Japanese at Sheffield

SomeNextPirate

Yes, but all of this is making me slightly mentally unstable and reality is beginning to break down, bad times :woo:

Awwww

My deadline's next Thursday :indiff:

Reply 301

SomeNextPirate

11

kimoso

Awwww

My deadline's next Thursday :indiff:

That's 'cuse your applying to oxbridge though ain't it? I think our oxbridge/med applicants have a sooner deadline too

Reply 302

Ha don't worry SomeNextPirate - mine was mid-late November I think.

Clare college it is then. Ha yer I dunno - surely there's witty and clever Cambridge slogans. I'll be able to spot you a mile off. Well, you have your picture up on your profile so that helps. I'll say that's the bitter reject girl.

This is all assuming you don't get in by the way. You really could.

Your deadline's next Thursday? Must be cos of Cambridge yer.

Reply 303

Haha, I'll have to research them then! :awesome:

Yep, early deadline's cos of Oxbridge. I've sent it off already though so I'm ahead of the game :cool:

Meh, if I get rejected from Cambridge.. I'll understand it and get over it. If I get rejected from Sheffield.. it'll actually break my heart. :zomg:

I shouldn't get my hopes up too much :erm:

Reply 304

You'll get in fo' sho' with your time organisational skills which are apparent.

Ha that's how I felt with Sheffield. It's horrible waiting - I was checking Track every day, even though you get an email saying your status in one of the Unis has changed. Then results day is worse.

I'm just re-researching Opal. I remember one guy said prison, but it's not reall - just stuck in my head. Essentially, they're less social than Endcliffe - Opal 1 is more social than 2 I think. I'll post the thread links on this thread, and not the other one.

Reply 305

Oh man I don't want unsociable :no:

The reason I wanted something closer to the centre is that I thought Endcliffe would be more unsociable.. being in a bubble and all that.

And :rofl:

at 'time organisational skills'. I only did my first homework of the year last night and I've been getting them every week! Rebellll. :awesome:

Reply 306

Ha it's the opposite actually. Endcliffe is pretty much the social place.

They were well tight on homework at my school. Here's some thread so far that mention some interesting things:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=10563378&highlight=opal#post10563378
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12182556&highlight=opal#post12182556
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=482962&page=2&highlight=opal
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12762751&highlight=opal#post12762751 post#16
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=11325776&highlight=opal#post11325776

The one with 3 pages is really good.

Reply 307

Thank you! :awesome:

I'll read them after I've tidied my room (might be a whileee :erm:

)

Reply 308

No problem - useful reading over them again to make sure I'm going to the write place. Eurgh I hate the price though - just over 4k a year.

Reply 309

Oh my gawd they make opal sound like a hell hole! Deffooooo going for Endcliffe now :>.<:

Reply 310

Ha good to hear. I'm going for Endcliffe even though it's more of a trek. I like walking anyway, and I'd hate to have thin walls.

Reply 311

Yeah I hate trekking but it's better than social suicide!

Reply 312

Raguna

I find choosing accommodation very hard. What one person may say is an amazing amazing place, another person may call it a hell hole. Really though, I think usually the people you are around make or break whether you like a place. However, I think location is pretty important also. When I first came to Tokyo I was living way in the north east in a tiny out of the way place called Minowa. This meant I had to take a long, expensive subway journey whenever I wanted to go out at night. Now I live in the south west, within walking distance from Shinjuku :h:

and only a couple of stops from Shibuya :smile:

This thread made me realise I haven't looked at all into Sheffield accommodation :eek:

How do you decide these things? Is there a lot of choice at Sheffield? I have a couple of basic criteria that I want to meet, such as a self-catered place with an en-suite bathroom. Apart from that though, it is hard to make a decision when you cannot see an area or the rooms for yourself. Going by the word of other people is difficult also, because as I previously mentioned, it is all very subjective. Help! :smile:

EDIT: Wah, I feel this is bad as it has gone way off topic from the original thread title of "Japanese at Sheffield". To bring it back, is there housing that Japanese students generally veer towards, perhaps because of the proximity to the lecture locations, or is it all just random?

Reply 313

Raguna

I find choosing accommodation very hard. What one person may say is an amazing amazing place, another person may call it a hell hole. Really though, I think usually the people you are around make or break whether you like a place. However, I think location is pretty important also. When I first came to Tokyo I was living way in the north east in a tiny out of the way place called Minowa. This meant I had to take a long, expensive subway journey whenever I wanted to go out at night. Now I live in the south west, within walking distance from Shinjuku :h:

and only a couple of stops from Shibuya :smile:

This thread made me realise I haven't looked at all into Sheffield accommodation :eek:

How do you decide these things? Is there a lot of choice at Sheffield? I have a couple of basic criteria that I want to meet, such as a self-catered place with an en-suite bathroom. Apart from that though, it is hard to make a decision when you cannot see an area or the rooms for yourself. Going by the word of other people is difficult also, because as I previously mentioned, it is all very subjective. Help! :smile:

EDIT: Wah, I feel this is bad as it has gone way off topic from the original thread title of "Japanese at Sheffield". To bring it back, is there housing that Japanese students generally veer towards, perhaps because of the proximity to the lecture locations, or is it all just random?

Hmm I agree that choosing accommodation is both important and hard. Opal is closer to be fair, and the location's great, but Endcliffe has a better social life (too much?) and apparently the walls are thicker :biggrin:

And I swear I heard in 1 of the Opals, it's normally 4 to a flat - too small for me. I'd rather be with more people than less (I'm going to request I get put with more gappers I think).

You want self catered ensuite? Well you can either choose from City or the Endcliffe Village. In Endcliffe, it's just the huge big arse buildings that a lot of people are in (Frogatt, Howden, Birchen I think..) which house over 2000. There's some others in Endcliffe but they're not ensuite.

In City, you can basically choose Opal 1 or Opal 2 - they're the main ones. Apparently Opal 1 would be better - bit more social.

Endcliffe is a 15-20 minute walk, whilst Opal may be 5 or so. However Endcliffe is more social. Rooms at both are modern and new. Walls perhaps thinner at Opal? Bit enclosed at Opal apparently - gates etc, so some people rarely venture out whilst Endcliffe find they have to more. One/both of the Opals has access to a gym or something? Pool and sauna? For free? But you have to pay for internet access. Rooms at Endcliffe - in a flat there could be 3-10 (though 3 is if you get a deluxe room I think). Someone said Opal (not sure whether 1 or both) there's 4 per. This is some info gathered.

Look at the threads I posted - namely the one with 3 pages.

Not sure whether there is - Opal is closer than Endcliffe, but I know a handful of people this year, and they're in Endcliffe. I don't think it matters too much.

I haven't looked at kana in ages - been hardcore working for the dough :frown:

I'll have to squeeze some in as I'd like to learn some kanji before I go but we'll see what happens.

Hope you're having a blast in Japan :shifty:

Reply 314

Raguna

franpgb

Hope you're having a blast in Japan :shifty:

It still surprises me that people are prepared to commit four years of their life to a language and a country that they have not even visited. When I initally proposed doing Japanese at university, and I did not have a gap year planned my parents often said this to me and I just shrugged it off. However, upon being here I think it is pretty important, for me at least, in helping assure myself of my decision. I wonder if there are people who go to university never having visited Japan and go for the first time in their third year and are totally disappointed and disillusioned with the country, not living up to the hype in their minds. There is only so much you can experience about a country from reading text and looking at pictures. To live within it is a very different experience.

Indeed perhaps the best example of why I feel it is important to visit the country is that the friend who I went to Japan with is now redoing his UCAS and is reapplying to study Philosophy by itself instead of Japanese & Philosophy. Instead of staying the whole year in Japan he is going home just before Christmas.* I will be all alone!! Except for the Japanese friends I have made, but still, it is nice to have a friend from England around. I have seen barely any English people here, instead mainly French and Australian.

But yes, I am staying for many more months but even then I am not totally 100% definitely definitely sure of doing Japanese at university, or whether to just keep it as a hobby, or not do it at all! While I of course I still for pretty sure of doing it, I sometimes have doubts. It varies day to day, which I should expect it should. I have had bad, stressful days in Tokyo but I have also had great, amazing, best-days-of-my-life-ever in Tokyo. Just like an other place in the World I imagine.

Although I doubt anyone would, just in case, don't ever place Japan on a pedestal as this amazing heavenly place which is the answer to all your problems where you will be happy all the time and there are only great people and everything is amazing and you will live the perfect life. While I never witnessed such extreme sentiments, I have met people who cannot see a single flaw with Japan and love things simply for the fact that they are Japanese. Personally, I don't think this is the right way to think.

While I may seem uncertain, I am sure I will come to the correct decision. Next week I start work and I am going to get into a routine of working, studing Japanese and of course clubbing in Shibuya at weekends haha. University decisions are very big and probably a subject which I give too much thought and stress to. Though I imagine most people doing Japanese must have thought about it a lot as it is a very unusual subject to study. It's not just like what a lot of people I know do and just think "I am good at History, it's kind of interesting, I guess I will do that at university."

Anyway, sorry for that ramble. Just passing on some thoughts. I am very surprised at you Fran taking a gap year and travelling so much and not visiting Tokyo. You should come, you'd have a great time. Japan is an amazing amazing place to experience.

*I have to work on Christmas day. This. Totally. Sucks.

Reply 315

gaijin

1

Raguna

It still surprises me that people are prepared to commit four years of their life to a language and a country that they have not even visited. When I initally proposed doing Japanese at university, and I did not have a gap year planned my parents often said this to me and I just shrugged it off. However, upon being here I think it is pretty important, for me at least, in helping assure myself of my decision. I wonder if there are people who go to university never having visited Japan and go for the first time in their third year and are totally disappointed and disillusioned with the country, not living up to the hype in their minds. There is only so much you can experience about a country from reading text and looking at pictures. To live within it is a very different experience.

....

Yes! Raguna, some people actually study the language here just because they want to - not because they passionately love the country. Its very hard for me to be disappointed and disillusioned when I already feel the same way. I like japan, but I could never love it to the extent that it will consume my life. The Japanese bleed the same way we do, and the country has huge problems like the UK.

I think you have to understand though, that some of us are scholars of the language and culture and are simply not wasting four years of the degree to experience Japan. If we wanted that, we would go and live in Japan. Perhaps the majority of the people who fail the degree, fail to see the academic value of what we are doing with our lives.

I remember the cathartic experience of visiting Russia for the first time in my life and then remembering how bad it was. Everyone smoking, smelly walls, unhelpful staff and freezing cold weather. It was only when I got back, did I come to truly appreciate how different the experience was and how very very banally beautiful it was. Sure there were the times when I would meet random people, drink vodka until my eyes exploded and see one farmer's rocket launcher in his back garden. But there was also the very boring trips and seeing the mundane everyday existence of how people were living their lives so separately but at the same time consciously similar to any streets in the UK. To put this into the context of Japan and to quote the famous Oscar Wilde;

"The whole of Japan is a pure invention. A cult founded on the adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everyday existence. The actual people who live in Japan are not unlike the general run of English people. Rather unremarkable..."

Its the fact that I (or possibly we) can see and understand these sordid elements amongst the beautiful that draws us back time and time again. Certainly investing your time and effort into Japanese isn't a futile waste. But I'd rather have the experience of doing something I love, and something I can truly reflect back on rather than dichotomise endlessly about the value of Japanese. The degree isn't for everyone, and certainly neither is Japan.

But what you just wrote is something I would have written about 3 years ago, albeit without the experience of actually living in Japan whilst doing it.

Reply 316

HisRoyalMudgesty

I am reapplying this year for Linguistics and Japanese Studies (year out) - does anyone have an idea as to whether the required grades will be the same or if they might be a bit higher since I am retaking some modules? I have seen this on some other Sheffield courses but am not sure about this one...

Reply 317

Raguna

It still surprises me that people are prepared to commit four years of their life to a language and a country that they have not even visited. When I initally proposed doing Japanese at university, and I did not have a gap year planned my parents often said this to me and I just shrugged it off. However, upon being here I think it is pretty important, for me at least, in helping assure myself of my decision. I wonder if there are people who go to university never having visited Japan and go for the first time in their third year and are totally disappointed and disillusioned with the country, not living up to the hype in their minds. There is only so much you can experience about a country from reading text and looking at pictures. To live within it is a very different experience.

I am very surprised at you Fran taking a gap year and travelling so much and not visiting Tokyo. You should come, you'd have a great time. Japan is an amazing amazing place to experience.

I see your point. I planned to go to Japan in one of my Uni holidays if you get me - like we have months sometimes so I could just pop there.

Well, that's in the past tense I still don't know if we're going. Yer it is a bit crazy considering where I'm going it's weird to miss out Japan. I do actually want to go but we decided not to for several reasons:

1) At the time we decided the places, I knew no one/nothing about Japan. That is, she and I both know people who've been to Australia, Fiji, NZ, Thailand, Vietnam, China, New York (not Laos though or Cambodia yet but we kind of do I think). I'm all for adventures, but I wouldn't know where to start.

2) Expensive. That is, we're spending just over 2 months in Australasia, so I don't know if we could afford it.

Trust me, I would love to go. I doubt we'd spend much time there, 2 weeks maybe!, and it's hardly going to show me what Japan's really like but I'd love to go. gaijin gave me a link ages ago (boobooski) where you can work in a resort in Japan - I would have loved to do that, but it ended April or something (we're leaving early March) and you'd earn £500 a month or so, and I need £1000.

Saying this, I may ask/beg/reason (with) my friend again if we can go there. Perhaps shave a week off China, and a few days off other places, and we could make it 2 weeks. It's just the price (we are going to have to budget anyway, and we don't eat meat so that saves us money though) and we don't know anyone who's been there - well I know (sort of) you now.

I'm kind of thinking at this rate maybe I should go by myself if she doesn't want to. I have £2000 saved for Uni - I need to take £1000 out for our flights (as we couldn't get work in September and we needed to start our '1k a month' scheme). I want to go to Uni with the other grand, but I think I'll just blow it all and go for a month in February to Japan with that grand. I may need some advice though from people/start to research :biggrin:

Thanks for spurring me on again. I lost hope :emo:

, but I'll try again.

Reply 318