Wednesday 25 January 2012

Just one of those rants / Departure Date

YUP!

I am making a rant blog about things I can't wait for!  Well, I got to book my flight yesterday with my Mom, so I leave on March 20th at 1PM and arrive in Japan on the 21st of March. I got a window seat to! I have actually never been on a long plane ride before! I just want to go already! It's so close but yet so far away! I am just waiting for my gosh darn COE from my program so I can go get my VISA. Then after that all I have to do is go buy some things, and start packing. I was also told I can bring 2 luggage's and 1 carry on (which is great!) since I will be gone for 10 months right?

I have been studying as much as I can, since I have work, and I go back to High School in a week (I have to be registered in High School at the time I leave) soooo back to high school I go for a month and a half. So much fun. I really want to know where I will be living already..... A lot of people have gotten their host placements yet and I haven't ... its really making me worry a bit... maybe no where will accept me because of my age? Maybe no one wants to host me.... Gosh I am so scared T_T I really want to go... More then anything... Well all I can do is just hope things go through.

I hope to make another BLOG entry soon, hopefully with news on my host family! =D

おやすみなさいみんな!
ほんとわげんきな!

ヘイリー
Haley

Sunday 8 January 2012

Just a small update

I haven't updated since November! Wow. I have about 2 months and 1 week left in Canada, I leave March 20th 2012 (I arrive there March 21st) and I dont return to Canada still March 11th (meaning I leave March 12th there I believe.)

But any ways! Its been a rough go since I last updated. I have been working a lot. Writing my resignation letter is going to be tough, but I gotta do what I gotta do. I started to pack up all my stuff in my room to store away (my books, DVD's, and manga were all put away) because I was told by my mom that we might not be living in the same house when I get back so I needed to pack a lot of things away. Either way, it gives me some closer to knowing all my stuff isn't at home collecting dust while I am away.

I am also going through my clothes to throw away some of it, and buy new stuff. I know I wont be taking my whole closet with me, maybe half. But I still need to buy some things.

I know that I am bringing my laptop with me no matter what so I can talk to my Mom while I am abroad (that is kind of a rule, that I have to Skype with her once a week, which isn't bad. So I am hoping my host family is alright with it.) I am really close to my Mom and she is the one who is spending the money for me to go on this exchange. Its really tough. I dont think I will make the amount of money I need before I leave... I am not making much at my current job and I am going back to school for 8 weeks before I leave on my exchange... its all crazy.

A lot of people also have been telling me "OH Your just going to Japan because you like Anime!"
I look at them like they are stupid sometimes. This isn't just because I like anime you idiots. Its because I want to learn the culture, language, a new life. I hope this experience will help me grow as an individual, and I hope I know what I want to do with my life after this exchange. So if there is anyone else who wants to go on an Exchange to Japan, and you like anime, please please PLEASE dont make it that your only reason to go. Japan has SO much more to offer then anime and video games. Go because you have a reason. Go because its your dream to experience life with a Japanese family, to learn their language and culture. Go there because that is what you know is right. If its just for Anime.... then this is not what you want to do. Go there on vacation if Anime is the only reason. Not to study abroad. That is my words of wisdom.

Just to close things off,  I will be going to the Japanese Embassy in Toronto in the next couple weeks or so with my COE (Certificate of Eligibility) which gets me my Visa to study abroad. Its been a long run. I sure hope to find out my host family soon. I was told by my LP that one of the 4 of us going (3 people dropped the program) one of them got their family placement a day before Christmas... What an awesome Christmas present. I hope to get mine soon! I cant wait to talk to them and meet them! =D

Well till then

じゃあ、またね!

~ ヘイリー