I feel like I say this as 2 months go on by but, I honestly believe these past 2 months have been the hardest I’ve ever had to face academically. The run up to exams, exam season and what I am now calling ‘the aftermath’ (aka semester 2) has been mentally and physically draining on so many levels there are no words to describe them. Never before, have I cried tears of joy by just reaching the pass mark; until now. It’s unbelievable how proud of myself I am just by passing this first semester and, just as I thought I had climbed the tallest mountain of them all, we see the timetable for semester 2 modules and realise its four times harder! (I honestly did not think that was possible, but clearly I have been proven wrong!)
It’s not just my academic achieve that has created some sort of marker in this time period for me though, if it was I most certainly would not be posting on this page for starters, something else has lead me to actually sit down and write up my thoughts and feelings and post it all on this log; my Japanese University Allocation has been released. For all of you who don’t know what that means, I now have a place I will be located in Japan, I have term dates, I have details of holidays and class schedules and accommodation to sort out and trips/holidays that I can plan etc etc etc. In other words, to cut a long story short, I now have a fixed goal to keep me focused through the turmoil that is going to be semester 2. If I pass this horrendously difficult course, I have a place at a Japanese University waiting for me. Excited does not even begin to cover my feelings right now.
So I have had many people message me over the past few days with regards to my allocation, I am very sorry I have not gotten back to everyone with the answers you wanted as I have been so crazily busy over this past week after starting back with normal, university classes, however, if you still have questions with regards to my year abroad that I have not mentioned on here, it is more than likely I do not know those details yet but will at some point within the next month. I don’t know how to go about answering everything so I’m just going to go one by one, bullet pointing answers to everything I’ve been asked and hope I cover it all, so here goes:
- · My allocation is at TUFS University (the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies).
- · No, it is not purely foreign students that study at the university.
- · No, it is not in the center of Tokyo, it is in a beautiful area on the outskirts of Tokyo (about 30minutes by train from the center).
- · No, my whole class is not allocated the same university (in fact there are over 15 different universities that we are all located at which ranges from Akita in the very North to Fukuoka is the very South).
- · Yes, I will be traveling all over Japan during my year and also visiting South Korea too (also maybe China if I can get my visa sorted).
- · Yes, I did have vaccinations. These included Japanese Encephalitis, Hepatitis A and Typhoid.
- · No, if you are thinking of coming to visit you will not need any vaccinations (if you are from the UK, other countries I honestly do not know, sorry). I only got these vaccinations because I am visiting South Korea or because I will be in Japan for a long period of time and travel a lot during this time also.
- · No, I did not get any of my choices in Japan that I asked for, yet I am more than happy with my allocation.
- · Yes, I am ecstatic and thinking very positive about the year and cannot wait for it to begin. (I honestly cannot believe this is really happening, I’m such a baby I cry all the time with happiness to know this is finally a reality – cliché I know I hate myself for saying it but it’s true.)
- · I will be in Japan from August 2017 to August 2018.
- · No, I will not get to come home for Christmas. (This is something I have grown to not bother me really as shocking as this sounds to quite a lot of people in the West at first.)
- · My plane tickets will be booked around the mid-end of June after my second semester results have been released.
I think I have answered everything that I can at the moment. I will keep you all posted as to precise dates I will be leaving and what I will have to take (also of course if I actually pass my second semester because I have that to conquer before even making concrete plans in Japan) etc. If you got this far down this blog, thank-you so much for reading and taking an interest. I’ll try keep you updated with any big changes, struggles or achievements that are heading my way, including any important year abroad details I receive (for anyone who is interested or looking into ever doing a year abroad, particularly in Japan). All that’s left to say is here’s to another semester – let’s hope it’s as successful and productive as the last!
Thanks again!
– Alice Xxxx