So you may have noticed that some random dude named Paul seems to have infiltrated Road2Japan.com and is tarnishing my lovely blog with his crazy insane wackiness and absurd claims of coming to Japan.

Lifelike representation of Paul

Well, he’s doing so because I asked him to.

Paul’s been a really good mate of mine for about 8 years or so now, grew up together, 13 houses apart.  Now he has decided to spend New Years Day here in Japan, and while he’s at it, join me and my crew on a backpacking trip around Japan.  So he’s hanging around for a month, whilst at the same time offering his thoughts and views before, during, and possibly after his visit to Japan.

Ok so now that I’ve attended classes for a good chunk of my semester, I’m thinkin i’ma write a detailed post about my classes and how Kansai Gaidai structures them.

Japanese classes are held in the morning, 4 x 50 minute periods between 9am and 1pm (9:00-9:50, 10:00-10:50 etc.).  English classes are held in the afternoon, 3 x 80 minute classes between 1pm and 5:20pm (some exceptions such as the Sumi-e class which I think is 2 hours long).  Also if we miss 30% of our classes for either subject – FAIL!

Spoken Japanese Class (Level 2):

Spoken Japanese class began as my scariest subject because, quite simply, i had to speak Japanese.  A lot.  My teacher is Naito-sensei, she’s a lovely lady who really assists the learning environment by never making you feel like a douche but always egging you on till you get the right answer, no matter how long it takes.  Which at first is daunting and even annoying because it might feel like she’s continually badgering you even when you don’t know the answer, but in the end it DOES help you learn, and she does it in a nice enough way.  Oh and yes, i’ll re-iterate – you WILL be speaking Japanese, no hiding, no flying under the radar.

The class size is only about 13 people or so (in my class) and she always asks you question using new & old grammar structures and vocab to then coax you into understanding and replying using similar new and old grammar structures whilst telling her about your weekend, your plans, or if you are busy this afternoon.

The road has ended!  And boy was it an adventure.  This episode of the Road to Japan will cover the final leg of my journey:  From the flight to the dorm.

As I sat in the airport this morning with my mum, step father and Amy-chan, things still didn’t really kick in.  I felt just as normal as usual, no excitement, nothing.  In fact, as I sit here in the computer lab in Seminar house 3 i still feel the same.  This is my new life.

The only thing that really stirred up some sort of emotion today was seeing Amy off.  She’s been super strong this entire time, never shed a tear, and was only ever excited for me, and she stayed strong this morning.  She was laughing and kidding around with me as she always does.  So when it came time to go past the 2nd baggage check thingo (passengers only) I said my goodbyes, hugs and kisses and made off for the queue.  Well… the queue was a little long so i joined the end of it and i was pretty much still in plain view of everyone that I just said bye to, so was Mitch.  So we stood there saying: “This is awkward, we just said bye but we’re right here…”.

Here’s the email i got:

Dear Mr. Varlet,

Please excuse our delay in sending this notification. We have received confirmation from JASSO that our scholarship application for you has been officially approved. Congratulations! In order to finalize the arrangements, after carefully reading the attached "Memorandum on JASSO Student Exchange Support Program (Scholarship for Short-term Study in Japan)," please confirm to us via e-mail as soon as possible whether you will participate in our program as originally scheduled. Please note that the confirmation of your participation in our program will denote your agreement to the conditions outlined on the attached Memorandum.

3 days 1 hour 35 minutes and 17 seconds to go… wow.  Now that it’s so close the reality of Japan is finally sinking in – and it’s hard to be excited about it.  Not that the reality is a bad thing! But the reality is just that: a reality.  At the end of the day, it isn’t going to be this fairy tale dreamo thing, it’s still going to be life, in a place completely different. Sounds awesome!  Buuut it’s going to be a new reality.  A new life.  And it starts in an airport, with no phone, hand drawn directions based off someone’s memory and about 23,000 yen in my pocket.  And I am meant to build my new life using these tools (or lack of).  Sounds like fun!

There are a lot of emotions coming up this week, good and bad.  Well… no not bad at all, only good.  I mean, i’m gonna miss people, but i don’t think that’s a BAD or negative emotion – it’s natural.  And i’m not sure where i’m trying to go with all this, but what I want to say is: no, i’m not excited, but i don’t think i could be, or should be.  I’m in a very good place, i’m at peace and happy i’m going to Japan, even a little scared now.  I feel i’m ready to leave Australia – but i still want every second of my remaining days to count.  I’m gonna miss this place.  Gonna miss the people and the random shit i get up to.  But like i said, come Saturday – it’s a new life, new people, and new EVEN MORE random shit.  It’s gonna be great, it’s gonna be hard, there’s gonna be high’s and low’s, and I want them all to hit me head on.

do do doo do… do do dodo doo… dodo doo do do… dodo do do doo do doo…

10 days left!  Things are slowly starting to sink in and a mix of excitement and deepening sadness are starting to kick in – which is good! Because for a second there i didn’t think I was human.  I went to Brent’s (looong time friend and drummer in both bands im in) 21st birthday party on the weekend.  There I got extremely drunk as I do, but in the morning everyone was awake and chatting away as they do… But then I left to go home… as you do… And like… I said bye to these people, the people i grew up around and they brought to my attention that I wouldn’t actually see them again till I return from Japan.

Now that’s what hit it home.  Because I stood there and was like “oh… yeah that’s right hey.. well… bye”.  lol I didn’t know what to say, clearly “bye” was not enough but I was so not prepared to say “see you in 9 months” to anyone yet.  They even actually surprised me with a going away cake! It was white with the big red dot in the middle: Japanese flag.

Money’s getting tough these days, but the lifestyle is awesome and relaxing.  The good thing about the money issue is that it’s forcing me to save badcore – which i’m happy about because i want to get into a good money-management rhythm before i reach Japan.

My cold is still persisting, it’s very mild, but it’s there – which is a tad irritating.  I’d prefer to be either dead sick, or healthy.  Not a fan of the in between. But i’m on the mend! And that’s all that counts.

Anthony Bourdain

As those who have been following my blog would know, i’m living in a tiny room that is in the same house as my older brother.  Let me explain quickly: The lady who owns this house (Karen), is renting her Garage to my brother, Richard (or Ish), and a tiny room to me.  Now my room would probably fit 4 times into the garage my brother stays in.  But in his garage he has Foxtel! (Satellite TV) Now I used to watch Foxtel like nothin else when i used to live with my Mum, keeping up to date with the latest in random shows like Attack of the Show, Man vs. Wild, London Ink, MMA/UFC and Anthony Bourdain’s: No Reservations.  All very different shows! But it’s good to have them back, it’s good to have the time to just chillax on my bro’s recliner and watch mind-numbing shows.  Something I haven’t experienced since I lived back at Mum’s place.

Alright, no mucking around – I’ve come to realise a few things recently. Realisation: I have a bung eye.

Yep, it’s true, and i just realised this.  Here’s a snapshot:

Exhibit A

HAHA OMG! So proud of that photo, epic-awesomeness! Yeah ok it’s not THAT bad, but it’s there! I swear!

Now onto “Other things”.