{"id":75302,"date":"2022-02-24T09:59:40","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T00:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/top\/en\/?p=75302"},"modified":"2022-04-11T11:31:25","modified_gmt":"2022-04-11T02:31:25","slug":"tackling-phd-studies-during-a-pandemic-an-international-students-perspective-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/top\/en\/news\/75302","title":{"rendered":"Spring break staycation: an international student\u2019s suggestions for recharging between semesters"},"content":{"rendered":"

After closing out the fall semester at Waseda in January, we\u2019re now coasting through the calm of a two-month hiatus until the 2022 academic year officially commences in April. It\u2019s a curious rhythm for those of us who are used to a school year that spans late summer to mid-spring. That said, two months is a luxurious amount of time compared to the one-week break that\u2019s standard in other countries. If you\u2019re here in Tokyo, this is the perfect occasion to explore the city at your own leisure. But there are ways to stay connected to Waseda and Japan no matter where you are\u2014check below for some ideas!<\/span><\/p>\n

For many people around the world, the idea of springtime in Japan immediately conjures up the delicate pink palette of <\/span>sakura<\/span><\/i> (cherry blossoms). Cherry blossom imagery is indeed ubiquitous here: from scenes in films, television dramas, and anime to advertisements for domestic travel, packages of potato chips, limited edition beverages, what have you. The cherry blossoms on campus at Waseda provide a most timely and picturesque backdrop for the arrival of new cohorts in April, as well as the return of students and faculty getting back to the grind.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cherry blossoms at the Central Library on Waseda Campus.<\/p><\/div>\n

With three semesters under my belt, the arrival of spring break means I\u2019m officially halfway done with my program. The feedback from my professors at my preliminary exam has been invaluable; I feel like the outline of my project is warping and shifting as I try to distill a whole assortment of disparate but interconnected ideas into something more pithy. No matter how succinct a research topic I articulate, it ought to be something that merits a deep dive\u2014to the tune of 70,000 words in English, the minimum length requirement for the doctoral thesis at the <\/span>Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies (GSICCS)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m letting myself relax a little so my thoughts can sort themselves out. Meanwhile, I\u2019ve been working on some freelance translation and fiction writing while engaging a few online teachers for Japanese conversation practice. Besides getting my academic life in order, I have no plans for this break except to take it real easy and stumble around town as the weather warms up. The omicron surge has been tough, but it looks like cases are steadily declining and the government is considering easing border controls again. I\u2019m looking forward to meeting the students who have been waiting to enter Japan, including a number of my <\/span>zemi<\/span><\/i> classmates.<\/span><\/p>\n

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New students on campus during last year\u2019s April entrance ceremony.<\/p><\/div>\n

Some recent highlights of my break thus far have been a satisfyingly spicy hot pot meal in Ueno and a trip to Shimokitazawa to see Ryusuke Hamaguchi\u2019s <\/span>Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy<\/span><\/i> at a newly opened <\/span>movie theater<\/span><\/a> called K2. I was utterly bowled over by this film\u2019s meditations on chance and fate, and how our lives can be profoundly affected by the most mundane of actions. K2 offers select screenings with English subtitles, an amazing boon to international audiences in Tokyo. I\u2019ll definitely be going back next month when they show Hamaguchi\u2019s latest work, <\/span>Drive My Car<\/span><\/i>, which was recently nominated for several Oscars.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A spicy hot pot meal in Ueno, about a 30 minute train ride from Waseda Station.<\/p><\/div>\n

While school is out of session, many students are putting in more time at part-time jobs or catching up on life outside academia. But it\u2019s always good to give yourself a real break where possible. Besides going to the movies, what else is there to do for a Waseda student? Here\u2019s a short list of recommendations for outings around Tokyo, as well as online diversions for those who may be tuning in from home.<\/span><\/p>\n