Reflection

(Warning: My reflection posts will be in paragraphs)

Tsuru is a beautiful city. It's definitely different from Tokyo. Tokyo has a lot of people hustling and bustling about, tall buildings, and flashing lights. Tsuru has smaller buildings and not many people are seen outside. It's a cute little town that I'm really loving right now. The atmosphere is great and the only thing ruining it is the heat. I really like this place and would definitely like to live in a place like this. It may not have as much things to do like Tokyo, but it's a really great place.

Right now, emotionally and mentally I'm not doing too well. Since I'm a really shy sometimes I have a hard time making friends. I thought I could be a new person when I go to Japan, but it's easier said than done. Many Tsuru students have already made friends with each other. I feel like a loner most of the time. I try talking to the others, but most of the time I run out of things to talk about so then our conversation ends. WHY AM I LIKE THIS???!?!?!?! This is why I have such a hard time making friends T_T Ugh, I hate myself sometimes. Why am not a fun and outgoing person? The others probably think I'm stuck up. Ugh, I hate that other people have that assumption on shy people like me. I did manage to talk with a few of the students and they're really cool people. They're a lot of fun to talk with!! The feeling of having someone to talk to is really great. It's better than just standing or sitting there twiddling your thumbs. I hope we'll continue to talk with each other and form a friendship :) I hope that I'll eventually become friends with the others as well. Seriously, I've gone through that too many times. I don't know why I keep doing that to myself. I'm an introvert who always thinks about how others would view me. If things don't work as well then it's going to be a long 5 months....

The tutors are really awesome. Most of them are very hyperactive and try hard to communicate with us. My tutor is a fun guy. It's hard communicating, though, since my Japanese is horrible and he knows little English. We try to make it work, though. He's also really helpful. Sadly, the next day we didn't really talk. It's mainly because I ran out of topics to talk with him with. Plus, I'm so embarrassed with my Japanese >< He probably think it's weird that I kept switching between formal and informal. It's just a stupid habit that I have. I really want to talk with him, but it's not easy when I can't speak Japanese very well. He probably thinks I'm a boring person or something...  This is great though because it gives me motivation to study harder. I really want to improve my Japanese and so there's no time to slack off! It's time to take those 3 years of Japanese to good use. がんばります！！

Here's hoping my Japanese will improve and I will make friends with everyone on the program. I don't want to end up not improving my Japanese and feeling like a loner the whole time. I WANT TO ENJOY JAPAN!!!!!

Tsuru So Far

I think I will just bullet point my experiences since it's easier to read and follow. I don't want to bore you guys :P I will add details when need be and if you ask.

WARNING: LONG POST

Tsuru Arrival

• After the orientation at ICU in Mitaka, Tokyo the Tsuru people headed towards Tsuru by bus. The bus was small haha, but the air conditioning was amazing *o*
• I thought the ride would be long, but it only took a little over an hour.
• The view that we saw on the bus were pretty awesome. So not used to being on the opposite side, though haha
• The fences or whatever they're called on the roads on the freeways are much higher than in America. I feel a lot more safer lol
• There's a lot of checkpoints. I think we went through 3 before reaching Tsuru.
• The tutors greeted us as we came. They popped those streamer things and said their usual greetings. They're a hyper bunch of group :)
• Afterwards we sat in a room and did the usual introductions. We got to meet our individual tutors.
• My tutor's name is Shinsei and he's a fun guy. It's a bit hard to communicate because he knows very little English and my Japanese listening/speaking  is pretty bad. I hope I don't annoy him because I often don't understand what he is saying so I ask him a lot to explain again >< He's a nice guy, though!
• They did took us to our apartment. It's about a 10 minute walk (felt longer in this heat...)

The Apartment

• We arrived at the apartment complex where we were to stay at. It's cute looking. The entrances face the mountains which is a beautiful view.
• The place was actually bigger than I expected. 
• When you enter you see a hallway with 4 different doors. One closest to the door is a closet (I think), Then there's two doors facing each other. The right leads to the bathroom (no toilet) the other leads to where you do laundry. Then there's a door where the toilet is.
• As you proceed you see the kitchen area. Complete with a ref.
• Across from the kitchen is a slide door where if you open it you can see the area where I sleep at the top. Below is a storage space where a bunch of stuff that I can use is stored (stuff like rice-cooker, toaster oven, vacuum, tables, bookshelves, tv, stereo, and other cleaning supplies).
• As you proceed you walk into the living space. A small space that's actually a fair size for me. The back is where the door to balcony is. The balcony is where you hang your clothes to dry.
• There's a small area where I sleep. I have to climb up a small ladder (not very comfortable for my feet...) to get up there. It's a good thing that it has it's own light switch and outlet. 
• After checking out the place me and Shinsei got out the stuff in the storage and started to fix up the place. 
• We later found out that the place also came with dishes, pots, and other essentials that thankfully I don't have to buy.
• Afterwards we tried figuring out the internet. Several other tutors came in asking if we knew how, but we didn't. In the end, no one got internet that day.

Dinner

• After everyone got acquainted with their apartments we headed out to eat dinner. We went to a restaurant across from the school. 
• I was so amazed and happy when we walk in. It's one of those restaurants where when you walk in you take off your shoes before proceeding to the tables. 
• Their low-tables so we sit on the floor.
•  We took awhile deciding what to eat. Mainly because the menu was in Japanese so we had to have the tutors help us with that.
• I got Tempura. Didn't really know what type of tempura since it only said tempura.
• When we got our food it smelt soooo good.
• My tempura had various vegetables and seafood (shrimp, different fish). おいしかったよ！ It was delicious! So goooood! So much better than what I get in America. Like seriously, the variety they give is so much  better. In America, at least at the places that I've been to, the dish only has vegetables and two shrimps and it costs $9.
• My dish was about $8-9 but was so much better. Like I said, it had more variety. It also came with miso soup, tofu, rice, and salad. It was definitely better than I expected!!!!

Supermarket and After

•   After dinner we went to OGINO, a supermarket. We went there only to buy food for breakfast and dinner. I also bought toiletries since I felt gross sweating in the heat so I wanted to take a shower.
• Had great help with Shinsei. At times it was difficult to communicate, but we managed it.
• After that we returned to the apartments and parted ways with our tutors.
• I pretty muched rearranged the living area a little and took out stuff from my luggage. There's really no place for me to put my clothes (there's  a closet, but it requires which I don't have).
• I watched a little tv (no cable, just basic channels), took a shower, then went to sleep.

The Next Day

• Few of the tutors came to pick us up in the morning to take us to where we needed to be at the school for a small orientation of do's and don'ts in Tsuru.
• After the orientation we ate lunch at the cafeteria. OMG IT'S AMAZING. UCSB DINING COMMONS GOT NOTHING ON IT!!!!!
• Like anywhere else you buy your food buy going to a vending machine where you put in your money pick what you want and you're given a ticket. You give the ticket to the cafeteria people who in turn give you want you want.
• I got curry and it was delicious! It was 350 yen which is around $4-5. Not bad. Definitely better than dining common food.
• After lunch we went to register our alien cards. The walk was like 30 minutes long. Trust me, it was painful. The heat just beated down on you as you walked.
• When we got there we waited for each person to register (there's 14 of us so it took awhile).
• After that we headed to the hyaku-en store. Japan's equivalent to the $1 store. I bought a few essentials. Also bought myself a small towel since I sweat a lot. Oh, and I bought a box of wet tissues. Have I mentioned how amazing they are for this weather, yet????
• Some of us went to OGINO again after. I bought a lot of drinks. Every time one of the tutors walk by me they were surprised by it haha たくさのみものだな？
• After that we returned to our apartments. Me and two of the tutors, Shinsei and Haruna, tried to figure out the internet. Apparently, I was the only one having trouble. I felt really bad because they both had to homework, had to study, or had to do something. Eventually Shinsei left and it was just me and Haruna.
• We found out that the ID they gave us was wrong so we ended up waiting for quite awhile to get word back.
• During that time I talked with Haruna in Japanese. You don't realize how sucky your Japanese is until you're forced to say it >< My Japanese is so broken and I find myself stuck most of the time. She was cool with it, too. She tried speaking to me in English, too so I helped her with that.
• We eventually were able to get the internet working! やった！！！！
• Haruna left and I was left only, but with internet! And that's how I came to blog about it XP

Since this post is getting too long I'll make another one about my reflection of Tsuru and abroad.

Japan Day 1 and 2

So much has happened these past few days. Many of which were bad >> Since so much has happened I'm gonna bullet point these past 2 days. Extra details may be given.

Day 1

• Got off at Narita Airport
• Found out that money exchange only accepts cash and traveler's checks
• Did not know this so I came in with only $150 in my pocket.
• Had trouble with withdrawing money from the ATM machines. My bank told me to try the next day, which basically screwed me over for awhile. (don't ask what happened...)
• Got stuck in Shinjuku for 4 hours because I was afraid of getting lost so I stayed in one area. Went there to meet my friend and his girlfriend, but noob me didn't know there was different exits and so I ended up on the wrong one.
• Thank God for having a friend in Tokyo who was willing to help me out with my predicament (Thanks so much! So sorry I had you guys wait at Shinjuku station >< At least I sorta know what I'm doing now). 
• Oh let me add: when I went to a different part of Shinjuku station to wait for my friend I was greeted with a surprise. A bunch of people hustling and bustling around the station! I've never seen so much people! I was kinda scared because of the amount of people.

Day 2   

• Went to Yubinkyoku (post office) with friend to try withdrawing money. Didn't work.
• Remembered that it wasn't the next day in America yet (had to wait till it was 4).

• Went to Akihabara

• Saw the Gundam Cafe! Didn't go inside, though. I did take a picture with the small gundam statue right outside the door. I was about the same height as it lol
• Went into various interesting stores
• Saw lots of UFO Catcher games. Most prizes were anime related (of course)
• Ate Ramen for the first time! It was the "cheap and crappy" type, but it was still delicious! 
• The restaurant was livelier than I thought. Workes greeted you when you enter and when you leave, at the same time! I constantly kept hearing them, but it was an interesting experience.
•  Saw the Table Flipping game!! haha I should've tried it ><
• Saw lots of UFO Catcher games where you can win Nyanko-Sensei related stuff
• I learned how those games work. The more money you spend the better chance you have.    
•  Went into a shop that sold a lot of figurines (I forgot what it was called). I really wanted to get a Zoid since I loved building those when I was a kid. Didn't have much money, though...
• When we went back to the train station we got swindled by some dude. We were trying to figure how to get where we needed to go and a Japanese dude came up to us and wanted to help (probably cause we're foreigners). After paying for my ticket he took 200 yen as a "courtesy fee." My friend managed to get him to at least 100 yen back. (Note: do not accept help from a Japanese person who knows English.)
• Went to meet friend's girlfriend at another part of Tokyo (forgot the name...)
• Went to Burger King. Dang are the drink sizes small! They weren't kidding... Their small was smaller than an iPhone!!!
• Went to Yubinkyoku to try withdrawing money again. AND IT WORKED!!!! We were cheering hahaha that's how happy we were lol
• Went to friend's girlfriend's work meeting. Thought it was going to be awkward, but it wasn't. Also got to try some tasty tea!

Sukiyaki/Shabu Shabu

• Went to Shinjuku to eat all-you-can-eat Sukiyaki/Shabu Shabu!!! OMG IT WAS HEAVENLY DELICIOUS. It was my first time having it and man was it a great experience. If I ever try those in America it probably wouldn't be the same. You just can't beat authentic food from the source.
• OMG THE SHABU SHABU/SUKIYAKI WAS SO GOOD. If only I didn't get full... hahaha seriously it was delicious. Maybe I'm overreacting. Idc it was great!
• Went to Hotel (now that I have money).
• Dude, this hotel is so legit. Yeah it cost about $80, but it's well worth the money
• Bathrooms come with their own toothbrush and razor (no toothpaste or shaving cream, though. Good thing I brought toothpaste)
• It also comes with shampoo and soap
• Oh and a hair blower, too.
• The mirror does this cool thing where one section of the mirror above the sink doesn't fog out when you take a hot shower. Dunno if this happens somewhere else, but I thought it was pretty neat.
• There's a tv! I'm watching The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe in Japanese as I type this blog.
• There's also a water boiler with two cups and two bags of tea (green and roasted)
• Air conditioning of course
• The room's pretty small, though, but that's to be expected in Japan. 

Overall

• It's so hot and humid!!!!!! Though, it's like that back home, but I don't go outside often at home.
• Thought it was going to be cooler at night, but dang I was wrong! It wasn't hot just super humid.
• Trash cans are so hard to find!
• Moist toilettes are amazing for this weather.
• Roads are tiny. 
• I give props for those who drive and don't run over people. Like seriously.
• Going around Tokyo by yourself for the first time without much research is a BAD idea.          
• The train system is pretty interesting.
• I spent so much money on the trains alone... considering it was basically our main means of transportation.
• Not used to the currency here. 100 and 500 yen come in coins (100 yen is $1-2 and 500 is about $6-7). Being from America I always saw coins as cheap change. Every time I use a 100 yen coin I don't realize I just spent a little over $1 (it adds up...)   
• JAPANESE TOILETS
• So much walking! I feel like my feet are about to fall off.. 

First two days of Tokyo had a lot of ups and downs. At first I hated being in Tokyo, but after today I've become fond of it. I'm sad to leave Tokyo when I go to Tsuru (in Yamanashi prefecture. It's a rural town). There won't be much to do in Tsuru like Tokyo, but at least I will improve my Japanese (and save money not using the trains all the time). I'm excited about going to Tsuru, though! Just going to miss Tokyo, too. Overall my time in Japan was pretty awesome.       

Blog Title Change - Predeparture troubles

I changed my blog title to fit my situation with my study abroad (which shall now be referred to as EAP - Education Abroad Progra).

These past few weeks have been very stressful mainly with my Certificate of Eligibility. We were supposed to receive our CoE's 2 weeks ago, but mine was delayed due to a spelling error. For the next 2 weeks I anxiously and painfully waited for it to show up at my door. I had many nights worrying that it got lost and would never come.
To make my life even more stressful I get an email from my school's financial aid office telling me I have to update my SS card and show them in person. They tell me this 2 weeks before I leave!! Why is this a problem? It takes about 2 weeks to get a new one! No time at all for me to get my new card and go down to Santa Barbara to show the office my new card. I'm not lying when I say that I literally broke down. I cried and kept asking 'Why Me?!? Why is this happening to me?!" Oh, forgot to mention how not showing the card affects me. If I don't show them they will pretty much suspend my financial aid which means no funds for EAP. Thank God for their fast response (I emailed them about my situation) and them telling me that if I can show them a receipt verifying that I applied for one then they would lift the suspension off for Fall Quarter. A lot of stress were taken off my shoulders after that. However, right now I'm still a little worried. It's kind of hard to explain, though so I'll avoid doing so. Let's just say that I'm still waiting for money.
A week after getting my finaid taken care of I finally get my CoE and Acceptance Letter in the mail! Oh man was I happy about that! It came early in the morning so as soon as I got it I filled out the Visa Application and me and my dad ran out the door down to LA. Oh yeah, I had a bit of a stressful moment before about where I could apply for my visa. Apparently the LA consulate only accepts application from certain residents and mine wasn't one of them! Which is stupid because I live only 2.5 hours away from LA as opposed to SF where I live 5 hours away! I'm thankful for my sister who lives in SD for letting me use her address so me and my dad didn't have to go to SF. That would've been a big problem since I'd have to go there and go back (to pick it up). A whole lot of stress were lifted off my shoulders after turning in my visa application.
Now, the only thing I'm worried about really is the rest of my financial aid. If I don't get that Cal Grant then there's basically no way I can live in Japan... Hope finaid people reply to my email soon.

 So, how do those correspond to the title of my blog? I literally started losing hope and just felt nothing but negative feelings during these past few weeks because of all the delays that were happening. So many frustrations, stress, pain, anxiety, it was tough! But all-in-all I was able to pull through those bad moments and now I'm fully energized and more excited then ever! Fitting title, no?

Blog Revive! For Study Abroad purposes :)

I am reviving this blog of mine! In T-4 days I will be heading to Japan where I will be studying until December. This is a dream come true for me and so it's a freakin' awesome opportunity! I want to keep a blog where I can write about the adventures I will have while I stay in Japan! I hope to keep friends and family updated ^_^

(Note on posts before: This blog was originally created as projects for my Japanese class a year ago so that's why majority of my posts are in Japanese. I totally don't mind if you go through it!)