T O K Y O & L I F E

Just another random update

I have an updated schedule:

Monday: Japanese Language
Tuesday: Korean Culture and Society, Japanese Language, Japanese Culture and Society
Wednesday: Japanese Language
Thursday: Asian Politics II, Japanology
Friday: Japanese Language, Cell Phone Culture
Saturday: International Management

Basically, I took out the early morning advertising class, and replaced Game Theory with this Cell Phone Culture class. Me and Mike had no idea that Game Theory was a hard class (even for Japanese students). I at least want to have some kind of general idea of whats going on in class...

Also, Mike, Stephen, and myself are currently taking Shorinji Kempo, which is some insane martial art. A small little innocent Japanese girl can basically throw a Sumo 20 feet in the air. We spent a few hours training with them. I haven't been able to see the Powerlifting Club but I will check it out next week.

The Cell Phone class I am taking is taught by this nerdy, but informative teacher. He knows whats going on with the world of cellphones...

Some of the futuristic crap that Japan has made include:

QR Codes - Basically, they are square bar codes that can be as small as a stamp, to as big as being on a billboard. You turn on your QR Code function on your camera. It scans the code, and brings to you a website. Usually, it just contains information about whatever the advertisement is about, or has some kind of sweepstakes. Either way, it is something I would like to see in the States.

World Camera - In Japanese, they call it Sekai Kamera. It is a killer application for the Iphone. You turn on your camera, and walk around, holding it up as if you were taking a picture. Point your camera anywhere, and you get feedback, reviews, pictures, and videos that people previously left. For example, if I am walking around a shopping district, point it at a certain store, it might give me 5 reviews left by other people. It is able to do this by using the GPS technology in the Iphone. Just another way to socially connect people electronically. Again, something I want to see in the States.

Augmented Reality - I think they have this in the States. This one is kind of hard to explain, so here is a link to the video. Check it out here. About 3 minutes long. You basically whip out your camera, point, and start playing a game. It actually super-imposes images on your camera, and you play various kinds of interesting games. I don't know how people think of this, but this application is definitely my favorite.

These are the kinds of things we are learning about in the Cellphone class.

My International Management class, besides being on Saturday, is probably the class I am going to learn the most from. The teacher is from Ireland, and has a lot of knowledge and information. He definitely knows how to keeps things interesting, and also enjoys kicking sleeping students out of his class. He kind of acts as a guidance to us exchange students, giving us the reality of Japanese culture and society. Lots of things he says aren't pleasing to the ear, as far as work in Japan, life in Japan, a woman's role in Japan, etc.

I got a job working at school as a "Chat Leader." The job is pretty basic - I make conversation with Japanese students. I will be working with kids of all ages... from Elementary to College level. First day starts on Tuesday so we will see how things go.

Since I am going to school 6 days a week, I feel like time just flies by. Today is Sunday, and it is my relax day. Laundry, homework, scholarship essays, and whatever else I should get done.

165 days. Yeah, a long time away. But me and Steph are staying strong, day by day. Thank God for web video chat. Email after email just wouldn't do it for me. We have been watching Avatar lately (DO NOT SPOIL ANYTHING) and just sharing our day by day life, awaiting March. She's gonna come visit for a little over two weeks during the Sakura Blossoming season (Hanami, in Japanese. Literally means Flower Watching). It is basically the most beautiful time to come to Japan, and I can't WAIT, since both of us have never experienced Spring in Japan. I love you Steph.

I'll throw up some pictures of some stuff I have been up to lately.

Entrace to Aogaku, my college

Some curvy building in the city

This picture is for DJ...

A really nice park about 2 seconds from my dorm

Protesters for the release of Aung Sung Su Kyi

It looks bad, but getting around isn't too difficult

Sensors for water, soap, and drier, all in one sink.

Some guy passed out, sleeping under the seats of the train

Fat Joe

Going down the escalator for Tokyo Game Show 2009

Cosplay at the Game Show. The person in the middle - Man or Woman?

You decide.

Goofy Japanese guy

The sky and scenario kind of reminded me of San Diego a bit

Me and my fellow exchange buddies.

I chose this picture because I look buffed

That's all. Time to finish up homework and scholarship essays (Thanks Stephen for the info)

PS, I jacked some pictures from you Stephen. (He is a pro cameraman)

I'll post some more in two weeks or so.

Byebye

HERE I AM

The land of the crammed midnight trains, trains filled with drunk business men who rub against the helpless girls... The land of the brown-faced teenagers, teenagers who splash white eye liner like there's no tomorrow.... The land far away from home... JAPAN.

I am attending Aoyama Gakuin Daigaku, or Aogaku or short, for about one year. I'll be in the International Studies department. The school happens to be conveniently located only 10 minutes from Shibuya (walking). School actually starts tomorrow, and I have all my classes listed later on this Blog.

I am dorming at this place called Aobadai, which is about 30 minutes from Shibuya (Shibuya is one of the main cities in Tokyo, by the way). 30 minutes may seem like a long time, but compared to the typical Japanese commute, which is TWO HOURS, I think I can manage. Aobadai serves me breakfast and dinner Mon-Sat, and gives me unlimited AC and heater usage. SCHWING!

So far, I have had to make a bank account, register for a cellphone, and get my Alien Registration Card. This was all accomplished after waiting about 2 hours at each place... but well worth the wait.

My plan is to update this every week or two weeks... not overflowing it with unnecessary pictures and random blabber. We'll see how things go.

I have been here for 12 days, and so far things have been good. My girlfriend, Steph, is in San Diego right now, which makes things difficult. But we are both strong and dedicated, which helps things out tremendously. Not to mention she is a BEAUTY QUEEN!!! I love her very much... and can't wait for her arrival in Spring.
ENOUGH MUSHY STUFF!!!!!!! <3

My school schedule is as follows:

Monday: Japanese Language, Per. 3
Tuesday: Advertising Communications, Korean Culture and Society, Japanese Language, Japanese Culture and Society
Wednesday: Japanese Language
Thursday: Asian Politics II, Japanology (weird ass name)
Friday: Japanese Language, Game Theory (not video games... damn)
Saturday: International Management

Also, on top of that strange schedule, I will be joining a few clubs my college has to offer. One is Power Lifting, and the other is Kenpo.

Kenpo: Wednesday and Saturday from 3pm-6pm
Powerlifting RAHHH: Not sure yet

Advertising Communications, Korean Culture and Society, and Game Theory are all taught in Japanese, which should make things difficult, but interesting. In case you didn't know (I didn't), Game Theory is the theory of strategy in business. Those damn Japanese tricked me into thinking it was about video games....... clever.

One of my goals in Japan is to get fit and put on some weight. I CHOSE THE WRONG DAMN COUNTRY TO DO THIS. Japanese meals usually consist of a little bit of meat, a lot of rice, and a bowl of miso soup. I am trying to find alternate, cheaper ways of eating in Japan at the moment. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. Keep in mind I am limited to a damn microwave, a crappy toaster, and a plug-in stove.

AND, I am applying for a teaching position at school. They pay 1200 yen (about 12 bucks) an hour, to sit and have conversations with either younger, or college-aged students. I hope I get the job... Its either this... or a Geisha...

Anyways, this one has been really long. I'll upload some random pictures of stuff.

Steph's surprise bday message for me woo!!!