Coming into this study abroad program, I tended to stay pretty neutral in my expectations. To me, I don't like to set and become attached to expectations so I don't get disappointed in any way, but I had a few small ones. I was expecting the food portions to be a lot smaller than in America because of what I heard from others. I found out, however, that the portions are either the same size or, occasionally, larger. Sometimes I can't even finish my food! The custom here is not to waste any food, so I feel terrible whenever I really can't finish it. Also pertaining to food, I was expecting a lot less beef, chicken, and pork than what I have discovered. It's still not as much of a staple food as fish, but it's a lot more prominent than I thought. Possibly, because it's more expensive than fish, it isn't a staple food.

Another expectation I had through hearsay was that there were two types of treatment I was going to get from the majority of the native Japanese people: either I was going to be treated like a celebrity in an obnoxious way OR I was going to be ignored out of fear. Well... Neither of those really turned out to be true to the extent that was implied. I have yet to be treated like a celebrity just because I am American. I have been stared at, which was to be expected, and some have called me cute in passing, but nothing in an obnoxious way. I'm glad for this, though. I wouldn't want a situation like that. On the other hand, yes many Japanese people, usually younger ones, are very shy, but they don't avoid me like others have implied before. I can see that many are worried that I would try to speak English to them, but otherwise I get normal treatment like I would from strangers back home. 

Finally, I was expecting Japan to be a very safe country. I'm glad this one ended up being true. I haven't really heard otherwise, so I really wasn't expecting it to be dangerous. Unlike back home, I feel comfortable walking outside alone, even at night. People around me are very helpful and friendly. Everyone is so hospitable. They also respect other's belongings. There are some small instances that are common, like umbrella stealing and the occasional bike stealing, but nothing that I would call dangerous. One time, when I was out shopping, I accidentally forgot my phone and left the store. Soon after, though, I realized and went back. Someone had turned it in to the counter and I got it back just fine. A child ran up to my friend while we were out to return a mere 1 yen (which is less than a penny) that had fallen. Another of my friends dropped their wallet only to have someone return it with everything in it. It's small things like this that show how some people care. I just feel so comfortable here.