Tuesday, July 30, 2013

PRE-DEPARTURE; Visa Arrived and wrapping up

I. Visa Arrived

My visa arrived today by Express mail, the post lady delivering it drove into my driveway and it looked at first like no one was driving the van because she was hidden behind a stack of mail to be delivered and was sitting on the passenger side of the van. 

The envelope had my visa and the other papers that the Consulate needed like my passport and such. My visa was basically a fancy sticker attached to my passport and my letter of eligibility was stapled inside the passport.

I have my Visa, flights purchased, some currency in (Y)en, a game plan, and am wrapping up things here. 

I have been working on getting my follow on service project in order so that when I come back I can jump right into it and putting on the 10 events from January through May.

It may seem like a long ways away, however, I won't be working on it much while I am in Japan and most of the contacts for the events are in America, so I am trying to help myself out with this. 

But that also means I am worrying a little about it since many of the people I had hoped would be involved have not responded yet.

I have been visiting with people before I plan to leave, planning outings with family, and friends that I typically don't see much.

Also I have been helping with the visiting students and delegates from Japan that visit once a year or once every other year. (From our sister city and elsewhere).

Anyone hoping to go to Japan, or be involved in Japanese language and culture I highly recommend getting involved in these two groups.

 Our sister city, Okaya, hosts a group of delegates  on odd numbered years and sends students out on even years. To get involved contact the IRC (International Relations Council) IRC contacts.

The other group is through the Summer English Immersion Program (SEIP) through CMU's ESL and usually Danielle Peterson is the person to talk to. 

I also HIGHLY recommend their conversation partner program for learning about other cultures and if you can get a Japanese language partner it's a great way to practice Japanese while also helping them in English and making a great friend and contact.

So this is where I am so far, I will load an updated packing list as I have changed it a little, but am still planning only on carry on bags.





Wednesday, July 17, 2013

PRE-DEPARTURE; Visa update, Currency and flight, and budgeting the semester

I. Visa Update


Niponika magazine from the consulate.
I sent out my visa application packet, for which I purchased a tracking number to keep up with. After I mailed it out I realized I did everything except for the stamp. I forgot to add a return stamp for the return envelope that will allow the Japanese consulate to mail my visa, passport, and other documents back to me. While this wont slow down the processing it will slow down my getting my passport and such back.


Japan guide from consulate.

I called them up, (313-567-0120 ext. 214 if you need the number), and asked them what to do. As soon as they returned my call they said I would just have to mail them a priority or express mail stamp no big deal.

FYI ( I didn't know this but) Express mail or Priority whichever one they recommended, is $20. That was a shocker! So be prepared for that. It beats spending $80 in gas to drive to Detroit and back though!

So my visa is being processed and I will be mailing them a stamp as odd as that may sound.

The consulate also has great magazines, newspapers, tips on travel in Japan and other info you may be able to request like "Your Guide to Japan" (pdf version) which I really am fond of.


Your Guide to Japan from the consulate offers great advice and information on aspects and regions of Japan.

There are tons of great sites that give you a first-hand look at what to expect, how to prepare mentally,  what steps you should take and how to boost your language skills.
JNTO is another great site that offers information on Japan as seen here in a screenshot. Here you can choose your interests.

I also like blogs like This Japanese Life even if he is a bit pessimistic and cynical, he offers good tips on what not to do.



II. Currency exchange and flight purchase
I believe a heads up is in order for anyone wanting to exchange dollars for yen. The only place in town I found (perhaps I need to look harder...) was Isabella Bank. 

I don't do banks, unless I have to. I have a credit union but they are different in a lot of ways especially about who you are. With banks I am a customer, credit unions I am a member. 

Anyhow this non-bank customer called talked with a teller, who knew I was a non-customer told me they do do currency exchange and that its a $25 fee no matter how much you order.

I said ok, great I will be there. I showed up, talked with a few tellers whom you could tell and said they hadn't done it in a while, and we started the process.

Midway through the application on their computer they say that it will actually be a $40 fee, not $25 because I am a non-customer. 

So you deserve a heads up if you are going to go this route. if you are an Isabella bank customer have fun you only have to pay $25. 

And I just found out yesterday that if you are a Chemical Bank customer you can do it for $12. So that sounds better to me than $25 or even $40.

I ordered $268.18 worth of (Y)en the rate was 0.010727(Y)en which looked like 107.27(Y)en per $1. It arrived the next day(today). I will pick it up tomorrow and load photos of the various currency bills.

To break it down I ordered bills but couldn't order coins unfortunately:
Quantity       Value
1                     1,0000 
    1                     5000 
    3                     2000 
    4                    1000 


    So my goal in this was to have some cash when I arrive since Japan is more of a cash nation than a credit card one. Especially since I know I am going to a more rural area than Tokyo.

2011, Chicago to Narita Japan.

Also I purchased my flight to Japan, round-trip. It totalled under $1700 and the travel agent fee was only $25. I would highly recommend Valley Travel in Mount Pleasant in downtown.

I fly from MBS in Saginaw to Minnesota, to Seattle to Osaka KIX. I arrive and will be picked up and taken to the school by a school advisor and then classes start several days after the orientation on Sept. 2.

III. Budgeting for the semester abroad
 As I've said before I'm big on the planning. So the next logical step for me is to budget out where my money will be allocated in the process of my Japan study abroad.

I have broken it down below, but it is definitely a work in progress and I can update it later when I add more or adjust certain things. 


These are based on estimates and prices and the current yen to dollar rate of  99.58 to $1.

*Tuition                         $5550
Undergraduate rate is $370/cr.hr. I'm taking 15

*Airfare                         $1673
Roundtrip via Delta 
*Rent                            $640    
~$160/month at 4 months                    
*Food                          $480-$900
 Trying to get closer number on this.
*Study Abroad fee                $150
*Health Insurance (requ.)        $80
~$20/month at 4 months
Bus in Sendagi, Bunkyo, Tokyo. 2011.

Transportation                 $196-226
*As a goal I want to ride the shinkansen or bullet train once to have the experience. (13,520 yen)           ` $136

*Daily-walk/bike                              $0 

*I do plan to travel to Shiga prefecture nearby Nara, and back from Tokyo after I use the Shinkansen but via bus and trains this time.                                         $60-90
                             
Misc. Toiletries, non-food, move-in needs like futon blanket etc.  $300
A look inside the fridge.




From my time in Tokyo.

FOOD:
Here are 2 videos you may enjoy about Washoku, traditional Japanese meals. 

Washoku1 and Washoku2 .

And I have my first grocery list too for Japan based on what I eat, what is versatile, cheap and easily found in Japan:

*eggs- can be eaten alone or used to thicken soups.

*miso paste- I typically use it to make soups like tofu miso soup.

*fish- so many kinds and nicely priced. I usually pan fry along with veggies and rice.

*rice- I plan to get a nice big bag of it. 
Nothing easier for lunch than a simple onigiri (rice ball) stuffed with fish and mayo.

*mayo- I usually make myself but I prefer to do it with a blender since whipping by hand is a little tedious, so I may buy it instead at first if I can't find a cheap or second hand blender of sorts.

*bananas- I eat them as is or use in smoothies a lot.

*veggie Juice- There is this veggie/fruit juice I had before that has tons of veggies and fruits in it. (In above photo).

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

PRE-DEPARTURE; Visa application packet

I will be sending off my visa application packet within tomorrow or the next day and I thought I would share some of the requirements.

Printed list of requirements found on consulate website
For starters, currently, the application fee itself is free for U.S. residents going to Japan. Yay! I give you permission to celebrate.

Alright now down to business. You can access the required info on the Japanese Consulate of Michigan's website.

For me since I live outside of the Detroit and surrounding area I am permitted to mail mine rather than drive for hours there and back and submit the paperwork. For this I am very grateful.
Printed visa application

One of the first things the list says is you will need to send your passport in the packet, along with the application for the visa and the letter and certificate of eligibility that the school sends to you from Japan. So I made a pdf copy of my passport and the letter and certificate for myself which I will print to take with me on my trip as backup.

It also requires a 2x2 photo of your head and shoulders, a copy of the certificate of eligibility that they send you. And because I am mailing it I will have to also send in a signed release form that basically takes away any of the consulates responsibility if my passport and info is lost or damaged.
Printed release form


In addition I will be sending a self addressed and stamped envelope for my return of my papers.


Friday, July 5, 2013

PRE-DEPARTURE; The significance of Journals, Water and Grinding Things up

I. Journals, and Word Diaries

I have already talked a little about my thoughts on just how significant Journals are, and have briefly mentioned my intent to bring my word diary, but I haven't talked much on why and just how useful both can be.

I have what I call a word diary, which is basically a running vocabulary list from conversations with Japanese people, new or interesting words from dramas, and wherever else I find new vocab. In my word diary I write the Japanese word first in hiragana or kanji of I know it and then the English translation or equivalent. Then I typically ask my Japanese friends who know English if it makes sense and I try to use it as much as possible. 

This is how I learned the words for rare (Mezurashii), joking (Joudan) and addiction (Chuudoku) -My friend is addicted to coffee so it came up a lot.

So in addition to having these new words that are not the typical words you find in classroom textbooks but do come up in conversation, I also have connections to these memories from when I learned about them the first time, who told me the new word and so on.

So these words are similar to the journal I kept and will keep again in Japan to document my experiences and perceptions and both are significantly useful in language retention as well as keeping memories of Japan.

Check out this great blog post on Journaling from The Study Abroad Blog.

II. Uchimizu and Chozu

I consider Michigan to be my homestate, and I deeply love the availability of beautiful water here. This may be one reason why I really like the ideas of Uchimizu and Chozu. 


Uchimizu can be seen here in this video. In the summer  Japanese gather to sprinkle water (collected in rain barrels or buckets so as not to waste drinking water) on the streets to cool the area since concrete and ashphalt tend to get hotter than elsewhere. 

Here is another video in Japanese describing the history of Uchimizu in a fun, interesting, yet exaggerated skit. 

Screenshot of Bamboo 手水 (Chozu) search result images



Chozu or 手水 on the other hand, is water meant for washing your hands mainly at temples and shrines which is ladled onto ones hands and often used to rinse ones mouth as well. A Note: it is not BYOC or Bring Your Own Chozu, they are supplied by, used at, and left at the temple by everyone.

Here is a video of Chozu in action, showing you how it is done.

III. Suribachi
I visited my Japanese friend for conversation time this week and learned about a new thing; Suribachi or すりばち.

It is basically a bowl with ridges for grinding things like a mortar and pestle except it seems to work better for me. The grooves in the suribachi are perfect for getting sesame seeds into small bits!

I thought it was an especially beautiful and centering piece of earthenware to say the least and I could sit there for hours just grinding away.
(Screenshot from my search) Search for suribachi or すりばち and you can see many beautiful types.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

PRE-DEPARTURE; Update

Eligibility leads to a Visa

I now have my Certificate of Eligibility and my acceptance letter from Nara University of Education that I will use to get my Visa.

I will be making extra copies of these, my passport and when I get it, my visa as well going off of advice from The Study Abroad Blog in 10 tips to get through the airport faster


when they said:  

"You’re going to want to keep copies of your

 passport, visas, plane tickets, hotel info, etc. with you while 

you fly."

I also enjoyed many other easy to read articles on studying and traveling abroad such as The importance of Journaling which said:

"Your journal becomes a time capsule of your experience," and
"Writing about your experience helps you think through critical issues"

Both of which I really agree with. Check out their site it's loaded with great tips on what to and not to do. Learning from others experiences can make all the difference.



Japan Blogs

I have also spotted some blogs about Japan specific study abroad below, so you may be interested.


*Nicole in Nagoya she does mention Nara a little

*Gaijin's Dream in Tokyo in English and Japanese


*Shamone in Japan at Keio University


*Japan and Korea Study with time in Nara included