The night before last a "once in ten years" big typhoon came. Originally classes were meant to start on Thursday, but they were canceled, apparently for the first time AIKOM history. I slept* through the worst of it (*it was really loud and woke me up, but I didn't get up >_>), and then it stormed for a while in the morning, then cleared up and was merely windy, but actually sunny for once. By the afternoon it became maybe the nicest days yet, in terms of weather.
The AIKOMsei that gathered for lunch split up, and I went with a smaller group to Don Quixote (a discount store), where I bought a wallet, since Japanese bills are wider and don't really fit properly in my American wallet. XD+
Afterward, Yisha, Zhemin, Sebastian, Erika, Francesco and I biked to Inokashira kouen (Inokashira park). Akai-san had recommended it highly to me, so I was expecting it to be nice, but even so, I was surprised by how beautiful it was. We walked around, then up to Kichijouji, which is right next to it, for dinner. It was really excellent.
When we finally got back at night, the placement tests were at last posted, and I saw that I'd been put in the advanced level (as opposed to intermediate), as I'd hoped. XD Delightful. 安心した！
Actually, I think the only surprises were pleasant ones: a couple people who thought they'd be in intermediate getting into advanced. XD
So, today was the first day of class. A group of five or six of us who didn't have class until 10:30 rode to Mitaka-dai more or less together, which was nice. I may have mentioned it before, but I really like the bike route there. XD
Our first Japanese class was quite nice. The sensei today (we have a different one every class of the week!) was really nice, and we basically introduced and talked about each other and the course.
Afterward, we finally met our individually-assigned tutors. Mine was really nice, though I was a little shy, I guess. XD+ I'll see him tomorrow, though. I was really happy, though. I've heard of some really bad tutors, but I think I've got nothing to fear (and, on the contrary, much to hope for!) . Again, 安心した. XD We only got to talk, for, liek, 20 minutes, though, since I had another class.
Class number two was just.... wtf. In the booklet we have of the classes designed for AIKOMsei (also open to s normal TouDaisei) it's titled "Aspects of Japanese Society" and the course description says it "covers contemporary issues in Japanese politics, society and economy." It's also a special class conducted in Partnership with Seoul National University, where we basically video-conference with a class there every class, and have discussion/lecture together (the only AIKOM class like this).
So then we're there... And the lecture, delivered by the professor in Korea, is really weird. It's all about globalization and sustainable growth for companies... Nothing particularly to do with Japan, and certain not its society and politics... So, eventually we get a syllabus, on which the class is titled "Modern Management and Economics in the Global Society." Wat. This is a totally different course. Add to this the fact that it's three hours long (but only gives the same credit as a normal 90-minute class), all the weird abstract generalities thrown out without real support, a kind of crazy project assigned straight-off, and the obvious lack of communication and proper coordination between the two professors and I don't think many of us are going back. >_>;
Third class was much better, though. Corporate Value Enhancement Strategy and the Case Study, this time the sensei actually basically stuck to what we'd been told the course was. He seems really knowledgeable (resume is really impressive), and I do actually feel that I can learn a lot in there. Sux that it goes to 5:50pm on Fridays, but I think I may take it.
Tomorrow is our first AIKOM field trip! I'm suuuuuper excited.
Also, I'll hopefully be able to get the first 200,000 yen (~$2,250) of my scholarship mid-week! Most excellent. Especially since my US bank account is getting a little low.
I'm enjoying myself so much, here, everything seems enchanted, too good to be true. I was never exactly nervous, but I did have some anxieties before coming. But now I am so, so glad I'm here. I know it's only been a week, but still. XD
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