My classes started late last month. It is approximately seven years since I took regular classes at the University of Tokyo. There is a substantial difference in the amount of homework assignments between the two, although I knew this before taking classes. Sometimes they are really hard, but also valuable intellectual excitement.
Yesterday I left UC Berkeley, and got on a train on BART and one on Caltrain, and arrived at Stanford University sometime after noon. This moving was a short trip for around three hours, but it really exhausted me to take several suitcases. In addition, some offices were closed because my arrival was on Friday afternoon, so I have not yet proceeded with actual preparation, such as getting my student ID card and opening a bank account. Currently, I stay in on-campus housing for undergraduates as short-term graduate housing. And the other day I was glad to receive a notification purporting that I had been assigned to on-campus housing for graduate students for 2009-2010.
What I was particularly impressed in the moving above is that some people around Stanford University kindly volunteered to show me their detailed maps, tell me the best way to my destination, and even give me a ride to my housing in campus, although I did not ask them at all. I don’t know why they were so obliging, but it might have something to do with spirit of international volunteerism which has taken root in this country.
Looking back to the past, I am now here around one year and nine months after I made a decision to apply to graduate schools in the United States in November 2007. However, this is just my first step at Stanford University. Starting is of considerable importance to everything, and I will do the best possible to set up my new life, study English and computer science and so forth during approximately one month before my classes start.
After a long flight from Japan, I arrived at UC Berkeley three days ago. I have a lot of things which I want to write about right now, but I have been very busy because my classes have given us many homework assignments. So that’s all for today, and I will write something later on about UC Berkeley, the programs in which I am participating, and so forth.
Although it took a couple of weeks to choose a summer school suitable for me, I have finally made a decision to attend the summer English program at UC Berkeley. More specifically, I will take two courses of the ESL 9 during the session E (7/27 - 8/14): “Grammar and Vocabulary for Written English” and “Oral Communication Skills.”
At first, I wanted to attend the EFS 688 at Stanford University because it seems very intensive and practical for an international graduate student like me. I realized, however, that I would not be able to finish my preparation for the transition to the United States by the beginning date of the program. So I was looking for another school.
Through the search for the summer program for a while, I noticed that there were few programs which met my needs in terms of the duration, tuition and location. After all, I selected the program at UC Berkeley. According to the website for the program, both of the two teachers for the courses which I will take have broad experience of teaching ESL. I am looking forward to studying English under those teachers.
The other day I had the pleasure of receiving an email from Stanford University to the effect that I had been admitted to the Masters’ Program in the Computer Science Department beginning Autumn Quarter 2009-2010. I have not written anything about my application on this blog so far, but in fact I applied to some programs of computer science departments at graduate schools in the United States last year. I have been really excited about this result.
Though I have already a master’s degree in Electronic Engineering in Japan, I believe that this masters’ program at Stanford University is quite a good preparation for my long-term goal. Therefore, I made a decision to accept the offer. My family and friends are also very pleased with the admittance, and some of my friends are planning to give me a send-off party.
These days have been very hectic because of some procedures for my transition to the United States. This is the first time that I have experienced studying abroad, and I will prepare for my new life as carefully as possible so as to make a good start this coming September.
Jun Araki