気付けば、渡米後1ヶ月です。
So far so good.
I'm enjoying my English program. The class is not demanding (at all). But, since a bunch of Fulbright sponsored students were gathered from all over the world, I'm experiencing the most diversified discussions I've ever had. And my speaking ability is getting better.
As for foods, I mainly eat organic foods. In Boston, we can get organic products much easier and cheaper than Japan. But... whole grain serials seem to be burden for my stomach. Maybe I'm taking too much fibers. Current health status is so so, but I wish I could sleep more!
Well, I have to prepare tomorrow's presentation. Bye.
2008/07/15
A Blessing in Disguise
新しい下宿先が見つからなかったのはそういうことだったんですね。
Soon after I decided to leave Jamaica Plain, I started to search a next place to live. Everyday, for the past 2 weeks, I checked the craigslist and e-mailed to anyone who had the rooms I was looking for. But, all my efforts were in vain. Sometimes I missed these rooms by a hair.
Then, today, I knew the meaning, the reason why I couldn't get any one.
Today I received an e-mail from my university, saying its one of the dorms had a vacant room. What a blessing in disguise!!! Since I'd been on their waiting list for so long, from this spring, I hadn't taken into account their rooms. But, the best offer came last. I must appreciate the past misfortune.
What seemed negative all along the way was, indeed, a preparation of a happy ending. Can I apply this experience to my rest of my life? Well, at least, it is possible to say that we can expect our happy endings regardless of our present conditions. What if we failed after all? No problem, we would be unconsious at the very moment. No problem.
Soon after I decided to leave Jamaica Plain, I started to search a next place to live. Everyday, for the past 2 weeks, I checked the craigslist and e-mailed to anyone who had the rooms I was looking for. But, all my efforts were in vain. Sometimes I missed these rooms by a hair.
Then, today, I knew the meaning, the reason why I couldn't get any one.
Today I received an e-mail from my university, saying its one of the dorms had a vacant room. What a blessing in disguise!!! Since I'd been on their waiting list for so long, from this spring, I hadn't taken into account their rooms. But, the best offer came last. I must appreciate the past misfortune.
What seemed negative all along the way was, indeed, a preparation of a happy ending. Can I apply this experience to my rest of my life? Well, at least, it is possible to say that we can expect our happy endings regardless of our present conditions. What if we failed after all? No problem, we would be unconsious at the very moment. No problem.
2008/07/06
On Independence Day
ところで、日本って何年前に建国したんでしたっけ。
Yesterday, 4th of July, was Independence Day of America. Happy birthday America, now you are 232 years old.
On this memorial day, I went to the Hatch Shell Memorial to see Boston Pops and fireworks with my English class's friends. Unfortunately, since we didn't have tickets, we couldn't enter the hall. So we, as many did, sit on the grass, listening to the music and talks. The program was going smoothly. And there came the National Anthem. Then, surprisingly, almost all of the people, except us (international students), stood up. Although they didn't sing in loud voices, it was obvious for me that they cherished the song.
In this country, in comparison with Japan, people put much emphasis on patriotism. Some surveys revealed this tendency. For example, to the question asking "Of course, we all hope that there will not be another war, but if it were to come to that, would you be willing to fight for your country?," 72.7% of American answered "Yes," whereas 25.1% of Japanese answered yes. (World Values Survey, U.S. 1999, Japan 2000) In the recent presidential race too, the candidates' patriotism became one of the controversial issues. Because Obama seemed less patriotic than McCain. Poor patriotism may be associated with weak commitment to the country.
After WWII, in Japan, patriotism has always been an evil. It has been a symbol of war propensity. We have been told not to be patriotic. As a result, for many Japanese, National Foundation Day is just an ordinary holiday. We don't gather to celebrate, nor launch fireworks. But I don't think this custom is wrong, because it is not the issue of right or wrong. This is the way we are. Some says that the lack of patriotism led our loss of confidence. But is it true that patriotism is the necessity to be confident? Did we surely lose our confidence? Weren't we full of confidence when our economy prospered in the 80's - the post WWII era?
Honestly speaking, I didn't remember the Japan's National Foundation Day. I knew it yesterday, on Independence Day of America. Japan was formed on 11st of February. What year??? Yes, it was 660 B.C.!!! Incredible. Japan is 2,268 years old. Though it is said that the birth is based on ancient myths:-)
Yesterday, 4th of July, was Independence Day of America. Happy birthday America, now you are 232 years old.
On this memorial day, I went to the Hatch Shell Memorial to see Boston Pops and fireworks with my English class's friends. Unfortunately, since we didn't have tickets, we couldn't enter the hall. So we, as many did, sit on the grass, listening to the music and talks. The program was going smoothly. And there came the National Anthem. Then, surprisingly, almost all of the people, except us (international students), stood up. Although they didn't sing in loud voices, it was obvious for me that they cherished the song.
In this country, in comparison with Japan, people put much emphasis on patriotism. Some surveys revealed this tendency. For example, to the question asking "Of course, we all hope that there will not be another war, but if it were to come to that, would you be willing to fight for your country?," 72.7% of American answered "Yes," whereas 25.1% of Japanese answered yes. (World Values Survey, U.S. 1999, Japan 2000) In the recent presidential race too, the candidates' patriotism became one of the controversial issues. Because Obama seemed less patriotic than McCain. Poor patriotism may be associated with weak commitment to the country.
After WWII, in Japan, patriotism has always been an evil. It has been a symbol of war propensity. We have been told not to be patriotic. As a result, for many Japanese, National Foundation Day is just an ordinary holiday. We don't gather to celebrate, nor launch fireworks. But I don't think this custom is wrong, because it is not the issue of right or wrong. This is the way we are. Some says that the lack of patriotism led our loss of confidence. But is it true that patriotism is the necessity to be confident? Did we surely lose our confidence? Weren't we full of confidence when our economy prospered in the 80's - the post WWII era?
Honestly speaking, I didn't remember the Japan's National Foundation Day. I knew it yesterday, on Independence Day of America. Japan was formed on 11st of February. What year??? Yes, it was 660 B.C.!!! Incredible. Japan is 2,268 years old. Though it is said that the birth is based on ancient myths:-)
A Great Mamma Chari Culture
え、そういうの売ってないんですか、、。
Though Boston is called "the walking city," it is not realistic not to use the public transportation. But the problem is, as is often the case with all over the world except Japan, it is not punctual at all. Sometimes a 10-minute-interval bus doesn't come for more than 20 minutes, and it finally appears, followed by a next bus in a row. You're joking!!! One day, it took me 1 hour and 40 minutes to go to Charles river side by bus, the next day, I got there in 45 minutes on foot...
Consequently, I reached to a conclusion. A bike is the best. So I went to several bike shops. And soon I realized a strange fact: there is no "mamma charis" at all!!! They are all MTBs and road bikes... At first I thought it was just a coincidence, but I could not find any mamma charis in the bike shops in Boston. In addition, MTBs and road bikes are very expensive: the cheapest one is $220, and the average is over $400... Well, I have to search used bikes on craigslist.
By the way, as I was astonished by the fact, are Americans astonished by these following facts?? In 2007 Japan, 70% of the bike sales was mamma chari, and MTB was just 5%.
Here is a typical mamma chari. I miss you so much!!!
2008/07/03
In Pursue of Interest
学生としてこちらで銀行口座を開くと、おそらく多くの方が成り行きで学生用の口座を開設させられます。しかしこの学生口座、恐るべき低利なのです。ではどうすればいいのでしょうか---
As I opened my student bank account, I was shocked by its interest rate. It was just 0.4%... I felt as if I were in Japan. In the age of this drastic tuition raising, students' funds are yielding nothing... Indeed it is clear that students are not beneficial customers to banks, but what a cold treatment it is!!
I decided to negotiate. Since I had funds for the fu*kin' high tuition for the first year in my account, I had negotiation power to the certain extent. I told a bank officer that I was intending to close the account and open new one at another bank, with proper reasons: 1) the extremely low interest rate, 2) the bank requires $10,000 deposit to issue a credit card (my university credit union only requires $25), 3) international students cannot get any reward points at the bank.
Then, the officer showed me an interest rates table for a "general" person, not a student. And they finally offered me the general rates. My rates have risen to 2-3%, more than 50 times than the rates they first offered... What a difference!! It's worth a small trip, hundreds of bananas, thousands of Poland Spring water bottles!!
Well, my fellows, don't give up! Negotiate!
As I opened my student bank account, I was shocked by its interest rate. It was just 0.4%... I felt as if I were in Japan. In the age of this drastic tuition raising, students' funds are yielding nothing... Indeed it is clear that students are not beneficial customers to banks, but what a cold treatment it is!!
I decided to negotiate. Since I had funds for the fu*kin' high tuition for the first year in my account, I had negotiation power to the certain extent. I told a bank officer that I was intending to close the account and open new one at another bank, with proper reasons: 1) the extremely low interest rate, 2) the bank requires $10,000 deposit to issue a credit card (my university credit union only requires $25), 3) international students cannot get any reward points at the bank.
Then, the officer showed me an interest rates table for a "general" person, not a student. And they finally offered me the general rates. My rates have risen to 2-3%, more than 50 times than the rates they first offered... What a difference!! It's worth a small trip, hundreds of bananas, thousands of Poland Spring water bottles!!
Well, my fellows, don't give up! Negotiate!
2008/07/02
Harsh Reality
In Jamaica Plain, there are few or several murders every year. In Roxbury, just one mile away from my house, there are many... Although the number of crimes are declining for long-term perspective, we should not be off our guard.
Last night, a 7-year-old kid and other two men got shot in thug crossfire at Roxbury. Fortunately, all the victims are expected to survive.
Now the shadow of the incident lay across my mind... Blessed with peaceful neighborhoods in Japan, I had never sensed imminent danger in every day life. Though I've never witnessed any crime here, I hear gunshot-like sounds almost every night...
One of the reasons why I choose Boston, not Ann Arbor, was to feel American social disparities in daily life. For me, to become a public health professional, it was necessity. Ann Arbor was too peaceful. But as for this aim, I'm already fed up. As some men of experience advised me, I must invest in security. I have to find next place to stay...
Last night, a 7-year-old kid and other two men got shot in thug crossfire at Roxbury. Fortunately, all the victims are expected to survive.
Now the shadow of the incident lay across my mind... Blessed with peaceful neighborhoods in Japan, I had never sensed imminent danger in every day life. Though I've never witnessed any crime here, I hear gunshot-like sounds almost every night...
One of the reasons why I choose Boston, not Ann Arbor, was to feel American social disparities in daily life. For me, to become a public health professional, it was necessity. Ann Arbor was too peaceful. But as for this aim, I'm already fed up. As some men of experience advised me, I must invest in security. I have to find next place to stay...
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