There are many things I want to talk about the dorm life in Kansai Gaidai, especially the Seminar House II which is where I lived. There are a lot of rules regarding things from bringing guests to cooking to cleanliness.
Students on the dorm sleep on a tatami mat which is basically a futton on the floor. Bed is optional in Japanese life i guess. Quite contrary to my initial surprise, the tatami mat futton is very comfortable to sleep in. Every 10 days, residents had to change their bed, futton and pillow sheets which came already cleaned so for one who doesn’t enjoy doing laundry, it’s definitely a plus.
About the kitchen, we had cleaning duties shared among the residents so every month residents would gather in and clean the kitchen and the dining. It made me feel more involved in the dorm community and allowed me to know the residents and the RA a bit more.
There is a computer lab where, along with the kitchen, guests as in people who do not live in the dorm, are not allowed to enter. Overnight guests are not allowed at all and any “intruders” have to leave before 10pm and only Kansai Gaidai students can enter a residents room.
Although the rules were not quite to my liking, I felt like home with Ottosan (dad) and Okkasan(mom) who are the caretakers of the dorm and the residents, even though I’d say they were a bit strict.
Garbage disposal is a serious matter in Japan. The plastic from the PET bottles has to go in the plastic bin, the Bottle caps in a separate one, and the PET bottle in another separate bin. Garbage and disposables in a separate one, colored glass bottles in one bin whole uncolored ones on the other, batteries and electronic waste in a separate one. Things get real when it comes to garbage separation!