This week, I started classes, and it has been quite intimidating, but thankfully, everyone has been very friendly. With the help of previous Waseda students, I knew the best way to go about classes was to not take as many credits and just enjoy my time abroad and study independently. I have classes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, but it is only one to two class periods a day. This is helpful for me as well because I have rheumatoid arthritis, which makes it difficult to sit in classrooms for long periods. I was able to receive accommodations, which is great because my teachers understand my health condition.
So far, my classes have been a little intimidating since my teachers only speak in Japanese. I can understand most of what they say, but there are definitely moments where I feel like I’m not quite on the same level as some of the other students. That said, I did get placed into Level 2, and these classes were specifically recommended for me, so I try to keep that in mind when I start doubting myself.
I’ve already met some really cool students, and I have to say, Waseda is huge. Compared to the University of Denver, it feels massive. There are people everywhere. I actually looked it up and found out that Waseda has around 40,000 students, which is wild! That’s about four times the size of DU! Even just in my department, there are between 5,000 to 7,000 students, which is still a ton.
Walking around campus during peak hours, like around noon, is such a unique experience. There are so many people in stylish outfits, hanging out with their friend groups – it’s really fun to just observe the vibe. I grabbed lunch at the campus cafeteria today, and it was so cool to be eating in a dining hall at a university like this. Honestly, I just feel really lucky to be here, taking these classes and soaking it all in.
I also haven’t been feeling good, whether it is a cold or allergies, so I haven’t been doing much in my free time besides trying to recover. Although I have been thrifting. The thrift scene is soooo good here. I went to a flea market and it was super fun. Here are some photos from that:
Other than that, I haven’t had much going on. I’m just getting familiar with my classes. This weekend, I want to explore more and maybe try some karaoke!
That’s all I have for now. See you next time!
DU Abroad 