Sources of Information about Japan

Japan Talk is a very nicely presented site full of information about all kinds of things.  Definitely worth your time.  What I've seen so far is accurate and sensible.  My only complaint: information tends to come in tweet length, rather than with lots of details.

http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/

One section particularly worth looking at is the one on manners and etiquette.  If you have WiFi available on your flights, this site in general is not a bad way to kill some time.

http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/the-complete-guide-to-Japanese-manners-and-etiquette

Checklist for Summer Program

I'm starting a to-do list for summer program participants.  I'll be adding items frequently.  The first item is essential:

**BANK./CREDIT CARD.  Be sure to contact your bank (for your ATM card) and your credit card company to let them know that you will be in Japan from May 16 through June 19.  And then, call once again to make sure that this information is on record with them.

**LUGGAGE.  Make sure that you understand the rules for baggage weight and size.  See the United Airlines website for information on this and other things.  You are allowed to take one carry-on bag and one "personal item" (usually a backpack) into the passenger compartment.  Also make sure that you follow all the guidelines about liquids and gels, etc.  All of this information can be found on the United site.  

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/default.aspx

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information

**PACKING.  Here are some recommendations:

• Try to bring one week's worth of clean clothes.  
• Make sure that your socks, etc., are clean and don't have holes.  You will be in socks most of the time in your home stay.  
• Bring at least one "nice" outfit for events such as the meeting with the President and the Farewell Party.
• The highs during the day should be in the mid to upper 70s to lower 80s, and it will often be humid.  A water resistant windbreaker (the kind that rolls up is handy) and a light sweater would be desirable.  

Research project deadline

This is a re-post of an email that I sent to members of the course:

Please note that even if you will be working with Sorensen-sensei,

you still need to do the research project in order to complete the

work of the pre-departure course.  For your reference, I am copying the assignment

below, which I sent in an email dated April 23:

-------------------------------------------------------

Quote:  ”2.  RESEARCH: The next major written assignment was to do some research on a topic

related to Japan.  Almost everyone has already posted a very broad research

topic, but now it is time to narrow your topic and get more specific.  There was

no reading assigned for this Friday.  Instead, I asked you to start working on your

research.  Please post a more specific research topic on your individual blog

by noon, Monday, April 28, if at all possible.    

You should write at least two substantial paragraphs.  The first should be about

your topic and what you hope to learn.  The second should give information about

what resources are available for your research.  Be as specific as you can. 

As I noted in class, the sources can be web-based.  Wikipedia can be

used as a starting-off point but you must include other sources.  You will need to

use a minimum of four sources in addition to any Wikipedia articles you may wish

to consult.

The report itself will be due May 7 (Wed.) at 5 pm.    The report does not

have to be in a traditional research format.  My main concern is that you learn some

basic information and do some careful thinking about your topic,

which, if you are a summer program participant,

you will be continuing in Japan and writing up for EAS 301.  The total length

of your project should be at least 1200 words (equivalent of four pages).  Since you are posting

this on your blog, I urge you to include visuals as well as live links.”   

---------------------------------------------------------------

I will extend the deadlines as follows:

Research proposals are due by noon Friday, May 2, posted on your blog.

Final projects are due by 5 pm Saturday, May 10, posted on your blog.

There is also going to be a questionnaire, about which more information will be coming.

Luggage and Logistics

Here are a few things to remember about travel logistics.  Some of the information is specific to the summer program, but much of it is relevant to anyone going to Japan.

ARRIVAL AT AIRPORT:  United estimates that processing time at the Philadelphia airport is 2 hours.  I strongly recommend that you arrive at the airport 2.5 to 3 hours before departure, with 4 am as the absolute latest time.

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/airport/process/default.aspx

I should also note that summer participants will have plenty of time between connecting flights.

CHECKED LUGGAGE POLICY:  As your E-ticket states, you are allowed ONE checked bag.  A second bag will cost you $100.  Summer program participants should avoid taking more than one bag.  Semester and year students will probably want/need to take two bags.  Note that it will cost a lot more than $100 to ship 50 lbs. worth of stuff to Japan.

The weight limit for checked bags is 50 lbs.  Please weigh your bag BEFORE you go to the airport.  You can try to use a bathroom scale if you wish, but relatively inexpensive luggage scales are easily found online and in stores.  The SIZE limit for checked bags is 62 "linear inches."  This means the total when you add up the height + width + depth (that is, all three dimensions) of the bag.  So for example, I searched "checked luggage" on Amazon and the first bag had the following dimensions:  18 x 10 x 30, for a total of 58 linear inches.  So this bag, with a total weight of exactly 50 lbs or less, would be appropriate as checked baggage.

http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/travel/Pages/BaggageChecked.aspx

CARRY-ON BAG POLICY:  Please go to this link for very clear information about what is permitted as your "carry-on bag" and your "personal item."  

http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/travel/Pages/BaggageCarry-On.aspx

Look at the bottom of the page where you will find helpful information, such as the fact that anything you purchase at the airport (including at a duty-free store) does not count towards carry-on limitations.

RULES ABOUT LIQUIDS ETC.:

United helpfully provides a summary of the various regulations that pertain to security procedures and carry-on items.  I advise you to read this very carefully.  

http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/travel/Pages/TSA-security-guidelines.aspx

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.  Please make sure that you put a piece of paper in an easily found location in each of your baggage items (including your "personal item") with contact addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for Japan and the U.S.  I will send via email the contact information for Japan.  

Culinary Life

Japanese breakfast:



includes raw egg, fermented soybeans (nattou), grilled fish, seaweed, pickles, miso soup.

Teishoku (set meal): the entree for this one is "tonkatsu," or deep-fried port cutlet:



includes miso soup, pickles, salad, white rice.  Usually pretty inexpensive.

Bentou: Eki-ben (box lunches for sale at train stations):



You'll see them on display like the above.



an eki-ben from Akita.  About $8.00.  Very filling.

Itinerary Assignment: Final Version

Just so that this is on the record on the course blog, I am repeated what I have conveyed in class and via email.

What you posted on the course blog was just a proposal.  It was not the final assignment.  To see an example of fulfilling the assignment, please look at Nicole's blog.  The assignment was to give a reasonably detailed itinerary for a day in Tokyo or another city, to illustrate the itinerary with images (and possibly even videos if appropriate), to indicate how to use public transportation to follow your itinerary, and to present links that you found to be helpful for your project.  This project was to be posted on your individual blog.

Follow-up assignment: Look at all the posted itineraries and respond to at least three of them with questions and/or comments. Expressions of interest and/or appreciation are most welcome.  The replies don't have to be lengthy.  The idea is that everyone should see everyone else's work.

The due date for the itinerary assignment was Wednesday, April 9, at noon.  The due date for the follow-up assignment is Wednesday, April 16 pm, at noon.

Names

Kelly Sorensen   ケリー・ソレンセン (ke-ri-i-so-re-n-se-n)

Celia Morrison  セリア・モリソン　　(se-ri-a-mo-ri-so-n)

Doug Hickey  ダグ・ヒッキー　　(da-gu-hi-k-ki-i)    Douglas = ダグラス(da-gu-ra-su)

Michelle Thiry  ミシェル・ティリ　(mi-she-ru-tee-ri)

Brendan Phillips  ブレンダン・フィリップス　(bu-re-n-da-n-fi-ri-p-pu-su)

Jeffry Lubin   ジェフリ・ルビン　(je-hu-ri-i-ru-bi-n)

Nicole McCain  二コール・マケイン　(ni-ko-o-ru-ma-ke-i-n)

Richie Schulz  リッチー・シュルツ (ri-t-chi-i-shu-ru-tsu)  Richard = リチャード(ri-cha-a-do)

Matt Krueger  マット・クルーガー　(ma-t-to-ku-ru-u-ga-a)  Matthew = マシュー(ma-shu-u)

Ally Lu  アリー・ルー　(a-ri-i-ru-u)

Scarllet Li スカレット・リー　(su-ka-re-t-to/ri-i)