English: "Japan"
Japanese (Casual): "Nihon" にほん
Japanese (Formal): "Nippon" にっぽん
So, since announcing my acceptance to study abroad in Japan many people have requested I tell them all about my experiences and show them all the pictures I'm bound to take. To prevent myself from going insane (more so) I opted to keep a running blog while abroad to allow the curious and, more likely, incredibly bored to keep up with my trip. To begin with, I just wanted to go over some basic information I've been asked literally a billion times. Yes, literally.
When will you be gone?
I leave obscenely early on January 30th and will return to the red, white, and blue on May 28th unless a currently unforseen factor changes that. I will have my laptop with me but I will not be able to "like" every status you post on facebook with a witty one-liner.
Where are you going?
I will be studying at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata City, Osaka Prefecture of Japan.
Half of you just turned your heads in confusion and the other half tabbed to google. Relax, good readers; kind soul that I am I have provided you a map.
All international students living on campus at Kansai Gaidai live in one of four international dorms located in the neighborhood nearby. The dorms are traditionally styled; they have a room near the entrance for storing shoes (not worn inside!) as well as a small entrance area to the dorm room for leaving any slippers you put on. The room itself is 8 tatami mats in size with a futon bed (not the American kind of futon) that can be put away during the day. The room is shared between two people who each have a closet and desk area. For people who have trouble picturing it, I'll take pictures on arriving.
What will you be studying? Surely, you'll have an intensive focus on your Majors!
Hahahahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaha.
No. This trip is for ME. I have been playing on going to Japan since middle school and wanting to travel since I was a wee sprout. I will be getting my two required language classes done and possibly an art or art history. But mostly I want to take classes on Japanese subcultures and the history of anime. What's that you're taking this semester? Boring 101? That's what I thought.
Aren't you scared?! Being so close to North Korea, what if the Yakuza teams up with the terrorists and nuke the world?!
Well then I wouldn't be much safer in America, now would I? Japan is arguably one of the safest countries in the world and has a remarkably low crime rate. In addition, the Kansai region where I am going is known for being incredibly foreigner friendly. I'm far more worried about navigating the San Francisco airport than anything in Japan.
Will you bring me [insert frivolity here]?
I love all of you. Trully. But I am a poor college student with limited bag space and I can't bring everyone in America something back.
Ok, ok, but what if I give you the money?
Here is my official policy on this: I will get you your stuff if and only if you provide the money for the item, shipping, and a mandatory 50% gratuity to me for the trouble. Otherwise get it off ebay.
What are you going to do in Japan (Besides study)?
[sarcasm] Drink, do drugs, get pregnant, you know my usual college cycle. [/end sarcasm] The Japanese spring semester has the equivalent of spring break called Golden Week which actually includes several national holidays. I want to use this time to travel around and visit Hiroshima, Tokyo, spend some quality time in Osaka, etc. I'll list some places I want to go below and if anyone has any recomendations feel free to send them my way.
-Hiroshima Peace Memorial
-Harajuku Station (Sunday)
-Amerikamura, Osaka
-Shibuya, Tokyo
-Nara (Deer!)
-Sakura Viewing
For now, ja ne!
