free web tracker soliloquies: 11/06/2005 - 11/13/2005

soliloquies

so・lil・o・quy/- n. [C,U] a speech in a play in which a character talks to himself or herself, so that the audience know the character's thoughts.

Saturday, November 12, 2005

civil law

The attitude my classmates took during Civil Law class today is exactly what I'm talking about.

Indeed, these classmates I took this class with are the closest people I have in college, but I was really disgusted by the actions they took during class. They got out of the classroom to go buy ice cream and Pocky, brought it back, consumed it in the classroom, blabbered on and on for most of the class; all during class which probably irritated a lot of "motivated" people.

This kind of immaturity's got to stop...I mean, come on, we are college students. You must judge the environment you are situated in and control yourself according to it. I don't care if you are the craziest moron when we are in Shibuya or while we are in a karaoke box, but there is this attitude you should take while you take classes. Self control is necessary...the bottom line is just keep yourselves quiet and don't annoy others. That is the manner.

Classrooms aren't intended for social activities and they aren't a rendezvous point either.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

japanese university

How crappy are Japanese universities? Well, it's not like I've attended all the universities that exist in this island nation, but I'm supposed to be in the most prestigious private university in Japan which, in Japanese education system, has got the most difficult entrance exams. Nevertheless, students here don't differ much from any other universities with ... let's say, less "academic factor".

Students go in and out of classrooms without rethinking how rude their action is, students are sleeping everywhere, no one actually does their assignments until last minute, sloppy works are handed in and the worst part is ... it's not an environment where you can persuit you own academic goal; you are going to need a concrete mind that will reject any mind-altering influences you get from other less motivated people in order to study what you really want to. Or, you can be a loner and make no friends, which will get rid of those influences once and for all.

The point I'm trying to make here is the whole fault that lies within Japanese education system. People go in academic universities, passing ridiculously difficult entrance exams, studying for over a year in most cases. On the other hand, it's quite easy to graduate Japanese universities ... as long as you pass enough classes, you get your right to graduate, unlike American-European universities that demand you nice paper with perfect attendance. Here, no professor takes attendence frequently enough to assess grades, based on attendance.

American universities for instance, are in a way, easier to get in. As long as you do well in you SATs and have the writing ability to persuade the university officials on your essay, you are accepted. Of course, there are some racial/gender problems that exists in reality, but basically ... that's it. In Japan, most of the crappy rubbish you cram in your head during you preparation for your entrance exam is useless.

What you actually learn in university is supposed to be and probably is the most important element, the purpose of going to universities. For some reason, the fact that you've graduated famous university is the part that counts in Japan. As long as you graduate an university with high deviation value, you are accepted as socially, valuable person. Corporations don't check your grades.

Why are we paying $10,000 per year, $20 per class for this meaningless crap? Everyone probably have this sense of contradiction whirling through their minds and everyone understand that this is a problem the Japanese society's been debating on for decades, but no one's actually making any actions to fix it ... this is the reason why this nation is taking a path that is leading us to a "not-so-bright future".

P.S. I've heard that Korean and Taiwanese education systems are supposedly sumilar ... even worse, in a way with harsh competition. Now's your chance to undergo reforms before your universities are filled with two types of students ; idiots without their wills to study or ones filled with contradictions, like me.

Sunday, November 06, 2005

change

This blog I've kept to sustain my English skill is becoming an outlet for complaints. I suppose I have complained just about enough... I'll try to keep a "healthier" blog from now on.

There were just too many things I have felt or noticed during the past month that made me go though some of the toughest anxieties I was unable to keep within myself. These hardships that leaked out of my mind, as a result, turned out as blog posts on this English blog which I hope and believe is not read by anyone I know in Japan. Wait, what if someone actually did read this blog? No, this thought is going to bring out another chain reaction of anxiety... forget it.

It's quite odd really, given the fact that I had the ability to decompose any of these anxieties I've got inside my mind with ease, up until this hardship arose. It's probably over now anyway at the worst timing. The holiday season is coming up and the ginkgo trees are rapidly dropping their leaves as the result of dropping temperature. I don't believe in the whole legend thing, but the upcoming holiday season would be dreadful with solitude for sure.

Although I've written about distrust and stuff on this blog, I still am unable to lie to my honest feelings. It was my simple, honest feeling that kept me going with all these radical, innovative ideas and efforts. I don't understand why I'm trying to keep an adequate amount of distance now. It's not like I'm mad or disappointed or anything...I just can't do anything right, the way I want in front of her... only if I am given another chance. I wish it hadn't ended, keenly.

I'm making contradicting remarks again, but I wish I can reach this goal I've been running toward to for a while now...honestly.


I'll make this my final complaint on this blog, at least for the time being.


Anyway, during dinner yesterday, I talked about the exchange program I found that was posted on school bulletin board to my dad. He seemed to accept my will quite well, with an expection of financial element that goes with this kind of stuff. The cost necessary for this program is about $1500 and the period is about a month long, so it's really cheap compared to other foreign exchange programs on the market.

But, $1500 is not a small amount that can be taken out with a snap. He told me that I'm going to put some financial effort myself, in order for this wish to realize. It's true that I've got to pass the examination which will be placed on me by the Keio IIR and I've got 3 more chances even if I do fail, but I've got the most time during my freshman year, especially during the spring break.

I've got to cut my spending and work more...but before that, I must fill out the application form and write an essay for qualification. I guess I'll do that tomorrow, perhaps.