Blog catch up time

Now that I have internet in my room and am getting settled in, I'm going to start updating my blog. Lost of new things have happened, so I'll split them up to prevent a wall of text. This has been so exciting, glad I can share it all in some way.

Packing and saying goodbye

Well, this has been an eventful 15 days while I've been running around grabbing whatever I think I might need for the trip. I have gifts for my host family and friends to represent Louisville, a mini Louisville Slugger baseball bat with my name and a message engraved on it, Kentucky Bourbon Balls and Mint Julep Balls, Kentucky Derby Mint Julep glasses, and Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Pins, and I got a blanket to represent Purdue. I also got my reading material, backpacks, shoes, toiletries, and everything else. Now it's come down to the point I've gotten everything that needs to be bought out of the way, which leaves me to packing. I'm trying to keep it at smart as possible which will be difficult for me as I'm usually an over packer. Clothes are the biggest issue here. Also the books I want to bring many small Japanese books that will be useful, some novels, and several manga I want to read. Most everything else won't be a problem or are absolutely necessary, like the multitudes of shoes I'm required to take >.<;

Also this time home has been a time to say goodbye to my famliy. Eaten at Outback, Lee's Korean Restaurant, had Grasshopper pie from Greater's Icecream, and done other things to celebrate my birthday early and to wish me a nice goodbye and an excellent trip in Japan. I also had a goodbye/birthday dinner before I left school with my gf which was really nice, after having seen a movie I wanted to see, Push, had a great Pinot Noir marinated steak and she made everything so tasty. So this has been a joyful, yet sad time to say goodbye to everyone I know and care about, but I'm about to embark on something great here, so without regret I set forth to Japan!

Yay Scholarships! ^_^

As some of you already know, I was accepted recently for a 5 grand scholarship which I'm really happy about. It is from the Freeman-Asia society and I am the last recipient ever for this award as I was a late candidate and they are closing down the program. Their conditions were to fill out a survey which I'm still required to do and write a report on how I'm going to promote study abroad to Asia upon my return. I no longer have to do the report, but I am still going to promote study abroad upon my return to Purdue. This along with my $1500 travel grant scholarship made this experience very affordable and I'm happy that I got accepted to them.

Going to Japan

Well, my journey to Japan is soon coming up, and I thought I'd take the time to start my blog. Throughout my Study Abroad I'll post frequent updates and provide plenty of pics that I'll take with my new camera so you guys can kinda follow and experience my everyday life over in Japan.

Many of you know why I am going to Japan, but for those that don't I'll give a little background. My first introduction to Japan and Japanese was mainly through video games and Japanimation. I first grew an interest when I had downloaded a Japanese video game, and I wanted to be able to understand what it was saying. When I learned my high school had a Japanese program, I went for it but sadly could not get in till my sophomore year. I continued all the way through my high school, and was given the opportunity to go to Japan after high school with our class for a couple weeks. Needless to say the experience was fantastic, and my only disappointment was it was too short and left me wanting more.

I continued my Japanese at Purdue, and I was excited they had a great study abroad program so I decided I would go this semester of my Junior year, giving me time to be at Purdue for a couple years and so it wouldn't interfere with football season. Everything fell into place and I was able to go when I wanted. A lot of work has gone into setting this up, but it is all going to be worth it.

Now as I pack my bags, I know many are going to be sad not having me around for the upcoming 5 months, but it's going to be an awesome trip and I wouldn't have it any other way.