Uwah, I haven't posted a single entry since my second semester here started! Sorry!!! ;___;
For various reasons, I decided to keep myself reeeally busy this semester, so I didn't have much time to post. Plus, my camera broke in Kyoto, so no pictures either. :(
Anyway, I have been getting several mails with questions about my dorm or Waseda - please, if you have any questions, feel free to mail me! :)
(It would be nice if you included an urgency factor, like "I'm leaving next week, so please answer now!" or "can wait until the holidays start", because I will be kinda busy with exams until Monday, 26 July. Still, write to me, I do take breaks in studying!!!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Snow!
It just snowed! In Tokyo!
We thought it wouldn't happen anymore, but it did! When I was in the karaoke box, we saw it snow outside! (Lucky we got the corner box with the window.)
My feet are still a bit frozen from walking home through the mud, but hey, white, frozen water fell on me! <3
We thought it wouldn't happen anymore, but it did! When I was in the karaoke box, we saw it snow outside! (Lucky we got the corner box with the window.)
My feet are still a bit frozen from walking home through the mud, but hey, white, frozen water fell on me! <3
Friday, January 29, 2010
Bye bye, best class of the world!
Today was the last day of this semester. Which means, bye bye to my class.
Although most of them (apart from two people I was especially fond of - amongst them the girl I usually ate lunch with) will remain in Waseda, we might not be in the same class again. Which makes me extremely sad.
I have never, ever before had a class like that. We all got along, knew a lot about each other, and even our Sensei said today that she rarely had classes like ours. When someone was late, one of us would call or text them and ask what happened. We knew each others quirks, habits and all kinds of pointless information. Over the very short period of 4 months, I felt like I became really close with everyone. They made me feel welcome right from the start although I was the newcomer and the only non-Asian. Today, one of the girls even said I was the big sister of the group.
I hope I can at least be in the same class as the remaining members, and the two who are leaving will be happy. We should all try to stay in contact via facebook.
I am really, really thankful to each of them for a great time. I didn't even dread Monday mornings!
みんな大好き！
Although most of them (apart from two people I was especially fond of - amongst them the girl I usually ate lunch with) will remain in Waseda, we might not be in the same class again. Which makes me extremely sad.
I have never, ever before had a class like that. We all got along, knew a lot about each other, and even our Sensei said today that she rarely had classes like ours. When someone was late, one of us would call or text them and ask what happened. We knew each others quirks, habits and all kinds of pointless information. Over the very short period of 4 months, I felt like I became really close with everyone. They made me feel welcome right from the start although I was the newcomer and the only non-Asian. Today, one of the girls even said I was the big sister of the group.
I hope I can at least be in the same class as the remaining members, and the two who are leaving will be happy. We should all try to stay in contact via facebook.
I am really, really thankful to each of them for a great time. I didn't even dread Monday mornings!
みんな大好き！
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Nodame!
I want to see the Final Movie of Nodame Cantabile, part 1, last month, and I won't spoil any details for you, but I found this pic on my cellphone and thought I'd share.
(Hey, this blogger finally gets a face!)
Chiaki-sama... <3
Let me say it was a very good, very funny movie. But I never want first-row seats ever again.
(Hey, this blogger finally gets a face!)
Chiaki-sama... <3
Let me say it was a very good, very funny movie. But I never want first-row seats ever again.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
"Your Japanese is really good!" Part 2
And now it spreaded to non-Japanese people:
I wouldn't really call myself very smart. But I am apparently good at speaking Japanese, at least considering the fact I've only been learning for 2 and a half years.
Which is something to be happy about. And proud. Right?
I wouldn't really call myself very smart. But I am apparently good at speaking Japanese, at least considering the fact I've only been learning for 2 and a half years.
Which is something to be happy about. And proud. Right?
Lately, people who I'd consider my friends come up to me with: "It's really unfair that your Japanese is sooo much better than mine."
Um, thank you for being happy for me. And for appreciating my effort.
At first I tell them, "ah, that's not true, I severely suck at kanji." In other words, I force myself to pay attention to my weaknesses all the time. Make myself smaller so other people are happy.
Then they go, "How did you get that good?" Um, dunno? Studying?! Talent? Either those people don't study enough or are lacking talent, but I can't say that to their faces, right? So I go, "Dunno?" And then some people get mad because I won't reveal my secret. Some keep asking, and at some point, to shut them up, I say that I watch a lot of dramas. (I don't even watch a lot, just the normal amount, I guess.) So half of the people I know now treat me like a total drama freak. Great.
So some people try the drama thing. And it usually doesn't work for them. So they come back. "I still don't get it! It's sooo unfair your Japanese is so much better than mine."
And this is where I lose my patience. And where I lose lots of my friend lately.
If you're not satisfied with your Japanese, please do not blame it on me. It's not my fault. It's your own. There's always someone better at you in any subject of the world. I chose Japanese because I knew I'm good with languages and learn them easily. I would never have chosen something I'm not good with because I have a pride. And Japanese wasn't only my strong point, but also my dream. I guess I'm lucky.
So, if your dream happens to be to learn Japanese, but you're not good with languages? Then, I'm very sorry, you have to study a lot harder.
How about using your precious time to study instead of complaining?
Thank you.
I know I sound annoyed, which is because I am. I am annoyed by people who grudge me with my Japanese. If you're my friend, be happy for me. If not, at least feel pushed by it. And I am annoyed by whiners who steal my time. If you have time to whine, you have time to study.
Don't get pissed off at me for being better in Japanese. That way, I should have been pissed off at my whole maths class in high school. Which I wasn't. I was pissed off by myself because I sucked. Then I studied, and I sucked a bit less. I still sucked, but I made it somehow, and chose Japanese, where I would never need maths again.One possible solution, right?
How about you give me a break and start being mad at yourself, so you can push yourself?
Monday, January 11, 2010
"Your Japanese is really good!"
Apart from the super pricey fresh fruits and vegetables, what annoys me the most in Japan so far is the fact that people feel the need to comment on my Japanese all the time. Yes, it is really nice if they tell me how good my Japanese is. BUT
1) telling me 日本語お上手ですね after all I said was 初めまして doesn't really make me feel like they mean it. Yes, you can tell by only one word. From the intonation. Sure. Of course. Can I tell you that my kanji abilities severely suck?
2) Even people I have become friends with do it. 日本語上手だね、ユリア。Should I come a bit closer so you can pat me on the head? Seriously, I have "friends" who have nothing else to say when it comes to compliments.
3) The other way round, some people still assume I can't find the way home from the train station or even university. Or they think they have to explain everyday words like pork or chicken to me. The same people who complimented my Japanese before. Hello, if I can speak a complicated language like Japanese, I can figure out how to reach a destination as well. Especially if I go there everyday. I do it all the time when you're not there to hold my little white hand. And chivalry does not mean to assume the girl in front of you is brain-dead. It's nice when you want to carry my bag. I carry it every day, but sure, why not? It is not so nice to ask me if I am sure that this direction of the Yamanote line is the right one to get to my dorm. Um, yeah, I think it is. I use it at least once a week, and it never failed to get me home. Thanks, but...
Same with chopsticks. "You're really good at eating with chopsticks, aren't you?" Actually, I'm not. I can eat, but it doesn't look very elegant. Anyway, do I compliment you on your abilities of eating with fork and knife? No, I don't! Because I think that's really rude. "Look, mummy, the monkey in the zoo can eat with a fork!" Give me a break.
Maybe Japanese people are still not used to foreigners speaking their language. But come on, folks, Japanese is not, I don't know, Clingon. Normal people can totally learn it if they try a bit. Maybe it's because Japanese usually don't speak foreign languages. Although many students go on study abroad programs nowadays. And I don't run around telling them, "OMG, your German is soooooo great!!!" I feel like I'd belittle them. Of course their German is good - they studied for it. Plus, if they're my friends, I like them because we have a similar music taste or drool over the same actor, and not because they're able to declinate nouns.
Don't get me wrong, I like compliments. But for the last three months, 90% of the nice words I have received had to do with my Japanese language abilities. Isn't there anything else about me you can like? No? Did you try? Try to look past the Japanese slang I picked up in TV dramas, past my apparent "fluency" (which means just nodding when I don't understand something - praise my acting abilities, how is that?) and notice that I am not "just another gaijin who speaks Japanese", but that I might have some other qualities as well? I can be quite nice and funny if I don't get all pissed off about compliments on my Japanese. ;)
And I really, really wanna see someone in Berlin address some foreign(-looking) person with "Your German is really good!" A "shut up" is probably the least angry response they might get.
1) telling me 日本語お上手ですね after all I said was 初めまして doesn't really make me feel like they mean it. Yes, you can tell by only one word. From the intonation. Sure. Of course. Can I tell you that my kanji abilities severely suck?
2) Even people I have become friends with do it. 日本語上手だね、ユリア。Should I come a bit closer so you can pat me on the head? Seriously, I have "friends" who have nothing else to say when it comes to compliments.
3) The other way round, some people still assume I can't find the way home from the train station or even university. Or they think they have to explain everyday words like pork or chicken to me. The same people who complimented my Japanese before. Hello, if I can speak a complicated language like Japanese, I can figure out how to reach a destination as well. Especially if I go there everyday. I do it all the time when you're not there to hold my little white hand. And chivalry does not mean to assume the girl in front of you is brain-dead. It's nice when you want to carry my bag. I carry it every day, but sure, why not? It is not so nice to ask me if I am sure that this direction of the Yamanote line is the right one to get to my dorm. Um, yeah, I think it is. I use it at least once a week, and it never failed to get me home. Thanks, but...
Same with chopsticks. "You're really good at eating with chopsticks, aren't you?" Actually, I'm not. I can eat, but it doesn't look very elegant. Anyway, do I compliment you on your abilities of eating with fork and knife? No, I don't! Because I think that's really rude. "Look, mummy, the monkey in the zoo can eat with a fork!" Give me a break.
Maybe Japanese people are still not used to foreigners speaking their language. But come on, folks, Japanese is not, I don't know, Clingon. Normal people can totally learn it if they try a bit. Maybe it's because Japanese usually don't speak foreign languages. Although many students go on study abroad programs nowadays. And I don't run around telling them, "OMG, your German is soooooo great!!!" I feel like I'd belittle them. Of course their German is good - they studied for it. Plus, if they're my friends, I like them because we have a similar music taste or drool over the same actor, and not because they're able to declinate nouns.
Don't get me wrong, I like compliments. But for the last three months, 90% of the nice words I have received had to do with my Japanese language abilities. Isn't there anything else about me you can like? No? Did you try? Try to look past the Japanese slang I picked up in TV dramas, past my apparent "fluency" (which means just nodding when I don't understand something - praise my acting abilities, how is that?) and notice that I am not "just another gaijin who speaks Japanese", but that I might have some other qualities as well? I can be quite nice and funny if I don't get all pissed off about compliments on my Japanese. ;)
And I really, really wanna see someone in Berlin address some foreign(-looking) person with "Your German is really good!" A "shut up" is probably the least angry response they might get.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
About Christmas in Japan
Some of you might been wondering how I spent Christmas in Japan. So, let me enlighten you.
(Speaking of light, the illuminations were ... well, the ones in Omotesando are nice, but the rest of Tokyo feels like, "Christmas? What's Christmas?)
Since Japan is not a Christian country, they don't really celebrate Christmas the way Europeans or Americans do. Instead, they're having parties with their friends or, really popular, dates. So on December 25th, the streets and stores are brimming with couples.
Since I didn't have a date (did I hear pathetic?) and couldn't celebrate with my family either, I met up with a German friend who's in Keio at the moment (like 90% of my friends? ^^;) on the 24th (German Christmas day) and tried to find the most German-ish Christmas lunch in Shibuya. My normal 24th food is Potato soup with sausages, hers Potato salad with sausages. (Yes, Germans do like sausages. But we have to keep it simple on the 24th because the 25th usually involves eating a looooot with the whole family.) Of course, neither of them was anywhere to be found. So we ended up at a place called Shakey's that had an all-you-can-eat pizza and pasta buffet plus drink for only a bit more than 1.000 Yen per person. (*___*) We sat there and ate until we were really full, had a nice chat and then moved on to do Purikura. xD Afterwards, we ate a bit of Baumkuchen my parents had sent me and then parted. At home, I skyped my family, called my Grandma and all that kind of stuff.
Yesterday, I did karaoke with a friend from one of my classes here. We called it a "date with Arashi", because out of the 4 hours (!) we spent in the box, we sang 80% Arashi songs. XD (Gosh, my throat hurts. I'm really bad with songs by guys because my voice is not low enough.)
And today, I'm gonna meet another German friend who's over from Kyoto. So I'm not lonely at all. :)
I hope you all had a nice Christmas as well!
(Speaking of light, the illuminations were ... well, the ones in Omotesando are nice, but the rest of Tokyo feels like, "Christmas? What's Christmas?)
Since Japan is not a Christian country, they don't really celebrate Christmas the way Europeans or Americans do. Instead, they're having parties with their friends or, really popular, dates. So on December 25th, the streets and stores are brimming with couples.
Since I didn't have a date (did I hear pathetic?) and couldn't celebrate with my family either, I met up with a German friend who's in Keio at the moment (like 90% of my friends? ^^;) on the 24th (German Christmas day) and tried to find the most German-ish Christmas lunch in Shibuya. My normal 24th food is Potato soup with sausages, hers Potato salad with sausages. (Yes, Germans do like sausages. But we have to keep it simple on the 24th because the 25th usually involves eating a looooot with the whole family.) Of course, neither of them was anywhere to be found. So we ended up at a place called Shakey's that had an all-you-can-eat pizza and pasta buffet plus drink for only a bit more than 1.000 Yen per person. (*___*) We sat there and ate until we were really full, had a nice chat and then moved on to do Purikura. xD Afterwards, we ate a bit of Baumkuchen my parents had sent me and then parted. At home, I skyped my family, called my Grandma and all that kind of stuff.
Yesterday, I did karaoke with a friend from one of my classes here. We called it a "date with Arashi", because out of the 4 hours (!) we spent in the box, we sang 80% Arashi songs. XD (Gosh, my throat hurts. I'm really bad with songs by guys because my voice is not low enough.)
And today, I'm gonna meet another German friend who's over from Kyoto. So I'm not lonely at all. :)
I hope you all had a nice Christmas as well!
Friday, December 25, 2009
I got tickets for Garnet Crow!!!
First of all, Merry Christmas to you all! May yours be as happy as mine, although I miss my family.
I got tickets for the Garnet Crow 10th Anniversary Tour next year!!!
One for Nagoya and one for the final concert in Osaka!
As I'll be in Germany until March 21st, I'll probably make a journey through Japan after that and stop by in Nagoya and Osaka for the concerts until the 2nd semester starts.
I can't believe it!!! <3<3<3
I got tickets for the Garnet Crow 10th Anniversary Tour next year!!!
One for Nagoya and one for the final concert in Osaka!
As I'll be in Germany until March 21st, I'll probably make a journey through Japan after that and stop by in Nagoya and Osaka for the concerts until the 2nd semester starts.
I can't believe it!!! <3<3<3
Sunday, November 29, 2009
俺、知らないわ！
Some of you might remember an old post of mine here where I talked about the difference between men's and women's words in Japanese. As I learned a lot of my Japanese from TV dramas, that sometimes use weird dialogues or mark characters as male/female by letting them use explicitly female language (as if the viewers were all blind ^^;), I kinda let some わ or のよ slip from time to time.
So when I was out drinking* with some Japanese people from the German language department (ever tried not to mix Japanese and German after the third drink? xD), I asked them about their opinion on the topic. They confirmed my recent observations: Phrases like わ have become something men use now, whereas women younger than, hm, 40, don't really use those anymore.
This would actually be an interesting topic for a term paper or something like that, wouldn't it?
*For all those who now frown upon me for drinking, let me tell you I drink very rarely, I never drink so much I lose my memory or can't get home anymore, and I used this gathering for research purposes!
So when I was out drinking* with some Japanese people from the German language department (ever tried not to mix Japanese and German after the third drink? xD), I asked them about their opinion on the topic. They confirmed my recent observations: Phrases like わ have become something men use now, whereas women younger than, hm, 40, don't really use those anymore.
This would actually be an interesting topic for a term paper or something like that, wouldn't it?
*For all those who now frown upon me for drinking, let me tell you I drink very rarely, I never drink so much I lose my memory or can't get home anymore, and I used this gathering for research purposes!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Shopping again ^^;
Sorry for posting about shopping so much lately, but I haven't really had time to get out of Tokyo so far due to busy university schedules. (I would have had a long weekend because today is a national holiday, but we never get Mondays off. >___<)
I'll probably travel to Kyoto and Osaka in the Christmas holidays, so bear with me until then! m(_ _)m
Anyway, I went with a classmate (I really like my class now - you know, the one I got put into because the normal class for people from my programme was already full) and she showed me this store called Forever 21. For around 9.000 Yen, I bought a pullover, a knit jacket, a long-sleeved shirt, a T-shirt, a skirt, long pajama pants and a pair of tights. I love this store!
Now I still need a pair of boots to keep my feet from freezing off in the winter that is sure to come - it's already getting cold, and some areas fake a christmasy feeling (without much success, though. ^^;)
I'll probably travel to Kyoto and Osaka in the Christmas holidays, so bear with me until then! m(_ _)m
Anyway, I went with a classmate (I really like my class now - you know, the one I got put into because the normal class for people from my programme was already full) and she showed me this store called Forever 21. For around 9.000 Yen, I bought a pullover, a knit jacket, a long-sleeved shirt, a T-shirt, a skirt, long pajama pants and a pair of tights. I love this store!
Now I still need a pair of boots to keep my feet from freezing off in the winter that is sure to come - it's already getting cold, and some areas fake a christmasy feeling (without much success, though. ^^;)
Monday, November 2, 2009
Beauty
Today, I went to a beauty salon and got my hair done.
Cut, treatment and perm - for about 70 Euros (9.000 Yen). Well, it only needs to be redone after half a year, so... It is a hell lot of money, but I worked in saved before I came here, and since I study really hard, I thought I should do myself something good.
Then I got a Shiseido eyeshadow for 1.500 Yen - I think that's quite okay for Shiseido.
And now I' beautiful! xD
Well, at least better than before.
Cut, treatment and perm - for about 70 Euros (9.000 Yen). Well, it only needs to be redone after half a year, so... It is a hell lot of money, but I worked in saved before I came here, and since I study really hard, I thought I should do myself something good.
Then I got a Shiseido eyeshadow for 1.500 Yen - I think that's quite okay for Shiseido.
And now I' beautiful! xD
Well, at least better than before.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
早慶戦
Today I went to 早慶戦 - the baseball game between Waseda and Keio university.
As a Waseda student, I wanted to support my university's team, but I ended up going with my friend who's in Keio and who I don't see all that often, so I sat in a Keio seat and ... well, felt a bit awkward. But since I have NO clue about baseball anyway, I couldn't really cheer for a team. ("What's going on now? Is that good or bad?" ^^;)
I couldn't even see half of the game because some stupid cheerleader was blocking my sight. But no one really seemed to watch. Everyone was busy making hand movements or singing the Keio song. ^^;
Anyway, Waseda lost. ^^; 残念だわ。
As a Waseda student, I wanted to support my university's team, but I ended up going with my friend who's in Keio and who I don't see all that often, so I sat in a Keio seat and ... well, felt a bit awkward. But since I have NO clue about baseball anyway, I couldn't really cheer for a team. ("What's going on now? Is that good or bad?" ^^;)
I couldn't even see half of the game because some stupid cheerleader was blocking my sight. But no one really seemed to watch. Everyone was busy making hand movements or singing the Keio song. ^^;
Anyway, Waseda lost. ^^; 残念だわ。
Friday, October 23, 2009
flumpool!
I just came back from Budokan where I listened to a flumpool concert! My tension is high!!!
For a band that only had their major debut last year, filling the whole concert venue two evenings in a row is really something! (90% of the guests were girls, it seemed. xD)
Of course, they still need to improve a lot, like Ryuta's microphone interaction, but wow!
I ended up buying the jacket and a T-shirt and a wrist band and their pamphlet. Now I'm broke for this month. ^^;
But wow, really! It's actually the first time I was able to see a band I really like live, as I mostly only listen to Japanese music and most of the artists I like don't come to Europe. Speaking of that, I must, must, must get tickets for the Garnet Crow tour! The one for next month is already sold out (anyone wants to offer me a ticket?), but they'll have another one in February! 10th Anniversary! I MUST go, no matter what it takes.
Anyway, flumpool are awesome! The members interacted really well, Ryuta was cute as ever <3 and their songs become better and better (frame <3). Plus, they announced an album that will be released exactly two months from today. (Christmas present, anyone?) I wonder if I should go to their next tour as well - there's even a date on my birthday. Who knows when I'll have the chance to see them again?!
So, everyone, check them out at youtube! Buy their new, first full album, "What's flumpool?", on December 23!
Good night!
For a band that only had their major debut last year, filling the whole concert venue two evenings in a row is really something! (90% of the guests were girls, it seemed. xD)
Of course, they still need to improve a lot, like Ryuta's microphone interaction, but wow!
I ended up buying the jacket and a T-shirt and a wrist band and their pamphlet. Now I'm broke for this month. ^^;
But wow, really! It's actually the first time I was able to see a band I really like live, as I mostly only listen to Japanese music and most of the artists I like don't come to Europe. Speaking of that, I must, must, must get tickets for the Garnet Crow tour! The one for next month is already sold out (anyone wants to offer me a ticket?), but they'll have another one in February! 10th Anniversary! I MUST go, no matter what it takes.
Anyway, flumpool are awesome! The members interacted really well, Ryuta was cute as ever <3 and their songs become better and better (frame <3). Plus, they announced an album that will be released exactly two months from today. (Christmas present, anyone?) I wonder if I should go to their next tour as well - there's even a date on my birthday. Who knows when I'll have the chance to see them again?!
So, everyone, check them out at youtube! Buy their new, first full album, "What's flumpool?", on December 23!
Good night!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
また今度！
I think when Japanese people say "Mata kondo!", it actually means the same "I'll call you!" means in English (or German) - especially between girls and guys, maybe.
Mata kondo また今度 means "some other time" and is used as a phrase when you want to express you'll see someone again some other time or do something some other time.
My textbook (the infamous Minna no Nihongo - このスプーン、素敵ですね！) came with a video where a guy calls a woman and asks for a date, but she's "busy", so she politely declines and says: "Mata kondo onegai shimasu" (Please ask me again some other time.)
Well, I think you can see why I'm writing this. ^^;
Mata kondo また今度 means "some other time" and is used as a phrase when you want to express you'll see someone again some other time or do something some other time.
My textbook (the infamous Minna no Nihongo - このスプーン、素敵ですね！) came with a video where a guy calls a woman and asks for a date, but she's "busy", so she politely declines and says: "Mata kondo onegai shimasu" (Please ask me again some other time.)
Well, I think you can see why I'm writing this. ^^;
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Shopping!
Today I went to Shibuya to get new shoes, because of the two pairs I brought here (3 if I could the jogging shoes my parents sent me last week), one broke (my favourite shoes! NOOOOOOOO! ;___;) and one started to smell funny.
I ended up buying a pair of black pumps for 6.000 Yen something in Shibuya 109. It's an okay price, and they were one of the few pairs "Made in Japan" and not in Cambodia or some other country where they make poor kids produce luxury goods for rich foreigners. (I'm not rich, but by their standards...)
Here's a pic:
I especially like that they're not that high-heeled, as I am tiny for a German girl, but average for Japanese standards, so I don't want to stick out that much. (And not be bigger than the guys. XD)
Then I got a perfume from Kenzo, "Sapphire Candy", a Japan-exclusive version. I'm really not into brands, but I needed a new perfume and I liked the smell. It was around 5.000 Yen which I thought was okay.
Now I will eat my baguette which I bought on the way back home (there are two French bakeries near the train station, but no German one! Well, I can't afford to eat much of that bread anyway. ^^;)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Taifun!
A Taifun will come to Tokyo tomorrow. I find that interesting for some reason. ^^; And maybe we'll have no classes!
I need time to learn, I have 5 tests next week!!!!!!! >____<
The funny thing is, on Tuesday we "learned" (or in my case refreshed) the kanji for Taifuu (台風) xD
On the brighter site, I talked a bit to my new classmates (in English/Japanese) and everyone seems nice. :)
I need time to learn, I have 5 tests next week!!!!!!! >____<
The funny thing is, on Tuesday we "learned" (or in my case refreshed) the kanji for Taifuu (台風) xD
On the brighter site, I talked a bit to my new classmates (in English/Japanese) and everyone seems nice. :)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
First month, start of university
Sorry for not updating in ages!
I have been really busy with getting to know the area, making Japanese friends and since last week with the start of classes!
Since my last post, I have visited Odawara, a place in Kanagawa prefecture with a really nice castle, and Odaiba, an artificial island in the Tokyo bay that has lots of shopping opportunities and is known as a dating spot (I went with a huge group of Waseda people, though, but I made a new friend during the time there.)
Last Monday, classes have started, and that's when chaos came upon me. What happened, you may ask? Well, of course, the start of a new semester is almost always hectic, especially at a new university, but I would say my case is especially bad.
According to the placement test they made us some time ago, I got placed into level 6 out of 8. For someone who has only been studying Japanese for 2 years, that's really high, right?
... Turns out it was way too high. ^^; At the first day of classes, I had really huge problems with the test that was supposed to check if we were right in the assigned level. Turns out I wasn't, after all. I expected that, but still it was quite cruel to realize that. Especially since everyone asked me for my level and I had to say 6, so now when they ask me how level 6 is, I have to admit I went down.
Which is what I did. Went down in the level, I mean. At first, I thought of going to level 5, but even there I came across a lot of grammar and kanji I haven't learned so far. And after a lot of consultations with the nice Sensei's, it turned out that level 4 was more or less preparing students for the Japanese Language Profiency Test Level 2, which is what I wanted to take next year anyway.
So now I changed my core class to level 4, as well as all of the electives like writing, reading or Kanji, and will take listening and speaking in level 5, as I tend to be better there.
The problem with my core class was that the one for Bekka students (Bekka = programme for foreign students who study only Japanese for a year, as opposed to e.g. SILS, which means you take Japanese classes and English lectures) was full already, so they put me into a normal undergraduate class which has the same schedule, but... I am the only non-Asian in the whole class. The coordinator was worried if he should put me in there because "everyone there is really young, around 20, whereas Bekka students tend to be older". As I am twenty as well, I don't mind their ages, but in the breaks, everyone speaks Chinese or Korean. >____< I still hope I can make some friends, and if not - well, I must remember to bring a good book. :)
Unfortunately, due to this organisational problem, I missed many of the first classes, like for reading level 4. I have until next week to change my electives, but I am a bit worried I won't get the mandatory sign of the teacher because I didn't attend the first class (which I couldn't, as I sat in level 6.)
So, future Waseda exchange students: If you happen to be unsure about your level, try to go to the office as soon as possible, and ask them for the check test for the level.
If, like me, the only Japanese you have learned before coming here (apart from obscure drama vocabulary) is Minna no Nihongo volume 1 & 2, you might also be most comfortable with level 4.
And now excuse me, I need to unpack the stuff I bought at the 100 Yen shop and do some more homework. ^^;
I have been really busy with getting to know the area, making Japanese friends and since last week with the start of classes!
Since my last post, I have visited Odawara, a place in Kanagawa prefecture with a really nice castle, and Odaiba, an artificial island in the Tokyo bay that has lots of shopping opportunities and is known as a dating spot (I went with a huge group of Waseda people, though, but I made a new friend during the time there.)
Last Monday, classes have started, and that's when chaos came upon me. What happened, you may ask? Well, of course, the start of a new semester is almost always hectic, especially at a new university, but I would say my case is especially bad.
According to the placement test they made us some time ago, I got placed into level 6 out of 8. For someone who has only been studying Japanese for 2 years, that's really high, right?
... Turns out it was way too high. ^^; At the first day of classes, I had really huge problems with the test that was supposed to check if we were right in the assigned level. Turns out I wasn't, after all. I expected that, but still it was quite cruel to realize that. Especially since everyone asked me for my level and I had to say 6, so now when they ask me how level 6 is, I have to admit I went down.
Which is what I did. Went down in the level, I mean. At first, I thought of going to level 5, but even there I came across a lot of grammar and kanji I haven't learned so far. And after a lot of consultations with the nice Sensei's, it turned out that level 4 was more or less preparing students for the Japanese Language Profiency Test Level 2, which is what I wanted to take next year anyway.
So now I changed my core class to level 4, as well as all of the electives like writing, reading or Kanji, and will take listening and speaking in level 5, as I tend to be better there.
The problem with my core class was that the one for Bekka students (Bekka = programme for foreign students who study only Japanese for a year, as opposed to e.g. SILS, which means you take Japanese classes and English lectures) was full already, so they put me into a normal undergraduate class which has the same schedule, but... I am the only non-Asian in the whole class. The coordinator was worried if he should put me in there because "everyone there is really young, around 20, whereas Bekka students tend to be older". As I am twenty as well, I don't mind their ages, but in the breaks, everyone speaks Chinese or Korean. >____< I still hope I can make some friends, and if not - well, I must remember to bring a good book. :)
Unfortunately, due to this organisational problem, I missed many of the first classes, like for reading level 4. I have until next week to change my electives, but I am a bit worried I won't get the mandatory sign of the teacher because I didn't attend the first class (which I couldn't, as I sat in level 6.)
So, future Waseda exchange students: If you happen to be unsure about your level, try to go to the office as soon as possible, and ask them for the check test for the level.
If, like me, the only Japanese you have learned before coming here (apart from obscure drama vocabulary) is Minna no Nihongo volume 1 & 2, you might also be most comfortable with level 4.
And now excuse me, I need to unpack the stuff I bought at the 100 Yen shop and do some more homework. ^^;
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Cell phones
Yesterday, I went out to get a cell phone, and after I talked about one hour to the sales guy, I was this close to buying one, but then couldn't because I don't have a credit card or a Japanese bank account. So I'm going to open one tomorrow, if I can. Actually, I was surprised how well I managed the whole cell phone thing, because, as opposed to Softbank, au doesn't have any English speaking sales person. But it still worked somehow, and I'll even get the very phone I wanted, namely this one:
http://www.au.kddi.com/english/product/lineup/k001/index.html
(I know it says it's for kids, but the good thing is, I can let them lock the internet so that I don't press any Japanese button I can't read by accident and pay like a zillion yen for internet. I can still send mails, though. <3)
You might ask yourself why I got to the trouble of an au phone when Softbank is so much easier?
Well... I must confess, I'm a total fan of Arashi, and they're in the au commercial. No, really, I just wanted to test my Japanese abilities. ... Okay, I confess, it's for Arashi, and for the cute phone. ^^;
And you know what? One of the two sales guys I had totally looked like Nino from Arashi!!! (Too bad not like MatsuJun. xD)
For those of you who don't know them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVadJs80lpU
(Nino is the "big" guy in the end.)
So, enough for today, I need to be fit tomorrow! Good night!
http://www.au.kddi.com/english/product/lineup/k001/index.html
(I know it says it's for kids, but the good thing is, I can let them lock the internet so that I don't press any Japanese button I can't read by accident and pay like a zillion yen for internet. I can still send mails, though. <3)
You might ask yourself why I got to the trouble of an au phone when Softbank is so much easier?
Well... I must confess, I'm a total fan of Arashi, and they're in the au commercial. No, really, I just wanted to test my Japanese abilities. ... Okay, I confess, it's for Arashi, and for the cute phone. ^^;
And you know what? One of the two sales guys I had totally looked like Nino from Arashi!!! (Too bad not like MatsuJun. xD)
For those of you who don't know them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVadJs80lpU
(Nino is the "big" guy in the end.)
So, enough for today, I need to be fit tomorrow! Good night!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
First impressions
I have finally gotten a fitting plug for my laptop, so here are you updates! (By the way, the shop assistant at the eletronics store was super helpful and went out of his way to make sure the plug would be okay. That's much more service than I am used to from Germany.)
Okay, first things first:
I got picked up at the airport with some other people who arrived at the same time, and we took the bus together to Shinjuku. There were more people waiting, and each of us new students was brought to our respective dorms by three (!) Japanese students. "Mine" were two really cute and nice girls and a guy who even carried my suitcase. (Why don't German guys don't do that???)
The first thing I saw when I got out of the bus was... a vending machine. I suspect there are more vending machines in Japan than people - but they're sooo handy! There's one right next to my dorm's entrance, and another few a bit farther away. I like the one that sells Dr. Pepper Cola. xD
My dorm is quite okay. The room I got is probably one of the biggest I could have gotten, and the only two toilets and showers per floor were totally okay until now. But not everyone has arrived yet, so maybe that might become a problem later. Especially since everyone's classes start at the same time. ^^;
My fellow exchange students are mostly nice, as far as I talked to them. I still try not to do that much with them, as I want t0 improve my Japanese and not my English! (Although most of them are not native English speakers either, so my English might even get worse. ^^;) Some of them can't even speak Japanese because they're here for some other programs. I like them, so I might do something with them once in a while, but it should not become a habit, I guess.
In my dorm, there are two really nice Korean girls with who I went to a nearby shrine festival last night. (Unfortunately, it rained cats and dogs. >___<) One speaks English fluently, and the other one is not bad either, but when it's the three of us, we usually speak Japanese, so that's much better.
Oh, I've had some cockroaches already! One is probably the same that keeps coming out at the lobby of building three (I'm in building 5), and we called it Gocchan (from gokiburi = cockroach xD) The other one fell out of my laundry after I took it out of the washing machine, so either it had been in there or in my laundry (ew!), but it probably didn't survive the washing (or my stepping onto it by accident ^^;)
Today, I have been to Shinjuku main statio and the shopping area around it again (I've been there on Friday for a while to get my alien card) and bought a nice shirt and the Best album of Kuraki Mai. (I was not sure whether to buy it because best albums are a bit... pointless in my eyes, but they had a huge poster of her at Tower Records and a stand where you could get stuff for free if you bought the CD, so I bought it and got stickers and a clearfile. <3 I can put my tons of material in there, but I guess it's too much. There's LOADS of information they want us to know, and still a lot more to come up.)
I still have to do some organizational stuff at university, like my Japanese placement test tomorrow, registration for classes and what not, and other stuff like opening a bank account and, most importantly, getting a cell phone. It's tough without a cell phone!!! I want to contact people, but I can't.
Well, I don't know what to write anymore, and I don't have many pics to upload yet, so I'll update again later. :)
Okay, first things first:
I got picked up at the airport with some other people who arrived at the same time, and we took the bus together to Shinjuku. There were more people waiting, and each of us new students was brought to our respective dorms by three (!) Japanese students. "Mine" were two really cute and nice girls and a guy who even carried my suitcase. (Why don't German guys don't do that???)
The first thing I saw when I got out of the bus was... a vending machine. I suspect there are more vending machines in Japan than people - but they're sooo handy! There's one right next to my dorm's entrance, and another few a bit farther away. I like the one that sells Dr. Pepper Cola. xD
My dorm is quite okay. The room I got is probably one of the biggest I could have gotten, and the only two toilets and showers per floor were totally okay until now. But not everyone has arrived yet, so maybe that might become a problem later. Especially since everyone's classes start at the same time. ^^;
My fellow exchange students are mostly nice, as far as I talked to them. I still try not to do that much with them, as I want t0 improve my Japanese and not my English! (Although most of them are not native English speakers either, so my English might even get worse. ^^;) Some of them can't even speak Japanese because they're here for some other programs. I like them, so I might do something with them once in a while, but it should not become a habit, I guess.
In my dorm, there are two really nice Korean girls with who I went to a nearby shrine festival last night. (Unfortunately, it rained cats and dogs. >___<) One speaks English fluently, and the other one is not bad either, but when it's the three of us, we usually speak Japanese, so that's much better.
Oh, I've had some cockroaches already! One is probably the same that keeps coming out at the lobby of building three (I'm in building 5), and we called it Gocchan (from gokiburi = cockroach xD) The other one fell out of my laundry after I took it out of the washing machine, so either it had been in there or in my laundry (ew!), but it probably didn't survive the washing (or my stepping onto it by accident ^^;)
Today, I have been to Shinjuku main statio and the shopping area around it again (I've been there on Friday for a while to get my alien card) and bought a nice shirt and the Best album of Kuraki Mai. (I was not sure whether to buy it because best albums are a bit... pointless in my eyes, but they had a huge poster of her at Tower Records and a stand where you could get stuff for free if you bought the CD, so I bought it and got stickers and a clearfile. <3 I can put my tons of material in there, but I guess it's too much. There's LOADS of information they want us to know, and still a lot more to come up.)
I still have to do some organizational stuff at university, like my Japanese placement test tomorrow, registration for classes and what not, and other stuff like opening a bank account and, most importantly, getting a cell phone. It's tough without a cell phone!!! I want to contact people, but I can't.
Well, I don't know what to write anymore, and I don't have many pics to upload yet, so I'll update again later. :)
Friday, September 11, 2009
In Japan!!!
I have arrived safely in Japan on Tuesday, just as planned. I know you are probably burning for more information, but I cannot connect my laptop to the electricity here (although I bought an adapter -___-), so I am at my dorm's only computer at the moment. Please bear with me as I am trying to fix the problem. I will update as soon as I can, I promise!
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