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
