Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Not A Match, Struggle!
I'm quickly realizing that there's a "sink or swim" attitude around here and I'm doing my best to keep my head above water but today I nearly drowned.
This dorm, "Seminar House 2," may be my home for the entire semester.
As I mentioned earlier today, I was up pretty early thanks to my mysterious Swedish roommate, Gustav. My hope was to get to the bank by 9AM in order to exchange some money so I could pay my bills at the earliest possible time in the hopes of streamlining my registration process. Of course, after walking well over a mile to find said bank, I found out that they don't do currency exchange before 10:30. So much for my plan!
Main entrance, Kansai Gaidai University
"Multimedia Hall" where most of my day was spent. Alright, I admit that I was more interested in capturing that girl's awesome tattoo than anything else. And for the record, that's a man on the right.
I hurried back to the campus for a series of meetings and my language placement exam. I didn't know what to think about taking a test so soon after arriving here since my Japanese certainly gathered some rust over the summer. I guess I felt pretty good about it though, after all, I've been studying off and on for five years now.
Well you can forget it. The first portion of the exam was Listening Comprehension and I completely failed. There were 15 questions and I put down "I don't know" for ten of them. That's absurd. Anyone who ever complimented my Japanese was apparently full of shit. The written portions were a little better in that I at least demonstrated that I had been exposed to Japanese before but I still found myself confused by any questions beyond the most primitive level. Looks like I'll be spending my time with the beginners' class again.
Why am I so down about this? After all, it was only a placement exam, not an actual exam that will reflect on my grades. The simple fact is that I have never been a confident man. I have never felt good about my appearance, social skills, or even my intelligence. My sole comfort was knowing that I knew enough Japanese to find my way around. Today's exam demonstrated that by Japanese standards I am retarded. This is not the best attitude to have at the start of a semester.
After the nightmare exam ended, I hurried to the bank to try and exchange my currency. My Japanese was again put to the test when the bank staff asked me for my address and phone number here in Japan. I didn't know either of them. I tried in vain to offer an address of the university but the staff didn't want that. At least, I think they didn't want it because I couldn't understand one word of what they were saying to me.
I left the bank frustrated, confused and in a near panic. If the test this morning made me want to cry, the bank experience clinched it. I held it in of course and defeatedly returned to the campus to ask for help in the International Education office. They were very helpful, pointing out that my orientation materials actually contained all the information I needed. They also suggested I go to a different bank and told me I could take a bus there. I tried reading the material at the bus stop and immediately felt retarded again. Two passing students offered me some help but I figured the simplest solution was to just go back to the first bank and try again. This time, I succeeded and got a decent exchange rate to boot (109 Yen to the dollar).
With more meetings to go to I rushed back to campus and hit the cafeteria for lunch. The price was fair and the food was delicious but I have no idea if it was good for me or not. I fear my diet may quickly become history given that I can barely communicate with anyone. Until some breakthrough occurs, I think I'm just going to have to settle for anything I can point to on a menu.
This afternoon felt a little more productive than this morning. Money in hand, I successfully paid my fees so I can register for classes tomorrow. Of course, I drew such a lousy number (#326 out of 400+ students) there's no way any of my first choices will still be available. Any minute now they're supposed to post the housing assignments for the semester although we won't actually move in until Sunday. They said most people won't be changing rooms though so there's a chance I'm stuck with my current room (and roommate). I guess we'll have to have a talk about the snoring. I do so hate confrontations.
What's the moral of today? I am not special. I am not a beautiful or unique snowflake. I am the same decaying organic matter as everything else...
This dorm, "Seminar House 2," may be my home for the entire semester.
As I mentioned earlier today, I was up pretty early thanks to my mysterious Swedish roommate, Gustav. My hope was to get to the bank by 9AM in order to exchange some money so I could pay my bills at the earliest possible time in the hopes of streamlining my registration process. Of course, after walking well over a mile to find said bank, I found out that they don't do currency exchange before 10:30. So much for my plan!
Main entrance, Kansai Gaidai University
"Multimedia Hall" where most of my day was spent. Alright, I admit that I was more interested in capturing that girl's awesome tattoo than anything else. And for the record, that's a man on the right.
I hurried back to the campus for a series of meetings and my language placement exam. I didn't know what to think about taking a test so soon after arriving here since my Japanese certainly gathered some rust over the summer. I guess I felt pretty good about it though, after all, I've been studying off and on for five years now.
Well you can forget it. The first portion of the exam was Listening Comprehension and I completely failed. There were 15 questions and I put down "I don't know" for ten of them. That's absurd. Anyone who ever complimented my Japanese was apparently full of shit. The written portions were a little better in that I at least demonstrated that I had been exposed to Japanese before but I still found myself confused by any questions beyond the most primitive level. Looks like I'll be spending my time with the beginners' class again.
Why am I so down about this? After all, it was only a placement exam, not an actual exam that will reflect on my grades. The simple fact is that I have never been a confident man. I have never felt good about my appearance, social skills, or even my intelligence. My sole comfort was knowing that I knew enough Japanese to find my way around. Today's exam demonstrated that by Japanese standards I am retarded. This is not the best attitude to have at the start of a semester.
After the nightmare exam ended, I hurried to the bank to try and exchange my currency. My Japanese was again put to the test when the bank staff asked me for my address and phone number here in Japan. I didn't know either of them. I tried in vain to offer an address of the university but the staff didn't want that. At least, I think they didn't want it because I couldn't understand one word of what they were saying to me.
I left the bank frustrated, confused and in a near panic. If the test this morning made me want to cry, the bank experience clinched it. I held it in of course and defeatedly returned to the campus to ask for help in the International Education office. They were very helpful, pointing out that my orientation materials actually contained all the information I needed. They also suggested I go to a different bank and told me I could take a bus there. I tried reading the material at the bus stop and immediately felt retarded again. Two passing students offered me some help but I figured the simplest solution was to just go back to the first bank and try again. This time, I succeeded and got a decent exchange rate to boot (109 Yen to the dollar).
With more meetings to go to I rushed back to campus and hit the cafeteria for lunch. The price was fair and the food was delicious but I have no idea if it was good for me or not. I fear my diet may quickly become history given that I can barely communicate with anyone. Until some breakthrough occurs, I think I'm just going to have to settle for anything I can point to on a menu.
This afternoon felt a little more productive than this morning. Money in hand, I successfully paid my fees so I can register for classes tomorrow. Of course, I drew such a lousy number (#326 out of 400+ students) there's no way any of my first choices will still be available. Any minute now they're supposed to post the housing assignments for the semester although we won't actually move in until Sunday. They said most people won't be changing rooms though so there's a chance I'm stuck with my current room (and roommate). I guess we'll have to have a talk about the snoring. I do so hate confrontations.
What's the moral of today? I am not special. I am not a beautiful or unique snowflake. I am the same decaying organic matter as everything else...
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Take a deep breath. You are going to be just fine. I think you are just overtired and overwhelemed. From my perspective, you are just experiencing the norms of foreign travel and beginning classes at a new school. Unfortunately, your situation has combined the problems.
As for your exam, I am sure the school makes it difficult because they do not want to place exchange students in classes where they will struggle. Remember you will be adjusting to a foreign country this semester so perhaps it is better if your classes aren't intense.
As for your snooring, invest in breath right strips or something like that. It doesn't have to be a confrontation.
Have a good day and try to relax:-)
As for your exam, I am sure the school makes it difficult because they do not want to place exchange students in classes where they will struggle. Remember you will be adjusting to a foreign country this semester so perhaps it is better if your classes aren't intense.
As for your snooring, invest in breath right strips or something like that. It doesn't have to be a confrontation.
Have a good day and try to relax:-)
# posted by 
: 24 August, 2005 20:14
: 24 August, 2005 20:14
First off, thanks for the reassuring words. I know I'll adjust eventually but you're nice to say those things anyway.
I have a whole slate of non-intense classes picked out but I don't know if I'll get in them now that my registration draw was so poor. Well, we'll see what happens tomorrow.
I've tried Breathe Right strips but they didn't help.
I have a whole slate of non-intense classes picked out but I don't know if I'll get in them now that my registration draw was so poor. Well, we'll see what happens tomorrow.
I've tried Breathe Right strips but they didn't help.
Wow...that was a rough first day. This is the most difficult part of the trip. Remember I told you I cried every day for the first week when I got to France? And it was almost as hard to leave 7 months later because I ended up loving it so much. Please, resist getting too down on yourself, because you sound pretty capable to me, and I've been through it all. Yes, the exam was rough, and the bank was awkward, but you did get questions answered and yen in pocket, no? Imagine how many students have gone (and are going) through what you are experiencing. Try to relax as much as possible and know that things will get better, your Japanese will improve, that little dorm room WILL become home to you, believe it or not. Try to laugh.
As for the snoring, do talk to Gustav...although I'm not sure what there is to say. Buy him some ear plugs?
As for the snoring, do talk to Gustav...although I'm not sure what there is to say. Buy him some ear plugs?
Dude, I feel retarded every day too, even in my home country. Isn't there anyone else there doing something similar? I mean, it can't be all japanese people. I bet there's totally some other kid who has been humbled by the country. I'm sure you guys will stick out at registration. Find that kid, and make some fun of japanese kids. And that girl's tattoo totally does rock.
Is it conceivable to approach a girl and just start a conversation based on her tattoo? I saw her again today and I'm dying of curiosity. Who is she? Why did she get that one? I bet there's an exciting story (and person) behind it all.
Dan, you are one of the smartest people I have ever known. Look at what you are doing. You are studying in Japan!
Don't take any shit! Kick some ass!
Don't take any shit! Kick some ass!
I think you can absolutely approach someone on the sole basis of tattoos. Most people with tattoos love to talk about them!
:)
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