Gakko no Hajimari : Start of School

School started today! (insert sad cries & booing sound).

Yes, it really kind of sucks. I got up at 6:45 a.m. to get to school today at 8:45 this morning, only to find that the "entrance ceremony" was postponed until 9:30. dang. It was not a pretty commute - let's just say rush hour densha (subway) is probably one of the worst things so far that I've experienced in Japan. You are squeezed BUTT CLOSE to the person beside you, and the air conditioning isn't that strong - so let's just say it's really not a pretty sight.

So, anyways, the first day of school was effectively orientation (so like the Vice Principal gives a long-winded speech, followed by another lengthy discussion by the head of the Japanese Language Center, etc...it was just talk after talk) and you get your textbook, and materials, divided by level. I already have homework for my Saturday class! Life is so awesome! (sarcasm). :|

I was exhausted by noon when orientation ended, and man it's HOT here in Japan. It feels like it's still July / August here...and I don't know whether it's the early start or the heat, I absolutely just collapsed after orientation.

I was scheduled to meet up with my supervising professor for the very first time this evening. It kind of felt like going for my first job interview - you hope for the best but plan for the worst (or at least that's how I used to handle interiews!) Surprisingly, and thankfully, everything "kind of" worked out - I had a candid and good conversation with my professor and he's getting me involved in an externally funded (actually a New York based consulting firm) research project on cross-border M&A, investigating the factors that drive cross border between Japan and other countries (i.e. China, EU, America, etc). Right down my alley - and really very timely given my situation.

After our little chat, my professor invited me and couple of his other students along for dinner - it was one of those situations that you totally can imagine. Rowdy Japanese restaurant (seriously you can SMOKE inside a restaurant?) and we had beer with really awesome home-made Japanese food.

I already have seminar tomorrow (that's were all the master students need to prepare a little section on their thesis and all other participants are suppose to give comments etc) - and I need to start on my Japanese homework for my Saturday class. The realities of going back to school is seriously kicking in. :(