Wakkanai means “I don’t understand!”

Literally. But we’re not talking about わかない。 We’re talking about 稚内, Wakkanai, which I also don’t understand, and where I will soon be living!. What I don’t understand is how the consulate & Jet thought they’d take someone from the 90 degree heat + humidity of the Southeastern United States, and put that person in the Northernmost point in Japan (located in Hokkaido, which we already discussed). On a clear day, I’ll be able to see Russia. That is also not a joke – it’s 30ish miles away (closer than Tokyo!!). I will be surrounded by ocean on three sides, which leads to a constant breeze (which earned Wakkanai the name “the windy city”… cute… real cute. And I think a name stolen from elsewhere too…) The population is around 40,000, so, so much for thinking I’d get to be in a big city. All I have to say is, wow.. just.. wow. Oh gosh…

The cute thing though, for all you wanting to learn Japanese is this:
すんでいますか？(sundeimasuka? [where do you live?])
わかない。(wakanai. [depending on the dialect, "I don't know."])

Ok, really. Someone is just messing with me, right? What have I gotten myself into??