授業 (長い)
So this Thursday was the start of real classes at the University. The trains were absolutely packed. And if you thought that was bad, wait 'til you see the buses (pictures later).
So we've only had 2 real days of class so far, and my schedule isn't really finalized yet. Actually, I don't really know what to take. They don't really have anything that corresponds to the advisors at UT. In fact, the people that work at the international office within the university barely speak English. They gave the students 1 or 2 days to register for classes, but everyone has to register at the same time. Which means that you couldn't really register for classes until the morning of, nor could you ask anyone what you were even supposed to sign up for. And that's making it sound easier than it was. I ended up just following people into classes I figured I was supposed to be in.
The problem with a lot of the classes is that, even if they say they're for people who got placed into levels 3 and 4, they're really designed for one or the other. This becomes apparent when a level 4 person gets stuck in a class reviewing particles, and a level 3 person is made to read manga aloud in Japanese.
But the "core" classes (ones you got sorted into through a series of written tests, followed by an interview) are for your level only, so those seem to be fine. I just hope they don't seem too easy 2 weeks in.
I feel like my Japanese has already gotten much better. I even talked to our next-door neighbor today, almost entirely in 敬語 (doesn't sound like much, but if you know me at all, it's a big thing). w Also, I feel like I've lost weight. Certainly not a bad thing. Must be all those stairs, escalators, running for the trains, wandering around Shibuya, et cetera. w But Japanese clothes don't seem to fit me. Maybe I'll have to wait a while longer.
Also, I seem to be going through my money, even though I'm not buying things. I guess most of it goes to food and travel, since the trains cost money, and we have to buy lunch at school. (I mostly go with the cheapest thing I can possibly stand, like おにぎり and some kind of パン and that's it. I just try to eat a big breakfast and dinner.) I think I'm gonna try to sell my manga and see if I can get some money for that. Although I need to get some kinda job (even an "unofficial" one). I need somebody to explain to me clearly how one does so.
And unfortunately, I still cannot use the wireless internet at the house, despite the fact that I know it is there. After multiple attempts at using 2 different CDs to set it up and several calls to the manufacturer, we finally determined ... that we either need to get yet another CD, or another router. One of us must be wrong.
On the bright side, I finally managed to make my way home (relatively) on my own from the station today. It's like a 30 minute walk, but hopefully, I'll get faster as I get used to it. I would bike, but it's pretty much uphill all the way back from the station. (The way there is lots of fun. Coming back, not so much.) But I was really proud of myself just for that. Luckily the weather's still pretty good (today was quite windy), so it's not a pain walking around outside for hours on end.
So we've only had 2 real days of class so far, and my schedule isn't really finalized yet. Actually, I don't really know what to take. They don't really have anything that corresponds to the advisors at UT. In fact, the people that work at the international office within the university barely speak English. They gave the students 1 or 2 days to register for classes, but everyone has to register at the same time. Which means that you couldn't really register for classes until the morning of, nor could you ask anyone what you were even supposed to sign up for. And that's making it sound easier than it was. I ended up just following people into classes I figured I was supposed to be in.
The problem with a lot of the classes is that, even if they say they're for people who got placed into levels 3 and 4, they're really designed for one or the other. This becomes apparent when a level 4 person gets stuck in a class reviewing particles, and a level 3 person is made to read manga aloud in Japanese.
But the "core" classes (ones you got sorted into through a series of written tests, followed by an interview) are for your level only, so those seem to be fine. I just hope they don't seem too easy 2 weeks in.
I feel like my Japanese has already gotten much better. I even talked to our next-door neighbor today, almost entirely in 敬語 (doesn't sound like much, but if you know me at all, it's a big thing). w Also, I feel like I've lost weight. Certainly not a bad thing. Must be all those stairs, escalators, running for the trains, wandering around Shibuya, et cetera. w But Japanese clothes don't seem to fit me. Maybe I'll have to wait a while longer.
Also, I seem to be going through my money, even though I'm not buying things. I guess most of it goes to food and travel, since the trains cost money, and we have to buy lunch at school. (I mostly go with the cheapest thing I can possibly stand, like おにぎり and some kind of パン and that's it. I just try to eat a big breakfast and dinner.) I think I'm gonna try to sell my manga and see if I can get some money for that. Although I need to get some kinda job (even an "unofficial" one). I need somebody to explain to me clearly how one does so.
And unfortunately, I still cannot use the wireless internet at the house, despite the fact that I know it is there. After multiple attempts at using 2 different CDs to set it up and several calls to the manufacturer, we finally determined ... that we either need to get yet another CD, or another router. One of us must be wrong.
On the bright side, I finally managed to make my way home (relatively) on my own from the station today. It's like a 30 minute walk, but hopefully, I'll get faster as I get used to it. I would bike, but it's pretty much uphill all the way back from the station. (The way there is lots of fun. Coming back, not so much.) But I was really proud of myself just for that. Luckily the weather's still pretty good (today was quite windy), so it's not a pain walking around outside for hours on end.