A lot has happened since I last wrote to you all (and hopefully this blog post makes up for it), and I'm happy to tell you first that I officially received my acceptance/welcome letter from Yokohama College of Commerce. It still feels unreal that in a month I will be heading to Japan. March 24th to be exact! I am so honored to be going to this school, I am beyond excited!
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| Part of my acceptance letter from YCC! So cool! |
I still have so much more to do before I leave. I finally obtained my VISA, it is really cute because of the cherry blossoms printed on it!
From now until the day I leave will be super busy, but I am excited to take it on with a positive attitude now that things seem to be falling in the right place. My thoughts have been consumed with the Vira I. Heinz program and YCC. I have been really stressed that I may have missed a deadline somewhere along the way or maybe not sending in the right paperwork -- anything that could really mess up my study abroad plans. I have really learned a lot about myself throughout this process, I learned that I am a determined, hard working woman. I have become mentally stronger and put my anxiety in a box to put away (metaphorically speaking, of course!) and deal with it later when I needed to get something done.
A really cool thing that I get to do before I leave (literally right before I leave) is attend a Spring Retreat at the University of Pittsburgh for three days. It's for the Vira I. Heinz program that had awarded me the scholarship to go to Japan. I go March 21, 22, and 23 .. and then I leave March 24 for Japan! I don't know too much about what it entails, but basically I will be spending time with the other recipients from the other schools who have won and also share the same passions of global leadership. I am so excited to meet the other girls and the events that are planned for us. One of the recipients from my school has already become a good friend of mine and we'll be driving (3 hours!) together! I'll be sure to take pictures and blog about that weekend as well. :)
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| I left out my face because I looked a bit ridiculous, haha! |
From now until the day I leave will be super busy, but I am excited to take it on with a positive attitude now that things seem to be falling in the right place. My thoughts have been consumed with the Vira I. Heinz program and YCC. I have been really stressed that I may have missed a deadline somewhere along the way or maybe not sending in the right paperwork -- anything that could really mess up my study abroad plans. I have really learned a lot about myself throughout this process, I learned that I am a determined, hard working woman. I have become mentally stronger and put my anxiety in a box to put away (metaphorically speaking, of course!) and deal with it later when I needed to get something done.
A really cool thing that I get to do before I leave (literally right before I leave) is attend a Spring Retreat at the University of Pittsburgh for three days. It's for the Vira I. Heinz program that had awarded me the scholarship to go to Japan. I go March 21, 22, and 23 .. and then I leave March 24 for Japan! I don't know too much about what it entails, but basically I will be spending time with the other recipients from the other schools who have won and also share the same passions of global leadership. I am so excited to meet the other girls and the events that are planned for us. One of the recipients from my school has already become a good friend of mine and we'll be driving (3 hours!) together! I'll be sure to take pictures and blog about that weekend as well. :)
About Yokohama (and my school)!
Yokohama is Japan's second largest city with a population of over three million -- it's also less than a half hour away from Tokyo. It is an extremely thriving cultural city with tons of things to do. It is also famous for being a port city. Somethings I would really like to do/see are visiting the Yokohama Sky Building, going to a cat cafe, and Cosmo World, which has one of the world's biggest Ferris Wheels (you can see it in the photo below actually!).
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| One of many views of Yokohama, Japan |
I will be going to school at Yokohama College of Commerce, which is in Tsurumi-ku, one of the 18 ku (wards) in the Kanagawa prefecture of Japan. Yokohama is so huge, which is why it has so many "wards"! Japan also has a lot of mascots. Not just for town/cities in general, but for even companies, stores, ect! Tsurumi-ku's mascot is Wakkun!
Wakkun is loved by children! In almost every picture I saw of him, he was surrounded by a crowd of them. I hope to see him this summer at events! I love the idea of mascots, though. They're all so cute and friendly, and I think it's a great way of promotion and getting the community involved -- just like my school's Pitt-Bradford Panther mascot!
This is a partial view of my college in Japan. YCC is an old business school that also has a huge focus on tourism -- being that Yokohama is a huge tourist city. One of my friends from YCC who actually is studying abroad at my school is a Tourism major. I think I would have really liked to be a Hospitality Management major because I'm such a people pleaser, but I feel grateful that I get to go to YCC as an Education major to assist my soon-to-be professor in his English class. The idea of having my first teacher experience is unreal, sometimes it even keeps me up at night because I'll be living my dream a little - teaching in Japan! I think everyday I try to come up with an omiyage for my professor and his class... as well as my host family that I will be hearing from soon. I have been thinking of what kind of omiyage (gift) I could give them, I want to give the right ones to everyone who will be helping me in Japan!
I am taking two classes at YCC, one in Japanese Language and the other in Japanese Health. Why so few, you ask? College credits in the summer are VERY expensive. But luckily, with the free time I will have, I will be able to work part time legally as a tutor or whatever else I can find. I am very excited to work in a new culture! Excited is not even the word that can explain these feelings!
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| Yokohama College of Commerce (YCC) |
I am taking two classes at YCC, one in Japanese Language and the other in Japanese Health. Why so few, you ask? College credits in the summer are VERY expensive. But luckily, with the free time I will have, I will be able to work part time legally as a tutor or whatever else I can find. I am very excited to work in a new culture! Excited is not even the word that can explain these feelings!
So, as of recently...
I should be finding out my flight information VERY soon. I think that is the one thing I am most worried about when I think of this study abroad: getting on my flight. I know it seems kinda stupid to worry about such a small thing, but I've never flown alone and I know I will get the feeling of "Woah, I am really on my own." A huge part of me is insanely excited to go on this study abroad and have an adventure of my own, but a part of me knows I will also miss my friends and family. I just hope the "honeymoon phase" lasts as long as possible before I get homesick. But I will be so busy when I arrive that I may not have time to be thinking of America...
Oh! I was able to finally get a Macbook Pro! It is everything I have ever wanted in a computer and it's super user friendly. I am completely in love already because I can keep all my school work organized. My previous computer had died out of no where... I was in panic all week and finally just purchased this Macbook because I know it is gonna last me for a long time. Absolutely worth the money!
The trip to Buffalo, NY is always super relaxing because of the sky always looking so endless and all of the hills. I hope the SIEP students I will be returning with feel the same way when they come to Bradford!
Finally, and most importantly...
I was able to give a presentation on my study abroad to Bradford's Rotary Club. Usually, they do not donate to a single person. But I was able to get a good word in from my boss, who is a member, and they gave me a chance. Although I was really nervous and could tell every time I screwed up, they supported me and seemed thoroughly excited about what I wanted to do. They had given me $325 and I could not be more grateful -- I'm excited to tell them all about my experiences so that they know their money was put towards something amazing. Being able to present was more than just the money, it felt wonderful to know that so many people believed in me and wanted me to go out and experience the world.
I won't let you down, Rotary Club!
I haven't even left yet for Japan and already the process I have been through has told me a lot about myself, like I said. I am constantly juggling 2 jobs, 17 credits, studying Japanese, and a social life. How I haven't gone crazy is beyond me, but I am so happy with how everything has worked out and it seems that it was really all meant to be.
I know that so many challenges are coming my way, including the fact that I am going to a country where I cannot speak the language. But, I still have a really good feeling about everything. I can't help but be optimistic when I hear about new information on my school or soon to be host family. I also can't let these challenges isolate me and keep me from having a once in a life time experience.
It is my turn to have an adventure. There is nothing like living to the fullest, right?
Until next time!
