Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Accepted!
I've now officially accepted by Sophia University in Tokyo as of this morning! It's scary, now I have to make flight arrangements! eeee
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Decision: Japan
Sometime last year, sitting in my little apartment in San Luis Obispo, I made the brave decision to make a great change in my life. Living the "SLO life" for as long as I have, and really even just the American life, has made me want to break out of this safe little environment and jump into the most pleasantly drastic situation I can. I dreamed of traveling across the world to study, but most importantly, become a real part of a completely different culture than my own that I so deeply admire. I wanted so badly to immerse myself in an environment where I could really develop into the intelligent, world-conscious person I've always dreamed of becoming. I wanted to start my life story in a sense; to create and forever hold hundreds of invaluable experiences, making a real impact on my own life and possibly others.
I've always admired Asian cultures of all kinds and have felt very close to Asian way of life. Of course, this is what I think I know...I'm sure I'll be extremely shocked once I actually experience it. I've always yearned to be a part of it, though, as if it were a part of my own heritage (except, too bad I'm anything but Asian haha). I figured I'd be terrified out of my mind if I were to simply visit the region as a tourist, and that I might be more respected as a resident living alongside the people. However, I am well aware that I will never be fully accepted as "one of them" and will always remain an outsider, but I'll sure as hell get as close as I can. So, I considered Thailand and China, but at the end of the day I could not get zen gardens, cherry blossoms, and Buddhist temples out of my mind! So Japan it was, I decided, and CIEE's Tokyo trip was what I landed on. This is the program's website.
What really sold me on this trip was the huge range of classes they offered. When I officially decide my schedule of classes, I will post it. Also, I'm able to live with a family to get the full, authentic Japanese experience, which I never thought in a million years I would have the courage to do, but with the encouragement of CIEE alums I'm now more excited than ever! Up until the moment I submitted my application from the moment I thought up the idea to do so, I would think of nothing but Tokyo, and I can honestly say I'd never been so excited about anything before. I watched Lost in Translation more times than I can remember. I immediately bought books on the Japanese culture because I was fiending to learn all I could. I know all this excitement is still there in me, but the nerves are definitely emerging. I think I've felt the worst of it, the cold feet and all, but fear still lies on the surface. I'm nervous to leave my family, friends, and boyfriend of 6 years for so long and to be somewhere so far from comfort in almost every form imaginable, but something inside is pushing me and I know I will never feel more gratified than if I go through with this. So when people ask me why I chose Japan, I always hesitate because I really don't even know how to begin explaining. I know that when I come back, I'll know exactly why. I'm looking for purpose, direction, and bigger goals in my life, and I hope I can take that back and even more with me to guide me for the rest of my life.
I hope this blog to be a memoir for myself, documenting the whole experience from start to finish (and hopefully being updated every day once I actually arrive in Tokyo...only assuming I get Internet access in my living situation). I also hope this reaches anyone interested in studying in or traveling to Japan, because I know I would have LOVED to read someone's personal experiences while making my decision. And of course, I hope family and friends will read along while I'm abroad to share my adventure with me as much as possible. I expect to be thoroughly amused by many aspects of the Japanese culture, and I'm pretty computer savvy, so count on seeing lots of hilarious videos on here in the future.
I still have yet to hear back about my "official" acceptance from Sophia University, where I will be studying in Tokyo, however they've assured me enough to believe my conditional acceptance means I'm pretty much good to go. I'm supposed to find out any day now! My next post will be about all the program details for those who want to know (it's all very exciting!)
Sayonara
I've always admired Asian cultures of all kinds and have felt very close to Asian way of life. Of course, this is what I think I know...I'm sure I'll be extremely shocked once I actually experience it. I've always yearned to be a part of it, though, as if it were a part of my own heritage (except, too bad I'm anything but Asian haha). I figured I'd be terrified out of my mind if I were to simply visit the region as a tourist, and that I might be more respected as a resident living alongside the people. However, I am well aware that I will never be fully accepted as "one of them" and will always remain an outsider, but I'll sure as hell get as close as I can. So, I considered Thailand and China, but at the end of the day I could not get zen gardens, cherry blossoms, and Buddhist temples out of my mind! So Japan it was, I decided, and CIEE's Tokyo trip was what I landed on. This is the program's website.
What really sold me on this trip was the huge range of classes they offered. When I officially decide my schedule of classes, I will post it. Also, I'm able to live with a family to get the full, authentic Japanese experience, which I never thought in a million years I would have the courage to do, but with the encouragement of CIEE alums I'm now more excited than ever! Up until the moment I submitted my application from the moment I thought up the idea to do so, I would think of nothing but Tokyo, and I can honestly say I'd never been so excited about anything before. I watched Lost in Translation more times than I can remember. I immediately bought books on the Japanese culture because I was fiending to learn all I could. I know all this excitement is still there in me, but the nerves are definitely emerging. I think I've felt the worst of it, the cold feet and all, but fear still lies on the surface. I'm nervous to leave my family, friends, and boyfriend of 6 years for so long and to be somewhere so far from comfort in almost every form imaginable, but something inside is pushing me and I know I will never feel more gratified than if I go through with this. So when people ask me why I chose Japan, I always hesitate because I really don't even know how to begin explaining. I know that when I come back, I'll know exactly why. I'm looking for purpose, direction, and bigger goals in my life, and I hope I can take that back and even more with me to guide me for the rest of my life.
I hope this blog to be a memoir for myself, documenting the whole experience from start to finish (and hopefully being updated every day once I actually arrive in Tokyo...only assuming I get Internet access in my living situation). I also hope this reaches anyone interested in studying in or traveling to Japan, because I know I would have LOVED to read someone's personal experiences while making my decision. And of course, I hope family and friends will read along while I'm abroad to share my adventure with me as much as possible. I expect to be thoroughly amused by many aspects of the Japanese culture, and I'm pretty computer savvy, so count on seeing lots of hilarious videos on here in the future.
I still have yet to hear back about my "official" acceptance from Sophia University, where I will be studying in Tokyo, however they've assured me enough to believe my conditional acceptance means I'm pretty much good to go. I'm supposed to find out any day now! My next post will be about all the program details for those who want to know (it's all very exciting!)
Sayonara
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