2010年7月
2010年7月16日 13:08
infrared technology
When you walk the streets of Japan, you may see people standing with their phones so close that they are barely touching each other. These people aren't just being awkward; they're exchanging phone numbers.
Infrared technology, or sekigaisen, is incorporated in all Japanese phones. Cell phone users are able to exchange information by turning on their infrared, and choosing a "send information" function via the infrared sensors. The cell phones are held side-by-side with both sensors facing each other at this point, and users are able to receive the sent information, or profile, which includes the person's name, picture, phone number, and texting address (similar to an e-mail address). You are able to edit this information once it is in your phone so you can alter names or write in how you met that person, etc.
Exchanging information via infrared technology is extremely fast and useful; something I really think we should start using in the United States as well. The downside? No fake numbering!
2010年7月15日 13:50
College
There are lots of differences between Japanese and American colleges.
Japanese colleges (and all other schools) start in April, and it is extremely, extremely competitive to get in. Jyuken, or Entrance Exams are held through January to March depending on the colleges, and they are typically done on a college-to-college basis. Meaning, you take entirely different exams depending on your choices of colleges. These exams are also different depending on your school preference (ie school of engineering) even within colleges. You may take anywhere between three to seven subjects' exams depending on if the school is a public or private school, as well. There is such a thing called Kyoutsuu Ichiji, which is a nationally administered test, very much like the SATs or ACTs, but your scores from this test can only be applied to a selection of schools. There can also be rounds of Entrance Exams, depending on the schools.
It is typically said that in Japan, colleges are hard to get into, but very easy to graduate. It is not uncommon that a new college student starts going out a lot more instead of studying, because they have passed the hard part. I'm sure that this doesn't accurately apply to all Japanese colleges or college students, but it's a generalization. I also learned that in Japan, it is very rare for someone to take time off from school. Even if a student decides to study abroad and as a result is unable to graduate in four years, it is looked down upon if the student didn't study abroad for a longer period of time, ie one year. Just yesterday, I learned that once a student decides on a college and a school of study, they are stuck with their choice; no changing majors.
To give you an idea of how odd this all is to me, let me explain a little about American colleges.
In America, colleges are relatively easy to apply to, and start in September. I won't say that colleges are easy to get into, because that all depends on your choice of college, but the process is easy. You take the Scholastic Assessment Test or ths SATs, or the American College Test, or the ACTs in your junior (third) or senior (fourth) year of high school (although some students may choose to take them earlier, it is generally in your junior year). The SATs and the ACTs are nationally administered tests, and we are given scores depending on our performance on the exams. These exams can be taken at local high schools nationwide. Then we start the application process, which is done your senior year, through October to March (or year-round if they accept rolling applications). We order the official SAT/ACT test scores to be sent to various colleges that we would like to go to, because the tests are accepted at all colleges, if not required. Within our application, we include our SAT/ACT score (sent separately), letters of recommendation from teachers (sent separately or together), personal essays, transcript (sent separately), and any other information that is required. The typical application will ask about your family, your extracurricular activities, special awards you have received, among others. The personal essay is typically weighed more heavily than others, because it is a chance for the college to get to know you as a person, and a chance for you to show how special and unique you are. Colleges may ask you to write a number of personal essays, and may even give your a prompt which you must answer (ie in your opinion, what is the worst invention and why?). In America, the combination of these materials are weighted and we are sent letters whether or not we are accepted. Even if we are accepted, not all of us have declared majors or fields of study, which is very typical.
In America, your diploma is not handed to you on a silver platter; you have to work for it. It is also very common that a student does not know what to study, and also very easy to change majors. Students may also choose to take a semester or a year off, or delay graduation through other means, and it is not looked down upon.
See what I mean? As a student who changed her major and is planning to take time off, Japanese schools seem very restricting. What do you think?
2010年7月14日 13:17
Tsuyu
Tsuyu is the rainy season of Japan, which lasts from June through mid-July. Tsuyu hits the southern part of Japan first, and gradually makes its way north.
I've only been here for part of Tsuyu but let me tell you; it's ridiculously rainy. It's not that it's constantly thunderstorming or raining heavily, but I think it rained at least two to four days of the week since I've been here. And even on the days that it isn't rainy, it's very humid, so it feels like it might rain soon.
I'm no meterologist so I can't explain Tsuyu further, but I think everyone who wants to visit Japan during this time of year should plan accordingly.
2010年7月13日 17:10
Rain
I like the gardens of Tondaya when it rains. There are no words to describe it, but it feels much more tranquil and the trees look more beautiful when it's wet. I'm not talking thunderstorms, but light to normal rain. It really does look beautiful.
2010年7月 8日 09:33
Culture 2
A little more about Japanese culture today!
Roads. How could I forget roads!? In the land of the rising sun, you drive on the left side. That's right, the left side. It is extremely, extremely confusing, and definitely a fact that all foreigners should know if they are planning to drive in Japan. I was crossing the road the other day, and the blue (walk) light started to blink when I was in the middle of the road. I looked to my right to see that the cars weren't still coming, only to find that I was looking at bumpers instead of headlights! Very confusing.
Alcohol/Tobacco. As you may or may not know, alcohol and tobacco are on sale in vending machines here. Apparently a long time ago, there were no IDs needed if you wanted to buy such things, aka underage drinking and smoking. A little while ago, there used to be a camera that took in your face and features to judge if you were legal or not. Of course, this wasn't super effective, because not everyone looks their age. Nowadays, there are special IDs that you need to get in order to purchase alcohol/cigarettes from vending machines. These special IDs require your ID, so it's definitely more foolproof. I haven't gotten one because I don't see the need for it, but I'm sure anyone who wants one can ask around or search the web!
Bicycles. I was told that Kyoto was especially a bicycle-heavy city, but even so, the sheer amount of people on bicycles is staggering compared to the US. (Apparently Kyoto is special because everything is far away but within biking distance, so everyone tends to use bikes.) In Japan, a driver's license is very expensive and a car even more so, so I guess everyone tends to shoot for the bikes since they don't need a mortgage, license, insurance, or gas. Clever.