Ritsumeikan beats Doshisha University - Baseball

Mascot!

Wooohooooo, Ritsumeikan are the WINNERS! Take that Doshisha! In a tournament known as the Kansai Big 6 Ritsumeikan played against Doshisha today. The game was pretty slow and low scoring (just as expected) but it was so much fun. The supporters made the game so interesting, accompanied by the orchestra and cheerleaders. We all got megaphones and these Ritsumeikan clappers to get our chants going! In fact, this is one of the highlights so far of this trip. The score ended up being 4-1 but there was a lot of excitement in the bottom of the 9th: when Doshisha had bases loaded and 2 outs, with the batter 2 (strikes) for 3 (balls).

At the end the school songs were played and the atmosphere was very friendly.

All of us exchange student did our best to support our new University. Some more than others! In a heat of the moment we found a black marker pen and, hey presto, Ritsumeikan university was spelled out on some happy volunteers. Next time the plan is to go to the American Football team with body paint and show our support for them.

A rainy Ritsumeikan

During my lunch break I went up the top floor of the International Relations building and after taking a 45 min snooze I took this. This is looking over one of the main quads and the cafeterias.

Induction to Ritsumeikan University

Welcoming speeches and the people who would talk to us about safety.

During our welcome ceremony that included speeches in Japanese and English, there was a group of old ladies that "taught" us how to carry our bags and purses properly while walking in town to avoid getting robbed. Even though Japan is one of the safest countries in the world they were adamant in telling us to hold on to our bags as tightly as possible. Also, if you have a bag in the basket of your bike you should cover it with a net so that a thief can't do a drive(ride)-by and steal things out of the basket. They taught us these things while doing sketches. It was pretty funny to see.

The Old Lady Gang with a bike skit

Yesterday a friend of mine left his wallet in his basket before going into the store. A person outside walked by and saw this wallet and then went into the store where we had parked outside of trying to find the owner. We got it back 10 minutes later, without even realising that it had been left outside. Japanese people are very very nice!

The Police department's judo sensei came and showed us some basic moves in case we were confronted with an evil doer. ^_^

During the welcome ceremony we got food. Free food :) Everyone had a great time. I tried some squid that was tastier than I had expected. Overall, I think we are 99 exchange students for this semester! Lots of 外人 gaijin (foreigners)

立命館大学 Ritsumeikan university

Ritsumeikan university has a campus!!! So very different from Cardiff university that is located in the city and that has no proper campus at all. It is fun to have lots of students all gathered together at the same spot. It gives a university a different atmosphere. The campus of Kinguasa is where I'll be studying and it has 3 different cafeterias. (Very important!!!) The food is really cheap, 350 ish Yen and you get a lots of food. I've really enjoyed walking about the campus and watching the students going about their own business. So much sport and activities that everyone seem so in to! On Monday I'm going to have to look into the Aikido club and maybe even the Tae Kwon Do club, even if it is not Japanese.

The Room

This is what my room looks like. It is slightly bigger than my room at Severn Point, Cardiff. The bed is bigger and I have much more closet space and a fridge. Also, the washbasin is massive. My neighbours are so cool. Making the most amazing friends! Absolutely loving it. カラオケに行こう！

Seen from the door, looking towards the balcony. I've always been lucky enough to have the bed with my left side by the wall, even here in Kyoto. It feels much better that way for some reason.

Big Bed!

Bamboo forest view, via the balcony!

More of my view. Not as fancy as a high rise building but it is still very nice. Quiet too for that matter.

Desk space + too much left over room. Need more books or something i think.

Closet space and frige.







Wash basin, next to my door.

Toilet with a faucet on top. Only ever seen these in Japan. Toostop water wastage by allowing you to wash your hands with the same water that then goes into the toilet tank?