A Movie Junky's Themed Suggestions

So, I love watching movies.  I also enjoy a large range of themes.  I thought I would share some of my favorites.  Basically that is it.  Feel free to give recommendations in the comments.  I got an IMDb account, so check out my lists there (username: clar-bar).

North Korea Documentary Series
1. National Geographic: Inside North Korea (An Overview)
2. A State of Mind (State Ideology)
3. Kimjongilia (Forced Labor Camps, the Lives of Soldiers, and tales from Other Escapees)
4. Seoul Train (The Underground Railroad) 
Other Suggestions: The Juche Idea and Crossing the Line
*Vice (available on YouTube) have a number of interesting reports related to North Korea

Diversity in the United States Film Series
This came about because I am studying in Japan and I feel like many Japanese people are not familiar with race relations in general.  If you look at laws relating to visas and citizenship you can get a pretty good idea how welcoming said country is to immigrants or foreigners.  For example, South Korea requires for the visa to get HIV tested.  Anyway, I am tutoring some people in English and I gave some recommendations for movies where this is a major theme.  I think it is an entertaining but still though provoking way to introduce the issue to people.  I wanted to include a number of things because diversity does not just related to race.  Therefore, some of these issues will be more familiar than others for people outside the United States.  I haven't thought of a list of movies dealing with economic class.  (One that I can think of is The Pursuit of Happyness(2006).)   I also did not come up with a particular order to watch the films in. 

Madison & UW Praise

There has been a handful of these recently so I thought I should compile them with links so other people can see them.  Today I talked to perspective study abroad students at Nanzan University, where I am studying abroad.

• Best Colleges 2012 [#41] - U.S. News 
• Top Ten Party Schools 2010 [#3] - Playboy Magazine (link no longer works)
• America's Best College Football Town - USA Today
• Best Cities for Young Adults [#1] - Kiplinger
• Top Ten Best Value Public Colleges 2012 [#5] - The Princeton Review
• Best Business Schools 2012 [#28] - U.S. News
• Best Values in Public Colleges 2012 [#13(in-state)/#11(out of state)] - Kiplinger
• Top Public National Universities [#10] - U.S. News and World Report
• The World University Rankings 2012-2013 [#31] - Times Higher Education (Reuters)
•  Top Universities 2012 [#38] - QS World University Rankings
• Academic Ranking of Universities 2012 [International:#19 / National:#17] - Academic Ranking of World Universities 
• National Universities 2012 [#18] - Washington Monthly  
• Best Party Schools 2014 [#8] - Princeton Review
• Best Health Services 2014 [#1] - Princeton Review
• Best College Newspaper 2014 [#4] - Princeton Review
• Most LGBT Friendly Colleges 2014 [#5] -
  
  Princeton Review
• Best College Library 2014 [#12] - Princeton Review
• University Ranking 2013 [International: #23 / National: #17] - CWUR
•  Top Seven Best Value Flagship University 2014 - The Fiske Guide to Colleges
  
• Top 10 College Towns 2013 [#8] - Livability 
• Top 10 Foodie Cities 2013 [#5] - Livability
• Top 10 Cities with the Best Music Scenes Outside of NYC LA Nashville [#8] - Livability
• Smartest Cities 2013 [#8] - Lumosity
• Safest Cities in America 2013 [#4] - FBI / Business Insider
• Academic Ranking of World Universities 2013-2014 [#19] - Times Higher Education (Reuters)

Let me know in the comments if there is anything that I should add.  Please include a link. 

Handling Money & Opening A Bank Account In Japan

Introduction
Hello, so I just opened a bank account at UFJ (三菱東京ＵＦＪ) and I thought my experience might help those who are coming to Japan.  I am only studying in Japan for a year, and I selected my bank based on the fact that it is right next to my train station and I know they have online banking.  I could of tried to do more research, but my Japanese level would of made it a headache.  If you are studying abroad, and lucky, your university might have an info session to help you fill out paperwork.  I attended that meeting, but UFJ was closer to me than the bank they were setting us up with.  They have students who are in dorms or at home stays.  Here is another good post about opening an account, but it didn't really do much for my situation. 

General Info About Money
Japan is a cashed based society, so do not expect to come here with just a credit card.  (I also recommend bringing a wallet that has a pocket for change because they have $5 coins here.)  Places that accept credit cards are not that common.  Hotels that cater to foreign clients and major trains stations might.  (If you want to use your card at a train station you can't go to the ticket machines.  You will need to talk to someone who will not likely know English so know what train line and stops you want.) Therefore, I highly recommend exchanging money ahead of time.  You can either do this at your local bank (it might take time if they do not have yen there), at the airport, or you can try to do it at a Japanese bank.  I've heard that travelers checks are good and bad from different people.  Here is a website that gives you an idea what the various debit card foreign transaction fees, but it is a little dated.  Here is a video from someone living in Japan who talks about dealing with money.  Make sure to call your bank and inform that you will abroad for your debit and credit cards.  I also recommend asking them about international fees so you will have the most up to date information.  From the research I did before the only credit card that doesn't have international fees is Capital One.  Now there is no longer a Capital One debit card, so I have an ING debit card.  When I talked to ING on the phone, since they are now under Capital One, they might change their policies to match the old Capital One debit card.  They have a 2% fee, so when I take money out from an ATM there is that fee plus the ATM fee.  ATMs that work with American credit cards are common and outside convenience stores (which are everywhere).  7-11 has like a $2 ATM fee for any debit card, even Japanese ones.  Even if your bank does have ATMs in Japan, like Citibank, they probably still have ATM fees.  

A Different Mindset: Comparison of USA and Japan's Health Care

Now I am not an expert or well-read on this subject matter, most of what I've heard has derived from politics in the United States.  Health care is a big issue since President Obama's health care law passed.  One thing I like about the law that does affect me is that I can stay on my parent's insurance longer.  However, this isn't what I wanted to talk about.  

I noticed not soon after I came to Japan that people have a different mindset about going to the doctor or the hospital.  In the United States, while I am still covered by my parent's insurance, I try my best to avoid going to the hospital.  I had to call my insurance company to make sure I could go get a check up, before I left to study abroad for the year (partly to fill out paperwork), because I had seen an OB/GYN that same year.  The previous year I got pink eye during midterms.  Since I didn't want to miss my exam I couldn't make the trip over to the clinic offered by my university.  When I talked to my parents, they were concerned about waiting till I could see a doctor to avoid going into emergency care due to how frickin' expensive it is.  My little sister had to go to emergency care because she couldn't hear out of one ear (which affects balance) and she had a dance performance the next day.  

However, in Japan things seem a bit different.  I am required to purchase the National Health Insurance since I am here for a year and do not have a job that provides insurance.  I have yet to go in, but I've been encouraged to do so if I get sick.  Why?  Well, under the National Health insurance if I get sick most of my costs are covered.  A professor, during orientation, said that when Japanese people get sick they go see a doctor.  In the US, if I got sick like the flu or a fever I just stat home and rest.  Only if it gets really bad do I try to go to the clinic, then if I can't go there I go to the doctor and I am insured.  I just thought it was interesting, and likely says something about health care.  (But take it with a grain of salt because I am only talking about the difference that I've noticed in the very short amount of time I've been here.)

Things to try while Studying Abroad @ University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison was recently named the best city for young people by Kiplinger.  I made a handful of friends who were international students or just studying abroad for the year.  I thought students coming from overseas might find this list helpful.  This probably can apply to students from out of state, but I included some American-y things on the list that you can skip.  I grew up in the Madison area, and currently attend UW - Madison.  I'll try to update this as I think of more ideas, and feel free to comment your suggestions.  These are in no particular order, but are split up by season.  Hope this helps you enjoy your experience better!

- General -

1.  I recommend trying these with friends who are from the US or from Wisconsin because they can help you navigate and get the most out of each experience.
2.  Get a Facebook page.
• Pretty much everyone in college has a Facebook.  It will helpful to keep in contact with friends you make in class.
3. Go to a free movie at Union South.   
• Here is the website for the location 
• WUD hosts the films (they also host guest lectures around campus)
• The seats are first come, first serve.  Therefore, if the movie is popular you might want to go early.
4. Go to the Farmers Market (website)
• It is open Saturday mornings at the Capital square
• It is available in the fall, spring, and summer
•  The hot spicy cheese bread is a must have!  (You can snack on it while walking around the square.)
5. Go to a midnight premiere of a movie.
• If you live in dorm, they will likely hold an event and bus you over.  
• If you don't want to buy food or drink there, then have a girl hide some in a large purse. 
• The energy level is higher at the midnight showings because the big fans will be the ones going.
6. Go dancing
•  There is swing dancing on Wednesday nights at the Brink lounge
• You can go latin dancing on Thursday nights at the Cardinal bar
7. Eat breakfast at Mickies Diary Bar
8. Have pizza from Ian's (considered the best place to get pizza downtown)
• I recommend the Mac N' Cheese pizza
9. Ichiban has the best Chinese food
10. Walk or bike on Lakeshore path
11. See a movie at Sundance
• They have a student discount (two tickets for the price of one) on Tuesdays
• A great place to go if you love movies
• You can have dinner on the roof (great spot for the 4th of July)
• If you are 21 or over you can bring alcohol (that you buy there) into the theatre
12. If you turn 21 here then celebrate!
• 21 is the legal drinking age in the United States
• Wando's has a thing called a fishbowl
• Nitty Gritty also has a birthday special (try a burger with their Gritty sauce)
13. Here is a list of websites with local events
•  Downtown Madison event page
• Memorial Union and Union South 
• Options for dancing
• Badger Herald (student newspaper) Undergraduate Bucket List

Advice for Aspiring College Students and Upcoming Freshmen

[Disclaimer: This is my opinion.  I also provide personal experiences in the brackets.  The drinking age is 21 in the United States, but I still provided tips because underage drinking isn't unheard of in college.]

My Best Tip for Current High School Students:

Take AP classes (if you can)!  Now, don't waste your time if you don't think you can pass the AP exam.  Even if you can't get full credit, this depends on where you will be going anyway, the general credits will be a blessing.  If you want to either get a minor or double major, those credits will eat up the troublesome general education requirements.  Less general education requirements to worry about will mean you can focus on your major, graduate sooner, and maybe take classes just for fun.  Besides even if you don't get an A, colleges will like it because it shows that you are ready for college material.  They rather see you take higher level classes and power through it than take easy classes.  The only draw back is that you can't be a lazy senior.  (Although, after the AP exams are done you'll have at least a couple weeks to chill before graduation.)

Graffiti & Funny Shots From Around Madison

2011-2012 Photos

These are photos I took walking around campus.  This year I started taking more photos with the camera on my phone. I also include photos from school events like the Rose Bowl.  [Don't worry I'll probably break it up more from now on.]  Enjoy!