|
Anthropology
at Berkeley Home | About Us | People | Student Information | Courses | News | Resources | Research | Forms | UC Berkeley |
- JOMON FIELD SCHOOL, 2008
FAQ
- Accommodation
- Transportation during Field School
- Food
- Weather and Clothes
- Field Gear
- Laundry
- Language
- Phone
- Internet
- Money
- Welcome Card
- Overnight Trips
- JR Pass
Accommodation
We will stay at the International Guest House (I-house) of Aomori Public College. This facility is about 40 minutes away from the Aomori Train Station by bus, or 30 minutes away from the Aomori Airport by taxi. Three students and one staff member will be sharing an apartment-style unit, which has three bedrooms, a living room, dining space, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Each student is expected to take part in various house responsibilities including cleaning, which will be part of the course mark.
Transportation during Field School
For the bulk of the field school, staff members will give participants a ride between the excavation site and the I-house. Driving project cars during the field school is limited to the staff members only. This is due to insurance and other university liability issues. Students are not allowed to drive or rent cars in Japan for the entire duration of the field school, including weekends.
Food
Food is not included in the field/lab fee. Students will have access to a cooking facility (the kitchen) at the International Guest House, and will have the opportunity to do grocery shopping every two or three days on the way back from the site.
Weather and Clothes
Climate of Aomori is from the mid 80’s to mid 90’s during the day, with high humidity like Boston. Although it becomes very hot on some days, people do not wear tank tops or shorts at work. The shortest pants should be at knee length for both men and women. It is always better to carry as little as possible since there may not be enough space in trains and cars.
Field Gear
Download List of Recommended Field Gear here.
Laundry
The International Guest House provides free washers and dryers.
Language
Several staff members will work as interpreters during the field school. The ability to communicate in Japanese is ideal, but not necessary.
Phone
You should be able to use your calling cards from your long-distance carrier. Make sure you learn how to use it outside the United States prior to your departure. If you purchase phone cards in the US, make sure to get the ones that work in Japan and let you call toll-free. Also, there are phone cards you can purchase in Japan that will allow you to make phone calls to the USA. There is a pay phone outside the International Guest House
Internet
Do not expect to have internet access during weekdays. There are at least two internet cafes in the downtown area and you are free to go there during your free time. (Note: Staff members will not provide a ride for this purpose.)
Money
We recommend that you bring your money in traveler’s checks. Once you arrive in the Narita airport, cash what you need for your first week. Once you arrive in Aomori, we can give you a ride to a bank about once a week for those who need to cash their traveler’s checks (let the staff members know ahead of time when you need to make a trip to a bank). If you plan to use a credit card (Visa etc.), make sure that you call your bank prior to your departure that you are visiting Japan. Bring your bank’s non-toll-free phone number with you in case you need to call it from Japan (toll-free numbers do not work from Japan). Do not rely heavily on your credit card or ATM cards. Several students had problems in the past.
Welcome Card
Get yourself registered in the Welcome Card System from the following site and print out the card before going to Japan. This card will give you discount at various services and places in Northern Japan, including bus ride and museums. (This card is for non-Japanese residents only.)
Overnight Trips
If you plan to make overnight trips by yourself or with other participants during any of the off days, please let the instructor know before the field school starts, with your itinerary and contact information, and receive her permission. Please make sure that your itienerary will allow you to get enough rest before the new week starts.
JR Pass
If you plan to take bullet trains between Tokyo and Aomori, and/or if you plan to travel extensively before or after the field school, Japan Railways have discount weekly/daily passes for foreigners, which can be used for most of the bullet trains and limited express trains. For details, please check up the JR web site and JR-East web site .
Time Off
Contact Professor Habu
Back to Department Course Listings