So What Exactly Have I Been Doing for the Last Year?

Hey, it's been a long time since I've written, but I'm back with a another post and an update about my life in Japan.

I guess, then, that my biggest news is that in December I took the university entrance exams, and was accepted into Tama Art University in Tokyo, which I will start attending in April.

Now the only problem is, recently when I mention to people that I will be starting at a university in Japan this April, I get a response like: "Wait, I that's what you went to Japan for last April? What have you been doing in Tokyo for the last year then?"

Well, it's kind of hard to explain. I have been going to school in Japan since last April, however it was not a university. I think that one of the reasons I'm having such a hard time explaining this to people, is that the Japanese education system is so different then our own.

So essentially what I have been doing for a year is this:

In Japan, and if I'm correct, most of Asia, they have what are called Cram schools in English (I think), or in Japanese Jyuku/yobikou. Middle schoolers, high schoolers, and any one else preparing for an exam in Japan attend these classes, which consist almost entirely of exam prep (you basically just cram for your exam, hence the term "cram school") when their regular schools are finished.

The programs are like tutoring classes except much longer and with multiple subjects and a number of students in each class. So, basically, school after school.

That is essentially what Japanese students go through.

Being a foreign student though, for me it was a bit different. I went to a Japanese language school, which is like a cram school except specifically for Japanese studies and is usually during the day rather than in the evening like it would be for Japanese high school students. This is what most foreign students in Japan do for a few reasons. One: Since you're studying Japanese all-day, everyday, it's the perfect preparation for students who want to go to a Japanese university. And, two: Japanese language schools can give out student visas, so they're useful for many students who want to do a long-term study abroad, but would rather not use a formal exchange program (In other words, it'd be a self-financed trip where you live on your own or in a dorm rather than with a family).

Since I wanted to go to an art school, however, for me studying Japanese was not enough. Art schools in Japan not only look at your portfolio but also give you a test on your basic artistic ability, on top of the regular subject tests. My test was something like: "You have two hours to draw both your hands as realistically as possible." This may seem simple, but hands are incredibly difficult, and the canvas size is pretty large for two hours. I also had to create a color poster design for a theme, and incorporate the title in font during the two-hour slot.

This is especially hard because it's all by hand, no computers. And in case you don't know, mimicking fancy fonts by hand is extremely annoying and difficult. So, in order to prepare for this I went to an "art cram school (bijyutsu-yobikou)," same one that Japanese students go to, in the afternoons and evenings. It's pretty much like a portfolio class, however instead of only portfolio work (we did some), you focus more on exam prep, mock exams and so on. (Think drawing your hands for hours each day.)

In short (if you could call that short), that is what I've been up to for the last year. But it was fun, I actually do not mid drawing for hours on end and studying Japanese isn't as bad as, say, math.

Hopefully starting in April I'll have a lot more, much more interesting stories to write about.

But you can help me out too. Usually I have no clue what to write. If there is a question you have or something you'd like to hear, feel free to ask. 

See you next time!