Daiichi University

Hannah phoned at 7.30 as planned, which was wonderful, especially since the internet has been down (and still is) and I haven't been able to chat to her on MSN. She's been allowed to use Google Talk (at least for the time being), so hopefully we'll get to try that soon. I've also found a headset in one of the cupboards, which hopefully will be useful.

Breakfast consisted of a bowl of (foul) miso soup, a small plate containing chips, brocolli and cheese-injected sausages (all cold), and another bowl of rice, a boiled egg, and a packet of fermented soya beans (yuck!). Not really what I'd call breakfast, but I'll keep going, since it's free, and maybe I'll get used to it. Though I might cut back on the rice part.

We caught the free shuttle bus to Daiichi University, and were greeted by Kanashima-san who works in the International Office, which basically exists to look after us! We were then taken to our class room where Ikehara-sensei told us about what we would be doing. We then had a kana (hiragana & katakana) test, and were then given our textbooks. There are five of them totalling ￥8,985 (£45) and they are ours to keep, though admitedly they will take up suitcase space and weight. In true Japanese style we had to select two class presidents (one from Oxford, and one from Cambridge) to be responsible for us, and organise parties, etc. and Brendan and Lauma accepted the posts. We also created a daily schedule of class assistants who have to help carry the teaching materials, and wipe the board after the class.

The aim is to be at Japanese Proficiency Level 4 by Christmas: Grammar at beginner level, knowledge of 100 kanji, 800 words, and the ability to engage in simple conversation and to read and write short simple sentences. By the end of the course we could be at JPL Level 2 if we study really hard: Grammar at intermediate level, knowledge of 1000 kanji, 6000 words, and the ability to converse, read and write about matters of a general nature. A previous scholar actually reached Level 1 on his year here!

We then went to lunch in one of the university cantines. I had curry-rice with pork (more rice!), which was rather nice. We sat and talked with Kanashima-san, who told us we would be going to the Asahi Beer Gardens, complete with vomit sinks in the toilets (cringe), on Thursday. We then had a tour around the campus, including the Multimedia Centre, the shop, and a building containing sports court and gym.

I was supposed to be teaching this afternoon, but it has been cancelled due to the impending typhoon. Tomorrow has also been cancelled, with the peak of the storm expected to hit at about 17.00. At least I don't have to teach first, and can have some advice from the others who go first. On the downside, you don't get paid if you don't work.