Let it snow!!

Here comes the first snow!!! Yay!!!

The best musical comedy

I went to see: "He's got curriculum".

I can't believe that the busiest grad students could make this 3 hour spectacular.

Just amazing!!!

My First Thanksgiving

To know that "there is a home for me" comforts my mind.

In this and my first Thanksgiving holiday, I went to Georgia to meet my friends. Since they are also international students, I was afraid that our thanksgiving would become something "unnatural." Because all of us came from countries where there is no traditional turkey dishes.

So, I was little bit excited when I heard that my friends were invited to a thanksgiving dinner by a "real" American family. Since the party was also opening for me, I followed them.

Even though I hadn't met with the hostess of the party, she welcomed and hugged me. And in the dining room, there were many fancy and delicious foods that international students would never cook nor imagine.  

We also played some games to get to know each other... And the best was saved for last. 

At the end of the party, the hostess said... "My priest is from Africa. And once he told that while he was a student, no one invited him for thanksgiving dinners. So he spent alone every year... I couldn't forget his story. Since then, I decided to hold dinners for holidays to let no one feel alone. Here is your home, and you can come here whenever you want."

 

So impressive... and I believe this is one of the best parts of Americans and American culture.

Though my "new" home is in Georgia, but the important thing is to know that there is a home, there is a place where I can run to.

23°F

My judgement of coming winter was solely based on if it snows or not. So, I've been thinking that winter is not coming here in Boston. 

Actually when I heard that there was snow in Hokkaido and Seoul, I was little bit disappointed by the Boston's unexpectedly poor performance.

So, today, as usual, I went out to jog with my dorm mate. Then I noticed something was wrong. Something was different. It was REALLY cold... My both ears were about to drop off at Charles river, and my face froze. I was really afraid that my expression would numb forever... And I also witnessed that mucus is running from my dorm mate's nose.

Soon after finishing the 1 hour jog, I checked the temperture. And I found it's 23°F. That means, -5°C (and the real feel temp is -15°C!!!). Oh, my Buddha!! I never knew that it's below zero °C. It's much colder than the coldest day of Tokyo. 

Till yesterday, I though the season was still fall. I wore autmun clothes and told friends outside the US that Boston was warm... Well, ignorance is bliss!!

So, I want to tell my friends officially that the winter came in Boston, and it's REALLY cold!!!        

学生が机に置いた

コーラのボトルを醤油と見間違えて、

ヘルシーな生活を維持していることに気付きました。

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.