HAJIMEMASHOU! First Week of School

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So after a long week of getting settled into our lives here in Japan, everyone was quite excited for the start of classes.  For me, I found that my placement test went better than I had thought, for I was placed in level 4 out of the 7 levels.  I am now extremely glad that I stuck it out and stayed in that 400 level class at my university last semester.  However, we found out that we werenโ€™t quite over the hill yet for there is still a review test given at the end of the week to see if you are in fact capable to handle the level you were put in.  And so began a grueling week of review of vocabulary and grammar.

Beside the Japanese language classes we were able to take up to 3 lecture courses that are taught in English.  My choices were Japanese Art in Kansai Area, Body and Communication in Japan, and Sumi-e (Japanese Brush Painting).  Itโ€™s been really weird to not have at least one science class a day since Iโ€™m a Biology major, but I like it, it gives me a chance to enjoy my other passion, art. 

Saturday was our seminar houseโ€™s welcome party and it was amazing.  We went to Kyoto for an all-dessert buffet place called Sweet Paradise, it was about the most epic place Iโ€™ve ever been to.  There were rows of cakes in every forms and shape imaginable, and even a strawberry fondue fountain for your own Pocky creations!  After stuffing ourselves near sugar-coma state, we went exploring Shijo where there are many shops that sell from comic books to figurines to fashion-forward clothes. 

The first week of school is always a hectic one and it’s even worse when you’re in a new enviroment.  It is somewhat fortunate that the Japanese school year doesn’t start until April which means we have 2 months to enjoy the empty campus before it’s packed with 10,000 (true number) extra students!!

mmmmmm

heaven's buffets

strawberry fondue

Jisho shopping district in Kyoto