So you know that stereotypical scene in anime where the new transfer student is introduced in front of class?
I learned just how incredibly awkward that is in real life.
So as you may or may not know, I'm staying in Palo Alto for the new few months. I started kendo a few months ago back at my university club, but we didn't have a real sensei, so one of the things I was excited about was going to the kendo dojo here.
Well, I went for the first time tonight. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to practice the first time or not, because of membership, joining AUSKF and NCKF, insurance issues, etc.
Finally, the head sensei said "we'll trust in his commitment, and the honor he brings coming from the fine institutions of Purdue and Stanford" (or something like that) and said to go ahead and change.
Everyone else was already halfway through warm-ups, so I was scrambling to get my equipment from the car and get my hakama and gi and bogu on. I had no idea where to change, so I was running around until someone pointed me to the stage behind the curtain (it's a gymnatorium). I was rushing to put my stuff on, and ended up leaving my stuff scattered in different parts of the gymnasium.
After warmups when we were all lining up, I realized I forgot my tenugui on the stage, so I ran back to get it. As I was running back to line up, I saw the head sensei was motioning for me to hurry up, and then when I started to sit down, he motioned for me to come over.
So I did, and went up in front of everyone with him, and he proceeded to introduce me to everyone, and I croaked out a weak よろしくお願いします and a feeble bow, and trudged back to hide behind my bogu.
It was the most stereotypical nervous transfer student scene ever.
I then proceeded to fuck up some etiquette issues and nearly pass out during kihon practice because I'd forgotten to eat or drink anything most of the day, I exhausted myself, my blood sugar took a nosedive, and I had to sit out half of practice.
I have brought shame upon my family. Imma go seppuku now.
Actually, everyone was really nice and polite and cool with it. Although the head sensei did yell at me to take better care of myself, and then he handed me an application form.