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April Birthdays and Other Happy Happenings

Something I forgot to mention in my video was that starting next week my dorm will be playing a game of Assassins.  So me and my friends decided to make a little movie trailer for it, just for fun (and because we didn't feel like studying).  The trailer is below the vlog.Keep your fingers crossed for me that I won't get killed on the morning of the first day like I did last time I played Assassins!

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  1. AnonymousMay 20, 2012 at 12:13 PM

    Hi Alysse,
    This August I'm moving to Japan to start my master degree in ICU. Could you give me any advice of the cheapest place I can get a dorm, a bed or anything to sleep.

    I had seen your videos, and there have been very helpful for me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AlysseMay 21, 2012 at 5:21 AM

      I'm glad I could be of help! The dorms on campus are probably the cheapest option. I can give you some information and pricing from the booklet they gave me for the 2011-2012 year.
      It looks as though, being a graduate student, you will have to choose from only a few specific dorms. Here are the prices and information for those that allow graduate students:
      - 2nd Men's Dorm (all male, undergrads and grad students): 27,600 yen per month plus 54,000 yen one time admission fee.
      2nd Men's Dorm is considered the fraternity style dorm.
      - Sibley House (mixed gender, all graduate students): 34,350 yen per month plus 67,000 yen one time admission fee for a single woman. 43,600 yen per month plus 86,000 yen one time admission fee for a married couple.
      So, if you are male and unmarried, you can not live in Sibley.
      - Oak House (mixed gender, undergrads and grad students): 54,000 yen per month plus 54,000 yen one time admission fee.
      Oak House is very new, pretty, big, and has many many students. However, they have very strict rules.
      - Global House (mixed gender, undergrads and grad students, except grad students work as tutors for the dorm): 49,900 yen per month plus 54,000 yen one time admission fee.
      Global House is the best dorm on campus because it has a good atmosphere, not too many rules, and is the only dorm where males and females can visit each other in each others' units. However, only 4 graduate student tutors are admitted per year and you must have tutor hours. It is also possible to rent a tutor room that is not being used by a tutor, but it is incredibly expensive.
      Some graduate students stay in an apartment, but unfortunately I don't know anything about those prices, or how to go about getting an apartment.
      I hope this information is helpful!!

      Delete
    2. AnonymousMay 21, 2012 at 11:09 AM

      Thanks for the info! I'm a guy so the first option seems to be a good choice. Some from the Embassy of my country (Venezuela) told me that Sakura House is a good option and cheap, the first days I'm probably staying in a Sakura Hostel or CouchSurfing ... have you hear of Sakura House?
      Are you going to be in Japan @ICU during August?
      I apologize for my english
      My e-mail is ar.i18n@gmail.com add me.

      Delete
    3. AlysseMay 21, 2012 at 8:16 PM

      I have never heard of Sakura Hostel or CouchSurfing, but there are many cheap hostels around campus. The only reason I don't recommend staying at a hostel for the whole year is because they tend to be a little bit dirty and you will have to commute to and from campus either by bike or train. Unfortunately I will not be in ICU in August, but I know many people who will be, and if you have any problems that I can not help you with, I can direct you to them.
      And please don't worry about your English, it is fine!

      Delete
  2. Agent ProvocateurMarch 25, 2013 at 8:35 AM

    Hello there! I was googling the dorms at ICU and found your blog! I'm coming on September for my master in Peace Studies and I am thinking of choosing the Sibley House. Do you know if it's a good dorm?
    Thanks a lot
    Demmie
    dimitra.k.messini@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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