One week
January 12, 2008
This week was one for the books, literally. I finished my first week of Japanese school and it has exhausted me.
I had a lot of fun actually but even on the first day I wrote a test and subsequently three more. I had thought that since I was jumping into the course in the middle of the school year I would be excused from the tests. Nope! Considering this, I thought I did well on the tests. For one, I had only 20 minutes to prepare and still managed to get an “A”, as if that matters anymore.
There are only 11 or 12 students in my class – one girl who I saw on the first day doesn’t seem to come anymore. I think the average age in the class is maybe 20-22, a few seemed to have just turned 20! A few more seemed to be studying Japanese to enter a Japanese university. Aside from me and a Korean girl, everyone else is Chinese or Taiwanese (I think).
I’ve spoken with a few people about boring things and they seemed nice. There are a few who seem to act like children though and I am certain I will not be speaking with them often. There are a couple of kids who are playing video games in class, one who acts like a demented 5 year old, and one who speaks to me through another person. I am even more sure now that I am not there to make friends.
There are 4 different teachers I think and each is very different in personality and style. The teacher in charge of our class is absolutely amazing. She has a bubbling personality that reminds me very much of good manzai comedians! She was able to make a lot of rather boring language concepts interesting. Even though it’s only been a week, I can say that she is one of the best teachers I’ve ever met.
I have a lot of catching up to do to keep on pace with the class but I’ve put in a good 2 hours a day on top of 5 hours of class each in studying. If I can keep this up for a few weeks, I’ll have made a big start in preparing for Level 2 (the test which I “forgot” to go there last year).
I don’t think I’ve ever been this motivated in a structured educational environment. I think the main thing is that I’ve completely chosen to be there and I have good reason to be there. It saddens me that there are some in the class that are completely goofing off and wasting mommy’s money and the teacher’s time.
Kids, study hard!
