23 days until Japan

On the 8th of September I'll leave for Japan. I'm going to Keio University for an academic year, to study Japanese, as part of my degree. So, from now this blog will probably be about though. Hmm I don't know maybe it will be useful for future people, and I probably should have started it sooner. But anyway, I'll record plenty of useful (?) shizz on here. Maybe it would have been nice to have something similar to read myself. I don't know.

Anyway, so I've done with my first 2 years of Japanese Studies at Manchester University, and I'm ready to go. My Japanese? Hmm, I'm pretty confident I can survive. My dictionary will probably come in handy at first! But I'm not particularly worried right now. My written is definitley better than my spoken, but no doubt that will all change soon.

This whole process started quite early on in my 2nd year at Manchester, when we had to start thinking about where we wanted to go. This being the first year for Japanese at the university, there was only 16 of us going, so there weren't that many universities on our list. There were 4 in Tokyo (Keio, Meiji Gakuin, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies & Rikkyo), two in Osaka (Osaka University & Kansai Gaidai), Kobe University and Kyoto University.

So four cities, but it wasn't a difficult decision- I decided long, long ago that I was going to Tokyo. I was determined.

We were given an application form and we had to number the Universities from 1 through 8, 1 being our top choice, 2 our second, and you get the picture. Keio was my first choice, followed by Meiji Gakuin, Rikkyo and TUFS (yes, you get the picture, it HAD to be Tokyo!) Then we all had to write an essay, explaining why we had chosen the university and the city in question. I waffled about all sorts of things: the reputation of the university, where I had friends in Japan, the fact my university had horse riding facilities, the fact the area was good for my dissertation research... You name it, I thought it up.

It was several months later, after Christmas break, that we got our placements. Our residence abroad tutor at Manchester allocated our places. It went off grades, attendance, and where he felt we would be best suited.

I got my first choice of university- Keio! So I was pleased. In most cases there were a few places at each university. It was only Kansai Gaidai and Kobe where there would be one student from Manchester placed. No body seemed to worried though.. everyone was pretty happy with their placements.

BUTTTT it wasn't that simple. Our tutor had chosen where he thought we should go, now all we had to do was apply to the actual university themselves. Ahh more paperwork. How I love paperwork.! /end sarcasm>
Each university had different forms, so once we got them it was just a case of filling them in. Grades, previous employment, reasons we wanted to go to the university.. And the first visa application form. This was just general details such as date of birth, address etc that would be sent to our university, so they could then send us the Certificate of Eligibility.

It took a while for all this stuff to be processed, and everyone waited with baited breath to see if they had been accepted. Ofcourse everyone was, so it was all fine! I was also chosen for a JASSO scholarship by Keio University. This is a sum of ¥80,000 on arrival, and then ¥80,000 per month- thats around £500- which will definitley come in handy in and around Tokyo!

The next thing I had to do was apply for accomodation. This was pretty simple- they sent a guide to all the different accomodations, and I chose a shortlist of 4 that I would be happy to live in. Most of Keio's accomodation is actually in Yokohama, the city that borders Tokyo (kind of like Manchester and Salford, I guess?) There was only one decent looking accomodation in Tokyo- a place with 35 international rooms in Setagaya-ku. I put this as my first option, but as expected I didn't get it. I did get my second choice though- Shimoda Student Village, in Kohoku-ku, Yokohama. I wasn't really bothered at all- Kohoku-ku is very close to the border of Tokyo. I'm sure it will be fine. It isn't TOO far from the university campus in Minato-ku. The accomodation is mosty international students, self-catered and ensuite. That will do me :D

Once this was done, all I had to was wait for the University to send the Certficiate of Eligibility. This certificate basically gives you the okay to get a study visa. The certificate arrived early August, and then it was off to London to apply. That only took a few minutes. Now I'm just waiting for the visa and my passport to be posted back to me. It only takes 3 days.

So moving on from all the hassley part. Hm, I don't really feel scared.
I mean I guess I will be a bit apprehensive at first. But whatever, it will be an adventure.
I guess I'm excited about all the different people I'll meet. And all the places I'll go in Japan.
And my dissertation research. Haha is that sad? I'm defintiley excited about doing that. Im going to be looking at how traditional Japanese ghost stories and folklore have influenced all the J-Horror films in Japan. I'm hoping I might be lucky enough to get an interview with Hideo Nakata (director of Ringu), as one of my tutors has contacts. I'm also making steps to contacting Takashi Shimizu (director of Ju-On/ The Grudge.) If I can get an interview with him, I will fricking SCREAM. The Ju-On/ Grudge series is my absolute favouite as far as Japanese horror goes, and I fear I probably do have a slightly unhealthy obsession with it. I don't know what it is about J-horror. I've never really been scared by horror films, and don't have much time for most of that American crap. Japanese horror is a whole different kettle of fish though compared to all that slasher rubbish. It doesn't really scare me, I just think its kind of fascinating. Is that weird? Sorry.

So what will I miss?
Obviously I'll miss family and friends and stuff. But I guess I'll be kind of prepared for that already, as I have been living away from home for two years now.
It will be weird to think that my university friends that aren't in Japan (ie my housemates over the past 2 years and othe friends I've made) will still be in Manchester, and graduating before me! But thats life, right?

I'll miss my friends from outside university too. I suppose I better mention good old LOUISE HOWARD, loyal commenter of this blog so far. And of course Rachel Taylor. What am I going to do when I can't be here to witness her prom? Known this lug since she moved in next door to me aged just SIX YEARS OLD. Oh my how she has grown ='] I'll miss our trips to Morrisons too. LOL. Most people go on days out to nice, quaint places. We go for a day out to Morri'z.

I suppose I'll miss Manchester.
YES MANCHESTER. With its rain and its grimey streets. I'll miss those random days out in Gorton, thinking we're up market! I guess I'll even miss Rusholme. Don't think I'll miss the pigeons though.

And what else? Well I think you can guess whats coming next.
I don't CARE what people say, I will miss this pony so much I don't even know what I'm going to do without her. Well someone better sure as hell take care of her.
I just pray to god shes there waiting for me next year when I get back! Even though she probably wont even notice I'm gone. Apart from the distinct decrease in carrots and polo mints, maybe ;) Special Little Pony ♥

Anyway I'm sure this is quite enough for now because I've been waffling for quite some time. I shall update again soon, I'm sure you're all so excited to follow my adventures!