Orientation Part 3
Well, second day of official orientation and while I had already known about most of the stuff, some things (like getting to know Japanese students, how to use a special language learning fund) were useful. It was nice that they brought in two former Fulbrighters to answer our questions (there was one yesterday as well). Thanks to listening to one of the former Fulbrighters, I an actually considering staying in Japan one extra year after Fulbright and attend a language school to really improve my language capability. Very tentative, but it sounds interesting.
Another thing I learned today was that I was the ONLY Fulbrighter who got off the alternative list. That means I was cutting it veryyyyy close. I am glad they ended up with the money to bring me to Japan. Interestingly, I was the last Fulbrighter to get the grant but the first to arrive in Japan.
Probably the most interesting thing today was the fact that most of the available Fulbrighters went drinking (cheap, all you can drink for 1500 yen) with the executive director of the Japan Fulbright Program. He is a very interesting guy, very nice, albeit sometimes acting a bit weird. He answered a lot of questions for us and honestly, how often do you get the chance to go and drink/hang out with the head of your scholarship/grant? Right now, besides the language issues I am having, it looks like I will be having a pretty good year ahead.
EDIT: One quick question, so one of the people I met yesterday suggested that I contact a prof who my advisor knows. Should I contact his prof by myself or should I actually talk to my advisor first?
Another thing I learned today was that I was the ONLY Fulbrighter who got off the alternative list. That means I was cutting it veryyyyy close. I am glad they ended up with the money to bring me to Japan. Interestingly, I was the last Fulbrighter to get the grant but the first to arrive in Japan.
Probably the most interesting thing today was the fact that most of the available Fulbrighters went drinking (cheap, all you can drink for 1500 yen) with the executive director of the Japan Fulbright Program. He is a very interesting guy, very nice, albeit sometimes acting a bit weird. He answered a lot of questions for us and honestly, how often do you get the chance to go and drink/hang out with the head of your scholarship/grant? Right now, besides the language issues I am having, it looks like I will be having a pretty good year ahead.
EDIT: One quick question, so one of the people I met yesterday suggested that I contact a prof who my advisor knows. Should I contact his prof by myself or should I actually talk to my advisor first?