Practicalities « KCP International

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The Tokyo Commute

June 30, 2010

Anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Tokyo knows about the Tokyo commute. It’s world-famous–quirky, long, full of light. Of course, a lot of other big cities–New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Paris–have long commutes as well. A commute of an hour or two each way is common in Tokyo, though KCP strives to place students in dorms or homestays with commutes of 60 minutes or considerably less. Some dorms are quite close to the school.

KCP students have provided wise tips for making the best of it–using the time to memorize kanji, going into the women-only cars and studying more comfortably, “working” their hiragana/katakana flash cards, and so on. Though talking on cell phones is discouraged, texting is ubiquitous. In such a long commute, the crowds are amazingly kind (though pushy when trying to make that train).

And here are some interesting thoughts on the commute itself: the ultimate hive-mind.

Matthew Messmer on VEWD

Messmer‘s striking photo essay on vewd.org (a fascinating online documentary magazine) examines the commuting experience.

Tokyo Subway Dynamics

The writer of this piece on links.net, though unidentified, had creative, interesting things to say about benefits of the Tokyo subway plus fun photos.

Subway Sleepers

Fun snooze shots in this photo-essay from someone who calls himself “Born to be Wild.”

Real-World Views

A collection of great tips from VirtualTourist–how to navigate the subway, tips for switching stations, ease of use. Sorry about all the ads.

Tribute

A fine tribute to the Tokyo Underground on the Harvard Crimson, by Kerry Goodenow.

Inventions

From the “Are You Chindogu” movement (more about that later), here are a couple of inventions to help in the commute:

A hat for holding her head as she sleeps.

The chin rest, for sleeping standing up.

Tokyo Metro

The official Tokyo Metro site comes in English if needed and is a great resource.

Metro Manners

And we leave the final word to the montlhy “Metro Manners” posters. Countless folks have enjoyed making up their own captions to the posters and pitching them into the internet.

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Japan in the news

June 17, 2010

I just perused some of the newspapers to be found at

http://www.kcpinternational.com/life/living.html

about halfway down the page. Lots of fun stories! Here are some of them–

from Asahi

EDITORIAL: The Hayabusa mission

The space probe Hayabusa lived up to people’s expectations by completing its mission earlier this week.

The initial plan was for the craft to travel 300 million kilometers and touch down on the asteroid Itokawa before returning to Earth. Hayabusa, which means falcon, re-entered the atmosphere Sunday and burned up.

from Japan Times

So, What the Heck is That? Vader ladies
By ALICE GORDENKER

Dear Alice,
What the heck is with all the Darth Vader impersonators in Japan? You know who I mean: the middle-aged ladies who bike around with menacing-looking windshields attached to their heads. I steer clear because the shields completely obscure their faces and I can’t tell if they see me. Plus, that blank visage is downright creepy. Don’t these women know how weird they look?
Alan H., Tokyo

Ugly seafood just doesn’t get better
By HILLEL WRIGHT

Among the highlights of any visit to Ibaraki Prefecture could well be Kita-Ibaraki in its far northeast — specifically the towns of Otsu-ko and Hirakata-ko, which offer perhaps the best opportunity in the nation to sample the great winter seafood delicacy of anko (anglerfish)

Otsu-ko is around 2 hours from Ueno Station in Tokyo.

One saying from my junior high school Latin class has stuck with me: De gustibus non est disputandum — which roughly translates as, “There’s no accounting for taste.”

White T-shirts are anything but boring
By JAE LEE

To some, the white T-shirt is perhaps the least inspiring of wardrobe basics. But according to Ritchie Chan, director of the events planners Triple-Major Co., Ltd., it is quite the opposite.

Ritchie Chan and Yann Le Goec in their own white T-shirt creations. JAE LEE PHOTO

“I like making things and white T-shirts naturally came to mind — they are the simplest cotton item I can think of,” said the former fashion journalist, who sees the white T-shirt as a blank canvas ready for all manner of creative possibilities.

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Travel books–follow-on

May 24, 2010

We did a post a while back about travel books for Japan and Tokyo. Reading a travel book is a great way to get some history, culture, geography, a good dose of practicalities, and a real taste of life there. It’s not expensive and it might spark some ideas for you of how to get over there!

We received a few suggestions from readers and fans, for books we hadn’t included. Here they are.

Living Abroad in Japan (Moon Living; Ruth Kanagy)

From an Amazon review–

I lived in Japan in my youth, speak the language, and often visit my Japanese friends, I found much new information that was helpful for planning to live in Japan again. Ruth Kanagy illustrates her guidebook with beautiful original photographs and gives accurate descriptions and background explanations, social customs, and the Japanese lifestyle.

This book is a useful guide for planning a quality short trip, including important money saving details that a travel agency won’t tell you. It’s also great for longer stays, an extended work project, or even relocation to Japan.

Eyewitness Travel Guide to Japan (Dorling Kindersley publishing)

This one was recommended by KCP alum Matt Henry. He heavily praised the photography and layout in it.

From an Amazon review–

This book is chock full of useful info and wonderful photographs. I particularly like their suggested “walks,” tours (such as Kiso Valley or Saga Pottery area), and maps.

Other highlights are detailed diagrams (such as the Gassho-zukuri houses and Toshu-gu Shrine in Nikko) and lots of photos and descriptions. Japan is a fabulous place to engage with the culture; this book can help you make the leap from reading/observing to engaging, since it takes away the reams and reams of text found in other books. It’s not at its best as a standalone reference, though.

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KCP Alumni on the cost of studying in Japan

March 4, 2010

Are you thinking of studying in Japan but worried about the cost? KCP International Japanese Language School is one of the best deals around. It’s intense, highly effective for learning Japanese, and affordable. Here’s what students have to say about KCP and finances.

“Don’t hesitate to sign up for KCP. You’ll have many good experiences, and it’s well worth your money. Go out with your classmates and teachers to have fun. We all got to know each other very well, and become good friends.”—Martin, 2007, Reed College

“If you want a program that will not only challenge you, but also give you the most for your money, KCP is a definite winner. The atmosphere is great and the staff is wonderful. You’re guaranteed to have a good experience at KCP. This is a great learning experience and great for putting your Japanese speaking ability to the test. KCP’s program is great. I highly recommend it.”
—Daniel, 2009, University of Idaho

“It was cheap and the program offered the chance to live in Tokyo.”—Bryan, 2007, Ramapo College of N.J.

“Strong points for me were the price and the chance to meet other students from around the world.”
—Howard, 2008, Western Washington University

“The timing worked well for my summer schedule and cost was relatively cheap. The location was good. Immersion was important to me. KCP allowed me to improve my Japanese tremendously.”
—Kevin, 2008, U. of California, Riverside

“I chose the program for cost-effectiveness, but I was very impressed with the quality of the education and returned for a second term.”
—Sara, 2008, Lincoln University

“It was the best value for the money, it’s in Tokyo, and it is affiliated with CCIS.”
—Erika, 2008, Bowdoin College

“Don’t hesitate to sign up for KCP. You’ll have many good experiences, and it’s well worth your money.”
—Michael, 2008, Western Washington University

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Life at KCP photo-reportage series

January 29, 2010

Part One | A Look at the Campus

The KCP main building, early morning sun, in a relatively sane part of Tokyo’s otherwise very busy Shinjuku district.

KCP, street level. Students waiting for buses, hooking up with friends.

One of the classroom buildings. Note street sign in both kanji and romaji (romanized letters).

A typical KCP classroom. It’s so peaceful, empty! (For less peaceful classrooms, see below.)

Computer lab, almost empty. These computers have flat screens, plenty of USB ports, internet access, CD drives, and software such as Word and Excel.

The KCP library, full of good reference materials to support your learning.

The student lounge, where students eat, drink, and chat. Onsite vending machines plus local stores nearby. Obento is a favorite. Bulletin board posts pics of recent school events and co-curricular activities.

Students enjoying learning games in language class.

Everyone is involved, even those not part of the discussion. Classes are a mix of Americans and students from other Asian countries.

Small-group exercises. For language, this is a great way to learn. Real communication can happen in a small group.

And small-group work with a teacher to check in occasionally is even better. KCP teachers are known for their ability to both generate interest and respond to the needs of each individual.

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Financial Resources

October 29, 2009

Even if we are in the “R-word,” you don’t have to give up on your study abroad dream. While many other Japanese language programs cost between $10,000 and $15,000 per semester, the KCP program costs $5,700 or less— about half the cost! Academic credit and financial aid are available through our sponsoring and affiliate universities; you should be able to apply federal and state financial aid to this program.

Visit our website for scholarship information and other resources to help fund your study in Japan. Check out http://kcpinternational.com/finances/financial_resources.html for scholarship websites, grants, and even a sample budget.