can just type what I want to say in my cell phone and show it the the person I'm 'talking' to.
budd - Longest I've been away before was 2 weeks, and it was a completely different situation. I used to volunteer at a summer camp and I was a counselor and looked after the kids.
thor, kamisama, ewok - Thanks for the ideas! As I said before though, lack of time isn't the problem. It's more disliking what I have to do with it.
Anyway THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU I am going to stay, no worries. You all had really good points, I mean...when am I ever going to get this chance again?
Eat Atkin's, weightlift, play DDR, understand that you are living a life people dream of, and think about fun stuff that you could do in Japan that you haven't already. Perhaps you could bust a move and go to parties or else chill and find new friends that are interesting. Like in digimon, the characters all had cool stuff to do with each other. They all had stories and activities and their own lives.......... I think homesickness is in the head. I've never really been homesick. I rather burn this house down. I'd live on the streets if it were warm and legal.