Something I am hearing a lot of just now is... "not long now. Are you excited?"

Of course I am!

But... there is a lingering doubt. I passed my course but not the exam. In all honesty, I did not do as well as I should have, partly due to personal issues and partly because I didn't study as much as I should have. Speaking Japanese makes me so nervous, I can barely formulate sentences and... scary, foreign countries.

For years I have romanticised Japan. The beautiful, unusual Orient. I wonder how much I really know about life in Japan. There are so many acknowledged contradictions; modernity, tradition, cities, country, serious business, crazy television. But is that even a true representation? I know, I know I will see all of this soon. But I don't want to walk in blind. I want to have an idea of what to expect. But then I want to uncover Japan for myself.

Perhaps I am subconsciously contradicting myself to feel more at home when I arrive there.


And there's the logistics.

The boring stuff. Getting from Osaka to Kyoto, getting from the dorm to university. Booking flights. The weight limit for my luggage.

Is it stupid that I think about that? I'm moving out of my flat in Edinburgh currently and I couldn't even fit half of my clothes in my suitcase. Next year, I have to fit my basic needs, winter and summer clothes, shoes... into a suitcase. With a weight limit.

Japan has always been a dream. I am spending too much time remembering that dreams aren't always what they seem.

Applications, Applications and Waiting

Today, let's talk about the application process.

Applying to Kyodai (Kyoto University) was painful. Not because the application was particularly hard. All I had to do was fill out some basic information, have a medical exam and evaluate my Japanese and English abilities.

What was difficult was sending out my application in March and not hearing anything until July.

I guess I was at a disadvantage straight out, on my degree course nearly 20 people are going to other universities. Constantly I heard about other people receiving their acceptances when I had applied before them and still hadn't heard anything.

It got to the stage where I was concerned I had not made it into their exchange program.

That's the thing about these exchange programs, especially when they are an obligatory part of your course. It appears as though acceptance is guaranteed but no one ever actually says that. So not hearing anything made me think I was the first in the history of ever to be rejected.

Yeah, I'm that overly worried, paranoid person.

Once I finally received my acceptance letter, it was much the same thing again. Plus a housing form which was rather basic. You don't get to choose a preferred dorm (which is kind of annoying). They choose for you depending on where you will spend the amount of time.

Accommodation at Kyodai is very cheap. Especially compared to some of the other universities in Kyoto and there isn't much difference in price between the dorms. From the pictures I've seen, they do look quite basic but I don't think that's a bad thing. Maybe a little boring.

The deadline for sending the second set of forms is rather narrow (like the first one but I didn't have my sensei keeping me right with deadlines!). I received the forms on the 11^th of July and they were due on the 20^th. But I sent them an email and they were very understanding.

Another small issue is that when they will be sending you the Certificate of Eligibility in early September which is slightly frustrating if you want to fly to Japan early like I do.

But the forms are simple and all you really need to send is a copy of your passport, some small pictures of yourself and the filled-out forms.

Unlike other universities such as ICU and Ritsumeikan, Kyodai do not ask for financial statements or proof that your parents have ￥9999999999. And you don't need to get a chest x-ray unlike Seikei and Rits. And no need to write anything detailed in Japanese unlike Rits...

You do need to write something in english just explaining why you want to go to Kyodai, how you think the exchange will benefit your Japanese language skills and how multicultural experience have helped you in the past.

I found the application process long more than anything else. I would be lying if I said I wasn't slightly frustrated at how long it took them to get back to me especially considering I had no time frame. Kyodai themselves say that acceptances would be sent out on a “case by case” basis.

So! If you are applying to Kyodai, you need to be much more patient than I was!

Sarah

Since I was little, I have dreamed of going to Japan. I blame my brother who forced me to watch anime in the native language. Like many childhood interests, I grew out of anime but I never grew out of liking Japanese.

So at twenty, two years into a Japanese degree, I am heading to Japan, finally, finally. For one year I will be an exchange student at Kyoto University.

This blog will be a place to word vomit. I like to talk and like to ramble. But I want it to be useful. I could not find much information from exchange students at Kyoto University so I want to detail my experiences. From accommodation to classes to the areas surrounding Kyoto University itself.

I do not start classes until October and will not be leaving for Japan until September. In the mean time, I'll discuss my experience of the application process, getting a visa and finding a flight.

Sarah.