1998.06.11 THU

Well, classes are starting to pick up speed, in any case. Right now I'm at least to the point where I know the 'routine' to follow in classes, I know what's going on now.

Japanese classes are going along pretty well. As I mentioned last time, I have to make up chapters 19-25 that I missed from the beginning of the semester. Fortunately, the teacher of our classes has given me LOTS of help with them, going over each of the assignments with me, filling in the gaps with me. Not only that - there was a cumulative vocabulary test scheduled for yesterday on chapters 19-25; I get another week to study for it since I came so late. The teachers here are very friendly :) Of course, this gives me the opportunity to take my time and study correctly instead of cramming all the info in one night ;b

I've got a Japanese tutor now, as well - he's a graduate student from the art program. Most of his classes are lectures on design theory and stuff, and since he's an art student he can probably help me with the particular art terms we go over in Shimakage- sensei's design class. He's trying his best at English too, another plus - his pronunciation's a bit off though, he's working on it. (Yesterday he kept pronouncing 'climate' as 'cremate' - I told him what 'cremate' meant. I think he'll remember now :) )

I'm getting a lot more comfortable with the language now, too. Monday night the manga circle went out to a Chinese restaurant to eat, and they invited me along with them. It was pretty fun; I didn't talk much, but occasionally the conversation would wander close enough to the point where I could say something somewhat intelligible :) In any case, I'm not quite so pessimistic as I was last week :)

However, time runs short, and I've run out of things to say for now. Take care, everyone!