Panic Attack

I just submitted my application...

I'm still not sure how I feel about my paper but I put my heart into it so I hope that it shows.

I finished my last exam yesterday, I just submitted my essay, and I returned my books (yay! money!). Now...Fun time :)

Send Me to Japan Please! (^-^)

My interest in Japan began when I was 8-years old and I met Maki, a Japanese exchange student my grandparents took in while she was in college. I had never met anyone so exotic or foreign compared to myself before then, let alone the interesting items that she brought with her. Since then my fixation with Japan has grown into a passion for the language in which I’d like to incorporate into my career after college. I have made a great effort to learn as much as possible about Japan since I was 8-years old. I started taking Japanese language courses in high school and since my sophomore year of college, I’ve been involved in two different Japan clubs. I’ve had the opportunity to make many new Japanese friends who I’m able to practice casual conversations with as well as learn about their culture.
In the past several years, I have involved myself with as many opportunities concerning Japan as possible and yet, I still have not experienced it enough. I began taking Japanese language courses in high school and although it is one of the most difficult languages I’ve ever studied, I enjoyed every minute of it. Unfortunately, Kalamazoo Valley Community College did not offer Japanese so I earned my Associates degree in one year so that I could attend a school that did. It was after going an entire year of not studying Japanese that I realized that it was something that I truly loved and wanted to continue to study. Since I have been a student at Western Michigan University, I have done everything possible to immerse myself fully into studying and learning about Japan. I joined Japan Club within the first few weeks of the semester and made many new friends who shared my love of Japan. With every new experience, I became more and more captivated with Japan and the language. I joined the Japan Club Promotion Team to help get other students involved in Japan Club and I was a part of this year’s Ja pan Festival. I believe that studying abroad in Japan would not only be a great learning experience for me as well as beneficial to my future career, but that it is just the beginning of all the fascinating things I will discover about Japan.
“A place to establish one's destiny.”
After carefully reviewing and studying each sister university, I know that Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto is where I would like to study next year in Japan. The quote above is what I came across when researching about Ritsumeikan. As cliché as it may sound, I found it to be inspiring and more of an indication that Ritsumeikan was where I need to be. One of my main reasons for believing that Ritsumeikan is the right for me is because it is well known in Japan for having the best international relations program. My interest in Japan expands over many different topics but my main interest concerns the relationships that have developed between Japan and other countries. My main career goal is to help improve these relations and hopefully make a positive and constructive difference in the future. I would like to work in a field with the goal being to help build these kinds of relationships. I believe that studying at Ritsumeikan will not only help me to achieve this goal, but also the experience of interacting with foreign students, learning and coming to understand their culture up close. My second reason for wanting to study at Ritsumeikan is for the fact that it is located in Kyoto, one of Japan’s oldest capitals. I firmly believe that it is important to understand and learn about Japan’s history to see how it has evolved into what it is today. I would love to study in Kyoto and have the chance to explore some of Japan’s oldest, original historical sites as well as to observe the culture it offers. As scary as it would be to go to foreign country, especially one as different as Japan, I’ve wanted nothing more in the past several years than to be thrown in and completely immersed in Japanese culture and lifestyle.

Is sleep truely necessary?

So...I just wanted to say that I haven`t slept yet. I woke up at about 11:00 A.M. and I haven`t slept since. I think I got about 8 minutes? Hehe. But exams are tomorrow and I`m very nervous about them. Who would give me 3 exams in one day? :( sad...

Okay--I will go study some more! Good luck!

Ritsumeikan "place to establish ones destiny"

"Some die young, as some live long lives. This is decided by fate. Therefore, one's duty consists of cultivating one's mind during this mortal span and thereby establishing one's destiny.

I found this quote on wikipedia.com while looking for information on Ritsumeikan. The first sections talks about how Ritsumeikan got it's name and this quote by Mencius, a Chinese philosopher. In short, Ritsumeikan means "place to establish ones destiny". As corny as it may sound, I'm taking this phrase to heart and I only feel more encouraged that Ritsumeikan University is the right place for me to go next fall if I get accepted. Hmm...a thought just occured to me but I think I'll keep it to myself =D
In the past 24 hours I learned a few things...
1. Never take a nap late in the day. It just completely messes up your sleep schedule =p
2. Don't get sucked in by procrastination, laziness, or a 24/7 computer lab!
3. Don't take caffeine pills PLUS coffee WITH espresso. It just never ends well and it's a good couple of hours until most of the nausea and pain wears off.
That's what I learned...although I swear I learned this lesson several months ago and most of these things are just common sense. My plan tonight is to do A LOT better even though sadly, I'm in the computer lab (again) and it's after midnight and I haven't really done enough work to feel satisfied with allowing myself sleep (again). I will hopefully be allowed to celebrate with everyone though after everything is said and done! I hope...
Good luck to everyone who is going to be in the BC all night studying or writing papers or compositions in other languages. I'm going home to be productive (and watch Sailor Moon, courtesy of Andy!)

P.S. I promise to get your Sailor Moon set back to you Andy! I'm through the first 4 dvds and I'm sure that I can finish the rest before the weekend is done. Get some sleep!

Snow, finals, and the anticipation grows...

I never imagined that this semester would pass by so quickly! But it's been a good semester with lots of fun memories and a ridiculous amount of hours spent studying and preparing to study abroad next year. Everyone who knows me knows that I love Japan. If you don't know me it's probably the first thing you'll hear come out of my mouth! Anyways, I've been preparing my application to study abroad in Japan next year and the deadline is quickly approaching. Luckily, I have almost everything done except for some minor things. I'll just be so happy when it's all in...and that's when it'll hit me that I have about one month to prepare for the interview...the dreaded interview.
In the first week or so of January there will be an interview with everyone who submitted an application to study abroad next fall for the full academic year. I would be nervous regardless, but there will be 5 people interviewing me about why I want to go and why I think I should go at the same time. I am required to speak as much Japanese as I can until my brain gives out and the rest of it will be in English I assume. Ayla and I plan on spending all break studying and practicing conversing in Japanese so by the time our interview comes around, we won't be stuttering and pausing (although I would say Ayla is MUCH better off than I am with it!) We will find out later that day, or at the latest by the end of the week, whether or not we're going and which university we'll be going to. My top choice is Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto. I would love to study in Tokyo too but I'm sure that I'll be happy anywhere as long as I'm in Japan. My other two choices would be Rikkyo in Tokyo and I think I'm going to put Keio as my third but I really hope that I get to go to Ritsumeikan.

After what I've been hearing about the number of applicants being really low, I feel more confident that I will be able to go next year but still, it's SO nerve-wracking! I hope that I get in...