Planning to Gooooo.....pt.1

So, I'm about thirty-some days away from departing for Japan, just over a month and I'm finding myself scrambling about to get my brain around organizing my school work so I can hand everything in a week or two early. A week or two doesn't feel like a whole lot of time, but it sure seems to make a big difference when you don't have that time to play around with! I can do it, though, I have to, so it'll all come together. Other than getting my school work together, to prepare for Japan, I've been looking at a few things, such as medicine/prescriptions, clothes and toiletries. Availability is the main issue I'm looking at with these.

At the end of the day, all I can say is thank goodness for the internet! For all of my worrying and fretting, there are lots and lots of answers out here on the net. If there's a worry that comes to mind, then somewhere on the big ol' web is a solution. Some of the other blogs I've visited have been really helpful. Surviving in Japan and The Blog Side of Life have both been really useful in helping me to think over what I may need or issues I might run into while I'm away. The former seems to address a whole lot of questions that foreigners run into and shows the reader how to get by in Japan and find Japanese equivalents to the essential products you're used to finding in your home country. The later is a blog by a young woman who is attending Osaka University which is great for seeing how another student is managing and helps me to realize some of the challenges a young expat may run into. It seems like wherever you want to go to, there's some excellent blogs out there to learn from.

Also, my mother is an avid reader who seems to be on a new book every time I talk to her and has been recommending a few books all about different experiences in Japan. I think she's on "Japanland" by Karin Muller right now. Just like there are no shortages of blogs about Japan, there seem to be no shortages on books about Japan. Japan has long been something of a mystical land of fantasy for the West and with the high popularity of Japanese culture, fashion and food, there are more tourist/travel guide books than I could shake a stick at. The tough part is picking the ones that are actually of any use.

It seems that with just a good bit of research, I'll be able to put some of my worries aside? Also, props to my wonderful roomie who drew me a rocket frog for Valentine's Day! Thank you darling, I envy your talent.

<3
Rocketfrog

Gotta start from somewhere...?

Dear friends,

Well, I've started this blog to try and chronicle my travels, specifically my year abroad at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. I have to admit, the last blog I wrote (and kept up with) was when I was fourteen or so, and that swiftly evolved into a complete and total unadulterated angst-fest and pity party which took much too long to die.

I feel a little awkward, writing about myself, and I'm afraid this might turn into nothing more than an all too-perfect example of both single-child syndrome and narcissism unleashed ("Julie and Julia" anyone?), but I'm going to give this a try anyways! Please forgive the grammatical errors that may pop up, whether in English or Japanese, and if my posts seem to be turning into the kind of disasterpiece of selfishness I'm afraid of, please feel more than welcome to take me down a notch.

As to the content I post; I am certainly not the expert on Japan, Japanese, Canada, the US or anything in between and all that I'm writing are my observations, things I find amusing or interesting, and my experiences.

Also, I am using a penname for privacy reasons, so please refrain from posting up my name (specifically my last name) if possible. On that note, I think that's enough for a little intro post. Maybe I'll write up a bit about the process of applying for exchange and preparations for going to Japan?

<3
Rocketfrog