JAPAN! Foriegn Exchange!
I am going to attempt to foriegn exchange in Japan, in March of 2007!
(Last edited: March 26, 2006)
Going as: High School Junior (Second Year, in Japan)
Stay details: Will be there for 9 months attending school, with host family.
My current plan: YFU USA's JUMP High School Scholarship.
For more information on YFU, visit the YFUcommunity community!
Questions!
-Do you know any alternative scholarship programs or financial aid that I can use?
-I know only basic Japanese, so will that create a huge language barrier? Will I have a representative who can speak fluent English and assist me?
-Will the homework be relatively easy/difficult, and would I be able to get it in English or just kana (I don't know many kanji)?
-What are their schools like? The classes (PE especially), the clubs/sports, the teachers, the students, the uniforms, lunchtime, etc.
-In a typical Japanese school, what is the class conduct? Do they have class presentations?
-Will I have to take an entrence exam to attend the Japanese school I will go to?
-How much money should I bring for fun-spending?
-Would I most likely have computer access? Do Japanese keyboards have English alphabet characters?
-What would I be allowed to bring with me to Japan?
-What's a typical meal like in a regular Japanese home?
-What will bathing be like? Will I do it in public at any time?
If anyone knows, please tell me:
-HOW MUCH DOES IT COST for me to get my baggage cared for in Japan?
The plan I'm using will NOT pay for it once I'm off the plane, so I have to pay for the movement/etc of my luggage.
-How much does it cost to get a VISA/Passport, and how would I go about getting one? (I live in Washington state, USA)
My answers to a few questoins...
These will allow you to understand where I'm coming from better...
1. What activities or hobbies do you like to do in your spare time? Why did you choose these activities/ why do you enjoy them? I like to go on the computer, play tennis, and bike. I enjoy and do them because when I work on the computer, I feel like I'm accomplishing great things, and can read free stories. I bike and play tennis because they're physical activities I can do without feeling ridiculous, and tiring myself too much. I also enjoy going places, like the mall, or stores I've never been to, just to have a change of scenery. I really love travelling, and I love car/plane/train rides. I hate running, swimming and boats, though.
2. What aspects of school do you like the most? Why? Learning new things in interesting ways, because I feel like I'm really involved in school and am developing into an adult. I don't prefer homework, however, but do appreciate time to study for tests. I like tests that are simple, and easy to pass without having to remember facts such as dates and how to spell foriegn names, or the like.
3. In what ways are your family important to you? How do they support you?
How is your relationship with each family member?
What are some things that cause tension in your family? How often does this happen?
How does your family deal?
What rules have your parents set for you? How do you feel about these rules?
My family supports me and cares for me, no matter how bratty I am. They allow me to eat what I like usually, and hang out with who I want to. I don't get along with my younger brother nearly at all, and I don't get along with my great grandmother (who I live with) much either, although we can stand eachother.
Tension is caused by selfishness, typically. "I want to go to the store!" "No, I want to rest!" and then a fight ensues. It happens a couple times a month, but we deal by just simply allowing the tension to fade. We don't bother talking because we'll just end up fighting usually (although this is only the case with my grandmother and brother, not with my older brother, father, or my dad's girlfriend).
My grandma sets the rules since I live with her, not my dad, and she typically does not allow me to stay the night at other people's houses, or stay out past dark. I cannot miss school unless I'm very sick, and I can't dress too elaborately (such as mild Harajuku girls), or I'm yelled at. I'm also not allowed to eat candy, or sleep too long usually, since she wants me healthy (I'm not, lol). I can't wear pajamas around the house all day.
4. What decisions do you make yourself? I usually decide how I wish to spend my time, and when I want to do my homework or play, etc. What clothes I'd like to wear, how I do my hair, what makeup I wear (none, lol)... Um... Who my friends are, and how I react to difficult situations (usually, I try to stay calm, but I don't always succeed).
5. How would your best friend describe you? Probably, she'd call me a whore. XD But jokingly, of course. She'd probably say I can be a bit ditzy, but I work really hard to accomplish what I want, and I try to consider everyone, even if I fail sometimes at being kind. I do my best, even if my best isn't as great as everyone might want. And... I'm generous with everything but large amounts of money, usually. I like to hang out with people and go places.
6. Have you ever been away from home and your parents for more than a few days? How was it different? Yes, years. Currently, I've not lived with my dad and Grandma Joyce for 5 years, and it's quite different. The rules are a sharp contrast, but it's nice. I liked being able to meet new people, and get to know my great grandma, since I had hardly known her before.
7. Tell about a time you were lonely. Tell about a time when you were challenged. I was lonely once when... Hmm, well, when I first moved here (age 10), I knew no one, and my great grandma was a bit mean in my eyes, since she wouldn't let me drink soda (lol!), so I felt like I had no one near me that loved or knew me. It was difficult to handle at first, but I just kept reminding myself that I would eventually make friends. I saw a girl down the street wave at me once, and I was so happy to have someone--who didn't even know me!--pay attention to me. That girl is my best friend now. I wouldn't be who I am now if I hadn't had that bit of loneliness early on, becuase I wouldn't know how to handle things when I felt like nothing around me was familiar. If I foreign exchange, I understand that I may feel this way again, but I trust myself to have the confidence and vigor to make new friends and adapt.
I've been challenged many times, and a major example is when I moved here (again! lol!). I had to adapt to new living conditions (before, I had lived in a luxurious, at least to the child I was at the time, three story house, and then I lived in a two bedroom duplex, sharing a room with my snotty brother) and I had to change schools. I had changed schools many times before then, but this time I had no one I recognised, and people who seemed quite different. The part of CA I lived in at the time was mostly Republican, whereas the portion of WA I live in now is very Democratic. This political difference was very obvious in what the people said and did when I came to school. I was ridiculed constantly, for my support of Bush (I no longer do, since I've been educated on the matter and am old enough to form my own opinions), the way I dressed, and how little I knew about what we learning. We were working on religions and placements of the states, etc. I didn't know any of that, since in CA, I was kept very ignorant. I felt terrible, but I worked my hardest to catch up to the class. I never quite reached their level, but I came close, and passed my classes with good grades. Over time, I've learned to deal with situations like this much better, so I can adapt much better now, I think. I'm not the brightest, by any means, but if I'm interested in something, I can really impress myself with what I know. I like that feeling, and all of that comes from being challenged.
8. What appeals to you most about becoming an exchange student? I really enjoy going places, and learning new things. I don't want to stay cooped up in America forever, and I don't know if I'll have an oppurtunity like this one ever again. Learning how a culture so different from my own would be so interesting and eye-opening, that I could not possibly pass up the oppurtunity. If I learn about how another culture works, and how people thier behave, I think I could be less influenced by a single society only, and I could develop as an individual much more. The knowledge I would gain from the experience would not only effect me, but people I talk to. I could possibly encourage another person to experience a diverse culture, or educate themselves about things beyond their local community, allowing more creative and interesting individuals in each nation. Probably, I'd bet I'd have an effect on the culture I visit, as well. Perhaps the ideas and norm for me would motivate (or disgust, lol!) someone in the society I visit, allowing them to develop into a better individual, as well. Also, having friends from a foriegn country would allow me to keep up-to-date on world news, not just national news, and how their society works. Japan in and of itself is probably one of the most interesting and fascinating cultures in the world, since it allows modern and historical places, dress, food, ideas, behavior, and more to work in harmony, without one overshadowing the other.
It's just so exciting. *rolls around*
(Last edited: March 26, 2006)
Going as: High School Junior (Second Year, in Japan)
Stay details: Will be there for 9 months attending school, with host family.
My current plan: YFU USA's JUMP High School Scholarship.
For more information on YFU, visit the YFUcommunity community!
Questions!
-Do you know any alternative scholarship programs or financial aid that I can use?
-I know only basic Japanese, so will that create a huge language barrier? Will I have a representative who can speak fluent English and assist me?
-Will the homework be relatively easy/difficult, and would I be able to get it in English or just kana (I don't know many kanji)?
-What are their schools like? The classes (PE especially), the clubs/sports, the teachers, the students, the uniforms, lunchtime, etc.
-In a typical Japanese school, what is the class conduct? Do they have class presentations?
-Will I have to take an entrence exam to attend the Japanese school I will go to?
-How much money should I bring for fun-spending?
-Would I most likely have computer access? Do Japanese keyboards have English alphabet characters?
-What would I be allowed to bring with me to Japan?
-What's a typical meal like in a regular Japanese home?
-What will bathing be like? Will I do it in public at any time?
If anyone knows, please tell me:
-HOW MUCH DOES IT COST for me to get my baggage cared for in Japan?
The plan I'm using will NOT pay for it once I'm off the plane, so I have to pay for the movement/etc of my luggage.
-How much does it cost to get a VISA/Passport, and how would I go about getting one? (I live in Washington state, USA)
My answers to a few questoins...
These will allow you to understand where I'm coming from better...
1. What activities or hobbies do you like to do in your spare time? Why did you choose these activities/ why do you enjoy them? I like to go on the computer, play tennis, and bike. I enjoy and do them because when I work on the computer, I feel like I'm accomplishing great things, and can read free stories. I bike and play tennis because they're physical activities I can do without feeling ridiculous, and tiring myself too much. I also enjoy going places, like the mall, or stores I've never been to, just to have a change of scenery. I really love travelling, and I love car/plane/train rides. I hate running, swimming and boats, though.
2. What aspects of school do you like the most? Why? Learning new things in interesting ways, because I feel like I'm really involved in school and am developing into an adult. I don't prefer homework, however, but do appreciate time to study for tests. I like tests that are simple, and easy to pass without having to remember facts such as dates and how to spell foriegn names, or the like.
3. In what ways are your family important to you? How do they support you?
How is your relationship with each family member?
What are some things that cause tension in your family? How often does this happen?
How does your family deal?
What rules have your parents set for you? How do you feel about these rules?
My family supports me and cares for me, no matter how bratty I am. They allow me to eat what I like usually, and hang out with who I want to. I don't get along with my younger brother nearly at all, and I don't get along with my great grandmother (who I live with) much either, although we can stand eachother.
Tension is caused by selfishness, typically. "I want to go to the store!" "No, I want to rest!" and then a fight ensues. It happens a couple times a month, but we deal by just simply allowing the tension to fade. We don't bother talking because we'll just end up fighting usually (although this is only the case with my grandmother and brother, not with my older brother, father, or my dad's girlfriend).
My grandma sets the rules since I live with her, not my dad, and she typically does not allow me to stay the night at other people's houses, or stay out past dark. I cannot miss school unless I'm very sick, and I can't dress too elaborately (such as mild Harajuku girls), or I'm yelled at. I'm also not allowed to eat candy, or sleep too long usually, since she wants me healthy (I'm not, lol). I can't wear pajamas around the house all day.
4. What decisions do you make yourself? I usually decide how I wish to spend my time, and when I want to do my homework or play, etc. What clothes I'd like to wear, how I do my hair, what makeup I wear (none, lol)... Um... Who my friends are, and how I react to difficult situations (usually, I try to stay calm, but I don't always succeed).
5. How would your best friend describe you? Probably, she'd call me a whore. XD But jokingly, of course. She'd probably say I can be a bit ditzy, but I work really hard to accomplish what I want, and I try to consider everyone, even if I fail sometimes at being kind. I do my best, even if my best isn't as great as everyone might want. And... I'm generous with everything but large amounts of money, usually. I like to hang out with people and go places.
6. Have you ever been away from home and your parents for more than a few days? How was it different? Yes, years. Currently, I've not lived with my dad and Grandma Joyce for 5 years, and it's quite different. The rules are a sharp contrast, but it's nice. I liked being able to meet new people, and get to know my great grandma, since I had hardly known her before.
7. Tell about a time you were lonely. Tell about a time when you were challenged. I was lonely once when... Hmm, well, when I first moved here (age 10), I knew no one, and my great grandma was a bit mean in my eyes, since she wouldn't let me drink soda (lol!), so I felt like I had no one near me that loved or knew me. It was difficult to handle at first, but I just kept reminding myself that I would eventually make friends. I saw a girl down the street wave at me once, and I was so happy to have someone--who didn't even know me!--pay attention to me. That girl is my best friend now. I wouldn't be who I am now if I hadn't had that bit of loneliness early on, becuase I wouldn't know how to handle things when I felt like nothing around me was familiar. If I foreign exchange, I understand that I may feel this way again, but I trust myself to have the confidence and vigor to make new friends and adapt.
I've been challenged many times, and a major example is when I moved here (again! lol!). I had to adapt to new living conditions (before, I had lived in a luxurious, at least to the child I was at the time, three story house, and then I lived in a two bedroom duplex, sharing a room with my snotty brother) and I had to change schools. I had changed schools many times before then, but this time I had no one I recognised, and people who seemed quite different. The part of CA I lived in at the time was mostly Republican, whereas the portion of WA I live in now is very Democratic. This political difference was very obvious in what the people said and did when I came to school. I was ridiculed constantly, for my support of Bush (I no longer do, since I've been educated on the matter and am old enough to form my own opinions), the way I dressed, and how little I knew about what we learning. We were working on religions and placements of the states, etc. I didn't know any of that, since in CA, I was kept very ignorant. I felt terrible, but I worked my hardest to catch up to the class. I never quite reached their level, but I came close, and passed my classes with good grades. Over time, I've learned to deal with situations like this much better, so I can adapt much better now, I think. I'm not the brightest, by any means, but if I'm interested in something, I can really impress myself with what I know. I like that feeling, and all of that comes from being challenged.
8. What appeals to you most about becoming an exchange student? I really enjoy going places, and learning new things. I don't want to stay cooped up in America forever, and I don't know if I'll have an oppurtunity like this one ever again. Learning how a culture so different from my own would be so interesting and eye-opening, that I could not possibly pass up the oppurtunity. If I learn about how another culture works, and how people thier behave, I think I could be less influenced by a single society only, and I could develop as an individual much more. The knowledge I would gain from the experience would not only effect me, but people I talk to. I could possibly encourage another person to experience a diverse culture, or educate themselves about things beyond their local community, allowing more creative and interesting individuals in each nation. Probably, I'd bet I'd have an effect on the culture I visit, as well. Perhaps the ideas and norm for me would motivate (or disgust, lol!) someone in the society I visit, allowing them to develop into a better individual, as well. Also, having friends from a foriegn country would allow me to keep up-to-date on world news, not just national news, and how their society works. Japan in and of itself is probably one of the most interesting and fascinating cultures in the world, since it allows modern and historical places, dress, food, ideas, behavior, and more to work in harmony, without one overshadowing the other.
It's just so exciting. *rolls around*