PRE-DEPARTURE; どこに行きたい？ Where do I want to go?

I. Where do I plan to go? What do I hope to do? And what do I hope to accomplish?

I have a running list of goals for my study abroad and I have made sure to  write down some of my intentions BEFORE I go so I don't forget.  

These goals here below though are more of reminders of the things I want to keep up with, things I want to do and things I really want to avoid.

For example, I definitely want to do things like keeping up with my photography and studies, but do not want to do things like become a shut in who watches Japanese drama's all day because it's easier to watch drama's than face the staring since, I am a foreigner and it is often the case in many areas of Japan that when you don't look similar and blend in people notice-and stare. 

I plan to get out there and do it! Talk with farmers at the market, volunteer to help high schoolers with English, get new and interesting photos of new perspectives, grow as a person, learn more Japanese language and ways, and be a more observant person.

I want to fit all of this in and use it to help me as a journalist who has a background in cultural anthropology to better understand people and help.

II. Places

Of course I want to visit different areas of Japan too!

Part of my service project for one my scholarships has me really interested in regional variance in Japan. Since the country has a lot of variation and areas that are known for some things, or foods, or occupations there is more for me to learn.

Doing the interviews for this, already I know I am only on the surface and there is so much more to learn, but it's so intriguing to learn more about the smaller towns especially!

I can't wait to talk with more Japanese about other areas and get their perspectives.

In the meantime here's a list of some places I plan/hope to visit in Japan during my stay:

• Takashima, home to the human-made channel that comes from Lake Biwa, and seen here: Satoyama Japan's secret water gardens and here is more on the area: Takashima . This is the one place I really am absolutely set on visiting.

• I plan to re-visit the Bunkyo-ku area in Tokyo specifically the Yanaka Ginza area and the road to Ueno I walked before.
  

• I have a vague plan to visit Hokkaido when the snow falls. I don't know when or how or if, but I certainly want to see that heavenly snow zone!

• The bamboo forest
• Yokohama's Ramen Museum
• and more.

III. What do I hope to accomplish?

I plan to gain more exposure, and dig deeper to understand more about the larger and smaller cultures of Japan, gain more knowledge of Japanese for future use, establish connections and network opportunities for foreign correspondence, and bring much of this back with me to share with others also interested in study abroad and Japan specifically.