viernes, 31 de agosto de 2007

August 28th


Countdown to liftoff: 5 days! (i'm counting today) At the advice of my dad I have started a small e-mail to keep in contact with everyone who is going to Nagoya. I just wanted to find out when they were leaving, if I would be flying with any of them, what their host family would be like, and what they are going to pack like. I've heard back from Marla and Mallory and they both sound like they're doing fine. Marla is living with a couple in their 30-somethings and is a little closer to Nanzan than I am. Mallory is living with an older couple in their 50-somethings but they have no children (I wouldn't like that!) Mallory, unlike Marla, will be taking the same flight to Nagoya on the 2nd with me.

An update on the last entry now: I have completed my ISIC card with a photograph. (all these passport-sized photos are driving me insane) I was able to find my memory card which is a huge relief because it was my only way of taking pictures. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't found it--I really didn't want to buy another one! I still don't know where my iPod is but that is of less importance to me at the moment than my memory card. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to pack about 1/2 to 2/3 of a large suitcase and one carry-on for my semester abroad. It is probably a tiny amount of clothing compared to everyone else but I definitley value packing lightly and I know that I'll want to bring some gifts back home. Speaking of gifts, I decided to buy a book on Minnesota to give to my host grandparents (plenty of pictures!). I figure some candies/food for when they take me to a relative's house or something and maybe a couple other gifts for other random occasions. Also a good idea that popped into my mind, with a little help, was to bring a photo album to show to my family there in Japan. That way they can not only hear of my life but they can see a little bit of what I've done too. This will probably be the best way to get rid of anything that may have become lost in translation. Lastly, I bought a book for myself, "Japan made easy: All You Need to Know to Enjoy Japan" by Boye Lafayette De Mente, and despite it's corny title and French-Canadian author it is actually a goldmine of advice on everything from how to properly wear a yukkata to how to introduce yourself properly. There's even a chapter titled, "Reading Important Signs" that has a concise list of common signs that are usually written in kanji that I would have to know in order to get around smoothly. (Signs such as "push" or "pull" or "in use" will probably come in handy)

August 24th

So basically it's about a week before I head out to Japan. I have to put a passport-sized photograph on my ISIC before I go...I received my Passport with Visa attached a little while ago (it was a very fast process) and so the most crucial step is now completed. I also have my e-ticket with me now which means that my flights there are 100% ready to go. Now I really need to think about packing: Where is my iPod? Where is my memory card (I want to take pictures when I get there). How many clothes do I pack anyway? (I want less so that I can buy some when I get there) What about gifts? (For my host family...all of them) With one more week to go, it seems as though these will be the more important questions to be answered.

August 13th

I have just returned from a trip out east to look for a school for my sister and upon return I have found a small host of items to complete before my September 2nd flight. First, I finally received my Certificate of Eligibility that means that I have been officially accepted by Japan for travel into their country! With that certificate I also received a small packet of useful information sent directly from Nanzan. In the packet there contained an arrival schedule, useful information on alien registration, tips on taking care of myself physically and psychologically while abroad, along with a list of emergency numbers. Other information that was forwarded included another packet that briefly covered tips for staying with a Japanese family and even the names of my host parents! What more the packet contained the official letter of accpetance by the Director Richard F. Szippl (very Japanese) of Nanzan--yes!
If that wasn't enough my host parents even sent me a short letter (in English) welcoming me into their home! They seem like a very nice family with children and grandchildren and I can't wait to get to know them better. The BEST part was the picture that they included in their letter--now I can at least see two familiar faces when I step off the plane.
Those were my pleasant discoveries, these were my exciting responsibilities: Student Visa & Arrival Information. I need a student visa to study in Japan. In order to obtain such a visa I needed to consolidate four key documents and send them to my consulate in Chicago: 1) My Passport 2)A completed visa application form, 3) One passport-sized photographed affixed to the application form, 4) The original certificate of Eligibility, and 5) A photocopy of the CofE both front and back. Luckily my passport was in perfect working order, making the filling out the application form--which can be found on the website of your consulate--a breeze. I took a picture and attached it where it told me to, slid the Certificate and its copies along with a return envelope in the mailbox and I had successfully completed the final and most crucial pre-departure step.
Some points that I had trouble filling out in the application form included one space which asked me name some specifics of my passport information: First, most people have Ordinary (not Diplomatic or Official) passports; Second, my Reference in Japan ended up being the Program Administrator of Nanzan Ms. Daisy Montessa.
The last sheet of paper that I will send, via-fax, is my arrival information. Some months ago I confirmed my flight information in Notre Dame's Anthony Travel and the confirming e-mail became quite useful in this step. The form is very self-explanatory and possibly the least confusing of all the forms I have had to fill out, albeit it tending to ask for the same information when clearly the flight number would not change from take-off to landing (or maybe I'm in for a rude awakening!)
A couple more weeks until I'm off. I have to think about clothing, money, gifts for my hosts and their family, and studying-studying-studying! Until next time. Sayoonara

July 6th, 2007

It is now the middle of the summer before I head out to Japan.(July 5th)So far I have received a confirmation packet from Nanzan.I sent in my confirmation and my physical.In a couple weeks I should get all the information on my host family. Hopefully they have a picture or something so that I'll recognize them when I get off the plane in Nagoya.By the way I confirmed my flights to Nagoya through Anthony Travel.On the 2nd of September it's outta Minneapolis to Denver and then Denver to SanFran where I'll hopefully be meeting up with the three other peeps that will be with me for the semester.My other three companions are Marla MacMichael, Mallory Laurel, and Kevin Prawdzik. Kevin will be staying for the year.I'm still trying to study every day; I'm writing down new kanji (I need to know at least all of the ILJ 200-level kanji), reading a few pages from my textbooks (Nakama One and Genki One), and--more than anything else--watching anime in Japanese with English subtitles.I know it's not much but heck you'd be surprised how much the free online shows help.Just listening to the words and trying to pick out what I know and then confirming with the subtitles really has done wonders for my confidence.I know that I am definitely not anywhere near being near fluent in the language but with a month and a half to go before I leave I feel that I can at least prepare for the new language and culture by reading and listening.

The other thing that I need to do before I leave is apply for a student visa through the Japanese embassy in Chicago.I have downloaded the application form from their website and I'm pretty sure that I don't have to make the trek out to Chicago to submit it.All I have to do is fill out the form and send it in, along with my passport and my Certificate of Eligibility(which I will be receiving from Nanzan along with my family information.I don't think I'm going to get an ISIC card unless it is totally necessary.The card is an international student discount card that is accepted in various locations around the world.Unfortunately for me the card has no useful locations in Nagoya.It will probably not be worth the $25 to get one and so I have declined to do so unless absolutely necessary.

Day 1

Today I am slowly preparing all my classes for next semester. I have several lined up that are of interest to me. Obviously I will be taking a language course (IJ 300 for now) and I recently got an Anthropology course approved (Intercultural Communication). I also want to take a history course (Western world and Japan) alongside Japanese business 1, and Japanese Culture and Art. In case some of my classes don't work--scheduling w/e--I also selected a Japanese Religions: Religion in Contemporary Japan class. I just need to go get some signatures from my academic adviser and the dean of the College of Business, Gaglio. The form is due this Friday so there isn't much time but I should be fine. I probable won't write here that often until things really get going next fall, but expect a few other random ones.