The (Rising) Sun Will Come Out TOMORROW

So "spring semester junior year" quickly became "next year," which soon turned into "next semester," then "next month," recently "next week," and, now, TOMORROW.  That's right, tomorrow I leave for here:

Kansai Gaidai University

Or, in other terms, here:

I still don't feel like I'm really going to be on the other side of the world in such a short amount of time, but so it goes.  Regardless, after a week of abusing the "This is the last time I'll go/eat/do *insert American place/food/activity, etc. here* until the end of May" card, I guess I'm ready.   

Well, mentally ready at least.  Still working on that packing thing.  I'm past the stage of putting stuff into the suitcase and onto the stage of taking stuff out.  No, neither suitcase is over the 50 lb. limit; they're both just...well, exactly 50 lbs, which is probably cutting it a little too close.  Le sigh.  I feel like I'm on "The Biggest Loser" or something, as I'm almost nervous for the weigh-in tomorrow at the airport.  It's a rough life.

Enough about packing though!  Next time I write I should have much more exciting things to report.  Until then, please just cross your fingers for some quality in-flight movies!

Konnichiwa?

Well, here it is at last: my blog that will chronicle my upcoming Japanese adventure!  If for some CRAZY reason you aren't completely up to speed with my life and therefore are unfamiliar with this "Japanese adventure" of which I speak, allow me to fill you in.  I will be spending the next four months (aka the semester) away from my home university--at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata (near Kyoto and Osaka), Japan, more specifically.  I will be enrolled in the Kansai Gaidai Asian Studies Program, studying both the Japanese language and culture.  And, of course, I plan to travel around Japan/other parts of Asia too.  


This blog will serve as a way for me to update friends and family on my whereabouts, as well as to record and relay my observations, experiences, encounters, reflections, etc.  The name "Actually Japan" stems from:


            1. a response I've found myself frequently giving lately.  
            Understandably so, people don't always remember where   
            I'm going next semester.  Often, they remember I'm going 
            abroad but first think I'm going to France.  The thing is, that 
            does make more sense, as I have studied a lot more French 
            than Japanese.  But before I can chime in, these people usually 
            are quick to beat me to the punch and exclaim, "Oh, wait, not 
            France!  I remember!  Hong Kong, right?"  ...To which I reply, 
            "Actually... Japan." 
  
            2. the mere fact that i will actually be in Japan!  Original, I 
            know, but it's crazy because to be honest, right now it still all
            seems so very unrealistic!


Yet the reality is that I'm leaving next week.  Next week!  First I'll be flying to San Francisco, and then from San Fran I'll be taking a direct flight to Osaka. Right now I'm in the midst of packing, and there are so many unknowns; yet I know that's the beauty of it all.   So far, even getting ready for this trip has thrown some unexpected curveballs.  To my (pleasant) surprise, getting my visa, for example, was the best government document-getting experience I've ever had.  I thought getting a visa would be a mundane chore, but the Japanese consulate turned out to be anything but mundane.  Most noteworthy of all, the waiting area chairs were all focused toward a TV with a yoga video playing.  Yup, I can now say that getting a visa was relaxing. And I can say it should definitely be a very interesting semester.  As I've been explaining it, I am prepared to be unprepared.


Hope you all enjoy reading along!