What I did what I did

So this past weekend was Silver Week. It is basically a goverment holiday Monday-Wednesday. After trying to plan a few things out and the costs not working out, I finally said forget about it and did nothing this weekend and it was beautiful. I watched about two seasons of The West Wing and caught up on all of the american tv shows that have recently started back up. I also finally got the 10 necklaces untangled. That took about 5 hours with a sharp dental tool while watching tv. I also finished a necklace that need the bezel reduced and the stones set. I am still looking for a place to have some pieces cast. I how to have this accomplished before the show in late October.

Yesterday Bryan and I had a meeting with Sandra (an English professor). Sandra asked our help in ordering sample books from publishers and reviewing them to figure out which would best suit the first year students. This is in an effort to unify the curiulum to help students. As of right now each English class they take as a different set of vocab and style of learning. While in America this would be a norm, the issue is that students do not have the chance to re use the vocab and commit it to memory. From talking with her, it seems that some profs are against this and others are for it. Also I learned a little more about the Japanese education system while talking with her. First off it is encouraged that you child be in a school or at least private lesson by the age of 3. Second it is encouraged by the teachers in elementry through high school that your child attened after school private lessons. I already knew about the cram schools and the after school programs. What surprised me this time around is that the teachers are the ones saying that the parents should do this. Now I know at least one mother in America that would take issue with this and ask the question : So why are you not doing your job and teaching them?　 This is all in hopes of them doing well on the entrance exams for elementry school to get in to a good elementry school, which will get you in to a good junior high, which will lead to a good high school, which of course will lead to going to Todai (Tokyo University). Now the way this affect the students at the Univsity that I work at is the interesting part.

The students at my university are not the top level students. The univeristy I work at is just your middle of the road school. Now at least in the English major there are tests to graduate. A student has to score at least a 500 on the national English apptitude test. Now accomidations on any tests are made for people that have issues taking tests. Most of the majors do not take an english class after thier second year as they have other requirements and they have to start job hunting. The professors almost never fail students, instead they feel bad for the students and make the work easier. A good example of this is how they now offer two other tests that a student can take to graduate, one of which is much easier than the standard one. For most students college is the first time when they can get a part time job and most of them would rather focus on that then study. Also many of them consider having the book open while playing video games or watching TV studying. They want to make money to buy things or travel, and some acctually need the money to go to school. They just need the college degree to get a job, if not they are basically going to be working at a McDonalds or 7-11.

The other major issue is that most companies only want fresh just graduated students to hire, so there is no oppertunity to voulnteer or take a break, as this is seen as a poor quality in an employee. This is all based on the old system where once you started with a company, you would be there for the rest of your life and they would take care of you. Sadly this is no longer true, but yet many of the comapnies still act like it is. So for example a student graduated and started working at a company. Two months in the company folds and he is out of work, but he cant get another job as he is no longer that fresh shiny graduate. His only real option is grad school or 7-11.

Of course I had a whole debate in my head with in the time span of ten minuets going from being angery about how the students are being wronged as they dont work for thier degree and there is nothign really to be proud of when graduating ( heck most students miss the first day of class because they would rather work). To thining that damn it there needs to be reform. a revolution
. This sytem is not helping anyone. But then it came to me that it would have to come from the students and that wasnt about to happen. And finally I came to the conclusion I always come to when debating issues in Japan. To them I am just a forigner and what the hell do I know. They have been doing it this way for the longest time and it is tradition and since they have been doing it, it must be right. Now obviously with this thinking we would still have slaves, women would not be able to vote, and catholics and irish would still be opressed.

Most japanese people look at america and ask why are there so many issues and why are so many people racist. What they fail to see, is that the Japanese are just as racist, but to them there is Japanese and everyone else and if you are not Japanese then that is that.

Ok back on track.
Today school started, so there is noise and high pitched screaming as friends see each other once again after a long break. I will have a staff meeting tongiht to introduce myself to the faculty, so they know who to come to for help with things. I then am going to a baseball game with the international students, Giants vs. the Carp. And next week I will start working in the chat lounge.

Next issues to figure out:
How to transfer money to my bank in America
Is there a lacrosse team I can join
Find a hockey game to go to.