First day at Meijigakuin Shirokane Campus, Tokyo! This is the large cafe area - who says everything in Japan is cramped and small? *

The main building, where most of my classes are. Smokers galore hang around the entrance. *

Meijigakuin was founded after the Meiji Restoration in 1868 by Christians... many of the buildings at Ontakesan campus date back to that period. *

I find this building particularly interesting, it looks like a Western building, but has lots of Japanese-type fixtures, like the windows for example. *

Inside the cafe area, 2nd floor. (There are no ground floors in Japan, the 1st floor is on ground level). On the left there is a "MOS Burger" outlet - sort of like a Japanese Mc Donalds. No, the food does not have moss in it! *

Students queuing at MOS Burger. (MOS stands for Mountain, Ocean, Sky apparently!) *

After you finish your meal, you put all your dirty bowls into this automated washing system, where they float like little ducks before being cleaned on the conveyor belt. *

The roof has a nice design. A lot of Japanese modern architecture is really interesting. *

People putting thier dishes to be cleaned. *

Yeah, not a bad place! *

We had to sit a Japanese placement test... these are always a little stressful. *

The stress is showing, we are all looking a bit worried. *

Some students, like Luke, start to really lose it. *

Yes, even Eun-Joo looks worried too. *

We have to wait to be called in for oral tests. *

Adeline is getting a bit figity. *

Bill looks relaxed. *

I am relaxed too, later we get to know our classes, I am placed in the intermediate Japanese class... let the Kanji study commence! *

So, after a day of oreintation at Shirokane Campus (Tokyo) we go to the other campus at Yokohama. This one reminds me more of Monash University in Australia - wide, spacious, lots of trees, and MILES away from the city! *

We all meet our Japanese "buddies" who we have been paired with. This is Mini's buddie Yabuchan. *

A relection of Yokohama Campus *

It's a lovely day, but a bit windy. *

Views from the campus are great! Lots of mountains, and on clear days you can see Mt Fuji. *

We see many demonstrations of various clubs vying for members - this one is the Kendo club. *

At the end of the day, we have a group shot taken. Shame the sun was right in our eyes! *

Can you read the caption on this guy's T-shirt? It is 100% true!! *