Saturday, December 27, 2008

Smile - Emu (笑む) 

I forgot to mention that one of the things I am really looking forward to in Japan is Engrish. Japanese people like English on their stuff. They think its cool. It is just like how in American culture when Chinese or Japanese characters on products seems unique or trendy. People who can read the characters laugh at us because to them we wear stupid shirts that make no sense or sound dumb. Engrish is pretty much the same. It is when English speakers laugh at the misuse, misspelt, and misinterpretated of their language. (Engrish is Engrish because in the Japanese language there is no natural 'r' sound.) Japan is a frequent offender.

Here are some of my favorites from Engrish.com


One day I hope my Japanese becomes good enough to read the sites that make fun of people misusing Japanese kanji. *sigh* I have to study Japanese again.

Study Abroad Progress
-Got my passport photo (now I have a picture for my International Student Card)

1)Apply for Visa
2)Figure what to do about Health Insurance because the one my parents has is terrible
3)Buy gifts for Host Family

Friday, December 26, 2008

Adventurer - Boukensha (冒険者)

Yokatta! I'm done with 5th semester of College and only five more to go. Oh yeah...Happy Belated Holidays to everyone.

I'm finally finished with my finals, moved out of my dorm, and am sadly at home. I spent the holidays eating too much and being lazy with my boyfriend. Now he ran away to Panama for the rest of his winter break. Damn him. But now I am slowly kicking my butt into gear for Japan. New Update: I am going to have a host family!

Going to Japan was supposed to be my first time on an airplane but that honor went to Egypt. By some miraculous circumstances, my younger sister won a free trip to Egypt. (Thank you Expedia. Thank you Dr. Pepper) So people actually win sweepstakes...anyways since my sister is socially useless I learned how to navigate through an airport and a French one at that. De Gaulle Airport is very pretty but also expensive (c'mon Coach and Cartier shops?) I heart the fact that everyone who worked in the airport also spoke English. I learned that unless you have money...there is NOTHING to do in a terminal. My sister and I waited 7 hours for our connecting flight to Cairo. Unfortunatly, I was frantically working on a research paper due in the middle of my vacation on a French computer terminal.

De Gaulle Terminal
Well all of that is behind me now. I did finish my research paper after spending 40 Egpytian pounds for 4 hours in the hotel's computer cafe. In Egpyt, I spend 10 days exploring Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor. I got a cute tour guide and had a marvelous time. Some of the places I visited (not in any particular order)...Pyramids of Giza, Abu Simmel, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Egpyt's National Musuem, Karnark Temple, Kom Ombo, and Aswan Dam.

Temple of Hatshepsut
Egpyt was a good experience for me. I do want to travel more. I realize how stupid I can be about other cultures and experiencing new things. I don't want to be a homebody like the majority of my family. I paid money to have a passport...why not use it?

Study Abroad to do list:
1) Get another Passport Photo
2) Apply for Japanese Student Visa
3) Fight with my health insurance company to prove that I am a college student
4) Fill out health insurance info for Kansai Gaidai


Monday, December 8, 2008

Introduction - Hajimete!

This is for my family and friends to see how I am doing once I arrive in Japan. I am heading to Kansai Gaidai University in Hirataka, Osaka, Japan for the Spring 2009. My goal is to document a part of my life once every week. Maybe teach you all a little Japanese.

Right now I'm procrastinating because I'm nearing finals week. I'm in my last week of the semester of my junior year. I still have a Medical Ethics paper I must write and a reaction paper for Globalization and World Order.

I just bought a plane ticket to Osaka. Next is to email Kansai Gaidai about my housing choices (Homestay!) and flight plans. Tell Study Abroad about flight plans too. Pay Tuition and cry because I'm poor.