ADMU −３月

Asian Peacebuilders Scholarship Program (APS) の中級英語クラス参加の為にフィリピンの Ateneo de Manila University（ADMU）に入学して約一ヶ月経ちました。ヨルダンとはまた違う異文化で、タガログ語や英語に囲まれた環境ですが少しずつ慣れてきた今日この頃です。

フィリピン到着後すぐに各種手続きやオリエンテーション、入学テストなどあり、２週目には中級英語クラスがスタートしました。APSで３月の中級英語クラスからの生徒は自分を含め１７名（国籍：日本７名、タイ２名、ベトナム２名、インドネシア２名、カンボジア１名、ラオス１名、ミャンマー１名、スリランカ１名）で、残り約半数が６月から始まる上級クラスからの参加になります。

授業は２クラスに別れて、午前（９時〜１２時）がリーディングとライティングの授業、午後（１３時〜１６時）がリスニングとスピーキングの授業で、基本的に月曜から木曜の週４日あります。３月のモジュールにおける授業内容は、６月から始まる上級クラスに備えて、主に文献から情報を抽出するスキミングやスキャニングの仕方、論文作成で必要なエッセイの書き方、スピーチやプレゼンの仕方など、大学院において必要とされる基礎を学びました。

３月末でモジュール１は終了、４月からモジュール２が始まります。次のモジュールではアカデミックな文献を読みエッセイを書く量が増え、より実践的な内容の授業になる模様です。ちなみに自分は英語力不足もあり、週一回（一時間半）のチュートリアルクラス（個別指導）を受講することにしました。正直既に授業でかなり遅れを取っているので、なんとか底上げしていかねばなりません。

Vol.15 "Summer Coming"

The past few days, I feel the weather has been getting hot rapidly. The real summer is coming. The Philippines' hottest season is May. The closer it gets to May, the hotter the weather is becomes.

I use to spend at the night comfortably, but now heat and humidity remains even throughout the night. I cannot have sleep well without a fan. Of course it is very hot in the daytime. When I walk and stay outside, I become drenched with sweat due to strong sun light and the humid atmosphere.

However it is very cold in the libraries and classrooms on campus because of the air conditioning. I cannot stay inside for a long time without a light jacket or something. So that's how much the temperature differs between the inside and outside.

So I need to be mindful of the temperature difference so that I will not to catch a cold.

Vol.14 "Transportation"

About 20 days have passed since I arrived in the Philippines. I have been getting used to weather, culture, and life style.

The interesting thing for me is the transportation. People usually use some unique  types of transportations. For example, "Geepnee" which is a kind of geep, run around everywhere and each has colorful and interesting paintings. People get in and off them anywhere they want. In addition the fare is very cheap.

And the "Tricycle", which is a kind of bike, is used like a taxi. A lot of Tricycles also run around everywhere but their transportation area is more limited than the Geepnee's. The maximum number of seats is about 3. They are quick and useful to move around the neighborhood.

I think that types of transportations describe cultures of each country well. So it would be interesting to focus on culture through transportation.

Vol.13 "English Class Starts"

The intermediate English class started last week. There are 16 students in the intermediate course so we were divided into 2 classes, 8 people per class.

We are supposed to learn reading and writing in the morning class, and listening and speaking in the evening class, for about 6 hours every day. It is very challenging for me because my English skill is not good compared to the other students, so I am finding it hard to keep up with the class. So after every class, I tend to be exhausted by using my brain too much.

In order to continue learning English well, I need to concentrate on stress-management to manage and get rid of the stress that comes from the hard English lessons. To be honest, I tend to get stressed easily, so I have to take care of my mental health.

Fortunately, now it is the weekend. So I want to be relaxed and prepare for the next week's class.

Vol.12 "Campus Life"

Today, I want to introduce you to the campus I am currently frequenting. This is a one of the biggest university in the Philippines.

Stepping into the campus, there are a lot of facilities; lecture rooms, libraries, cafeterias, swimming pool, soccer ground, etc. In addition, the campus is calm and surrounded by nature, it seems like a good environment to study.

You can see students studying or cheerfully participating in club activities everywhere all day long. I am sure that they are enjoying their satisfying campus lives.

I am very jealous, so I want to do my best so that I can enjoy a satisfying life like them at the campus.

Vol.11 "Multicultural Exchange"

This Saturday and Sunday, I spent time not only by myself but also with Filipino friends living at the same place and class mates who are from several Asian countries.

On Saturday night, The Filipino friends invited us; me and a classmate living at the same dormitory, for eating out at the big shopping mall which is a little far from our dormitory. Then we had a chat and ate some Filipino traditional foods which are very delicious. After that we looked around the mall, which means window shopping.

On Sunday evening, I met a classmate on the street by chance when I was walking. She invited me to the dinner she and her friends cook. After while I visited her. Then we cooked and ate Thai food, Cambodian food and Sri Lankan sweets. They were spicy, sweet, and very delicious.

That's why I could have a good time and multicultural exchange with people of various nations in this weekend.

Vol.10 "Arriving Philippines"

A few days before, I arrived Philippines for the English training program which is a part of the scholarship program of graduate school.

On the arrival day, I had to visit to the scholarship office in the school and do some procedures as soon as I arrived. In addition, the weather is different between Japan and Philippines. That's why I was very tired and slept like a log at the dormitory.

After that day, I met classmates of intermediate English class, who are from several asian countries including Japan, and had entrance exam, orientation and lecture about the school, etc.

It was hard time actually. But now it is weekend, I'm spending my time by walking around the dormitory and eating some traditional foods. And next week, the class will start so I want to get used to the new environment as soon as possible.