日本に比べて、アメリカはつまらない。
Life goes on, as per usual. Still haven't found a part-time job even though I've been applying all over, but I'm hoping something turns up soon. The grocery store down the street will be hiring a bunch of people soon since they'll be losing a bunch of people for the summer as they run off to the shore, so hopefully I'll get a call from them. For now I'm continuing to stalk craigslist and the local paper for opportunities. As long as it's somewhere nearby so I don't need to drive a ton or have to take the train, I'll be happy.
UAlberta plans are coming together. I was offered a spot in the Graduate Apartments on Alberta's campus, just opened last year! It's a two-bedroom apartment, furnished, with all utilities besides electricity included in my rent. I'll have a roommate who is also a grad student at Alberta, and we'll split electricity. My mom and I spent a little while earlier looking on google maps at the area- I am literally down the street from two Japanese restaurants! Clearly, my living arrangements will be superb in Canada. We also figured out I can get to the West Edmonton Mall, the largest mall in North America, in half an hour from campus via public transit. The mall even has a couple waterparks in it, so I think I will have plenty of entertainment in my limited free time.
I'll be taking three courses in the fall, of which two are decided right now. There's a seminar class for all the grad students in my department (11 of us coming in), and I'll also be taking Classical Japanese. My advisor and I are still figuring out the third class, but it'll probably be a History course of some sort. Additionally, I will be TAing next year to earn my stipend. In the fall I'll be TAing EAST101, taught by my advisor. There are currently 130 students registered for the class (oh hi giant university), but I'm unsure how many students I'd actually have in a TA section. My advisor wants me to try TAing Japanese as well, so I'll be doing that in the Spring. I hope I can do okay with that; at least if it's baby Japanese, I'll know more kanji than the students by default.
May Day at Bryn Mawr was totally fantastic. Alex M. was a wonderful host, and introduced me to her two fabulous frosh/hellees who I got to know very well. (Apparently I am a legend to the frosh? When did this happen? Also, one of them decided I should be referred to as the "Jillyfish" at Garden Party yesterday...) It was a lot of fun not only to see current students, but madhatterpan , gibberditz8_8 ,littledarkvoice , anyagee , chasingtides , and shinryuuchan as well! It was very strange not to know a lot of the freshman, but with so many of my friends still there and other alums come to visit, it hardly seemed like I had left! This was probably my last May Day ever, so I'm glad that I have such fond memories of it. Of course I had to visit campus one more time yesterday to see 2011 graduate! I hung out with anyagee during the ceremony, and we had fun making commentary through the convocation speaker. It was great to hear so many of my friend's names called out to receive their diplomas, but after awhile my hands hurt from clapping so much! It was also really cool to meet everyone's parents at garden party, and I have a ton of pictures to upload later. After all the events, I had a chill dinner with Random at Cosi's before I caught a train back to Philly.
I'm still beat after yesterday, so I'll call it a night here. Hope everyone is doing well!
UAlberta plans are coming together. I was offered a spot in the Graduate Apartments on Alberta's campus, just opened last year! It's a two-bedroom apartment, furnished, with all utilities besides electricity included in my rent. I'll have a roommate who is also a grad student at Alberta, and we'll split electricity. My mom and I spent a little while earlier looking on google maps at the area- I am literally down the street from two Japanese restaurants! Clearly, my living arrangements will be superb in Canada. We also figured out I can get to the West Edmonton Mall, the largest mall in North America, in half an hour from campus via public transit. The mall even has a couple waterparks in it, so I think I will have plenty of entertainment in my limited free time.
I'll be taking three courses in the fall, of which two are decided right now. There's a seminar class for all the grad students in my department (11 of us coming in), and I'll also be taking Classical Japanese. My advisor and I are still figuring out the third class, but it'll probably be a History course of some sort. Additionally, I will be TAing next year to earn my stipend. In the fall I'll be TAing EAST101, taught by my advisor. There are currently 130 students registered for the class (oh hi giant university), but I'm unsure how many students I'd actually have in a TA section. My advisor wants me to try TAing Japanese as well, so I'll be doing that in the Spring. I hope I can do okay with that; at least if it's baby Japanese, I'll know more kanji than the students by default.
May Day at Bryn Mawr was totally fantastic. Alex M. was a wonderful host, and introduced me to her two fabulous frosh/hellees who I got to know very well. (Apparently I am a legend to the frosh? When did this happen? Also, one of them decided I should be referred to as the "Jillyfish" at Garden Party yesterday...) It was a lot of fun not only to see current students, but madhatterpan , gibberditz8_8 ,littledarkvoice , anyagee , chasingtides , and shinryuuchan as well! It was very strange not to know a lot of the freshman, but with so many of my friends still there and other alums come to visit, it hardly seemed like I had left! This was probably my last May Day ever, so I'm glad that I have such fond memories of it. Of course I had to visit campus one more time yesterday to see 2011 graduate! I hung out with anyagee during the ceremony, and we had fun making commentary through the convocation speaker. It was great to hear so many of my friend's names called out to receive their diplomas, but after awhile my hands hurt from clapping so much! It was also really cool to meet everyone's parents at garden party, and I have a ton of pictures to upload later. After all the events, I had a chill dinner with Random at Cosi's before I caught a train back to Philly.
I'm still beat after yesterday, so I'll call it a night here. Hope everyone is doing well!