This entry is the extension or a more detailed entry regarding Rikkyo University International Dormitory (RUID) in Shiki. You can refer to the previous entry
here. Since RUID Shiki is quite new, I can still remember the time (before coming here) when I searched the word "RUID Shiki" in Google and it wasn't really helpful, so, I hope this entry will help the students who will be coming here in April or even in September.
RUID Shiki location is quite convenient since it's only 5minutes walk from Shiki station's east exit (志木駅の東口 Shiki eki no higashi guchi) and finding RUID Shiki is easy since you only have to walk straight from the station exit,
I took the picture above near RUID Shiki, that means, Shiki station's east exit is right at the end of the road..
This is RUID Shiki,
With 8 floors (please note that Japan uses American flooring system, i.e. there's no Ground floor like in Malaysia).. The 1st floor is the lobby, laundry room, office and dining room. 2nd and 3rd floor is reserved for foreign students and it's a mix floors. 3rd and 4th floor is for boys and the rest is for girls. As I mentioned in the previous post, I'm placed at the 5th floor with Japanese boys.
Ok, now let me show you what you can see when entering RUID Shiki.. First is the mail box,
You need your key to open the door to the lobby and the first thing you should do before going up to you room is to 'update' your status whether you're in or out by switching the colours on the board, it's quite obvious, white is when you're in and red is when you're out.. The board is located on the left from the main door,
On the right side is the office and the reading corner,
Yomiuri Shimbun (読売新聞) is available everyday.
On the same floor, there's the dining room and laundry room.. Breakfast and dinner is available from Monday to Saturday but I didn't apply for the meal package because I can't eat most of the food served, so, I cooked myself everyday. Usually, I will use the dining room when I want to cook my lunch, meet my friends and also to toast my bread for breakfast or supper.. Hehe..
One of the things I like about the dining room is the tea server (besides the middle sink).. Free flow of green tea! :D
Finally, the laundry room.. It is separated according to gender.. Washing machine usage is free of charge but if you want to use the dryer, it will cost 100yen for 30minutes. I never used the dryer since I arrived here.. Even now, in winter, I hang my clothes to dry at the balcony even though it will take around 2 days to dry.. hehe..
If you have any questions regarding RUID Shiki, please write in the comment box below.. :)
Hi!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! My name is Emmanuel and I'm doing an exchange with Rikkyo's College of Business in spring 2011. I'm also going to be staying at Ruid Shiki. I wanted to know what advice you have for anyone coming on exchange (things to bring, info about the school/dorms, places to visit, things to avoid, etc). Any advice will be greatly appreciated !! : )
Hi Emmanuel! Thanks for reading my blog ^^
ReplyDeleteI see.. Only a month+ away.. hehe..
May I know where are you from?
Well, things to bring here depends on you actually, I bought kitchenware here, and oh, I bought mattress and pillow here too! Didn't apply for the futon leasing..
There's to much to tell.. haha..
The most important advice is please study Japanese well before arriving here to sit for the placement test. ^^
Please e-mail or even add me on Facebook using this e-mail, nizamnorhisham@yahoo.com :D
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ReplyDeleteHello, I found your blog when I looked for some Information on that dormitory as I'll be moving in September, 1st. I was quite shocked when I used Google Earth to find it but since it wasn't up to date yet, there wasn't anything lol
ReplyDeleteThe dorm looks so nice and the room you had looks so super nice as well :D
And when you arrived to "check-in" where did you have to go? Was it easy to get in contact with others? I'm kinda afraid I might not be able to make any friends, as I'm pretty shy >__<'' One more dorm-related question: Did you leave the dorm for a few days like for a trip once? I'm kinda afraid it might cause problems since I read Japanese dormitories are so super strict...same goes for the curfew ^^;
Another question I have: How was the Placement test? =/ I'm so scared as I totally suck at speaking freely, even in my native language lool under such conditions I'm not able to say anything @__@'
hope you'll read my comment before I move in, haha :D
Thanks in advance. Your blog is really helpful ^^
Hello, Sabrina..
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned above in my entry, I faced the same problem last year when I want to find more information on Shiki dorm. That's why I wrote this blog entry :)
Well, once you arrived, you have to go to the office counter on your right side from the main entrance.. Usually the dorm manager (or his wife) will be behind the counter, so, you don't have to worry but please note that they can't really speak English and they will explain in Japanese (based on my experience)..
Oh, it's easy to contact with others, you just have to go to the dining room and you can make friends and please join some of the clubs created by Rikkyo students, IFL (International Friendly Lunch), JoinUS.. You will get friends in no time.. hehe..
Yup.. I left the dorm once when I went to Kusatsu Onsen a few weeks ago.. You don't have to worry about that either.. I did partime job and I didn't even give notice to the dorm manager.. :) but it is strict, especially the curfew.. - -"
from my experience, the interview will be based on your writing test, so, the interviewer will ask questions according to your level.. I thought I will be placed in quite a high level but I end up in level J3S in September..
I'm glad I can help..
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ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your super fast reply! That helps a lot.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's even better that the manager speaks Japanese and not English. It's always so tempting to speak English lol
How long have you been studying Japanese before going to Japan? If it's okay for me to ask ^^
I actually planned on taking courses in Japanese since they interest me more than the ones in English. But since you have to get at least J6 it worries me a lot...=/ Is it true that you can't get out of the course once you're placed in it? If I only knew how much studying is needed. But thanks for the information already!! Really, helps me a bunch! =) Wow, you got part-time jobs!? Just read about it in the respective entry for it. Heard it's difficult for foreigners to get one.
Thanks for your fast reply again. Much appreciated!
No problem.. Even though I didn't have the chance (or just lazy, hehe) to update my blog, I will try to update it at a later time..
ReplyDeleteYeah, I had the same problem too! It's so tempting.. If I knew the person can understand English, I tend to mix some English words or speak in entirely in English.. Haha..
I started to study Japanese (officially) in July 2008, so, I've been studying Japanese for 2 years before going to Japan.. So, I can assume your Japanese level is quite high? ;)
Oh, you don't have to worry about courses in Japanese as long as your level is above 3.. You just have to ask for your adviser's and lecturer in charge for their permission. I took 2 courses in Japanese when I was in J3S level and in 2nd semester I was placed in J5 and I did the same thing and took 4 courses in Japanese.
Yup, it is true. You have to accept it.
About my part time job, I ended up doing something unexpected i.e. I taught English to Japanese. I said unexpected because I heard Japanese prefers native speakers over non-native (English is my 2nd language) so, I really appreciate the opportunity given.. It was difficult. All the "Sorry, we have decided" excuses really pissed me off.. Haha.. They should mention it earlier that they don't want foreigners.. Wasted my time and energy.. But, well it is the reality in Japan :)
Have a nice day..
I actually also officially started to study Japanese at uni 2 years ago, though I learned it in an evening school for 3 years already I had to start at 0 at university. that kinda threw me back as I became totally lazy since I didn't have to study anything. So you can basically say that my level will be about the same as yours when you went to Japan ;)
ReplyDeleteBut I'm glad that you were able to take courses conducted in Japanese nervetheless. Mr. Tsuji always told me that I won't be able to take such courses if my level's beneath J6 :/
That sounds really awesome that you were able to get a job as a tutor. I also heard that they prefer native speakers and that they won't accept foreigners.
Thanks a lot for all the answers you gave me. Now I feel much more safe regarding my stay there! Thank you so much.
You, too, have a nice day! =)
Hi Sabrina! I'm Emily and I'll be going to Rikkyo in September too - I'm super nervous! It'd be great to know a few people before arriving so maybe you could add me on facebook (if you want to) - my full name is Emily Elizabeth Shields (my picture is of me and a friend).
ReplyDeleteI started to memorise Hiragana and Katakana when I was in matriculation (2006) and it took me 3 months.. Hehe.. I did some self-study on really basic Japanese using a few textbooks.. I felt the same way when I entered my first class in uni, I already know Hiragana and Katakana so it was so easy until verb conjugation started.. :)
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to worry about what Mr. Tsuji said, your advisor will give his/her permission to take courses conducted in Japanese..
Yup, with that in mind, I stayed away from applying tutor job until early April 2011 when 2 friends introduced 2 jobs - -" I can earn lots of money if I apply (or my friends introduce it) earlier.. Sure, you're welcome.. Feel free to ask anything..
@Emily I was nervous too last year.. hehe.. It will be great if you two can be friends before going there.. Good luck to you two ^^V
@japazzle: Wow, that's amazing! :D And you'll be going to the same dormitory? It would be great if we could meet up then =) Ehm, looked on FB and didn't find the name with a picture of you and your friend. Only found the name with one person on it. But if you're from Sheffield and you're friends with Deborah Liu and Rie Baba, then tell me. (Would be funny though, since I'm friends with both of them lol)
ReplyDeleteJust tell me, maybe via email if you want to, so we won't spam nizam's blog ;) silencial[at]gmx.de
@nizam: ah I see. So I hope everything will be going smoothly. Thanks again for your nice advises!!