ケイトリン田中 xD ホストファミリがいる!!!

Things are feeling more real now. On the 10th I got an email from AFS saying that I have a host family!!! I'll be living in Kyushu, Fukuoka Pref. I don't know if I can give anymore details than that since I haven't got permission. Buuuuuttt....I'm so excited! I have a Dad, Mum and a younger sister :D My older brother and sister are living away from home but I might see my older sister when she's on her holidays. I've been emailing my お父さん(Dad) and I chatted to my 妹 (younger sister) on Facebook and they seem really nice. I can't wait to meet them all!

I've been trying to find some info about my school. Unfortunately, on my computer it comes up as this programming language so I have no idea what it means i.e. d'F@''%f'!'2~. That kind of stuff :s

However, I found a back door amongst the gibberish. There's an English version for the website but it's far more broad and the info is limited. I don't care! It's great :D I can't wait to go and get involved in everything.

So I received my Visa and Certificate of Eligibility the other day. Fantastic! Now I can actually enter Japan :) But there's one problem. On my CoE all the details are correct except for the photo. It's of some girl who looks nothing like me sooo we rang up the travel agent and after convincing that I couldn't possibly get away with the photo if we left it as it is I should be hearing back from them within the next two weeks with the correct photo. At least we caught it early so there should be no drama about it -phew-

But back on topic, I have a host family, school and feel loved! *heart*

A bit of house keeping

Just a whole bunch of little things that are too short to deserve their own posts ^_^

I got a job today! I didn't think anyone would employ me for 6 weeks but faithful Foodworks just around the corner has. :) 29 hour week! So now there will be a bit of green in my pocket when I go to Japan.

I'm yet to design some sort of budget for myself. Never in my life have I made so many lists for what to buy, what to bring, gifts, the most practical things to wear on the plane [the heaviest clothing of course xD ] and what should go in each bag so I don't go over the weight limit (23kg with QANTAS but if I catch a domestic in Japan limit is 15kg). I'm worried I'll forget the little things, which, as we all know, always seem to be the most important or practical. So I've rummaged through my draws and house to make sure I haven't left anything off my lists. I'm not this organised usually but I have to fit my life in a suitcase in just under 44 days!!

Japanese. I need to study but I've been so lazy. I know I'll regret it but I need more motivation! Luckily, my Japanese teacher has been kind enough to invite me back to school when we have double Japanese :) But, since I work on Wednesdays, I can only go every second Tuesday. At the moment I know/can recognise 320~360 kanji. I hope to read this after my exchange and compare!! I want to learn enough vocab etc so I can pass at the very very very least JLPT3.

*EDIT*

Just finished reading this blog http://blog.jpopdb.org/index.php/blog/japan/japanese-language/jlpt-system-to-be-changed and how JLPT is being changed from JLPT4,3 [yonkyuu, sankyuu] etc to N1 ~ N5. I would really love to try out for N3 [it's going to be the gap between the old sankyuu nikyuu]. Passing that will be awesome! I aim to study and do my homework whilst going to school in Japan just as I would if I were going to school here. I want to learn as much as I can :)

Let's see what else...no new news about host familys or anything like that. I did however log onto my AFS online account and noticed two new tabs "flight details" and "Host Family Info". Maybe the host family issue will be resolved soon? *fingers crossed*

Ah flight details: Brisbane --> Sydney --> Narita. QANTAS FTW! It's an overnight flight which is okay I suppose. Just means that there'll be no sleep for me, not like I'd sleep anyway ,I'll be wayyy to excited to do such a trivial thing like sleep. Arriving in Narita at a deathly hour; 6.10 AM. Soon keeeen!

I think that's it.

K x

So close yet so far

Tick Tock

"Better get your passport organised..."

"...because you're going to Japan!"

This is what my Dad told me when I came out of Griffith University after sitting the JLPT4 exam (Sunday 06/12/09). At first I thought he was joking. Up until that moment all possible body parts that could have be crossed were; whilst I tried to not let positive expectations get the better of me. In fact, that was what I wanted to have, low expectations of winning the scholarship. It's not that I didn't want to win, I just didn't want to be set up for a huge disappointment if I failed to get it. So when he said I won, it didn't sink in straight away. I must have asked if he was joking about 20 times :P But he wasn't. I had won the only available J-Power scholarship to Japan from Australia. I probably looked like such goof, grinning stupidly and jumping but it felt like this enormous weight had lifted from my chest [after all, the outcomes of the scholarship pretty much dominated my thoughts for 5 months].

And then I learnt I was the last person to find out. Typical. Everyone else knew on Friday but Mum didn't want to tell me so I could focus on studying for the exam ♥

I went to a BBQ and everyone told me

"congratulationsss!"

I said "How do you know?"

"Oh, well, Flannery told us the other day."

Hehe, but I'm going to JAPAN! :D

I just want to thank AFS Australia, AFS Japan and J-Power for giving me this opportunity to follow my dream and allowing me to travel to Japan through scholarship. The Mackay City Council for giving me a scholarship to Japan in 2008 and giving me my first taste of Japan. Also Leanne, my lovely AFS supporter who put up with my emails and pleas for any new information. She is amazing *hugs*

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My family, thank you so, so much letting me apply [and so spontaneously too]. You guys are the best I love you so much. Thank you for supporting me and letting me go on this amazing journey. Thanks for all your faith and help with the application process and everything that we've had to do on this roller coaster ride. I couldn't ask for anyone better than all of you.

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All my Japanese teachers: Seiko Sensei, Wilson Sensei, Croaker Sensei, Di from BSDE and Browne Sensei. You are the reason why I do Japanese. You have such enthusiasm for the subject and you've all pushed to help me realise my true potential. Without your passionate teaching, Japanese would be very difficult to learn.

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My friends. Guys, you mean the world to me. I'm going to miss you so much. I love you all! Thanks for all the encouragement and optimism! Thank you for being there for me and of course, thanks for supporting my decision. It's really tough that I can't be with you for senior but you guys are going to rock 2010 and I know you'll all do well with your OPs and QCS!!! And for a few of my closest darlings (you know who you are) I'm going to miss you the most. I love you my cupcake and tintin.