So after six years of taking Japanese language classes (starting from Freshmen year of high school and going through three Sensei’s, I am finally going to Japan for the first time!!! I will be studying abroad eleven months at Kansai University located near Osaka City (Osaka-Shi), in the prefecture of Osaka. I will be leaving September 6th (2011) and plan to return around the second week of August (2012). Thankfully, two other girls from my college, Julie and Sam, (both of whom I’ve had classes with and know) will be in the same program at Kansai with me (and the same dorm).
I’ll be staying in an off-campus, International, all female (as is the norm) dormitory, Ryokuchi Koen. This gives a brief synopsis of what the dorm is like (its all in Japanese though), but it has pictures! http://www.gakuseikaikan.com/placehall/hall/22156.html . Already I can tell this is going to be a lot different than schools in America. For one Japanese dorms generally have their own dining hall and cafeteria services (meaning that breakfast and dinner are served on a short and strict time period, super early). Secondly, they have curfews. That's right. I have to be in the dorm between the hours of 11pm to 6:30am, unless I check out with the front desk, and able to find somewhere to crash for the night. So don’t worry Mom.
On a different note, these dorms will all be single person rooms. I was originally told that I Japanese roommates were assigned to foreign students, but I guess that policy has changed. I am excited to live in an international hall though. I have already given a basic schedule for the first few weeks I’m there. The semester doesn’t start till September 20th, so hopefully that will leave me with sometime to explore as well.
Just to let everyone know so that this is not as badass as it seems, I’m taking all classes in English. Lol. Sorry, but my Japanese is not THAT good enough to be able to understand college level classes, in fact its nowhere near that good. But, hey, that is why I’m going.
I wish I could say more. But right now there is not too much to report. I’ve got my Visa already, plane tickets bought, hotel reservations made, and got a new duffle bag suitcase. Even though I’ve studied that language and culture in school for so long, worked at a Japanese restaurant, learned a Japanese martial arts (Judo), watched tons of anime in the past (even gone to conventions), I still feel very unprepared and don’t know what to expect. I’m just trying to prepare as much as possible for this trip.
As I write this blog I will try to make this as educational and easy to understand as possible for people who may not be so familiar with the Japanese way. As mentioned above this is my first attempt at a blog of any sort (I usually just stick to facebook), so this will be a learning experience for all.
I’ll try to update soon again! <3
エリー (Erii)
~~~PS: Feel free to send me comments and questions about anything!~~~
