I'm going to be studying at Kansai Gaidai, an international university in Osaka, for the fall semester of my junior year. I'll be living with a host family, but I'm not going to find out anything about them until I get through orientation week at the university. I really hope my family is cool! I had the most wonderful host family when I spent July 2004 in the town of Konosu. I'm hoping that I'll have some little host siblings this time around - I think I might feel less awkward butchering Japanese in front of a child. Or more awkward, since they'll be more fluent than me.
I'm majoring in East Asian Studies, with a concentration in Japanese, so I'm primarily doing this to work on my language skills. The course catalog has been available all summer, and the selection looks great! I can take a maximum of five courses (Japanese Reading & Writing and Speaking, plus three others). At this point, I have about 10 courses written down that look really fun. I don't think I can go wrong - it's just a matter of what fits into my schedule when I sign up during orientation. There's one studio art class I'd love to take on Japanese pottery, but I hear it's hard to get in to. A few of the classes I want to take are: Pop Culture, Art History (complete with tours of museums and temples), Body Language, The Cultural Role of Women, and Cinema History.
I finished most of my packing last night, though I still have a few more things to tackle. I need to pack up my cosmetics, toiletries, and electronics... I also need to buy a last-minute pair of blue jeans, since apparently I threw all my old ones out or hid them.
It's weird, I spent all summer thinking that the day before I left would be one drawn-out panic attack, but I feel just fine. Definitely a pleasant surprise.Just in case I start stressing on the plane, I'm bringing Fresh Seal (on the left) along. He is incredibly soft and fun to pet, and he always makes me feel better.
At this point, I think I'm the perfect blend of excited and terrified. I'm a little worried about getting by on my Japanese (I'm way better reading and writing than I am speaking), but I am positive that I can work through it, and that the overall experience will be amazing. One thing I probably should've done...look through my Japanese textbooks. There will be placement tests which, at this point in time, will not go well. I guess I can haul Genki I & II onto the plane to brush up.
I'm waking up tomorrow at 3am to catch my flight to California. I can't decide if I want to go to bed super early or pull an all nighter.
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I'm going to try to update this blog weekly. I have no idea what my internet availability will be while I'm abroad, but I'll do my best to keep everyone informed!
4 comments:
My delightful Psychology professor once admitted to us how he envied the small children he came across in Italy while he was there for their ability to speak Italian better than he can despite the many years he has put into learning the language. At least little host siblings would be cute!
I hope you have a safe trip!
I'm sooo excited for you! You're going to have an amazing time. I want to hear all the dirt for when I go in the spring (I hope I hope). I too have been drooling over that course catalogue. GOOOD LUCKKKK I'm sure you'll be a star and they'll love you. 気をつけてね！
Glad to see this blog started, and looking forward to more...hope the seal had a good flight, too.
Nella, Are you in Osaka? It is the beginning of a wonderful adventure.
You are amazing. I know you will make good friends and have a great time.
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