Study Abroad Orientation was 5 hours long...it was long.
I'd heard much of what they had said before, when I had gone to Japan with the Wings of Rotary group back in 2008. Things like packing light, reverse culture shock, Skype, etc. The things of interest to me were about scholarships, financial aid, application paper deadlines, and how to get the most out of your study abroad.
Lunch was my favorite, though. We got to eat first(!) out of everyone, and we sat out on the porch with Naho, Keiko, and Wooka. Naho and Keiko are exchange students from Kansai Gaidai, and they were friendly. The easiest Japanese people to talk to are young Japanese girls - they're the most excited and animated out of anyone. And very easygoing! I was speaking Japanese with them the whole time, and it was quite fun. We talked about Kansai Gaidai a lot, as well as their own adjustment in coming to OSU. Tyler Weirick was also there and we talked a little about Shinshu, too.
I'm more excited for my travel, and I feel a little better prepared for it. Unfortunately, they didn't tell us Kansai Gaidai goers about how meal plan will work, or list the actual host university application deadline in our papers...so now we have to figure out what to do and when. Oh well - they're working pretty hard as it is, and I told them in the meeting that I expect accurate information regarding housing, expenses, and meal plans.
Tyler
1:43 PM |
Category:
orientation,
preparation
|
On Friday I had everyone come over for a big Japanese dinner at my place. I invited the Shinshu-ers Jesse and Sam, my study abroad mates Blaine and Megan, and Trey from 2nd floor who went to Kansai Gaidai last year. 6 in total.
I started around 5pm with getting the rice cooking and then Jesse arrived. Trey came too, and we all helped make the edamame in the kitchen. I sorta used a recipe from WikiHow.com, and it turned out okay. I shouldn't be allowed to drop things into boiling water...I splashed some water onto my hand when I threw a bunch of the beanpods in. After that I just prepared other things. haha!
Soon Megan and Blaine arrived, and we were all set. We sat in a circle in my room, and I made sure everyone had chopsticks and bowls for everything. Dessert was a delicious mochi mix - taro mochi and another one that tasted like coffee/tiramisu. It was delicious, all of it. I finally got to use all of my asian-ware!
Trey told us a lot about Kansai Gaidai. He had lots of stories about Seminar House III, the one we're all planning on going to together. It's an apartment style that accommodates up to 8 people. Each Seminar House has a "Mom and Dad" that run the desk and ensure everyone follows the rules. Apparently the parents for Seminar House III are very strict and make guests read the rules (and quiz them on it!) before being allowed in. Hmm...
The Seminar House III is located about a mile from campus - a 15 minute walk. Trey recommends getting a bicycle - about $60.
Campus itself and the Houses are all enclosed by fences. We get a key for the Seminar House gate, but there's a guardsmen at watch for the university gate. The university closes around 9pm and the House closes at 10pm. I wonderful if I'll ever be out that late near there?
We had a great time talking about our future travels. We talked for awhile after dinner and everyone helped clean up with me! Thank you, guys. It was really fun.
Tyler
Before our orientation and before Sam and Jesse leave for Shinshu, I wanted us to all get together and have dinner at my place. Jesse, Sam, and I bought supplies on Thursday at Wal-Mart and this cool place called Sultan's.
While in Wal-Mart, Sam was telling me how he received the JASSO and how that made him ineligible for the really cheap housing on campus, so he has to rent some expensive apartment now. How lame! If I'm offered the JASSO, I will check and see if there are any restrictions like his. :-(
Sultan's is just off of Main ST near Studio ONE, and it's the next best thing to the now-defunct Asian Food Mart. They have ramuné, mochi in several flavors, and my favorite favorite
furikake of all time,
goma shio! That stuff is delicious on rice.
I also bought us Baklava for the ride home. It was quite tasty.
1:23 PM |
Category:
dinner,
preparation
|
Hello!
This is my first post for my study abroad trip. It's an 9:30am on a Sunday morning, August 23, 2009. I have exactly 4 months until I leave for Kansai Gaidai.
The Study Abroad Office scholarship is due on Wednesday, and it's pretty much guaranteed for all Spring semester study abroad students if you just apply! That's good news. Any monetary help is fantastic. We don't know for sure how much this trip will cost, but our OSU study abroad orientation is this coming Saturday and all of our questions should be answered by then.
Megan and Blaine are also going to Kansai Gaidai with me. Megan is in my JAPN 2113 class and we've been friends ever since we met in JAPN 1115. Her boyfriend, Blaine, is now taking that beginner class. We plan on all living together in Seminar House III, the largest and most expensive of the dormitories. Jesse and Sam are going to Shinshu University for the whole year, and I think they leave in a month. We're all getting together this Thursday to have a meal and talk about our future travel in Japan. Everyone's gathering in my room for rice, miso, and conversation! It should be wonderful.
7:36 AM |
Category:
planning,
preparation,
trip
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