Fulbright Begins.

Tonight I checked in at the Daiichi Hotel Annex. First, my relatives asked me to eat dinner with them, but I was so anxious to start up this Fulbright stuff, I asked if we could eat ramen, (1) because I haven't had any yet and (2) because it's cheap and quick. So I got here, and I'm rooming with David Follette of Princeton. He's a good guy - half japanese/half white, engineer.. seems really smart. Across the hall is Jen Schwartz (who I already knew - UCLA girl, half/half too), and Anna Hrachovec (Middlebury College). After checking in, and being confused as to where my room was (like Steiny-D at Penn, the numbering in this hotel makes no sense - room 8220 is on the 12th floor while 8820 is on the 8th floor), I found myself locked out. See, if you're sharing a room with someone, you get only one key between the two of you. So after waiting with the bell girl for the other Dave to arrive, I finally got to settle down in my room. We then all went out to grab a beer together, with the exception of 2 of the girls who decided to stay in and sleep off the jisa-boke. The games names are so similar: David, David, Dan, John, Jonathan. 5 Ivy Leaguers, 4 Californians, 2 Minnesotans, 3 Hapas. Aside from our research areas, not much diversity here. But still, it was really nice meeting everyone and they seem like a good, if somewhat, hm, studious group. A couple couldn't even finish their drinks! We're going to have to change that in the next few days.

Tomorrow is orientation and dinner at the ambassador's house. Woohoo. And so begins the Fulbright grant year.