Well, the weekend was quite exciting actually, went to nikko in Japan, saw 5+ sacred shrines including the masoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the most influential emperors in ancient Japan. Its almost impossible to explain how it was, but I took lots of pictures. None of which I really know how to upload onto here. I'm thinking of just moving my diary to a non-porn site and scrapping this membership entirely, I'm not really into this site so much anymore, except for my diary.
Anyway, Nikko was great. Sent a last e-mail to Zhang peng before I stop doing that, It has been 8 days since her last email after my response, and well, it doesn't seem like thats going to come to anything unless she actually has been really busy. Whatever, its a shame anyhow.
Depressing nonetheless, especially because it seems I actually did nothing wrong whatsoever. Blech.
As for today, I attended a lecture today from a special guest lecturer. Being interested in the topic (globalization) I asked a few questions, and was once again suprised and depressed to have my questions dodged. I guess someone should tell the Japanese that we are at a college, and not a press conference. How are we supposed to learn if our teachers dodge our questions?
No, my questions were not overly controversial. No, the special guest lecture was not confused by my english, he spoke english quite well. I asked how globalization could stop Japanese authors from writing, Japanese people from attending and participating in their religion, or museums being built. What I got was a half-assed "Japanese people even have to use roman characters in their world, such as the "JR" in the JR-line. WTF? As he attempted to use that as an answer, my bosnian friend and I at the same time said, "no, authors, as in the writers of books" in case he was trying to twist my words, but he paid no attention. After I raised my hand again for a follow-up question, one of the people asked if any of the Japanese students had any questions they wanted to ask, and ignored me. Apparently asking more than two questions was forbidden, despite this was the question and answer session. When only one Japanese student had a question (of about 30) they decided to adjourn the "lecture."
Wow. Enlightening Japan, fucking enlightening. From his entire spiel, he focused on the "culture destroying" aspects of globalization, read: Western influences, but then stressed that asian globalization is good. Okay, so maybe he has a superiority complex. (Polite term for racism apparently)
Frustrated the Bejesus out of not only me, but all of my classmates and our American professor who was with us. My questions weren't out of line, they were inquisitive in nature, asking him to at least prove his point. He had no intention of doing that.
To add insult to injury, I have to do a report on the enlightening lecture due next week. Shall I be brutally honest, or will I have to kowtow to him and pretend that it was interesting even though he didn't want any fucking questions at all. Why even have a fucking question and answer session if you don't intend to answer the questions? jeez.
I asked my American professor if I could be honest on the report I have to do, and of course I cannot. Joy. So I do have to kiss ass. Grand.
Nothing else in the day was worth mentioning.
Anyway, Nikko was great. Sent a last e-mail to Zhang peng before I stop doing that, It has been 8 days since her last email after my response, and well, it doesn't seem like thats going to come to anything unless she actually has been really busy. Whatever, its a shame anyhow.
Depressing nonetheless, especially because it seems I actually did nothing wrong whatsoever. Blech.
As for today, I attended a lecture today from a special guest lecturer. Being interested in the topic (globalization) I asked a few questions, and was once again suprised and depressed to have my questions dodged. I guess someone should tell the Japanese that we are at a college, and not a press conference. How are we supposed to learn if our teachers dodge our questions?
No, my questions were not overly controversial. No, the special guest lecture was not confused by my english, he spoke english quite well. I asked how globalization could stop Japanese authors from writing, Japanese people from attending and participating in their religion, or museums being built. What I got was a half-assed "Japanese people even have to use roman characters in their world, such as the "JR" in the JR-line. WTF? As he attempted to use that as an answer, my bosnian friend and I at the same time said, "no, authors, as in the writers of books" in case he was trying to twist my words, but he paid no attention. After I raised my hand again for a follow-up question, one of the people asked if any of the Japanese students had any questions they wanted to ask, and ignored me. Apparently asking more than two questions was forbidden, despite this was the question and answer session. When only one Japanese student had a question (of about 30) they decided to adjourn the "lecture."
Wow. Enlightening Japan, fucking enlightening. From his entire spiel, he focused on the "culture destroying" aspects of globalization, read: Western influences, but then stressed that asian globalization is good. Okay, so maybe he has a superiority complex. (Polite term for racism apparently)
Frustrated the Bejesus out of not only me, but all of my classmates and our American professor who was with us. My questions weren't out of line, they were inquisitive in nature, asking him to at least prove his point. He had no intention of doing that.
To add insult to injury, I have to do a report on the enlightening lecture due next week. Shall I be brutally honest, or will I have to kowtow to him and pretend that it was interesting even though he didn't want any fucking questions at all. Why even have a fucking question and answer session if you don't intend to answer the questions? jeez.
I asked my American professor if I could be honest on the report I have to do, and of course I cannot. Joy. So I do have to kiss ass. Grand.
Nothing else in the day was worth mentioning.