Yay! This post is just gonna be quick, and it’s to thank those who come to my blog, read it, and enjoy it (even those who don’t enjoy it – but i still think you’re crazy).  Why?  Because Road to Japan has just reached a new milestone!

These past 30 days has seen Road to Japan break the 1000 visits mark for the first time in Road to Japan history.  This is something i’ve been monitoring and eagerly watching.  So yes, this post is boring, I mean, it technically doesn’t involve any information or text that anyone apart from myself will find interesting.  But this is still a great way to thank those who visit this site.

So thank you all!  I sincerely appreciate it! It really motivates me to do more.  Also, don’t forget to comment! You can also keep track of my posts by subscribing to the Road to Japan RSS feed, it’s like a bookmarky thingy that updates itself whenever something new is posted, give it a go if you’ve never tried it before.

Hiroshima (and the surrounding area) was quite an experience.  It was great! However, I think what I had made of Hiroshima was what made it great – otherwise it might have been pretty average.  Read on!

Friday night I went out drinkin with a bunch of guys at the beer park right by my dorms.  It was good fun, had a bit to drink… a bit more… and more… ultimately I ended up going to sleep at 2am, to be woken with a hangover by Mitch at 6:15am – sleeping through my alarm.  I had to be at Hirakata Station by 7:33, the bus left the bus stop at 7:00am, and I had nothing ready.  My clothes were even still in the dryer downstairs!  I really didn’t think that through – guhhhh….

Anywayz, being the super human I am, I managed to slow down time and got myself ready AND made it to the bus stop with a couple of minutes to spare.  I needed food. And drink.  I was pretty hungry and thirsty, but didn’t have much time.. so! Convenience store! I grabbed a drink then spotted something potentially edible.  STEAM BUNS!

Yaaay! So excited I get to go to Hiroshima tomorrow.  I’ve heard great things about Hiroshima, apparently it’s a very beautiful city!  There I’ll be visiting the “Genbaku Dome” (aka Atomic Bomb Dome or Hiroshima Peace Memorial) which should be interesting.  But to top it off, there at the dome I’ll get to sit in on a little presentation/speech from an ACTUAL survivor of the bomb!  So that’s going to be very interesting and potentially moving.  Uhh.. ok so i’ll be honest, not really sure what else I’ll do there.  So i’ll have to do a bit of research tonight.  However I do know that i’ll be staying overnight in Hiroshima then heading to the Island of Miyajima on Sunday, which is supposed to be really nice.

Anywayz, expect a big post by Monday!  I’ll leave you with a video.

Wow… What a week.  The curve balls my life continues to throw at me are almost as bad as the one’s i send flying back.  But this is Japan, and everything i’ve given up is now allowing me to take hold of my dream with both hands, and run as fast and as long as i possibly can.  Half assing this trip would have made every sacrifice i’ve made completely redundant.

Japan is slowling starting to feel more like home – which is what i wanted.  I’m slowly getting used to the lifestyle, the people, the weather and even the routine of everyday life.  I love it here, and i cant wait to learn more about this country.  I feel i’ve already learned so much.

The past weekend was a long weekend as Monday, Tueseday and Wednesday were public holidays – YAY 5 day weekend!  It’s called “Silver Week” and the public holidays for Monday through Wednesday are “Respect for the Aged Day”, “Autumnal Equinox Day” and “Kokumin no Kyuujitsu”, respectively.  No real clue what they mean (except Respect for the Aged – self explanatory) or who celebrates it or HOW the celebrate it – but the long weekend was a much needed rest.  Rest from what? Well… processing Japan, its people, and its culture takes up a lot of energy.  It’s not bad! but… it’s not what I’m used to, and adjustment requires effort.  But i feel well rested and relieved.

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”.

30 days and 12 hours till this long ass road ends and i embark for Kansai Gaidai.  It’s kinda crazy that this 13 month endeavour of mine is gonna come to an end. But what can i say? Is it exciting? Yeah i guess… Do I feel accomplished? I suppose… Scared? Not really.

A moment of reflection.

This blog was created by moi to document my experiences throughout the application process, and of course my time in Japan.  But it was created for me.  So that i could look back and relive a very special time in my life.  However, things changed.  After reading other blogs i figured i wanted to provide other people the enjoyment of reliving someone else’s life experience.

Yeah that’s right, i’ve got an emoticon in my title… sorta.

So, down to 57.5 days till I leave for Japan – till i’m bound for “Kansai Gaidai University”.  Oh and what a crazy place it will be.  Everything has been brimming “Kansai Gaidai” these days, such as the “Kansai Gaidai Hub”, my little “Kansai Gaidai Blog”, socializing with the other “Kansai Gaidai Students”, and waiting for more “Kansai Gaidai Information” and instructions.  It’s nuts.

After talking to the other future students, my decision of which Seminar House to stay in has swayed to Seminar House 3.  That’s the apartment style one, it costs a little more but it has been decided that the extra money being paid is quite literally being put towards providing a little more “awesome”.  And no, too much cake is NOT a good thing – but you can never have too much awesome.

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.