E-MAIL (メール)

Okay, I admit it. Every time I see an email from Nara in my inbox, I get butterflies in my stomach. Partly because I'm excited that they know I exist, and partly because I realize that the person on the other end expects me to be able to read Japanese-- and that makes me nervous. Luckily, they are gracious enough to put an English translation in case I don't understand something.

On the flipside, I then feel the need to translate my messages into English AND Japanese. This makes writing e-mails difficult. I sit down with my dictionary and Japanese notes and do my best not to butcher the beautiful language that is 日本語. I'm not sure if the messages I have sent are grammatically correct. In fact, I'm quite sure that they weren't, but hopefully the woman I am conversing with knows that I am making my best effort. And in the long run, this will probably help me improve my writing before I go abroad.

All things considered, my excitement still outweighs my nervousness. They know my name, they've talked to me directly! And they already told me who my professor/advisor is. I'm accepted, I'm in-- now all I have to do is wait.

That's difficult! たいへんだね！

Until next time! じゃ！

Corri(nne)

The Deed is DONE

That's right everyone-- all of the paperwork is turned in! I've made my lists, I've checked them twice, and hopefully that will be the last major onslaught of signatures I will have to obtain (at least for a while.)

The last thing I turned in was my transfer credit form. Like I mentioned before, it's difficult to figure out transfer credits when you have no idea of what courses you will be taking. I was able to come up with a general idea though, and all the important people thought it was acceptable so I'm in the clear until I make it to Nara.

Speaking of which, reality finally hit me today. I'm going to Japan between March and August. That's five months that I will be away from home in a foreign country, communicating in a completely foreign language. For the first time, I felt some fear and apprehension. What if people think I am stupid or incompetent? What if I fail my classes? What if I don't master Japanese like I hope? What if I get horribly lost, or lose my money, or get injured or so on and so on...

But I pushed all of those thoughts aside and reminded myself that this is the chance of a lifetime along with something I have dreamed of since I was ten years old.

And there is no way I am backing down now.

Looking towards the future--
じゃ！

Corri(nne)

O+

So apparently, my blood type is O+. Some cool things about that:

O+ donors are needed more frequently than any other donor. Because O+ is the most common blood type (39% of the U.S. population), it is needed more often by people requiring blood transfusions in hospitals. This type is also considered the "Universal Donor" because it can give to anyone.


According to the Japanese:
Type O blood types are defined generally as warriors. This is perhaps because Type O is the oldest of all the blood types. These people are highly motivated, outgoing, and leaders of people. They aren’t afraid to gamble because they are confident they can pull it off. They are initiators, although they don't always finish what they start. Creative and popular, they love to be the center of attention and appear very self confident. They have a strong physical presence and are generally good at sports. However because they are leaders they can often be seen as status seeking, and obsessive in their quest for success. This obsession can also make them seem boring to other people.

Surprisingly, that pretty much describes me. Who knew? Only one more form to turn in and I'm golden!


じゃ！
Corri(nne)

Positive qualities:
Ambitious, Trendsetter, Independent, Loyal, Athletic, Robust, Passionate and Self-confident.

 

Negative qualities:
Arrogant, Vain, Jealous, Insensitive and Ruthless.

 

Compatibility:
O is most compatible with blood types AB and O.

Academic Workshop

I had my academic workshop today. (Really, it was a 30 minute conversation on how to properly fill out-- you guessed it-- another piece of paperwork.)

Basically, I need to get transfer credit permission from the appropriate department head and advisor, which basically means the top dog of the Japanese department and Takagi sensei (my former Japanese teacher) need to sign off on what classes I will be taking abroad. Problem is, I don't really know what classes those are. Nara's website is not very clear on courses. All it offers is the field and a general description of classes, so I may have to wait until I am overseas to send information back to UNCG about what courses I will be enrolling in. The IPC said that was all right though, as long as I explained this to the people signing off on the forms.

So far I have found the following courses interesting: Japanese language (obviously), Japanese and Asian Languages and Cultures, American Language and Culture in Europe, Ancient Culture of the Region, Sports Science, and Outdoor Sports Practice.

Guess we'll see what happens!
じゃ！

Corri(nne)



Picture of a building on Nara's campus
By Takayan (flickr)

Financial Aid Workshop

This afternoon I went to the mandatory study abroad financial workshop. We discussed: financial aid, direct deposit requirements, and insurance, and were given two forms: a financial statement and a travel grant approval form.

I was never very good with numbers, but the financial aid workshop seemed to put things into simpler terms for me. For instance, they informed me that my FAFSA and financial aid for UNCG will be easily transferred to pay for anything required by my host institution. Refund checks will be deposited into our student accounts in early January, and loans can be adjusted accordingly. The only thing I have to worry about paying directly to Nara is room and board, which my dad and I already figured out will be affordable based on my current financial aid.

The International Programs Center (IPC) requires that we set up a direct deposit for all refund checks and financial aid, and suggested that we consider appointing a Power of Attorney during our time abroad in case someone back home needs to sign any forms for us in our absence. Luckily, I already have a direct deposit set up.

Insurance (for better or for worse) is provided through the IPC. They get a special, discounted rate thanks to a contract they share with HTH Worldwide. To protect me during my entire stay abroad, they require me to buy this insurance through them. Not to worry though- it's only $203 in total and will be added onto my Spring 2011 bill automatically. I still have to waive the UNCG insurance, however, which I have to do every year anyway. Once I am registered by the IPC with HTH Worldwide, the company will send me my account information along with an insurance card, proof of enrollment and what they cover.

At the end of the session, I was given my financial statement, which says the following:
 
Tuition: You will be required to pay UNCG tuition and fees as determined by your current residency status (out of state) and level (undergraduate)

Housing and Meals: The terms of your program require you to pay your housing and meal costs to the host school based on their rates (Nara's website lists these costs)

Insurance: You will be billed for the cost of mandatory international health coverage on your UNCG student account. The cost for your insurance coverage will be: $203.00

Payment Deadlines: Charges associated with your study abroad program billed to your UNCG student account will be due in accordance with the UNCG Cashier's Office payment deadlines and procedures. Students will be notified of their student account bill via email by the Cashier's office. Students have an obligation to check their balance due via UNCGenie and to notify IPC of any discrepancies. All costs are subject to change due to legislative action.

Also, it was mentioned to me that I should get a letter from the financial aid office stating that I have the appropriate funds needed to study abroad in case my Visa application requires it (which I am sure it does.)

And the best part of this entire workshop? I discovered the travel grant awarded to me by the Lloyd International Honors College is for a whopping $1,300.00. How cool is that?! That definitely covers air fare at the very least.

On Monday I will make up my academic workshop that I missed so stay tuned for that update.

じゃ！
Corri(nne)

The Checklist is Dwindling

What's up people? First blog of November, ya dig? I just thought I'd give you an update on my ongoing checklist.

1. Communication form -- check
2. Conduct Pledge --- check
3. Financial Statement
4. Health form
5. Passport photocopy -- check
6. Statement of Participant Responsibilities --check 
7. Transfer Credit form
8. Travel Grant Signature form
9. Requirement for Direct Deposit -- check

So really, all I have left are my financial statement, health form, transfer credit form, and travel grant signature form. The financial statement and travel grant signature forms will be distributed in my upcoming Financial Aid workshop this Wednesday. The transfer credit form was supposed to be given out in the Academic Nuts and Bolts workshop, but I could not attend it at the specified times so I will be meeting with Tom Martinek in the IPC to go over what I missed.

Last, but not least, I have my health form, which is entirely filled out except for my blood type, which I am required to include. That means I have to go get my blood drawn-- again-- just to figure out what blood type I have. Interestingly enough, everyone knows what their blood type is in Japan. It's like knowing your horoscope sign in the US. Anyway, you would think with all the medical records floating around that SOMEONE would know my blood type. Nope. None of the doctors I called had it on file.

Um, problematic much?

The other issue I have with the paperwork is that if I am under 21, my parents are required to sign several of the forms listed. Someone tell me the difference between a 20 and a 21-year-old (other than drinking age)? If I am allowed to sign my own medical documents at 18 along with everything else, why do they raise the age requirements for study abroad forms? Does the IPC realize that my parents are in Delaware? It's sort of inconvenient to send them things just for them to sign it.

Anyway. They will all get done somehow, and that will be that. Hopefully, this will be the last round of paperwork I need to complete other than applying for my visa... but I'm not holding my breath.

Fun side note, I met with Dr. Kate Barrett this morning for coffee. I met her at the HHP Scholarship Awardee banquet this past month. She informed me that a Japanese doctorate student who graduated from UNCG in my field now teaches at a women's college in Tokyo, and she is trying to arrange for us to meet. Cool stuff, right? I think I will need all the connections I can while I am abroad.

Expect a couple more updates before the end of the semester. Thanks for reading!

じゃ！
Corri(nne)

Your Status: Committed

I received an email from UNCG's IPC (International Program Center) about an update to my application for Study Abroad. When I logged in to my account to begin working on my new stack of paperwork, I was greeted with: "Your Status: Committed." Sounds scary, doesn't it? Basically, UNCG expects that I am in for the long haul. And I've done too much paperwork already to turn back now! The new laundry list includes:

1. Communication form
2. Conduct Pledge
3. Financial Statement (signed by my parents)
4. Health form
5. Passport photocopy
6. Statement of Participant Responsibilities
7. Transfer Credit form
8. Travel Grant Signature form
9. Requirement for Direct Deposit

Daunting, I know. Luckily, most of it is just signing a piece of paper, further selling my soul away to the IPC, which requires little real work on my part. Three of the forms will be signed at the Financial and Academic workshops we are required to attend within the next month. And of course, everything is due before December 1st. In the last few minutes, I've already completed four of them so this should be significantly less stressful than the last round of requirements.

For future students, don't let this scare you away! All of the paperwork is necessary, I promise. Now I know what it must feel like for foreigners trying to come to America. What a pain in the rear...

じゃ！
Corri(nne)

How to: Japan

There are many cultural differences and nuances between Japan and the West-- or the rest of the world, for that matter. TheJapanChannelDCom on Youtube does a great job of going through some of those things with viewers. Even simple things like a bathroom vary widely from our own. I actually hope I can one day experience one of these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO1oJLkR-WE&feature=channel

Anyway, check out some of his videos because they are awesome and informative. (Also, they're very short so if you are bored you can go through several of them. Trust me, I've done it.)

じゃ!
Corri(nne)

Brain Overload!

WOAH! Study Abroad Orientation just blew my mind. Honestly, I thought spending 9 am - 5 pm talking about the ins and outs of study abroad would be painfully boring, but I actually had an awesome time. It was great seeing all of the UNCG students involved in the program and where they were going. (I couldn't help being reminded of Hetalia though; everyone had the name of the country they were going to on their name tags!) My good friend Kristina Ragan spent the day with me, which made it even better. She is going to Finland (how unique!)

The program started with a light "breakfast" (really just a plate of fruit and some orange juice). Then we dived in to some of the many questions people have about study abroad. How do you get a passport? A visa? What about money? And what should you bring (or not bring)? They also mentioned the paperwork (yes, more paperwork) that we have to work on between now and December 1st. And it's a monster pile of paper! At least they gave us a month instead of a week to do it this time.

Later on we did a simulation meant to represent the stages of culture shock along with the language barriers we might encounter when we go abroad. This was demonstrated through a brand new card game we had to learn-- without talking! It was frustrating, but also a lot of fun, and the way they tied it in to our future experience abroad was well done. Following the mini card tournament, we took a break for lunch. Once we reunited, we watched a video showing students of many different cultural backgrounds having a discussion about a controversial topic. Through the video we learned about cultural differences and ways of communication that may differ from our own. Then we discussed how we can adapt to these and be mindful of them when we travel to our respective countries.

Towards the end of the session there was an international student panel consisting of the study abroad students currently studying at UNCG from around the world. They answered a few questions about their experience here in the States quite honestly (and humorously.)  Finally, we broke into groups by country. I met the three other people going to Japan and we were able to ask Takagi sensei (my former Japanese professor) all of the Japan specific questions we had. The most daunting thing I learned is that I would have to fly to Japan alone, and then travel from Tokyo to Nara using public transportation. Yikes! Guess I better start figuring that out now... Maybe I will spend a day in Tokyo before I go to Nara :)

All in all, it was a huge brain overload, but I am even more excited now than I was before to go to Japan. There are so many challenges, opportunities, and experiences awaiting me that I am sure I can't even fathom.

Too bad I have to wait until March to go! However, I am sure that day will arrive even sooner than I think. I am looking forward to it!

じゃ！
Corri(nne)

Whew!

So, I finally turned in all my application materials for Nara. It was very confusing trying to compile a financial statement and health certificate since the school didn't provide any specific forms. After jumping through a bunch of hoops and exchanging several emails, I was able to get the general gist of what I needed for the financial statement. The "health certificate" was a complete nightmare though. I think I made four or five different trips to the health center over the span of two days in order to fill out a physical form that didn't even exist. (If you're confused, don't worry, so was I.)

However, the deed is done. Application form? Check. Passport photos? Check. Financial statement? Double check. Health Certificate? You better believe it. And everything else that goes along with it. It feels good to finally have all the materials turned in. Now, it's up to Nara Women's University to give me the final "yay" or "nay".

Unfortunately, the official acceptance letter isn't expected to come for another three to four weeks. Aaaaaugh! That means three to four more weeks of anticipation. The study abroad office was very reassuring though. They told me that my application is strong and Nara is already aware of who I am. (Basically, that I shouldn't worry about not getting accepted, but there's always that slim chance, isn't there?)

Anyway, like I said, what's done is done. Please pray that everything goes smoothly and NWU decides to let me study with them in Spring 2011!

じゃ！
Corri(nne)

Spirituality in Japan

Japan is a very spiritual country. They believe that every person, every living thing, and even the nonliving things, have a place in the grand scheme of life and should be honored. The Japanese respect the earth and each other, and are generally a peaceful people, but they lack one thing: a relationship with Jesus Christ.

According to NationMaster's statistics, 96% of Japanese are Bhuddist, while 86% are Shinto and Bhuddist. Being a Christian, this is one of my major concerns about going to Japan. Where will I go to church? How will I have fellowship with other believers? Will I be able to maintain my current spiritual walk with God, or will I become "luke warm"? I consider going abroad a real test of my faith, but through prayer, I am confident God will provide, like he always does.

Less than 1% of Japanese are Christians. Let me put that in perspective. In 2009, Japan was reported to have 127.51 million residents. That means a little over 1.2 million people in Japan claim to be Christians. Overall, that is not very many.

However, I made an amazing discovery while perusing the internet. There is a Protestant church in Nara called Nara International Christian Church. Like it's name says, it is an international church that preaches in many languages, including English! I am not sure how far it is Nara Women's University, but I know I will find a way to get there. For all my Christian friends who are following this, please continue to ask that God provides a Christian family for me during my stay in Japan!

じゃ！
Corri(nne)



Unique to Nara

Did you know that Nara is the home to the oldest and largest wooden structure in the world? This building is the Todai-ji Temple, which was built in 728 A.D (Japan National Tourism Organization).

But what have I heard about more than the temples in Nara? Their deer. Yep, you heard me right. Like Bambi. Except, these deer are not as cute. Because people have been giving the deer in Nara park food for so long, they flock to any person with food in their hands. Kind of like the seagulls at the beach when you have french fries-- but these have horns. So why are deer allowed to roam free around Nara?

"According to the legendary history of Kasuga Shrine, a mythological god Takemikazuchi arrived in Nara on a white deer to guard the newly built capital of Heijou-kyou. Since then the deer have been regarded as heavenly animals, protecting the city and the country.

Tame deer walk around the town, especially in Nara Park. Snack vendors sell "shika sembei" (deer biscuits) to visitors so they can enjoy feeding the deer. They nudge, jostle, and even bite for food." (Wikipedia)

The following pictures are the property of Matt Roszak and were taken from his ~kupo707 deviantart page:
Tōdai-ji and Kōfuku-ji temples in Nara Park are pictured along with the famous deer.

Japan: The Strange Country

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgsbIfI0uIg

This is a link to an interesting youtube video about Japan. It is worth watching if you have an extra ten minutes to spare!

Corri(nne)

Japan from Hetalia: Axis Powers

おめでとうございます！Congratulations!

"Congratulations! You have been nominated to study abroad at Nara Women's University for the spring semester 2011."

When I read these words in an email entitled: "Study Abroad Nomination", I think my heart skipped a beat. It's official folks! I have been nominated by UNCG to go to Nara Women's University in Japan. That means I'm all set! ...right?

Nope. Just kidding. Before it can be officially official, I need to submit a separate application to NWU. Should be a piece of cake, right? Well, according to the email, NWU will need the following from me before I am accepted:

1. Application form (5 pages)
2. Four passport-sized photos- one used in the application form
3. Health Certificate
4. Copy of passport ID page
5. CV form
6. Financial statement (This document is required to prove a student can meet her living expenses during her stay in Japan. A certificate issued from a bank which proves the existence of the financial supporter's bank account, the account number and the balance is acceptable.)

Other documentation includes my transcript, certificate of enrollment, recommendation letters and certificate of Japanese language ability. The IPC provides these documents, since I have already turned them in.
The real kicker? It's all due the Friday I get back from fall break. Yikes! I guess I better get crackin'. But the real question is, do I need to fill out this application in English, or in Japanese? Hmm...

Honestly though, with all of the stress school is causing me right now, this seems like the least stressful thing on my list. I am one step closer to my study abroad journey. Hopefully the next time I will be updating this blog it will be to say Nara accepted my application!

Prayers appreciated <3

じゃ!

Corri(nne)

Japan and America from Hetalia: Axis Powers dressed for the cool weather!

In the Beginning...

Okay, so maybe that's a cheesy title for my first blog post, but what did you expect from me?

Allow me to explain the purpose of creating this blog. In spring 2011 I plan on spending an entire semester studying abroad in Japan. This has been my dream for the better part of ten years, so I am slightly anxious for the fateful day when I actually board the plane to travel to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Today it is September 23rd, 2010. I completed UNCG's study abroad application by September 15th, a surprisingly tedious process (although necessary). On September 20th, I had my study abroad interview, which went exceptionally well. Every answer flowed off my tongue naturally. All of the questions had been answered in my heart years in advance, so it was surprisingly easy to talk with my interviewers.

My first choice of study is Nara Women's University, a prestigious school with a rigorous curriculum. It requires four semesters of Japanese to study there, and apparently, no one has applied to the program from UNCG for several years (probably for that reason). When I told Tom Martinek (the man in charge of the Japanese exchanges) that I wanted to study there, he was surprised and delighted. He was even more excited to hear that I would prefer a homestay with a Japanese family over an international dorm. Luckily for me, I learned in my interview that I am the only one who applied to Nara from UNCG and as a result, my chances of getting in are high. I will hear the official word on my acceptance by October 13th, when we return from fall break.

Cross your fingers for me! I am looking forward to this life-changing challenge and have begun studying Japanese in excess in the (little) free time I have. I have also dived head first into the Japanese club on campus as an advertising and media representative (club officer). My passion for the language and culture continues to grow, and it is hard to focus on much else!

God willing though, I will get through this semester with everything else in order. Ja!

Corri(nne)