Earlier today, I was very excited, however I have calmed down (slightly, maybe.)
I received more information on my host family today. It was funny because I almost didn't get the mail today, however I DID. And AFS sent me a packet with more detailed information on my host family, including their hobbies and things to know about the family. They also included photos of themselves, the house and the area close by. SO EXCELLENT. I think I could really leave any day now (disregarding that I don't have a Visa yettt), I'm so excited! I really look forward to meeting my family :)
In this news, I also found a new motivation to finish translating the letter I was writing to them. AFS recommended that host students write a letter to their families before they leave and I thought that was a really good idea. I think if I was hosting a student, it would be really nice to recieve a letter from them. I finished a few hours ago =D I was going to have someone look over it before I send it off since I am sound it this like want don't...... (I don't want it to sound like that hahaha)
But yup, that's all that's new. 20 days until I leave for LA. 21 until Tokyo, and 24 until I meet my house family!!!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Placement &Host Family Information!!!!
I am so excited I don't think I can control myself.
Hi guys! I received my Host Family information today. YES. YES. YES. The last few weeks were brutal waiting, but now it has PAID OFF. There are 5 weeks until I leave, so I got my info a little after the 6 - 8 week window. Still, this is AWESOME.
Excluding myself, there are 5 people in my Host family. I'll be living with my host grandparents, and my host parents. I also have a 13 year old sister. I know one of the things I wanted most family wise was a sister, so I'm very, very excited my wish came true!
My home city will be Eiheiji-cho*, Yoshida-gun*, Fukui-ken*. Fukui is located right next to Kyoto actually, so I wasn't far off from my dream city!
I took this picture of Eiheiji from the wikipedia :) The town seems to be a little smaller than Zionsville. The 2003 census is around 6,500 people, but I'm sure it's grown since then. I don't have information about my school yet, but I'm thinking that it'll be like Zionsvile size wise. It'll be interesting to see the similarities and differences between town in America and and Japan that around the same size...huh?
Here's some fun information about Fukui Prefecture, too! Apparently, there have been a lot of dionsaur dig sites in the area, there's even a museum! Fukui is also home to the city of Obama, Japan. Helena tells me they flipped out when he won the election in America, and they sell a lot of Obama merchandise. So funny!
Fukui also has a distinct dialect which is so interesting! For example, for "okay," instead of saying "hai" I would say "hoya hoya" ahahah. I think that will add a special something to my stay, but might make it a little more challenging at first. I pulled a quote from the Wikipedia, too. You guys have to read this.
Look forward to more information soon. Thank you AFS!!!!
*If I think of this correctly, 'cho' is the suffix for city. So something like Zionsville. 'Gun' is for the district, so like Boone County (I'm not sure about this one). And 'ken' is for the Prefecture, or state, so like Indiana. And then Japan!
Hi guys! I received my Host Family information today. YES. YES. YES. The last few weeks were brutal waiting, but now it has PAID OFF. There are 5 weeks until I leave, so I got my info a little after the 6 - 8 week window. Still, this is AWESOME.
Excluding myself, there are 5 people in my Host family. I'll be living with my host grandparents, and my host parents. I also have a 13 year old sister. I know one of the things I wanted most family wise was a sister, so I'm very, very excited my wish came true!
My home city will be Eiheiji-cho*, Yoshida-gun*, Fukui-ken*. Fukui is located right next to Kyoto actually, so I wasn't far off from my dream city!
I took this picture of Eiheiji from the wikipedia :) The town seems to be a little smaller than Zionsville. The 2003 census is around 6,500 people, but I'm sure it's grown since then. I don't have information about my school yet, but I'm thinking that it'll be like Zionsvile size wise. It'll be interesting to see the similarities and differences between town in America and and Japan that around the same size...huh?Here's some fun information about Fukui Prefecture, too! Apparently, there have been a lot of dionsaur dig sites in the area, there's even a museum! Fukui is also home to the city of Obama, Japan. Helena tells me they flipped out when he won the election in America, and they sell a lot of Obama merchandise. So funny!
Fukui also has a distinct dialect which is so interesting! For example, for "okay," instead of saying "hai" I would say "hoya hoya" ahahah. I think that will add a special something to my stay, but might make it a little more challenging at first. I pulled a quote from the Wikipedia, too. You guys have to read this.
Speakers of Fukui dialect tend to talk in an up and down, sing-songy manner. Speakers of Kansai dialect and Kantō dialect tend to look down on Fukui dialect as being hopelessly provincial, or inaka (rural). That being said, Fukui-ben is not without its own charm and even homespun elegance.....I'LL BE HOPELESSLY RURAL.
Look forward to more information soon. Thank you AFS!!!!
*If I think of this correctly, 'cho' is the suffix for city. So something like Zionsville. 'Gun' is for the district, so like Boone County (I'm not sure about this one). And 'ken' is for the Prefecture, or state, so like Indiana. And then Japan!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Pre D Update ~ 私は待っています
In a perfect world, I was hoping to update this as soon as I got my family information (ANYDAYNOWPLEASE), but oh well :(
I do have new info though! A few days ago, I received my flight itinerary to Tokyo and back. I'll be leaving on August 20, and after a marvelous 11 hour plane ride, arrive in Tokyo on the 21st (HOW FUN time zones!) Six months later, I'll leaving Tokyo (in the afternoon) and coming back on February 7 (in the morning), giving new meaning to the longest day ever.
I also have my flight info to and from Los Angeles. I'll actually be leaving on August 19 for an orientation in Los Angeles before I depart, however my flight back is on the 7th, too........don't expect me in school the next day hahahaha.
The above is super exciting, of course, but I really want my host family and placement info..... ARGGHH. I've been checking the mail everyday for the past few weeks, but no luck ;__;
I've been trying to keep myself busy preparing for my departure. I've been reading a lot of language books and listening to tapes etc., hoping that I'll at least be semi prepared for a new language. Although earlier, I was taking a Kanji quiz that was made more 10 -11 year olds, and it was not so much a confidence booster, so I'll study moreeeee. (x_x)
Anddd, I have a suitcase :) So much progress!!!!!!!
I'm running out of things to say :(
Well, until again! じゃね
I do have new info though! A few days ago, I received my flight itinerary to Tokyo and back. I'll be leaving on August 20, and after a marvelous 11 hour plane ride, arrive in Tokyo on the 21st (HOW FUN time zones!) Six months later, I'll leaving Tokyo (in the afternoon) and coming back on February 7 (in the morning), giving new meaning to the longest day ever.
I also have my flight info to and from Los Angeles. I'll actually be leaving on August 19 for an orientation in Los Angeles before I depart, however my flight back is on the 7th, too........don't expect me in school the next day hahahaha.
The above is super exciting, of course, but I really want my host family and placement info..... ARGGHH. I've been checking the mail everyday for the past few weeks, but no luck ;__;
I've been trying to keep myself busy preparing for my departure. I've been reading a lot of language books and listening to tapes etc., hoping that I'll at least be semi prepared for a new language. Although earlier, I was taking a Kanji quiz that was made more 10 -11 year olds, and it was not so much a confidence booster, so I'll study moreeeee. (x_x)
Anddd, I have a suitcase :) So much progress!!!!!!!
I'm running out of things to say :(
Well, until again! じゃね
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
First Entry (WOHOO!!)
HELLO WORLD. My name is Molly Watanabe. I’m currently 16 years old, a junior in high school, and looking forward. A little more about myself, I spin in my school’s color guard, focus on my studies (blech), and of course, love to spend time with my friends. Tons of things interest me ranging from music to outer space; however today, I’m focused on my dream of studying abroad. This fall, I plan to go study abroad for one semester in Japan.
I think going abroad opens so many more doors to anyone who is willing to turn that first knob. I was first interested in going abroad because I thought it would help me learn a new language. I would love to be bilingual (it would give another meaning to thinking twice!) and I’ve read into how much AFSer’s language skills improve after time in another country. However once I really started to consider going abroad, I realized there is so much more that simply a country’s native language. There’s the culture that would consume your everyday life. I realized that I would experience something so different than what I am used to here in America. So now, I’m excited about simple things like schooling in Japan – how it will be different than America, or what kinds of amazing food I’ll eat. I’m very interested in Japan’s pop culture as, and would love to learn more about what makes the country so unique, and so spectacular. I feel going abroad through AFS would give me opportunities and accomplishments that I would never experience if I didn’t go abroad – and who doesn’t love a challenge?
Going hand in hand with my interest in Japan’s culture, I hope to gain a better understanding of the country’s culture. I hope I can explain to my friends when I return why my experience was so special, using examples from some of Japan’s cultural aspects. I also hope that I can use my experience abroad to improve myself in the future, whether it’s through a language, a new food recipe, or a fashion statement - anything can make all the difference. Additionally, with accepting another country’s beliefs and lifestyles, I hope that I can contribute to the AFS message of spreading peace by being more open to other’s opinions, even if they are different or contradict my own. After being in a different country for six month, I hope that my stay will help me break down cultural barriers so that I can feel connected to both my life in America and my life in Japan.
I think that I hope to contribute the most to getting more people interested in his program. If I could give anything to this cause, it would be helping people go abroad. I have heard so many wonderful stories about AFSers who have gone abroad, and I hope to add not only my own story, but to get my own friends interested in this wonderful opportunity. I think that if through AFS, I could persuade one person to go abroad, I have made a substantial difference.
I feel that both my friends and family are very confident and supportive of my decision to go abroad. In the beginning, I feared my parent’s reaction, thinking that they may have thought it was too big a step, or that I wasn’t ready, however I think they understand this is something I have very interested in pursuing, and therefore, have helped me in following my dream. My friends have been so great as well, and I’m going to miss them so much! I think many of my friends know that this is very important to me (and say it suits me well) and wish me the best of luck! The only problems I have had are with school and schedules. Since I’ll be gone part of my senior year, my guidance counselors are a little concerned that I get in all my credits, which I understand completely! However I feel that they think going abroad could cause trouble with graduating credits and have been a little discouraging at times. Nevertheless, I understand going abroad is not all fun and games, and will try my best in school to better prepare myself when I get back to America.
Although I could go on and on about what I hope to accomplish and what I am excited about, I still feel words cannot fully describe what I feel towards my exchange program. I think if someone is interested in going abroad, well they can finish reading this, but then STOP reading this and GO make it happen! I’d like to thank my Scholarship Sponsor for all of their support. THANK YOUUUU. I really appreciate everything they have done for me
Until next time!!!!! じゃね：）
Molly Watanabe
I think going abroad opens so many more doors to anyone who is willing to turn that first knob. I was first interested in going abroad because I thought it would help me learn a new language. I would love to be bilingual (it would give another meaning to thinking twice!) and I’ve read into how much AFSer’s language skills improve after time in another country. However once I really started to consider going abroad, I realized there is so much more that simply a country’s native language. There’s the culture that would consume your everyday life. I realized that I would experience something so different than what I am used to here in America. So now, I’m excited about simple things like schooling in Japan – how it will be different than America, or what kinds of amazing food I’ll eat. I’m very interested in Japan’s pop culture as, and would love to learn more about what makes the country so unique, and so spectacular. I feel going abroad through AFS would give me opportunities and accomplishments that I would never experience if I didn’t go abroad – and who doesn’t love a challenge?
Going hand in hand with my interest in Japan’s culture, I hope to gain a better understanding of the country’s culture. I hope I can explain to my friends when I return why my experience was so special, using examples from some of Japan’s cultural aspects. I also hope that I can use my experience abroad to improve myself in the future, whether it’s through a language, a new food recipe, or a fashion statement - anything can make all the difference. Additionally, with accepting another country’s beliefs and lifestyles, I hope that I can contribute to the AFS message of spreading peace by being more open to other’s opinions, even if they are different or contradict my own. After being in a different country for six month, I hope that my stay will help me break down cultural barriers so that I can feel connected to both my life in America and my life in Japan.
I think that I hope to contribute the most to getting more people interested in his program. If I could give anything to this cause, it would be helping people go abroad. I have heard so many wonderful stories about AFSers who have gone abroad, and I hope to add not only my own story, but to get my own friends interested in this wonderful opportunity. I think that if through AFS, I could persuade one person to go abroad, I have made a substantial difference.
I feel that both my friends and family are very confident and supportive of my decision to go abroad. In the beginning, I feared my parent’s reaction, thinking that they may have thought it was too big a step, or that I wasn’t ready, however I think they understand this is something I have very interested in pursuing, and therefore, have helped me in following my dream. My friends have been so great as well, and I’m going to miss them so much! I think many of my friends know that this is very important to me (and say it suits me well) and wish me the best of luck! The only problems I have had are with school and schedules. Since I’ll be gone part of my senior year, my guidance counselors are a little concerned that I get in all my credits, which I understand completely! However I feel that they think going abroad could cause trouble with graduating credits and have been a little discouraging at times. Nevertheless, I understand going abroad is not all fun and games, and will try my best in school to better prepare myself when I get back to America.
Although I could go on and on about what I hope to accomplish and what I am excited about, I still feel words cannot fully describe what I feel towards my exchange program. I think if someone is interested in going abroad, well they can finish reading this, but then STOP reading this and GO make it happen! I’d like to thank my Scholarship Sponsor for all of their support. THANK YOUUUU. I really appreciate everything they have done for me
Until next time!!!!! じゃね：）
Molly Watanabe
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