Day 10 - A Day at University

University of Southern Cali...Kansai?

Without a definite itinerary in mind, Professor Lee invited Owen and I to sit in on one of her classes at Kansai University. She was teaching a small, English-only research seminar class for freshmen itching to practice their English. The University was on top of a pretty substantial hill lined with students getting ready for their final projects and summer breaks. The campus itself was pretty nice - stucco Spanish inspired buildings, a green main lawn, koi pond, strategically placed benches. This being Owen's former University, I was given a tour of the library, the department buildings and of course, the cafeteria where we indulged ourselves. Over lunch, Owen explained some parts of his thesis to me on Japanese-Korean relations. I remember specifically learning about a sort of displaced generation of Korean immigrants living in Japan who are currently undergoing an identity crisis of sorts. One bowl of microwaveable rice with a side of chicken teriyaki later, we were in front of Professor Lee's office, wondering if she forgot that we were coming.

We followed her into her class. It was decently sized with students' desks arranged in a square and a whiteboard at the front of the room. There were only about 10 students in total, the four boys all sitting in fraternity on one side of the room and the six girls seated on the opposite. Being one of the last days of class, their final research project was due - the basic presentation where they had to research anything that captured their interest and create a presentation to share with the class. Basic, but the catch? It had to be entirely in English. Professor Lee introduced us as native English speakers. We would be the real test of their English proficiency. "God," I thought, picturing myself trying to give a grade-A presentation on the Cold War in Spanish, "I'd be peeing myself." I introduced myself like the somewhat nervous, weirdo I am, making a lot of hand gestures, jokes and smiling against my own will. Gee, I hope they liked me!

We continued around the circle introducing ourselves. I was surprised to see quite a few Korean students (about three or four) and how closely knit the class was. Nobody was excluded. Even the relationship between Professor Lee and her students was quite intimate and familiar. It helps that she has a wonderful personality and sense of humor. You could tell how comfortable students felt in her class. They all took their turns standing up and giving their powerpoint presentations on things ranging from basic Psychology to Korean unification to Free Trade. They were pretty impressive in both the subject and delivery. A few of them had better English (and were thousands of worlds more intelligent) than some of the things I've seen in, oh say, Yahoo News article comments: "Burning of quran will stop if Obama give proof that he is no muslim by eating Pig meat infront of Camara. You know true muslim does not eat Pig meat." Why do I still read these things? Same reason why I am addicted to Jersey Shore, I guess. Maybe I have low self esteem. Regardless, the students at Kansai University were very cool and the class, not so different from American Universities.

In today's news:

bacon, ladies and gentlemen.