About Japanese Universities

In the last entry I wrote I'm not sure whether Kyoto University is normal in Japan or not, because I heard one thing about this university: To graduate Kyoto University is way too easier than other Universities like Osaka University, because even during an exam period, we don't need to study to get credits (of course it depends on the classes, but if you choose "right" classes, you don't need to). This is the only reason why I'm wondering this question.

However, people say that all the Japanese universities' students' levels are so low compare to other countries'.

Why? Because usually we don't study after enrolling in our universities. In order to enroll in universities we study very hard, and that's all. We don't need to study that much in order to graduate, especially in Kyoto University.

And also the social system is a little bit strange compare to European one: When it comes to job seeking, all the students HAVE TO skip their classes otherwise they cannot get any job. This job seeking activity is very competitive so their priority is not studying. Usually job seeking season starts summer, one year before our graduation (For example, if you are a bachelor student, your job seeking season starts summer on your 3rd year), and ends spring (just one year before your graduation). *note: Academic year in Japan is starting from spring.

During this job seeking activity, we have to go to Tokyo (the capital city of Japan) so many times to take interviews etc., have to prepare for them, and sometimes they want us to write about something (what is your weakness, what is your regret in your student life, what did you do most as a student, what is your image about our company etc.) so that we cannot study very much, and the worst thing is those companies (usually) don't expect anything academic from students, even though we've spent at least 3 years by then at universities. I know we don't need so many academic knowledge when we work, but still it's not good if they do not expect ANYTHING from our study and grades. I guess the reason why they don't care about our grades or anything is because we usually have to take an online exams on their website, so that they can judge with those results. I think this is one of the reasons why we don't study much. We don't need to for graduation and getting jobs!

Another strange system is this: if you want to find a job in Japan after university (not an intermediate recruitment), you have to be a graduating student. That is, if you already graduated from your university you cannot even apply for the selections. I really don't understand this system, and I have no idea why do they do this. (Oops, this topic has nothing to do with Japanese universities :P)


Oh, and answer for the Diana's question: the relationship between students and teachers is... Hmm, until we became 4th year students, there are usually no relations. When we are 4th year students, we need to write a thesis with teachers' help to graduate, so during this time we'll be quite friendly.


Phew, I'm really tired of writing this long one...><


(Practice makes perfect! I'll keep writing this English blog so that I would suffer less in the Netherlands :P)

How Long the Exchange Programme Would Be?

I just got an email from Utrecht University's international office's woman.


She said even if I got an approval, that doesn't mean I can stay there for one year yet, because each academic year starts from fall semester, and I'll go there from spring semester. This would make me staying there for 2 academic years (each half of them), so they cannot give me an approval for one year at once. Instead, I have to do it well in the spring semester so that I can stay another semester: Apparently, whether I can stay in the Netherlands for one year depends on my performance in the spring semester!!


Mmm, I don't know if I can do a good performance in English... This is the situation.


I'll do my best!


...Well, I have to get an approval at first. :P

Academic Meeting for the First Time in My Entire Life

I just finished my presentation in the academic meeting at Shimane University.


Hmm, that's all... well, It was not so special, but at least I get motivated so much. This is the only benefit for me, because  the presentations are so many that I couldn't keep my concentration for the whole time.


What did I do was just leaving outside and lying down on a bench at University while almost the half of the presentations. lol


I was admired that some professors asked questions to almost all the presenters (well, at least while I was there) even if their presentations were about something which were different from the professor's fields. This means they understood them somehow enough to have questions, whereas I could understand presentations only if they are doing similar things as mine, otherwise I could hardly understand anything.


This is why they are professors. They know a lot of things about anything.


"Knowledge is power"


I decided I'll read more and more articles at least in my field.

(500) Days of Summer

The title is a name of the best movie.


In this one, there are three of my favorite actors/actresses: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel and Chloe Morez.


"A good story" plus "favorite actors" equal "great!!!"


Check this out.

New Residents and A New Semester

A new semester isn't actually started yet, but for the new semester, our dormitory has held a interview for new residents.


I was complaining about those horrible people from the committee side, but at the same time I did nothing to them. Just complaining. I just ignore the situation... And I know this is the worst attitude, but what can I do to them? We told what we think to them. What else can we do? *sigh*


However, I changed my attitude towards other residents a little bit and realised the fact that we have such a lot of fun people in the dorm. I didn't do so much for the house recently (my bad). Those committee side people can change the atmosphere of the house (they did, honestly), but nobody can change the people. Then, I should take advantage of the people from the house!! (Mmm, I'm not sure whether I wrote what I meant, but I'm lazy enough not to check this... I'm just tired now :P)


So, I'm now enjoying my life in the house again like two years ago! I also realised the fact that I can stay here only another 5 months... I have to do my best again. I want to find other precious, true friends from the house again!! That's the reason why I came into the house.


Fortunately, I think new comers seem very friendly and active people (I know 3 of them now, out of 7) so the atmosphere could probably be going to change in a good way. Besides, the very strict rules are no more valid! For example, we can use the kitchen and the lobby as much as we want without submitting a paper to the house parents (maybe this hasn't been valid so long... I'm not sure. I've never cared these stupid rules).


The house is gonna be an awesome place again!!!!!