Fall 1 ended

無事、四半期が終わりました。

The first term ended. It was indeed busy, but it was not as busy as I imagined (I imagined a life like a hell). I could somehow follow up my classes, and fortunately, enjoyed other activities as well. Time flies. But I don't think I missed it. 

2 out of 4 classes were completed in the first term. 

Introductory Epidemiology was really a course about "Introductory of how Epidemiology is difficult." It seemed like everyone crashed at one time or another. Me? crashed at every class.The lecturer might speak English, but, for me, it didn't make sense at all.  Homework was so challenging. It took 2 days to just understand the meaning of the questions, and other 3 days to solve, 1 day to review. Anyway, thanks to the "training," I could deeply understand what the causal inference is. 

Introductory Social Epidemiology was an eye-opening. Through many survey results and humors, the lecturer pointed out that inequality itself undermines health of a society. Well, according to his theory, moving to the U.S. from Japan may affect my health in bad ways... In fact, I cannot relax when I walk outside and that can influence in very long-term. But, on the other hand, after I arrived here, my health status improved dramatically. Maybe that's because of the notorious New England climate (it's good for me), new life styles (keeping regular hours + eating organic dishes) and good friends. Though I wouldn't be the case of the theory, the theory seems to be a reality, and that makes me feel that I should contribute to alleviate disparities in health. 

Fall 2 term begins tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to attending new classes.

ボストン、メンズの古着

ようやく購買意欲をそそる古着屋にたどり着きました。

It's getting colder and colder these days. Though I don't wear my down jacket yet, the day will be soon to come. I have to prepare for the winter.

After starting to live in Boston, the most disappointing thing was the quality of used clothes stores. I visited several shops, but all the stores were not satisfactory.

But I finally found a very nice used clothes shop in Jamaica Plain. It's 40 SOUTH STREET (formerly known as GUMSHOE) http://www.fortysouthst.com/ . Though the space is tiny, their clothes are attentively selected. Each clothe has something special, and surprisingly, the prices are incredibly low. Ladies clothes also seem good. I bought pants, but have to visit again.

Men's Used Clothes in Boston

★★★★★---40 south street(well chosen, reasonable prices)

★★★-------oona's (good choices, moderate prices)

★★1/2-----second time around (many brands, but expensive)

★★1/2-----army barracks (good and cheap army, but less variety)

★★1/2-----boomerangs (occasionally nice ones at very low prices)

★★---------the garment district (too many clothes, hard to find good ones)

あ～、

めざしが食べたい！

じわじわと、

予習復習が大変になってきました、が。

3 weeks have passed since the classes begun. I usually attend 2-3 classes a day. When I was in a university in Japan, I never studied before and after classes. But here, it's a must... But that doesn't mean I hate it, rather, I enjoy it. 

These days I'm often seized by happiness, say, when I'm in a classroom, in a library, chatting, running along the riverside, or playing tennis with my friends. The fact that I'm doing what I've been longing for makes me feel blissful. I feel like I'm blessed by fortune. 

Sometimes fatigue or lonesome feeling come to my mind. Still, the baseline is very happy and it's firm.  

 ---

I changed my courses. I decided to lessen my burden from 22.5 credits to 20.0 credits and take more classes about research methods.

08 Fall Course

SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS

--Introduction to Statistical Methods
--Introduction to Epidemiology
--Society and Health

DEPARTMENTAL/COURSE REQUIREMENTS

--Economic Analysis
--Decision Analysis for Health and Medical Practice

ELECTIVES

--Elements of Epidemiologic Research: Methods II

Total Credits 20.0

Remaining Credits 60.0

"Spiced Up" Orientations

オリエンテーションの長期化・エンターテイメント化（？）はうちの大学だけでは無さそうで。

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/09/05/at_colleges_a_new_freshman_rush/

08 Fall Courses

とりあえず、ほぼ必修で固めることにします。

SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS

--Principles of Biostatistics or Introduction to Statistical Methods
--Intro to Environmental Health
--Principles of Epidemiology or  Introduction to Epidemiology
--Society and Health

DEPARTMENTAL/COURSE REQUIREMENTS

--Economic Analysis
--Decision Analysis for Health and Medical Practice

ELECTIVES

--Intro to the American Health Care System

Total Credits 22.5

Remaining Credits 57.5

授業初日の昼、

曜日を勘違いし、授業を2つ逃しました。。。

授業初日の朝、

久しぶりに心打つ記事を読みました。

http://www.cabrain.net/news/article/newsId/17966.html;jsessionid=591E8395FF0B6C18B7F018EBAFE5F088

New Students' Profile

2008年度の入学者はこんな感じです。

535 new enrollments.
199 international students form 43 countries.
336 US students from 32 states.

# of international students best 5 (by country)
1. Canada
2. China
3. India
4. Nigeria
5. Korea

# of Japanese students ... 12-13?
physicians...7?
others...6?

In a word, "diverse".

Orientation Begins

月曜から始まったオリエンテーション、結構圧巻です。

Japanese colleges can change, if they truly notice the importance of “beginning.”

In my university, the orientation programs started this week. And I am really surprised by the well-considered programs. I can feel that our university truly recognizes the significance of the start.

Expectations
Our school repeatedly express that they are really expecting for the students. As we hear their anticipations over and over again, whether true or not, we start to believe that we are carefully “chosen”, and every student has a “meaning” to attend the school. Our university effectively makes use of “The Pygmalion Effect.” Consequently, we are motivated from the beginning.

Networking
They are truly committed to connect each student or students and faculty. Through various group works, games or social events, they give us numerous chances of networking. We are forced to talk to each other. We cannot continue to flock together with particular someone through the events. Accordingly, each of us becomes a “hub”. From Monday to today, I got to know, at least, 20-30 students. Though my friends are just 30, my friends’ friends would cover all the new students.

Safety Nets
They offer an assortment of safety nets so that we can set off smoothly. We have introductory workshops in Case Method, Math, Accounting, Time Management, Writing, Group Work, Statistics and US Health Systems. I was astonished by a fact that a lecturer, in Math Review, started the review from “Rounding(四捨五入)!” Well, we Japanese don’t need to be pessimistic about the decline in the academic ability of college students: at least math review in Japan starts from “junior high” school level, not “elementary”.

Future Visions
Though we just started to attend the school, they provide opportunities to think about “after graduation.” We had a session to discuss and imagine future responsibilities of our study areas. In addition, today, 10 alumni came to the school to have round tables. To think about an end at the start would definitely contribute to enrich our school lives.


We have 2 days remaining. Although I occasionally feel unconfident about my school life, the orientation programs surly help me to be confident.

I feel like I witnessed some part of the secrets of my university’s cycle of success.

まだ助走期間だというのに。

引越し、授業、宿題、プレゼンとそこそこてんやわんややってます！

Sweet Caroline

彼女との出会いは独立記念日でした。

A song which people sang enthusiastically at the Independence Day Festival came out to be a Red Sox fan's song: Sweet Caroline. Almost everyone in Boston can sing (enthusiastically). This video well captures Fenway park's atmosphere.




Oh! Oh! Oh! So good! So good! So good!

Department of Salsa!?

明確なメッセージを感じますね。

By the way, a new dean of our school will be a Mexican!! Wow!! Salsa!! I've never thought that our university cherishes "diversity" to this extent.

A woman president, a Mexican dean, then, who's next!!

Oh my Dice-K

負けよってからに、でも、いいよ、大ちゃん。

Daisuke Matsuzaka --- When I hear his name, I always recall two things. First, I belong to the Matsuzaka generation: a cohort of Japanese, born in the year 1980 (though I'm not a baseball player). And second, we both live in Boston, as foreigners, to challenge something.

The facts made me feel close to him. The facts pushed me to the Fenway park.

For the first time ever, I saw him, in this distance.

Though he lost the game while I was drunken and almost unconscious, I don't care. Everyone loses sometimes. The important thing is to continue to challenge, and he always embodies it. Thank you, Dice-K.

One month

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.

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.

The most beautiful a cappella

I've ever heard.

Here is the Star Spangled Banner by TAKE 6.

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:-)

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!!!

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!