同じ空

2011 in review

Camille — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 01:24:58 +0000

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,400 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 40 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Ohhh yeah!

Camille — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 04:56:52 +0000

Why, hello GPA boost. Well, only a little, from 3.55 to 3.59.

Lately, everything has been reminding me of Japan, meaning intense nostalgia and longing to be back there. I suppose at this time of the semester, we would be preparing to climb Mt. Fuji or we would have climbed it already? The semester would be winding down… taking finals for our classes… I was planning to stick around after the program had ended, since we could rent our apartment per day until the end of month. It would have been a wonderful opportunity to travel.

At this point, I’m strongly considering applying to the JET program; however, I know I can’t just limit my options to that. Also, because I might need an extra semester, I feel in a sort of limbo sometimes.

とにかく, I suppose I won’t be updating this blog as much anymore, though it definitely will not be abandoned. I will (try to) update my normal blog more regulary.

I am really happy to have recently received questions at my formspring account regarding Tsuru. I’m so happy for those of you who will be going to Tsuru! (And a bit jealous, of course) Please do send questions anytime! I’m also quick about answering them since they go straight to my e-mail.

Good news

Camille — Tue, 17 May 2011 21:49:05 +0000

What a nice little surprise in my inbox yesterday! Converted, that’s about 6 semester units. Glad to know that we will receive credit for finishing the intensive language portion of the program.

It’s crazy to think about how hectic it was after the big earthquake: My parents frantically trying to get me out of Japan, Cece and I studying while waiting 5 hours at the Kofu international office to get our re-entry permits, my TV on 24/7 for aftershocks and Fukushima news.

Despite all the stress of the situation, there was still the hope of things getting better for Japan and being able to return. We were all in our apartments, simultaneously discussing when we would return to Japan and plans to go to Kyoto/Osaka/Nara for Golden Week. In my case, my parents wanted me to wait things out in the Philippines with family there for spring break, and return when the radiation scare had gone down. And then the US Embassy’s Travel Alert became a Travel Warning, followed by a UC EAP e-mail stating that all UC EAP Japan programs are cancelled and that all UC students return home.

My expected departure date from Japan that was originally just a little spring break away from Japan with the promise of return, had suddenly become my last day in Japan.

Cece was the first one to see this e-mail and she texted me about it. But there was an uncertainty about the message she had sent to my phone. Still grasping onto the hope that this was a simple misunderstanding — a lie — I hurried back to my apartment, and sure enough, there was that e-mail. I text Thomas about it, and there goes all plans, and a lot more e-mails, messages, and changes of plans sent out.

The 9.0M 2011 Tohoku Earthquake is now recorded as the most powerful earthquake that has hit Japan. You’ve lived through the biggest earthquake has ever hit Japan. Good thing you didn’t come back with mutant powers. I’ve heard these a few times already. Yes, it’s a good story to tell in the future, that I lived through this, totally unscathed. I was far away from all three: the epicenter, tsunamis, and Fukushima.

Sometimes I daydream, wondering what it would be like if I were still in Tsuru. I would be taking regular classes with all Tsuru students, finally decided on what clubs to join, and (hopefully) done some travelling in Japan. I should have been there until July.

However, I’m here at home and waiting out the last few days before I return to Berkeley for summer school. I’m taking Advanced Japanese (J100) over the summer so I don’t fall behind too much. I’m hoping to find a job or internship during that time too. In technical terms, I’ve lost a whole semester and I may need to stay an extra one before I graduate. But I wouldn’t trade my Tsuru experience. I’ve met some amazing people. I’ve seen, experienced, and lived a whole other culture for 3 months. I’m trying to not look at this as a semester lost, but more as a short but wonderful experience, and am trying to look at the opportunities open to me now with this upcoming summer, and how I can use it to shape my last few semesters in Berkeley, post-graduation, and my hopeful return to Japan someday.

Post Japan: Culture shock? Differences? What I miss?

Camille — Fri, 13 May 2011 23:54:58 +0000

Honestly, I don’t think I had any real culture shock experience. However, I do have to say that even though I was there for just three months, I did have a few reverse culture shocks:

Food proportions — Japanese food portions are not that tiny. They’re also much healthier: there’s always vegetables. Perhaps because I went to the Philippines before coming home, but I wasn’t used to larger food portions. My appetite was already smaller before, and it got even smaller in Japan. (I don’t think my aunts and uncles believed me when I told them I was not dieting) When I got back to the US, I realized that I had lost 5 pounds while in Japan.
How people dress — Of course, people dress a lot more conservatively in Japan. But they also dress a lot neater. (I also think they dress cuter, but that’s a personal fashion preference) It’s like I had almost forgotten that in the US, people dress however the hell they want. I’m not saying this is a bad thing, just that it’s a lot more casual here. I live in California, flip flops abound, which you won’t see in Japan. Japanese people also tend to wear darker colors. I once wore my yellow jacket and two of my tutors both complimented and teased me, saying it looked like I was going on a date. “Why? Is it weird?” I asked. They replied that it’s hade (showy; flashy).

Not to say that there wasn’t anything that didn’t surprise me while I was in Japan. The following aren’t cases of culture shock, just small, little differences that I took note of while I was in Japan:

Everything is indeed smaller. Elevators, streets, cars, clothes, the laundry machine, shoes… I couldn’t even fit into XXL size shoes!
It’s rare to see anyone with bared shoulders. At the university, you never see anyone with tank tops, for example. Cece once wore a sleeveless top and wondered why everyone was looking at her.
When you buy pads/tampons, they place it in a black plastic bag before giving it to you. When I inquired about this to one of our tutors, she said because it is seen as embarrassing.
You always close the shouji door behind you after walking into the room. When it’s cold especially, because it keeps the warm air from escaping. When I was back in the US and skyping with one of my Japanese friends, she thought it was odd that I left my bedroom door open.

Things I miss from Japan:

THE FOOD — There is never a time I will say no to Japanese food. Ramen, udon, curry, chahan, omelette rice, nabe, takoyaki, unagi, the snacks, miso soup and tea with every meal… so much cheaper than here, since Japanese food tends to be more expensive in the US.
Seria — The dollar store equivalent. Except there’s so much more useful things to buy. I bought laundry soap, kitchen items like aluminum foil and chopsticks and dish soap, pens, paper, notebooks, bathroom rub, hair accessories, nail polish, stationery and envelopes, hair trimming scissors… as well as cute things to waste your money on.
The awesome toilets — They keep your bottom warm and clean. After I had been home for only a few days, I sat down on a toilet, expecting it to be nice and warm… but it was cold (can that count as shock?)
Cell phone — Even just the simple, prepaid Softbank phone (that was about $70) was so nice. Besides being so sleek, thin, and pretty, being able to send mail in Japanese was neat. The emoji and faces programmed into the phone also made it fun.
The futon — During the cold nights, turning on the heater and crawling into the futon felt so good.
The efficiency of transportation — The JR train system is always on time and so easy to navigate.
Vending machines — And the accessibility of milk tea. They are everywhere, so you are never thirsty, and most everything is 100-140 yen.

[Will add/edit this post as I think of more things; last edit: 5/17]

★ Why Tsuru University?

Camille — Thu, 05 May 2011 23:50:38 +0000

Tokyo’s tall gray buildings melt away into grassy green hills, peppered with the occasional cluster of small houses. We are on this bus from Tokyo to Tsuru, on a two-lane freeway for two hours before the green Tsuru sign finally swims out from the sea of forested hills.

The freeway narrows down even further into a two-lane street that would be considered a one-way street back in America. The short houses and shops all become one white and brown blur. It finally hits me, two days after getting off my airplane: I am in Japan. I am in a whole other country. And we are in the middle of nowhere.

“What university are you studying at?” Someone from Tokyo would ask.

“Tsuru University,” I reply, and the response I receive is a confused look.

“Where is that?” He asks, an inevitable question.

“Yamanashi Prefecture.” This prompts an exclamation of surprise, because the train ride from Tsuru to Tokyo is nearly three hours long.

Tsuru University does not incite the awed gasps of prestigious universities like Tokyo or Keio University. It is a tiny campus of only four buildings, tucked away into a town surrounded by hills. If one is lucky, one can see Mt. Fuji on a clear day. So why did I choose Tsuru University, and what does its exchange program offer than no other program does?

Intensive Language Study (Inside and Outside of Class)

My main goal for studying abroad was to improve my language skills, especially because I study Japanese language and literature as a Japanese and Comparative Literature double major.

I had several Japanese universities to choose from, including Doshisha, with its large campus in Kyoto — the complete opposite of Tsuru. However, I chose Tsuru because of its six weeklong intensive language program and its small campus in a rural setting.

Being in such a small, rural town offers continuous practice of the language outside of class. Tsuru does not have signs both in Japanese and English, unlike Tokyo, which draws many international visitors. I found myself talking and reading Japanese 24/7. To be truly immersed in the language like this is exactly what I was looking for in a study abroad program. Just within a week, I had a newfound confidence in my Japanese skills.

Language and culture are taught in class and experienced outside of class. We had private calligraphy lessons, a city tour, donned kimonos for Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day), ate traditional meals like gathering around a table for nabe (hotpot), and went to elementary schools to assist a teacher teaching her kids Japanese. The program is truly a language and culture experience, both inside and outside the classroom.

Class Personalization[1]

Tsuru University and the UC system have a partner program where Tsuru University takes up to 10 UC students every semester for a Language and Culture program. The first six weeks are intensive language, followed by spring break, and then regular classes are taken with all Tsuru students.

During the intensive language program, there are four teachers: Inoue, Shima, Takami, and Miyata. Classes are every day, 9 to 12 p.m., though it honestly feels less like taking a class, and more like a private lesson. Especially because the Tsuru program only accepts a small number of UC students (in our case, there were only 3 of us), you are individual who is paid attention to, and not just one person in a large class of students with different levels of Japanese.

The teachers work at the pace that best works for each student. On the first day of class, we were given a placement test to figure out our level of grammar, kanji, and speaking. From there, the first week of class is still a trial run, as the teachers narrow in on each student’s level of Japanese. They try out different textbooks to figure out which one best fit the student – if it is too advanced or easy for, which chapter to start at.

They also tailor the program’s pacing to each student’s learning abilities. I was repeatedly told that if the pacing is too slow or too fast, to tell them. There is a certain section of grammar to cover every day, but it is not set in stone. There is no problem in pausing the lesson to ask questions, to clarify, or to review past concepts again.

The class reflects the syllabus we were given, which states: there is no objective in the class; you have to find it yourself.

A network of help

You are never alone. There is always someone to ask for help, whether it be how to sort your garbage (more complicated than one would think), to medical concerns.

Fumi-san is the infamous host mother at Tsuru, and she will truly be your mother while in Japan. She extends invitations to her house for dinner, helps students with alien registration ID cards and health insurance, buying a cell phone, or providing a ride to the bank. Any question, worry, or request, contact Fumi-san.

After the 9.0 earthquake struck Japan on March 11, power went out everywhere. By the evening, power was still out, and the other exchange students and I only had a few flashlights, candles, and some snacks for dinner. Fumi-san sent her son out to pick us up and we stayed the night at her house. She gave us dinner, reassurance, and breakfast the following day.

The following morning, the e-mails and phone calls from last night that could not get through poured in one after the other. When I was finally able to contact my frantic parents, they were relieved to know that Fumi-san had been looking out for us. While at Tsuru, Fumi-san truly is everyone’s mother, and her family becomes your family.

Besides the amazing Fumi-san, there is also Mineko Takeguchi, who facilitates the Language and Culture program. If Fumi-san is not there, she is the one to go to, especially for university or program related things. Students are also assigned their own host family. Students also exchange mail addresses with the teachers, so they are another resource. And let’s not forget, personal tutors!

Personal tutors

Probably one of the best parts of this program is a small group of Tsuru students who become your tutors. And it goes beyond homework. On our first day at Tsuru, they took us grocery shopping (with insider tips on which grocery store has better deals on produce, or to buy eggs when they are on sale for 100 yen a pack). They helped us open bank accounts, taught us how to take the trains, and how to set up our cell phones. They invited us to club meetings or their apartments for dinner, introducing us to Japanese university life. They become not just tutors, but your closest friends while in Japan, and remain with you when you leave. Thank goodness for skype!

Making Connections

One of the perks at Tsuru University is how easy it is to meet other students, both on and campus, and off. Just walking down the street, there is a high chance of bumping into someone you know.

Sure, Tsuru is not Tokyo. There is no nightlife, but what is substituted for a night out on the town, is that people get together. A lot. Tutors, your neighbor, or other new friends may invite you to an okonomiyaki-making party, or to go out for lunch.

Everything is walking distance: Several grocery stores, Seria (the equivalent to the American dollar store), post office, a cute little bakery, a medicinal store, the train station, restaurants, and convenience stores. There is likely someone you have become friends with working part-time at any of these places. The university itself is a 10 to 15 minute walk away.

The apartment

The address is Maison de Crystal. It is no French house, but the living space given to UC students is amazing, and only 500,000 yen a month (about $500) with utilities, water, and Internet included! The apartment is subsidized by the UC/Tsuru partnership, allowing it to be such a good deal for a fully furnished apartment — especially in Japan, known for its high cost of living. Each student has his or her own apartment in this three story building, rented out exclusively to UC students or Tsuru students who are going to study abroad at one of the UCs.

Each apartment comes with a shower/ofuro (bath), bathroom, kitchen, a large studio-like apartment space, and a sleeping area with a futon. The kitchen already comes fully stocked with dishes, utensils, a rice cooker, fridge, and other appliances, as well as anything left behind by the previous tenant. One lucky person may get the room with the kotatsu (Japanese low table).

Tsuru University offers a highly personalized program in a studious and friendly environment. It is a homely place, where everything and everyone is walking distance. Japanese is practiced from the moment one wakes up, to when one falls asleep.

My stay in Japan was cut short due to the March 11 earthquake, but we were able to finish the intensive language program. It was only six weeks, but my Japanese had improved greatly, especially in terms of speaking. I could carry conversations with much more ease and confidence. Though my time there was short, it was an experience I would not trade for anything else. I have met so many people, and now have friends and people I can call, “My family in Japan.” If anything, they have given me an even greater reason to return to Japan someday.

[1] Please note that due to the earthquake/tsunami/Fukushima situation, this review is limited to the six-weeklong intensive language program. We were supposed to take regular classes at the university afterwards, but our program got cancelled before that.

04.10.2011

Camille — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 04:51:05 +0000

Unfortunately, my time in Tsuru, Japan has been cut short. Due to the earthquake, tsunami, and Fukushima incident in Japan, all UC EAP Japan programs have been cancelled. I feel really blessed and lucky that Tsuru was left untouched.

After the big earthquake and power outage, I remember walking around outside the following day. It was such a beautiful sunny day. It felt like all the tragic images on the news was a dream, or in someplace far away.

My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to Japan.

Even if my stay in Japan was only about 2 months, it was a wonderful experience. I’ve met some wonderful people, and truly feel I have a second family in Japan. I know I’ll definitely come back again someday. Japan will がまんする and still be there. ♥

I’m not sure what I’ll be doing with this blog. I may revamp it for other purposes, maybe not. But it will stay here, along with all my memories.

If you happened to stumble upon my blog because you were researching studying abroad in Japan, UC EAP Japan, Tsuru University, etc. please don’t hesitate to ask me anything. Leave your questions here, or shoot me an email.

Protected: Rant

Camille — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 09:42:15 +0000

This post is password protected. You must visit the website and enter the password to continue reading.

★ Sticky: Important posts

Camille — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:02:07 +0000

03.05.2011 Lots of Vitamin C

Camille — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 13:17:44 +0000

I mentioned in this post that I felt like I was starting to get sick. I feel better than last night, when I really felt a sore throat developing. I kept my heater on during the night, and I woke up a bit sweaty in the morning. And let’s just say I’ve drowned myself in Vitamin C for 2 days:

Yesterday:

House Wellness C1000 Vitamin Lemon – Went to Ogino to try and find some vitamin C. They don’t have any vitamins or anything, but I did find this. It was only ¥99, and it looked like it would help. I’m not sure it did though, because my throat didn’t get any better (or worse) after a few hours.
- Fizzy and sweet, like carbonated lemon soda.
- 1000mg of Vitamin C.
CGC 100% Orange Juice – When Cece and I went grocery shopping with Chie and Haruka for nabe, I thought it’d be a good idea to get some real orange juice. I’ve had that Bireley’s Orange drink in my fridge for a few days now, and though it’s good, it’s watered down (not as sweet, yummier and easier to drink, but I don’t know if I was getting enough vitamin C). I think the bottle says that it’s only 20% juice. By the end of the night, I had drank 90% of that bottle. In the above photo, it’s empty.
- The usual orange juice you buy anywhere, no pulp
- 86mg of Vitamin C per 200ml; 1,000ml total

Today:

C.C. Lemon Zero – On the way to the train station, I stopped by Family Mart. I picked up C.C. Lemon Zero because it says it contains no sugar and calories compared to regular C.C. Lemon. Maybe this is what did it for me? By mid-afternoon, I didn’t feel my sore throat anymore, and my nose had stopped running. I only had to blow my nose twice during the whole day, but there was barely anything.
- Lemony, sweet; not sour or tart
- Has that fake sugar aftertaste that I really don’t like though, like in diet drinks and such. I may go for the regular next time if I do plan on buying it again
- 268mg of Vitamin C per 100ml

So I’m not sure what helped me, but I’m worried about the sore throat returning. I should get to sleep early. I may go to Welcia, since it seems to be the place to buy medicine around here.

[ edit ] Cold gone by the following day!

03.05.2011 Hinamatsuri (Kofu)

Camille — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:04:14 +0000

Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day/Doll’s Festival) was on March 3rd. Cece’s host family invited us over to their place. We left Tsuru around 9 a.m. and arrived in Kofu a little over an hour later. Kofu isn’t as rural as Tsuru, and there’s even a shopping mall right at the train station. Cece’s host father picked us up, accompanied by his adorable daughters, Momono and Sachi. He drove us to their friends’ house, a couple named Yukie and Haru who have a daughter.

Cece’s host mother had asked us to buy some drinks, so we had the milk tea, calpis, and tea that we had bought. We were served chirashizushi, takoyaki, chicken karaage, and a white pasta. They were all delicious, especially the white pasta.

Both families have lived in America before, so their English is very good. Cece had told me they always speak in English to her, and that they wanted to have a host student in order to have someone for their kids to speak English with. For such young kids, their English is really good!

Afterwards, the two host mothers offered Cece and I to try on their kimono! They were both very pretty, and the one I wore was a silk kimono, which was worth about $500, and was passed down from her mother (or grandmother, I don’t quite remember what she said anymore). Putting on a kimono is indeed very difficult, requiring many layers, sashes and knots, and properly tucking in parts. Cece’s host mother told us she attended a 3 week class before just to learn how to put on kimono. The obi is beautiful, but very stiff, and with a full stomach, Cece and I were laughing about how we could barely breathe in them. We took a few photos indoors and then we stepped out for a little bit to have some outdoor shots.

And when we thought we weren’t already full enough, they gave us cake! It was a strawberry cream cake with a pair of candy hinamatsuri dolls on top. Sachi, who seems to eat everything, quickly took one of them. They sounded really hard when she was biting them! In the end, after going at the head until it looked like a huge bald spot, she got tired of it and handed it to her father. Too cute!

Afterwards, we went back upstairs to change out of the kimonos. When we went back downstairs, Yukie had taken down her koto and gave us a brief performance. It was such a pleasant surprise when she let me put on the finger pieces and pluck the strings. She showed me how to play Sakura Sakura, which I didn’t know is a very famous Japanese folk song that everyone knows. Afterwards, she let the kids play it too.

We drank some green tea after that, and chatted about their time in America, the books on their shelves, movies, Japanese children’s shows, etc. Finally, around 3 or 4 p.m. Cece’s host mother drove us back to Kofu station. Sachi also hopped into the car to join us for the ride, but fell asleep halfway there.

Before Cece and I took the train back to Tsuru, we looked around the department store that’s at the train station. There’s a floor that’s all bakeries, gift dessert boxes, and other souvenir food items. There’s clothes stores on other floors too, but they were all very expensive. There were a lot of pens at the book shop, and I’ve been missing drawing, so I bought two black pigment liners. Cece and I took the 5:30 p.m. train back home.

This was a very fun day! I wish we had hinamatsuri back at home too. I’m really glad that Cece and her host mother invited me!