Korean Restaurant in Tottenham court road

I went to Korean Restaurant "Woo Jung" near Tottenham Court Road Station with friends. It was really delicious.

It was really cold today, so we could warm our bodies with hot dishes. I took only two pictures of dishes, but we ordered pork galbi and japchae as well as beaf galbi, seafood stew (Chige), bibimbap.

The exterior appearance.

Regent street

My great study partners

I recovered of a cold!  I got a bad cold last week and since then, I've stayed in my room all days except the days when I have classes or lesson. I suffered from bad attacks of coughing more than one week. I felt it was not only because of a cold but also some kind of allergy. I usually don't have allergic reactions in Japan. （Only when I drink a wine, I sneezy.） I think that the air and atmosphere in London are different from Tokyo, and it causes an allergy...

Anyway, in these weeks, I could find three good study partners!

I feel it is so difficult to deal with many assignments and readings by myself. Some weeks ago, I talked it to some classmates. One of them gave me an email and kindly accepted to help my study. He is also student on music, and a native English speaker. He helped me to write a book review. His teaching way was really great. I am confident in myself in reading English because almost all my textbooks and papers on ethnomusicology were written by English. However, I found how I was optimistic and how I didn’t understand the contents of writings written by English when I thought about my book review with him. He tried to make clear and correct my misreading and misunderstanding. Fortunately, I could understand which sentences or paragraphs were important in whole book. I knew it because I found in his book the same sentences were highlighted by a yellow marker pen as in my book. What I should do is read more carefully. When I read a book, I just look to the printing surface. I don’t try to read between the lines. I don’t consider the deep meaning behind the words. He drew some graphics for me to understand easily what the author says. I painfully felt that I am lack of efforts and motivations to understand the author’s claims.

Another partner appeared by accident. Last Monday, I talked with a classmate who is from Poland. I felt lonely a bit in the class because other students are so smart and the lectures are really difficult. Some friends say “hello” or “how are you” to me every week, and they are very friendly. However, even now I cannot understand the lecture 50 or 60 percent. The reason is simple. I have little knowledge on the topics of lectures. Yes, I try hard to read books on Israel and Palestine both in Japanese and English, but it doesn’t suffice in order for me to understand what the lecturer says. Anyway, I was in such a ‘lonely’ atmosphere on every Monday. Therefore, I was really happy to talk with the classmate from Poland. After talking with her in a few minutes, she recommended to join in the choir society which she joins every Monday evening. I decided to do so. At 7pm, I arrived at a classroom where choir practice was done. I hesitated to enter the room because there were no friends (she was not there yet) no East Asian student… (I feel easy when I find ‘yellow’ guys…). At this moment, I caught the eye of a girl. She looked so friendly. She spoke to me. “Are you Japanese?” “Yes, I’m Japanese.” She suddenly spoke fluent Japanese. She explained that she is studying Japanese language and literature. I asked her to help my study. I thought it was a good chance to build a great friendship to teach languages each other. I might be aggressive in that moment. I really wanted to make a friendship with her. There are many students who study Japanese language, but I have a few opportunities to contact with them. When I asked it to her, she gave me YES soon. I was really happy. We decided to meet every week and help each other. I built the same friendship in Japan. We met regularly and he checked my English writing and speaking, in return I checked his Japanese. It was successful. It is no exaggeration to say that I could come to London to study music thanks to him. For this reason, I was looking for a friend who is interested in Japan.

I’m sleepy, so I would like to write about the last study partner next time! Actually, I’ve never seen her yet until now. I will meet with her next Monday. I really look forward to seeing herJ

The first assignment Book Review

The first assignment: Book Review

Finally, I could submit my critical book review. I started to prepare for this first assignment earlier 3 or 4 weeks ago. However, the book I need to write about was difficult to understand. Tomorrow is the dead line, but I submitted today because I would like to start preparing for my first presentation about Palestinian hip hop on 5^th December. On 12^th December, I also need to submit 2500-word essay on Israeli pop music. I have much work to do, so I should work systematically. Fortunately, I could find a good friend who is a native English speaker helps my studying. Yesterday, I sent him my first draft of book review, and then he gave me useful advices. I could learn how to summarize and quote a book, and how to criticize it. In order to write critical review, I should need to think about why the author thinks it, to judge for yourself whether the author did a good job. Was he easy to understand? Who do you think his audience is meant to be? Did he really do everything he meant to do, or are there ways he could have done better?

I found that I should change the way to read a book. Until now, I just read a book as it is, and understand just only what is written there. However it is not suffice!

Exciting Klezmer Night!

Last Sunday, I went to go to a klezmer concert by Amsterdam klezmer band and London klezmer Quartet. It was amazing! It looked like a disco! People were dancing with very dancable klezmer tunes, and even I was dancing a little :)
It was held in East London at night, so the atmosphere was a little (considerable) different from central london. I don't know the reason, but the mood at station, streets, shops are a bit different. But I had no problem except losting my way at Old Street station...
The stage was in a big bar, so people were drinking a beer or wine over listening to nice music. I was alone there but all people there blended together and enjoyed it. Of course there were a lot of klezmer fans, but people who were outside had a interest in the music which are listened from the building, and came to the bar.

This week

Slowly and slowly, I’m getting used to London student’s life, although I cannot spend a lot of reading time because I am so tired that I need to take 8-hours sleeping time.

Monday and Tuesday are days to confine my attention to the classes at school. I have three classes, so I was busy for the preparation and review of classes.

I have no class on Wednesday, so I went to the library at City Uni. This library is located near Angel station, very convenient for me because it takes 30 min. from my accommodation by foot. City University is also international, but different in the atmosphere from SOAS. My friend who goes to City University said the exterior of the school building looks like a city office in Japan. She is the same age as me, so we understand each other well, although we met just only a month ago. In that day, she took me to the school café, but I couldn’t eat a lunch. To tell the truth, I met my host father in the morning, and he gave me a big, wonderful breakfast in a bar. I’m finally able to have a typical English breakfast! Egg, bacon, sausage, potatoes, beans, toast, tea, and black pudding! Black pudding is new to me, and its taste was very unique! Anyway, it was great to see and hear host parents are well.

After that, I got on Northern Line and when I arrived at Angel Station it was raining. In such a case, the small umbrella seems to be very helpful. However, I have no space for it because I always apt to bring as many books as possible… It’s my habit.

After arriving in UK, I noticed a great use of a hood! In Japan, a hood is a kind of fashion accessory. A coat with a hood looks casual. And a coat with a fur hood is popular because it looks gorgeous. It rains heavily and in a long time (whole day or half a day) there, so everybody needs a big umbrella. On the contrary, it functions as a protection against rain here.

On Thursday, I had an accordion lesson, so I went to teacher’s home and spent fruitful and exciting time. It is difficult to find practice time in this busy studying life. But London provides me more practice places than Tokyo. After the lesson I went to Regent’s park and practice for an hour. It is getting colder and colder, so please take care of yourself!

SCONUL card

My senior friend's boyfriend told that in Bloomsbury area there are largest amount of books in UK.
(If I didn't have a mistake to catch his word.) Apart from SOAS library, there are some libraries, and archives, bookshops. So it is not difficult to find a book I want to read. However, it is not easy to get a book which I need to read to prepare for a lecture. This is because all classmates triy to find the same book. Therefore, I need to go some libraries (Hashigo in Japanese) to find it.
I have a lot of choices, but it is important to use a library which my classmates will not go. Luckily, I made a friend who goes to City Uni, so I decided to use a City Uni's library. It is very convenient, becuase I can go there by foot in 30 min.

If you want to use other universities' libraries, you sometimes need to "sconul card". All you must do is to go to the desk at your univesity's lib, filling a document, handing it to a staff. It will take 5 min. I got it today, so I am able to use other libraries until 30th september, 2012. Wow!

Accordion Practice in a park

After arriving at London, I kept to try to do everything which I want to do.

When I was in Japan, I developed my illusion that I had a plenty of time! This is because it was really peaceful. No war, no conflict, no worry about foods, housing, clothes. I am a Ph.D. student but I was lucking in a sense of it. I was not hungry in Japan at all. On the contrary, the situation changed dramatically. At school, teachers gave me long reading lists, a lot of assignments. I am expected to take part in a discussion, doing presentation in English. Also, I train my musical performance skills here by taking lessons. I have no choice but to do so. Happily, I feel a joy to do these tasks, because all these are connected with my future dream. Improving English skills, reading many books on my subject, improving my performance skill... Everything has a great meaning and value for preparation for my future carrier. So, I try to be an active here.

On Saturday, I went to Hyde Park to practice the accordion. Yes, I am a beginner accordion player, but I was adventurous then. It was a brilliant, sunny day, so it was very comfortable in the park. I found a good bench, and practice for two hours there. During the practice time, a man who was cycling said hello to me, and told me he plays Irish music. An old woman sat next to me, and listened to my poor accordion sound and moved her body to the rhythm. The presence of people who listen to me was so helpful to keep my motivation to practice. After the practice, I felt I could practice well…(just felt?)

I would like to be bigger-minded by keeping practice in the parkJ

class on Monday

On every Monday, I have a class on Israel pop music and politics. To be honest, I had almost no knowledge about the state "Israel". In Japan, we heard some news about a war and terror...The newest thing I heard in Japan was that Israeli doctors and medical staffs came to Japan after the big earthquake and gave a great medical support in the affected area. So, to my mortification, I didn't knew as much as general Japanese people. However, in this class, I have to study hard about Israel politics, history, geography, and minorities as well as Israel pop music. The teacher and classmates are so friendly that I do not hesitate to attend this class, but it is of course super hard to follow and catch what the teacher said, and understand what is the issue and theme in the class.

At the beginning in December, I have a presentation about Palestinian hip hop, and I am looking for the readings and other materials (films & CDs). I found a documentary film named "Slingshot hip hop." It deals with some Palestinian hip hop bands including female singers. I need to watch it first at all!

Rethinking today's class, the most difficult things for Japanese students in taking a lecture in English are 1) vocabulary, 2) listening & reading speed. As for vocabulary, if you know the meanings of many specific words relating to the themes in the lecture, it would be really helpful to understand the lecture. For me, it is a small(?) help to read books on the reading list before the lecture. The reason to say “small” help is that it is not enough for me to understand the contents of the lecture, because I am inextricable with “Thinking process in Japanese.” I’m still not able to understand some difficult concepts or ideas only in English.

It is a completely different subject, but I often feel a sudden surge of happiness. It is not an exaggerated expression at all, but I am always surrounded by great, warm-hearted people. After coming to UK, I strongly understood that communication and output my feeling and thoughts is very very important. It is true that it depends on a person, but I think generally that many Japanese people put much importance “action” rather than “word.” For example, although I like talking with friends, I did not want to speak a thing which I didn’t start. Although I like to be listened a lot of things about myself, I was too shy to speak my dreams even to friends. Although I like to know a lot about other people, I made an effort to be respectful too much, and I could not ask anything. I am not sure the reason why I was so, but I can say that it is caused partly by Japanese society’s character. I was very surprised by a lot of words, talks, shouts among people here. I found these words achieve a friendly relationship between people. It is difficult to explain, but I’d like just to say that WORD has much more power to connect between people here than in Japan. (May be, in order to build a deep relationship in Japan, other skills are required.)

…Sorry, I cannot convey my feeling will in English…

まあ、要は、とにかく周りの人と積極的にたくさん話をしていかないと、仲良くなれないってこと。相手への相づちも首を振るだけじゃなくてしっかり言葉にすることや、相手に少しでも多くの返事を返すことが良い関係を作ることにつながる。

 (In short, I think I cannot make a friend without speaking actively to other people here. For instance, it is not enough to move your head to response. Try to say words to show your agreement or disagreement. It’s simple and easy. If you want to make a good tie with your friends, it is necessary to response more by words. )

Probably, or without fail, some people here are so kind enough to overlook my mistakes, poor conversation skill, or other things, because I am apparently a foreigner. I understand and appreciate it. But in the near future, I’d like to master English until I do not need their considerations.

klezmer accordion lesson

Finally my accordion lesson started! I've dreamed this moment for five years when I'd started to study klezmer music. My teacher is perfect. She teaches me not only basic accordion practice but also a lot of knowledge on klezmer history, repertoire, klezmer performance scenes, musical elements such as rhythm, stress… Her personality is also great. She is intelligent, kind, and generosity! I was supposed to be taken one-hour lesson, but today, she gave me a longer lesson (around 90 min.).

It took 40 min. from my accommodation to her house by foot and tube. I might go there by bus. (Buses in London are so convenient and cheap.)

I need to explain you about the performance course at SOAS. There are some performance classes, like Gamelan ensemble. However, if you want to learn some minor (?) music performance, you need to find a teacher outside the university. I could find a great teacher through JMI, Jewish Music Institute. The institute belongs SOAS, and it has a nice archive (however, I don’t know it yet). There are some kind staffs and they introduced me a teacher. Anyway, students who want to learn music need to look for their teachers in some ways.

Performance course required students to play 20 min. in public as a practical examination including oral exam, and submit a portfolio. Students need to keep lesson diary, and at the end of term, they make their portfolios based on their lesson diaries. They are expected to include music analysis or something in their portfolios. Students are not allowed to choose music which is not related to their researches. So if you will research Japanese Syakuhachi for your master dissertation, it is impossible to take didgeridoo lessons as a performance course of the university. The good thing is students who take one to one performance lessons, some money will be returned as a part of lesson fee. Of course, the amount of money which will be returned is not enough to cover all lesson fees, but it is better than nothing.

I like the system of SOAS performance course. Although each student has each purpose to learn music performance, students can experience to play in front of public at the end of course. And keeping lesson diary and submitting a portfolio will lead students to consider about history, theory, repertoire, musical structure, and other important things on the music as well as improve a performance skill.

I was very lucky to encounter a great teacher.

Although I bought electronic accordion as well as acoustic one, the biggest problem is the practice place. I can practice at my own room with electronic one every night, but it is necessary to practice with acoustic one at least two days each week, because the size and touch is different between two. So I asked my teacher I can practice in a park. She answered “why not?” I require courage to practice in a park, but I would like to do so.

A dinner party with flatmates

I talk about my great flatsmates. I live in hall of residence of my university, so all flatmates are students at SOAS. The reason why I call them flatmates, the hall of residence consists six flats A-F. Each flat has some floors and each floor separated to two. I share a kitchen with other four friends. I call this four my flatmates. They are from India, UK, and Switzerland. On Saturday, we had a dinner party. The most great thing was I feel we became more friendly than before! I will show some pictures, but I have no time to process it not to see our faces. So please wait...

First assignment

It is often heard that in Western countries master students are assigned a lot of readings and assignments. It is true, but to be honest, in my university in Japan we were expected to read a lot of related books to the themes of courses too. The complete difference between Geidai and SOAS, students are provided a lot of opportunities to show the outcome of their homework. The contents and assignments of courses are strictly organized by teachers here.

Now I struggle to finish my homework since last Friday. I need to summarize and comment on a book about ethnomusicology. I had a right to choose one among several books, however I wasn’t able to find any books except one, which is Ethno-musicology by Jaap Kunst. It was quite a nice book because I knew (just) his name and it includes long appendix and index. There are 66 pages to read! But…the difficulty of this homework was beyond my imagination. I think I am familiar with reading books on music in English, but I had a few chances to train my skill to summarize and make a comment about a book in English. In training of IELTS academic writing, I believed I could improve my writing skill, but it was a big mistake.

 Anyway, I will show my first writing homework here…

(just a moment)

Piccadilly Circus / Japanese foods BANZAI

There are some shops where deal with many many Japanese ingredients around Piccadilly circus station. JAPAN CENTRE is the most famous one next to MITSUKOSHI.
http://www.japancentre.com/?cmd=hlp&page=loc
I will show you some BENTOs there.

Umm. I cannnot say it is reasonable... Bentos I felt good were from 4.5 pounds to 8.5 pounds. Salmon may be easy to get in UK so Samon sushi is not so high, but overall these were not cheap.
I also went to ARIGATO near piccadilly circus station. It was smaller than Japan Centre, but I thought there were all basic ingredients for Japanese foods. It is a bit cheaper than Japan Centre:)

school cafeteria / GAKUSYOKU and marketing at a UK's supermarket

Hi, there.

I will introduce the university's Cafeteria. What kind of foods can we have there?

Many Japanese friends at the univerisity say "Not Good" "like a rubber" "it is o.k."...

Entering the cafeteria, we can find good smell. After taking a BON (tray), you can choose from fish or meat, or pasta. Soup of the day is also offered for about 1.5 pounds. After you passed the corner of meals, you will see a service of coffee or tea and each for 1 to 2 pounds. Water, fresh juice, and salad are prepared in an opposite side. Finally you will finish the payment at a register. It is very simple and easy.
Meat and fish dishes are offered with some vegetables, and we can buy each for approximately 3.5 pounds.
This is a dish on this Wednesday.

The main dish is Beef stew covered with mashed potetos. The vegetable is fried cabbage and onion.
Total is 3.5+1.2=4.7 pounds!   At the today's rate, it is 570 yen. Oh, it is a bit expensive for me... because when I lived in Japan, I was a money-saving freak under my husband's influence. I tried to pay money for foods a day for 1000 yen at maximum. If I bring my coffee from my accommodation, it will be 423 yen. Ummmm...I need to think about money-saving seriously...
Yeah, coming to UK, I was provided an illusion that the products at a supermarket or cafe, restaurant, were very reasonable, partly because Japanese yen was so strong, and partly because I can get a lovely products, such as organic foods, fresh jouce, delicious-looking sandwichs and salads... These nice products must be sold for double or (3/2) prices in Japan, definitely. But even so, I, a poor student, need to give up to get them. Compared with Japan, it is much harder to save money cleverly in UK.


I will report a supermarket case. Look for the photos I took a certain supermarket in King's cross station.  

These are 500 ml. or less fresh juices (1.5 pounds). If I go to 100 yen shop, I can get the similar one for 0.82 pounds!

Oh, this one is 1.9 pounds! But the bottle is very cute.

I often this kind of tag. it means you can get 3 packs for 5 pounds. It is sad, I know I cannot finish to drink 3 packs before best-before date... 

the upper one is a small bottle of milk. It is very couvenient, but do not trust the best-before date. Once you open it, you need to drink it 3 or 4 days. I felt it, because my milk became yoghurt today :(

I never try chocolate banana or strawberry flavoured milk, apart from banana one, the straqberry one looks delicious!

Meal deal! This is one of greatest marketing at a supermarket in UK! This sytem is if you buy a sandwich, snack, and soft drink together, you are given a discount. I think some couvenience stores in Japan also adopt this system...Bento + drink = 500 yen! BTW, 2.95 pounds equal 357yen. Oh, that's good!

Why do you think these things look so delicious?

Compared with Japanese sandwiches in Seven Eleven, the quantity and package, the amount are different.

"the amount" means how many packes are there. At a convenience store in Japan, the sandwich corner is small. We need to choose from 3 or 4 types... 

10 pounds means not 1000 yen, but 1211.31 yen! OK? So each costs 430yen.

Raps are better than sandwiches for me when I want to take a quick lunch.

Why am I fascinated by them? There are a lot of fresh fruits, such as apple, grape, mango, mixed fruits...

mango is rare in Japan so I bought it first of all! But...grape was much better than it.

Wine for 6.25 pounds. =757 yen. A poor student (I) don't buy it, but I make a smile automatically.

(much cheaper than wine in Japan)

I took many photos at a certain supermarket without buying anything...the security guard man looked quizzically at me. 

SOAS klezmer ensemble

Yesterday was the most exciting day after I arrived in London. One of the purposes I came to london is to learn Klezmer music. Yesteday, I attended a session event by SOAS klezmer ensemble. There were 25-30 people who had their own instuments (Violin, Cello, Clarinet...). I didn't bring my instrument because I couldn't bring accordion from Japan, so by the next time, I bought a new one in London.
The session started with singing a beautiful nign (non-text song). I recorded all this session, so I will show you this song later.
After that, we played this song by our instruments. Although I already learnt it in Weimar workshop, I realized again that singing the tune before playing is good to be familiar with the its atmosphere and memolise its melody and structure.
Then, after a short break, we learnt another klezmer tune, Moldavian hora. It was different from  the one I played in Japan with my friends. Just looking its score, it is not so compex, and not so active. However, the tune is dramatically changed by performers. The speed, the accents, the ornamentation, the special technique (for me the special technique's name sounds KULEccehtu). I read writing about this technique in Japan but it was difficult to understand its meaning. "Seeing is Believing". That was the moment I realised this saying.
Anyway, I need more time to edit and update the recording I recorded during this session.
Today, I go to the accordion shop in Lewisham. I've never used Docklands Light Railway, but I checked again and again how to get to this shop, so I think I will be OK. After coming back, i will show you my new accordion!  Bye!

Zionism

Zionism...Japanese people are taught to pronounce it as SI-O-NI-ZU-MU. Today's topic in Israeli music class was Zionism. Starting this class,  I was surprised. The theacher repeated ZA-I-O-NI-ZU-MU!? Therefore, I could not understand what she said at the beginning. Anyway, I learned about several kinds of Zionism and Shirei Eretz Yisrael or "Songs of the Land of Israel"(SLI). SLI is the most important musical genre in popular music until the 1960s and sung by Hebrew, references to the land are often seen in the texts. What I was ashemed, I didn't know Israel National Anthem "Ha'tikva". I thought I heard its melody from somewhere...Yes! It is very similar with Smetana's The Moldau. (the teacher also mentioned the similarity)
"Ha'tikva" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvDrBXBUx8E
"The Moldau" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK_3WlXfm9o

To be honest, it is difficult to understand all thing in the class. I think I followed 70 percent today, I could take notes about what was written on the screen, and what the teacher and classmates said. I know I usually do not make sense the specific terms like Aliyeh, Balfour Declaration in a moment because I am not familiar with them. But then why I was not able to join a discussion more? The main reason is a lack of enough listening ability. I didn't understand the questions so I could not answer. The insessional English course at SOAS starts in this week, and I take a listening class tomorrow morning. It lasts only for four weeks, but I will make efforts to find the reason why I have a listening difficulty and improve.

BTW, I went to the organic shop, called Planet Organic to take a lunch with my japanese friend. There is a DELI corner, and we enjoyed some organic dishes and soup. It is a little higher than other normal shops, but the taste was good. The order system is very simple. First, you choose the size of box, small/ midium/ large. After that, you choose which doshes you want. For example, I chose 3 dishes, brown rice, lasagna, and broccoli salad. Then, go to the register and pay for them. If you want a cup of soup, you help yourself. If you want coffee, or tea, fresh jouces, you just say it before the payment.

MixB

Do you know MixB? It is a online site where Japanese people can sell and buy second hand goods. Some students will leave for Japan, and some students are going to start their lives in London. MixB is a good site for them.
As for me, I bought a big printer(Hukugouki Canon) through this site. At 11:00 today, I went to a train station to get it from a Japanese woman. I paid 60 pounds for it with inks, papers, and other stuffs (rice and seasoning). It is not so cheap, but after I came back to my room, I found it good.
Aside from second hand goods, this site introduces jobs, societies, and lessons. I need to concentrate to my study (Mou, teippaidayo~), I will not have anything to do with them...
In any case, this site is very helpful for Japanese students who start studying in London!

Saturday dinner party

Today, I enjoyed Japanese food party with other three japanese students at SOAS. We made Chikuzen-ni, Miso-soup with eggplant, Tofu salad, white rice. I had very relax IYASHI time with them. The tastes of all dishes were excellent!  Before the party, I went to Picadelly Circus and purchased Japanese seasonings (MISO, Soy souce, Mirin) with a friend. Several Japanese food shops are there, and I felt "Arigato" shop is cheaper than "Japan Centre". In Arigato, people are able to eat sishi there. So I will try it later.
Anyway, I would like to continue this party on every Saturday with many japanese students for keeping my mental healthy.

Flash back this week 2

I need to write about what happened this week for me while I remember.
On Thursday evening, I went to Oxford Circus to attend a party to get to know each other for people who are interested in Japan and for Japanese people in London. The reason I joined in this party are partly I wanted to meet Japanese people outside my university, partly I wanted to experience a british old pub, and partly the party was introduced in Japanese newspaper as a nice community to exchange the information about London and Japan and also to know each other healthy. ( It means I believed the community is not the place to find a girlfriend or boyfriend.) The great benefits was to know a Japanese girl university student who is the same old as me. Her personality is very unique and I can learn a lot of things about London because she lives here for 2 years. Anyway, several kinds of people (Japanese, English, other European and Asian people) came to this party and enjoyed to talk and drink. However, I observed that some people tried to make a good mood with someone of the opposite sex...
On Friday, I attended a class on Asian popular music (K-pop, J-pop, Enka, Chinese pops). There were a big class, 60 or70 students(?), however I was only one Japanese... This means a lot of foreigners are interested in Japanese (or other East asian) music. In fact, a male student who was Westerner knew a lot about Japanese culture. (NIKONIKODOUGA) I would like to continue to attend this class as many as possible! And then, Friday Night! I went to Oxford Street and enjoy shopping with my friend who met on Thursday at a party. She knew nice clothes shops, shoe shops, mobile phone shop, and cafes. We met at 5:30 in Tottenam Court Road, and we said goodbye at 10:30. This means we walked around there and looked for good clothes for 5 hours! Thanks to her, I could buy shoes, a shirt, two sweaters, two pants.
I understood there are a lot of nice shops in Oxford Street. My favorite shops are below.
Shoe shop: OFFICE (shop assistants are basically kind)
Cloth shop: ZARA, 21, Debenhams ( I think there are more nice shops there)

And do you know there are many Japanese food franchisement shops. On Friday, we went to WASABI, where we can get Sushi, Bento, Chinese hot foods, Yakisoba, Tanmen... People can eat inside the shop, but it looks Japanese Bento-ya, rather than restaurant. Compared with YO!Sushi, it is much better and reasonable to buy in Wasabi.

first week -- flash back

This week was so fast that I didn't manage to update my blog... Therefore, I would like to share my life in this week briefly as my flash back!
On Monday, I had a first class at SOAS in the afternoon. It was about Israel popular music and politics. Looking the texts and video images of Israel pop, the popular songs have political implication. In this lecture and seminar, I found it interesting to analyse song texts.
On Tuesday, I went to a workshop, where I can talk and question about the study life in London and at SOAS. I could talk one to one with the current students. It was helpful as listening & speaking exercise, and I recognized again that it was necessary to improve my listening skill. Then, I went to have a lunch. As other students at SOAS wrote it, queues of people form in front of main building and burnai gallery at noon everyday. Many new students wonder about it, but it is for free lunch. In this day, I was with a new, adventurous Chinese friend so we tried this free food! The food was a sort of Indian curry with rice and brown suger cake. Since we were hungry, so we enjoyed it. Asking other Japanese friends who tried this food, they said it was OK. After that, I tried to meet my advisor. In the fifth floor of main building, there are many small individual rooms for teachers. The floor was like a big maze, and I walked around this floor twice before I found his room. Unfotunately, he was not there... In the afternoon, I attended a core course named Ethnomusicology in Practice. It was very very interesting, because I could understand well what the lecturer's said. The reason was I studied about the contents again and again at Geidai in Japan.
On Wednesday, I went to British library to make my reading pass. Actually, I went there on Thesday, but I turned down in my request because of luck of nesassary documentation. Anyway, I could make it in that day. The reason why I needed to use British liburary was I needed to collect all books on the long reading lists gave by lecturers. We, the students in the same class including me, must join in a scramble for books to read. It is not enough to use SOAS library, we need to go to 3 or 4 liburaries! Following it, I went to talk with my advisor. I needed to talk about my courses. New SOAS master students needed to sign-up their courses until this day. I already decided all courses to take until this day, but I didn't know well about "performance" course. I wanted to learn accordion. My advisor said, I can learn any instrument outside the university, and I need to pay a lesson fee. I need to take lessons as many as possible. The university will return some money (ooo pounds) to me after the programme ended. And I need to take a performance exam at the end of course. So I asked some university Institute for a teacher who can teach me accordion. This evening, there was Performance Fair and Indian, Chinese, Indonesian music were played there.
On Thursday, I found my face was so blue and pale. I spent exciting days at univerisity, but I put too more stresses on the body than I recognized. I woke up late in that morning, and I went out at noon. I visitied to the university library and printed out journals and books to read. At SOAS, students can print out by 5 pence each page. New students have 20 pounds or less charge from the first. We don't need to bring "copy card" because the "copy" system is controlled by computer. All we should do before printing out is to enter our ID number and password to the screen of copy machine. It is a convenient system, I would like my university in Japan to introduce this system.

This article must be not so fun for you. I'm just writing what I did. In the future, I would like to write interestingly and quicker! Thank you for reading!

 

Studying at SOAS started!

The courses started this week, and I atteded some classes, "popular music and politics in Israel", "Ethnomusicology in Practice". The latter one is the core course of my programme, and it was interesting.
I am tired and sleepy everyday because there are a lot of things to deal with such as attending classes, events, register, sign-up courses, meeting with teachers, friends, preparing for classes (almost reading books), memorizing a map and location of classes and library...as well as considering about my own
research. fortunately, I could meet good classmates who also study ethnomusicology. They are very friendly and have a good musical tastes and talents.
Last week, my parents came to london and see me. They brought a lot of Japanese food ingredients, it was so helpful. I gradually settled into London. I understand a map of central London, and I am able to walk around SOAS, King's cross station, and Oxford Circus. I think we can get fresh fruits, meat, fish, jueces and good breads, but it is difficult for me to find a wonderful restaurant (reasonable, and delicious). I know some restaurants, but not so many. I try to look for a nice restaurant near my University.
As for today, I attended one school event in the morning, and I met a good friend from China. After that, I went to SOAS library but I was so sleepy. At 3 p.m. I attended a core course "Ethnomsuicology in Practice", which was so heplful to understand ethnomusicology characteristics and history. And then, I listened to how to search for music resources online and in library. After that, I talked with friends for a ling time, then I came back at 9:30.
Today's blog could be terrible, because I have no energy to corrent my English spelling.
Anyway, to say in short, my life at SOAS is incredible!
Sorry, I will write better thing in the next time.

DInwiddy House

I had no event today, so I could rest well. I woke up 7 a.m. but I took a nap in 3 hours in this afternoon...
In the morning, I went to Vernon Square Campus, which is very close to Dinwiddy. It took 3 or 4 min. by foot. This building presents good appearence, but when I went inside I felt it cold, quiet, and sleepy. Actually, many students and staffs, teachers are in Russell Square Campus, the main place of SOAS because a lot of events are held there. However, in the Vernon building there are comfortable cafe and student's common room with nice sofas, therefore I'd like to come here and read a book, take a lunch later.
En passant, I will tell you about my accommodation, Dinwiddy house. This is one of the Halls of Residence at SOAS, and mainly undergraduate students are living here. So, it is noisy until midnight because many young students are talking in central courtyard. I am not sure well but many welcome events are prepared for freshers. I hope peaceful days will come soon!
Each student are provided individual room and shared kitchen (I often miss the spell!). In indicidual room, there are  a desk, drawers, book shelf, closet, single bed, matress, shower, and toilet. The size of the room is not so small, and I feel comfortable here except a big noise.
I was not able to bring a lot of stuffs from Japan, so I needed to purchase a lot. I already said that I bought a kettle, bedding, some foods. Today, I bought a wall clock and desk lamp (all by argos--the best shop to get a cheap goods). It was surprising for me the room so dark! In Japan, we usually use mainly white lights at home. In my room here I had a yellow light and it isn't bright fully. So in order to study in the room, I definitely needed a desk lamp. To be honest, I knew this fact because my senior friend who had studied in London told me it. Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.
I talked with another senior friend today and we realised that we learn a lesson the hard way. I have a lot of difficulties in London such as communication, register, school atmosphere, the hard work to prepare for classes, and noise at Dinwiddy house, but it is much better than living peaceful and without any stresses or difficulties in Japan. I am able to avoid danger, difficulty and stress easily there. Therefore for me it is difficult to find any problems or issues to discuss on. Without thinking, people can get a comfortable, peaceful lives in Japan.

Glass clock (7.99 pounds) I like the colour, it's a lovely green.

A small desk lamp (3.49) it is very small and not so good, but it is enough to use for a year.

it is red grape, totally different from Japanese grape. I bought this in TESCO, I feel that the taste of fruits depends on a shop. Sainsbury's one is better. The reason I took the picture is it is good to eat when we are a bit hungry. I tried "crisps" with several seasonings and the one with salt was good, but the other was too strong for me. This red grape is good for a snack.

NOTE for me
I need to decide which English In-sessional course should I take. I need to improve listening skill and expand vocabulary in the first stage. And then, I will learn presentation, and discussion skills. 

Welcome Week at SOAS

I'm tired, I have a lot of things to do... This week is Welcome Week at SOAS in 2011. During the week, we, new students need to finish our enrollments, and attend several events such as welcome talk, department meeting, Student services talk, learning a lunguage talk, register to library...
So I am confused now what to do next, who should I talk with, which course should I take. Students are available to be taken several supports from SOAS and they are easy-access. So it is really a relief. One of the staffs is Japanese woman who looks warm-hearted, so I plan to go to talk with her later.
 I attended Music Department Meeting and I met some teachers yesterday. I could meet a friend from Korea who know each other last winter. She is a Ph.D. student and came to London a half year ago. She is kind and friendly so I think I can call for help about music department.  Unfortunately, Dr. Wood who I wanted to study with is in Israel for her research... So alternatively another teacher will teach me. She is american so her English speaking is so fast. I need to improve listening skill more.
Anyway, I need to look for a teacher who can teach me klezmer performance, and also a language class which I can learn Hebrew. (it's not so important, but for me difficult to pronounce the word Hebrew. Not HEBURAI, but HEBROAW)
Although it is hard to acclimatize to SOAS student life in several points, I am excited everyday! Everything I see, hear and meet is absolutely new, defferent and unknown. I will deal with difficult things without being impatient.

Walking around London

I walked a lot in London yesterday, so I will show you the way I walked.
At 9:00, I came out of my room at Dinwiddy, and went to the counter to get a card for laundry.
I thought I didn't need to pay for washing my clothes, but I found I need to pay for it by online payment.
(washing 1.5 pound? drying 1 pound?)
Anyway, I started my walking at 9:10. At first, I went to my university, SOAS. My course plan was to use Swinton St., Gray's Inn Road, Tavistock Place, go straight and turn left. However, I missed to turn to Taistock place, so I got lost... Anyway, I took 30 minutes to go to the university. At university, there were a few people. The entrance door of Brunei Gallary opened and I went in, but I was stopped by staffs. Then, I moved to the British Museum, which is located near SOAS. At 9:50, there were some tourists, and they were waiting for the open. I didn't enter this museum and walked for the west.
My parents will come this week to bring my stuffs from Japan. They will stay near Oxford Circus Station. On Oxford Street, I found there were a lot of people even in Sunday. Several department store are there but all of them were closed when I went there. After I checked the way to the hotel where my parents will stay, I returned to Tottengam Court Road and went to the South.
2 weeks ago, a senior friend recommended to go to National Portrait Gallary, so I went there. I lent Japanese audio guide (3 pounds), and went around this museum. It was interesting to look a lot of famous people's faces. However, I was not satisfied by the contents of Japanese audio guide, it was poor...
Following that, I went to Japan Center near Piccadilly Circus. It was busy. Not only Japanese tourists but also Korean, Chinese, Westerners were there to eat Japanese healthy foods or buying Japanese food ingredients. The shop was good, but expensive comparing to buying in Japan. Double or triple? Anyway, I bought some foods and a plum wine.

As you might expect, I was so tired because I walked for 6 hours including walking in the museum. So I got on Tube from Picadilly Circus to King's cross. Yesterday walk was good excise for me, but I am now  suffering from muscle ache!

Dinwiddy house - Room

I was so exhausted today, but thanks to my host parents and new Japanese friends, I managed to finish safe my moving to the accommodation in London! I could enjoy seeing London streets, roads and buildings from a car window. I think it is precious experience for me because I was supposed not to get on a car in London. When I arrived in London, I suddenly had a strange feeling. It's difficult to explain. However, on streets and at Dinwiddy House I saw people in different ethnic backgrounds, different language and clothes. In that time, I could find the meaning "London is cosmopolitan city".
To my big surprise, I am so relaxed and optimistic about living in London.
(Totally thanks to my host parents)
I am confident, so I am sure I can act positively here.

I took some photos today.

Dinwiddy House
There are some flats from A to F. And each flat has some floors. Each floor is separated to two blocks. Each block has a kichen, 5-7 student rooms. If you have nice flatmates and perfect room, you are so lucky. I've had no chance to meet flatmates yet until now... but in this domitory, so many Japanese students...

Busy street near Dinwiddy House. We can see Kings Cross station in the back in this picture. From this station, I can go to Brussel and Paris, and of course anywhere in London.

Kind Japanese friend took me to the Tottenham Court, where is what you call Akihabara in London. There are many electronic shops. We went to Argos, where I bought beddings, a hair dryer, a kettle. The order system is very unique. At first, I search for the products I need online or by a catalog, and write the numbers connected with the products. Then I bring the paper to the counter. After 10 minutes, I can get the products. However, I hate this shopping way. I feel it is time wasting and tireness, and also I cannot enjoy shopping by seeing many products!

I bought a hair dryer (19.99 pound) and kettle (10.99 pound) at Argos.

I was so tired at Argos because products on sale were all sold out! I spent a lot of time there to find available products.

I bought a single duvet (17.99 pound), and pillow (almost 4 pound?).

Also, I needed to buy covers and mattress protector. Phew~. 

In my drawer, there are a lot of teas and sweets from my host mother.

I will be happy just looking them. 

Trip with ants

Thank you for reading my blog. It is a difficult and time-consuming work for me to keep a diary in English. I tried to avoid making terrible mistakes by using spell checker and online dictionary. It is so hard that I lack the emotional capacity to say interesting or humorous things. (I hope I would understand English jokes at some future day.)  Today, my host father indicated one of my awful errors…

Can you imagine a trip with ants? Last week, I needed to write “I went to Bath with aunts,” but I wrote “I went to Bath with ants”… (Ant means ARINKO in Japanese) Yes, to be sure, we were moving slowly around Bath.

Anyway, I had a precious experience today. I went to see a local primary school.  I have a lot of things about what I experienced there. However, I am so exhausted, and I will tell you about it tomorrow!

Bath again

Following last week, I went to Bath again! I had another purpose to visit there this time, which was ‘Thermae Bath Spa’. My host mother recommended me to go to see a massage in this Spa. I tried 3-hour Spa and 1 massage treatment. Although it was expensive (65 pounds including a towel, slippers and robe), but the massage was excellent.  At first, I went to the Roof Spa, which is a big bath with Jacuzzi on the roof. I could see a beautiful panoramic view of Bath with taking a bath. Unfortunately, it was cloudy today. So I felt cold and moved to the indoor soon. On the second floor, there were four saunas, which were lit up in several colours—purple, green, blue…--, providing a charming atmosphere. I felt strange smells when I first stepped out of an elevator on this floor. Each sauna room was filled with a different aroma steam, and they were so nice smells. I felt relaxed, comfortable by my skin and nose.

The time to go to massage was determined in advance. When I went to the desk for massage, I found a Japanese staff there. From the way she was taking about, I thought Japanese people often visit this Spa for taking massages. Anyway, I took a massage course including back, head, and foot massages. Especially, the back massage was so great. I don’t usually go to massage or ‘seitai’ clinic. This was the first experience I took a massage by a professional therapist. So I’ve never thought that a massage was so strong.  The effect was unsurpassed! I’ve felt pain in my lower back like a old woman today, but I felt nothing there when I left this Spa.

 Before I get on the return train, I visited a bew shopping center in Bath. There are old shopping street, but recently (1 year ago?) the new shopping center was built in front of the train station. I found that Bath is beautiful and enjoyable city where the old and new mixed!

Traditional English Lunch

Today, I enjoyed traditional British lunch with my host parents and their families and friend. I was so stupid because my host mother made a traditional English lunch, but I forgot to take a picture of it.  Now I will describe it roughly. The main was roast pork with apple souse. The accompaniments were roast vegetables, boiled potatoes, and mashed suede. Suede is a root vegetable, which looks like white carrot. The taste was new to me. The cooking way of roast vegetables was simple, healthy and convenient. You need just cut several vegetables such as a courgette (Zucchini), pepper (in Japan it is called Paprika, but why?), onion, carrot, after that, put olive oil and salt& pepper on, and place it in oven. That’s it.
My kind host mother allowed me to watch how she made a traditional pudding called chocolate Roulade. The ingredients are bellow.

1.    dark Chocolate 100g

2.    5 eggs

3.    white sugar 75g

4.    brown sugar 75g

5.    a table spoon of pure cocoa

6.    a table spoon of brandy

7.    double cream 300ml

8.    a small amount of icing sugar

A)    Melt chocolate by putting the bowl in hot water.

B)    Separate eggs to white and yellow parts.

C)    Put both white and brown sugar into the bowl with yellow part of eggs, and mix.

D)    Put together A and C, and mix them. After that, pour a tablespoon of brandy into it.

E)    Add pure cocoa in D, and mix

F)      Beat egg whites to stiff-peak stage, and mix it with E, first by a spoon and later by a machine.

G)    Turn F into an oven plate, spread F evenly into the corners. And bake for 15-20 min. in the oven (180C?)

H)    Remove from the oven and leave to cool for a few minutes

I)    Make a cream by whisk double cream by a mix machine

J)    Roll up the cake with the cream.

It was really delicious, so I will try to make it later. It is different from what Japanese people imagine as a pudding. This chocolate pudding does not use flour but the texture is similar with a chocolate roll cake in Japan.
Anyway, it was a productive day. I could learn cooking, and practice English conversation with wonderful people.