In Japan: Part 12 ''First Day?''

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Okay so first of all....

I know I put some tension in my last journal about the results of my entrance interview....

and I apologize for the loooong wait.

In short.

I DID PASS.

But I was thinking of how to put it more dramatically or at least a bit more exciting than my last cliff hanger journal. :iconexcaliburfaceplz:

But in the process I kinda was thinking too much about it that I totally forgot about announcing it in the end. LMAO

SOWEEE~ <3 (*3*) -shot'd-

Anyway that over and done with,

I wanna tell you guys about the

:iconsparklesplz:FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!!! :iconsparklesplz:

Actually, it's not the actuall official first day of school. It's more of 4 trial classes (once per month or 2) until real school starts (in April).

They call this, "Pre-School". And we have classes from 10am to 3pm which is close to the time table we will have when actual school starts.

Each pre-school day has a different purpose:

:bulletblue:October: Intro to the process and tools of making Manga. Basic fundamental stuff.

:bulletblue:November: The importance of Characters and making them "charming"/ appealing.

:bulletblue:January: Character and Story. Developing personalities and directing poses.

:bulletblue:February: Finalizing one's manuscript; the proper way of filing and editing one's work.

Of course, the purpose of this is to get the new students to 'warm up' and prepare for the pace of an actual school day. But they also want us to make friends early so we won't have to worry about being loners (lul).

So if you wanna know how my day went, it all starts here.

I woke up at around 8am. My alarm was set to 8:30 but I'm the type of person who can't sleep properly if I'm looking forward to something the next day. So I got up anyway and did what I have to do before school.

I wasn't sure how long the commute was (bec. I never timed it before.) But I guessed it should be around 40 mins? I left the house at 9am, hoping to have enough time to stop by the 7/11 to grab breakfast on the way to school. Again, class starts at 10am.

Here's how the commute schedule looks; 15 minutes to walk to the nearest train station from my house. Taking the first train, it takes 15 minutes to get to Iidabashi station. I will have to transfer to a different train company to get to where I'm going, so that's another 10 minutes walking time. (Plus I got lost a bit.) Then when I take the OTHER iidabashi station, it takes a good 10 minutes to my stop which is Suidobashi station. From Suidobashi station, it takes 5 minutes walking to get to school. That 5 minutes consists of traveling time that I have to go through an over pass, and a steep slope. So by the time I reached the entrance it was almost time to begin. -facepalm- I had to skip breakfast (I didn't even get to drink anything.)

From the previous OPEN CAMPUS events, I managed to make a friend :'D
She's not Japanese. She's also an international student from China who is gonna be in the same department as me. We started texting each other since we happen to have the same fandoms. But we haven't had the chance to speak to each other very much in real life.

Anyway, I was told by :iconcandyrobot: who is a senpai (senior) in TDG. That I should try to make real Japanese friends to force myself to speak up and learn how they talk. But I'm so sorry it's harder done than said! Ri-san, my new chinese friend, speaks to me in Japanese too anyway. But neither of us are native speakers so I'm sure even if we understand each other if a real Japanese person was listening in we would sound really weird. oTL

When I entered school. A bunch of students were blocking the stair case and pointed me towards the lobby. I was pretty sure the instruction paper said "Go directly to your designated rooms. Classes will start as soon as it's time." So I didn't know if I was over thinking things but why did they tell me to go to the lobby if the paper they sent us said go to the rooms directly. So me and my wild imagination: OMG this is like the Hunter Exam! They are testing us to see if we can follow proper instructions. I have to get out of here quick and go straight to the room as said in the paper.

I kept checking my watch and there's 2 minutes left before the hand hit's 12. I was conflicted as to whether I should stand up and tell them what it says on the paper. But they I didn't want to look like an asshole just when they told me to stay put in the damn lobby with everyone else.

But luckily before my imagination went any further a teacher stepped into the lobby where everyone else was waiting and started calling departments. First the fashion department, followed by the Animation department and then the Manga department etc.

Okay, so I guess I WAS over thinking it. -facepalm-

So we all went together to the 6th floor. There's a big class room I think enough to fit 40-50 people. But when I counted there were only 27 students. IKR who the F counts heads at a time like this, but I'm just really weird like that.

So when we sat down, everyone looked like they were purposely skipping a table. WHY YOU GUYS SO SHY!? You know if only I could speak Japanese well already I would have talked to everyone who ever came to 1-2 feet close to me. Sigh.

I couldn't find Ri-San so I sat at the very back. No matter where I am I usually sit at the very back, despite my bad eye sight. Because when you're at the very back you can watch every one. O____O Not to mention you can do lots of stuff people can't see luhuhul~.

Anyway, the department head, Motoyama-Sensei was standing in front of the white board waiting for everyone to sit down. He's a short stubby bald man who always wears black. He has a round face, with big eyes and big glasses. He also has a distinctly patterned mustache and beard. Not like Tiger from T&B tho. Anyway, he looks like such a character.

So we started just in time and the NEW students were told to do "Jikoshoukai" (Self-Intro.) Where you say Hajimemashite (Nice to meet you [for the first time]) I'm blah blah from blah blah I like blah blah, Yoroshikuonegaishimasu (I'll be in your care.)

We were suppose to say our names, and what our favorite manga/anime was.

There were about 15 of us lined up in front of the white board and I lined up near the end so I can be last. But then the teacher said, "Okay let's start from the end." GAH!!

The first 2 people were also International students, from China again. I have a really bad case of stage fright. More of anticipation anxiety. No matter how small the deal is, My heart begins to beat faster when I know it's almost my turn.

So I tried my best not to think about and it and blurt out whatever I wanted to say. At first I wanted to say my favorite Anime is D.Gray-Man. But then that's so outdated! SO I wanted to say my favorite Manga is MAGI. But then the person who came before me said he liked Gintama and I freakin' love Gintama maybe I should say it too! In the end, I quickly muttered "MAGI GA SUKI DESU. YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU!" and hid my face behind my Sadako hair. I was hoping I wouldn't stand out too much because my stomach hurts when there's too much attention directed to myself but I have red hair damn I wanna hide behind a rock!

So when we were all done, I finally spotted Ri-San. She was at the other end of the classroom.

First half of the day, we were told to split into 2 groups so group A can go to a different classroom and have a lecture with another teacher first. We drew out 400 or 600 room and I landed in room 400.

So we all went down together. Ri-san and I finally exchanged our first awkward hello. haha~! But when we were sitting down in the light table stations, a girl came between us so again, we were separated. but that's okay since I wanna try talking to other people too.
Sadly during the first period there was no chance of talking to the people next to me so it ended just like that.

The first class was with Kawaguchi-Sensei. Female, from Osaka. At first she seems like a boring straight laced woman but when she starts getting carried away with what she's talking about, her Kansai-accent starts to leak out and her words shoot out like a bullet train headed to Osaka itself. DEAR GAWD WOMAN PLEASE DONT FORGET YOU HAVE N00B STUDENTS who barely understand Japanese itself more so Kansai-accent Japanese. LOLOL! She's really funny though.

Her class was about the tools, such as ink, G-pen and Maru-pen, plus the Manga paper. The manga paper took the most time explaining. She explained what the measure guide lines were for and which parts of the piece are going to be printed out during editing. As well as not to place your important balloons and actions on the sides. She also elaborated on  proper paneling and "stage direction" depending on whether that page is on the left or right side when it's printed.

I don't like this classroom set up. I got a stiff neck because I was looking at her, when my table is facing to the side. Haha I'm so picky. =w=

By the time class was about to end, my stomach started lurching. Since I didn't drink or eat anything for breakfast I was starting to feel dizzy. I kept checking my watch. I want to eat lunch already.

Finally the bell rang and they said we can either eat there or in the next class room which is back on the 6th floor. Ri-san and I decided we'd take our time eating in the 600 room.

When I laid out my bento, I realized that I forgot to bring drinks. So I went back down to the first floor where the vending machine was. I only have 2000yen in my pocket ($20) so when I was going back up my pocket was so noisy with all the loose change. Ahe...

Here's my lunch~!! :iconkralle-k: made it for me! If you watch Shirokuma Cafe, you know that this is Panda-kun and the title of this bento is "Sasa dake diet." (Bamboo leaves diet.) Hahah~! So adorable! By the time real school starts I won't have bento anymore because Kralle is going back to Canada ahuhuhuhuhuhhu!!! oTL So I'm really happy I get to have this meal on my 'first day of school.'

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During lunch break everyone was so quiet except for 3 girls in the middle of the classroom. They were literally screaming and fanning over something. Ri-san and I first talked about the same things we discussed in texts, like Magi and such.

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There's an on going Magi Event in ikebukuro Cafe that I went to yesterday. So I showed her some pictures and talked about all the merchandise and event limited stuff they had.

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When I was getting really excited I didn't realize that I was getting too comfortable. My voice was getting louder and I stopped caring about my broken Japanese and my straight stiff posture was no more. Next thing I noticed I my feet were in a "de quatro" position. (Manly position) so I calmed down from my Magi fangirling and put my feet back down lol.



We started talking about kuroko no basuke and K project. and so on and so on. I totally forgot about trying to make friends with the real Japanese students who were quietly fiddling with their iPhones pretending to ignore us. SIIIIGGGHHHH.

I mean... How WOULD you start a conversation. First of all you don't know if you like the same fandom. I tried checking out their bag's propaganda, like what anime straps hang on them. But a lot of them didn't have any. I think I was the only one who had Mu from KNB hanging off my bag. The other girl beside me had Uta-Prince, but I don't know how to start a conversation with that because I never watched it. All I knew about her Uta-Prince was that he had the same voice actor as Takao in Kuroko no Basuke. What if I said something like "hey that uta-puri is the same seiyuu as takao from KNB right? I totally love him." and what if she goes "Who the fuck is Takao?" AAAAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH---- runs off back home in shame.

So in the end... No new friends -_- The only people able to make friends were probably those 3 girls in the center of the classroom. They were so talkative I wanted to dive right in there but the language barrier once again blocks me off like a Youkai (demon) talisman.

Half of the day now starts.

The next teacher is the "Character Concept" teacher. Satou Hiroshi-Sensei.
Another funny looking man. With longer hair, glasses, beard and a dark rainbow knit cap. Another character.

This one is really really funny. I didn't even understand 100% of what he was talking about but the parts I understood really made everyone laugh. I tend to zone out when there's too many Japanese entering my head so at some point I was staring blankly into the ceiling for awhile and a burst of laughter from the class due to Hiroshi-Sensei's joke brought me back down to reality.

Anyway, the jokes aside he wanted to say the most were these 4 things:

There are 2 in a hundred people aiming to be a mangaka who actually make it into the industry. The most important thing that you should never forget,

意志をつよくもつこと。
It's important to have strong will power. It's not always the talented or the hard working ones who can make it. It the people who are stubborn enough and keep pushing forward. Do not forget to always carry that feeling in your hearts.

人生を楽しむんだという気持ち。
The feeling of enjoying life. He said to think about, why people buy manga in the first place? Why do we read them? It's for fun. That's why the makers, have to carry the sense of fun as they make their pieces too. People pay to enjoy themselves, so at the same time those who entertain, have the duty to bring about their interests. The connection between the readers and the artist.

なんでもいいので、好きなものを研究して見てください。
Whatever it is, do research on something you like.
When people decide to become Artists (as a career/profession.) They lose their "Hobbies" because their 'hobby' has turned into their career. That's why asides from manga, you should concentrate and research about something else you like. For example the author of Full Metal Alchemist, was doing his own experiments and even distinctions in RUSTS. The best topics for your manga, can be derived by what you like in real life.

常に他人を喜ばせること。(人間を好きになってください。)
The joy of making strangers happy. Like people.
You have to learn how to connect to people and enjoy making strangers laugh or smile. It's what great entertainers do. To know the joy of enjoying people enjoy <- heh. xD

After his wonderful lecture, we were then made to write down any 10 words that pop into our head and toss it in the raffle bag. Then we each pick up 10 words from the bag and we have to make a whole new idea or character using the words we get.

I had weird words (I'm sure just like everyone else.) I can't remember them all but I had; Yokohama, kendo, sailor suit, lion, bird, gyaaa, fresh cream, candy, halloween, and something I forgot.

He said pick some words that have totally have no relation to each other, and that's where usually great ideas come from. I decided to think outside of the box and picked, Lion, Halloween, Sailor Uniform. I made a character that I would not usually draw =3= But it sure made me think that at least it's not something I would usually do right?

I noticed that a lot of people in the class can already draw so well. Even though a lot of them come straight from high school. When I attended animation school in Canada for awhile, there were a higher percentage of people who couldn't draw so well yet. I'm quite intimidated by the youngins' hahah... oTL

Class then ended and Ri-San went straight home. As for me I went back to the lobby because I had to submit some documents to the office. There's actually only about 5 people before me... But there's only 1 staff. So she had to go through everyone's files carefully. Maybe each person took 10-30 mins. So I had to wait for an hour at least.

In the mean time, there were two guys sitting in front of me. So since we'll be waiting for awhile I wanted to talk. So I asked normal questions like "What department are you in?" etc. and what do you know... They were ALSO Chinese foreign students /w\ aheheh...

Actually they were really interesting and fun to talk too, being in the animation department they knew a lot of anime I watch and manga I watch. We especially had fun talking about MAGI! Because apparently Mr.B likes the seiyuu of Morgianna and I really looooove Alibaba's seiyuu. and the conversation just kept going. Of course there were times I had to dish out my dictionary or try to rely on their english skills but MY points is..... I made friends.... with more international students /w\ ahohoho......

It's like a bingo game and I just hit all the Chinese international students, when I was looking for at least ONE Japanese friend.

So there you go. I went home for another hour by 5:30pm. And dropped dead on the bed.

Thanks for reading til the end xD Til next time <3

© 2012 - 2024 CenaFenrier
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ReverseFrown's avatar
Lmao, your explanation for sitting in the back... You are an interesting person....xD