That’s right! My Kansai Gaidai Application is in!

So yeah this is a bit of a milestone.  It’s been 10 months or so since I began my application to Kansai Gaidai (at the time it was just to Japan), and now it’s over!  Just have to wait for my acceptance package which should arrive in a couple weeks.  Then with that acceptance package, i’ll move onto my student visa.  I also have a mandatory exchange information session that I will have to attend in 3 weeks or so.

I’ve been carrying around all the documents for the past 3 weeks, and the 20 or so pages made my laptop bag feel a lot heavier than it should have.

It was odd… because the exchange people wouldn’t accept my application until I had all the papers – fair enough! However! I DID have all the papers apart from my Japanese instructors reference form, which my instructor was going to submit directly.  But they still didn’t want to hold onto my forms… well… I guess it does make sense, I didn’t want to hold onto the forms either! xD

But it really is a relief.  Like i said earlier, this application quite literally has been a year long assignment that has finally come to an end.  And to submit the forms really gives me a sense of achievement, you know, like I stuck with it all this way.  Now I just have to wait for the results.

Speaking of “sticking with it”… I really have mad some sacrifices for this Japan trip.  And I used to feel selfish for doing so.

In a previous post, I mentioned how I’m really not all that great with decisions – especially those that I can never be 100% sure if I’ve made the right decision or not.  The sacrifices I’ve made have affected other people.  Both my bands and my girlfriend are the major’s.  But everyday I feel a little less selfish.  I feel more confident that the decision I made was right.  Mostly because of the people who have been affected.  These people have supported me to no end.

My girlfriends response of: “YOU HAVE TO DO THIS!” and the willingness of the bands to work around and with me whilst I’m in Japan has made this decision feel like it was the right thing to do.  Ultimately the decision was selfish – the only person to gain is myself, but at the same time this is a once in a lifetime opportunity – I would be WRONG to waste it.

I feel like this blog is way too much of a downer for the current excitement I should be feeling.  I guess all these things are runnin back to me because I’ve finally done it and applied.  And lately it’s been sinking in.

Anywayz… change of topic, this is getting LAAAAME

So where to go from here???

Well I’ve already booked my flight which was completely wicked.  It was brought to my attention (after Mitch and I booked our ONE WAY tickets) that we may need return tickets otherwise we won’t be allowed to fly or something random like that.  So that got me worrying.  But I gave the Japanese consulate a call and it all checked out: armed with a student visa, i’m allowed in with a One way ticket!

There’s the mandatory information session coming up too.  My gf, whose been on a year-long exchange to Belgium last year, told me that they pretty much just try and scare you with all the dangers you have to look out for.  Dunno if this will be similar or not but sounds interesting enough.  Dangers? in Japan? Naaaah! You’re crazy Amy!! xD

Student visa! No idea how to get one of those yet, but i’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.  All I know is i need my acceptance package before I can get it.  I seem to have the understanding that my university will sort that out… but… again… I’ll cross that bridge when I get my acceptance package.

So what’s left? SAVE MONEY! Ha… I plan on bringing my keyboard with me (a schnazzy Korg M3) so I can continue writing music for myself and a couple other projects, as well as Before Nightfall (Who I will be collaborating with over the internet).  So i’l need to buy a flight case ($300-$400+), then pay for the baggage allowance ($240) so I can fly it over to Japanland sucks… Might see if I can find a more cost efficient solution.

Anywayz, this has been more than enough of an update.

Ciao for Now!