Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to ...

[katekat]

I don't think this trip is really about *work* but ... quasi work.  It's not about playing, that's for sure, although I'm also quite positive that there will be quite a bit of playing involved.  But I'm there to study, to learn more than I know about Japanese, to find resources, and to ... BE THERE.

It's completely unreal, though.  My brain doesn't know how to process the feeling of two months elsewhere.  Especially this kind of elsewhere.  My mom says I won't really believe it until I'm off the plane.  I tend to agree.

But I'm packed, zippered, dressed, and confirmed.  And I find I'm going to need more icons of Tokyo related things.  These are the minute details that my brain concentrates on instead of the larger ones, like that I'm not going to see my boy in person for ... 8 weeks.  But then again, at least we have skypes.

Traveling always changes you, and I wonder how I'll be changing this time?  Older than most of the students there (probably older than some of the IES staff who are going to be looking back on us).  Not really a conventional summer school student.  But since that's what I am, I know I'll occupy a weird space of not-quite-being what I am. 

It'll be an outrageous test of my listening skills to, to hear what doesn't get said in another language.  Even though there are these mythologies about Japan that people debunk on a daily basis, there are differences between our two cultures, major ones, and the sublty factor is one of them that I alternatively feel confident and afraid of.  Most of the time I like to think I'm fairly perceptive, but I know that I've got my own bull in a china shop tendencies.  Here's to keeping those all in check.

And, in case anybody's curious, here are the two places they tell us we're going on our field trips... SO cool:

Nikko

and

Kawagoe

Comments

[that_mireille]

*hugs you* Have a wonderful and safe trip. :)

[kaffee-spinne.livejournal.com]

Are you going to be posting from there? I went to Japan in the summer of '99 when I was a grad-student. I was older than the other folks in the language program.

Will you be staying with host-families or in a dorm or your own apartment? I'll be looking forward to hearing your perceptions - Feel free to ask me questions if ya feel like it. :)

[missus-grace.livejournal.com]

Bon voyage!

[katekat]

I'll totally be posting from there! Not to worry. :D And you did a summer progam like this too? Any last minute advice?

The way the program works is that we stay in dorms for most of the time, and then 1 week with a host family in Chiba (although sadly we don't have any info on them yet, which is frustrating, but they say we will after we land)

And so far it's still not quite real - when it sets in I may have to pick your brain (thank you for the offer)!

[katekat]

Thanks lady!

[kaffee-spinne.livejournal.com]

Try to get a smoke-free train-car from the airport into Tokyo if remotely possible.

25+ hours I think I spent on the airplane/airports, then 1 hour late night exhausted ride into Tokyo, and the car Reeked of old tobacco. It was not fun.

Izakayas are great places to eat - beer, appetizers, etc. I liked 'Tengu' which I think was in Shibuya.

Your first day or so you will have Terrible jet-lag. If you can, just sleep, eat noodles, drink beer and watch TV. And soak in ofuro. Then you will regain enough mental strength to start familiarizing yourself with how to tackle public transport.

Good luck. Oh, and konbini (convenience stores) will be your friend for many meal$. Great and inexpensive yaki-soba and iced coffees. Ah, natsukashii. Course you still need to go to real ramenya...just find little hole-in-the-ones that workers/sarariiman go to, not big touristy ones. Oh, and the curry dishes....Waaa...natsukashii.

Have fun!!

[kaffee-spinne.livejournal.com]

re: Tengu:

Tengu
Address 15-3 Udagawacho, Tokyo
Location Off Center Gai just past HMV on the right; look for the Tengu logo -- a red face with a long nose
Phone 03/3496-7392
Cuisine Sushi/Japanese
Price Main dishes ¥380-¥500


Founded in 1969, this popular chain is a great place for an inexpensive meal. Although it's a drinking establishment and located smack-dab in the middle of Shibuya's Center Gai nightlife district, it is more brightly lit than most Japanese pubs and is popular with young Japanese professionals. An English-language menu with photos makes ordering easy and includes all the typical bar food and snacks you'd expect: yakitori, sashimi, sushi, tofu, salad, gyoza, pizza, fried noodles, and more. And there's plenty of beer, shochu, sake, wine, and cocktails to wash it all down. There's another Tengu in East Shinjuku on Yasukuni Dori at 3-20-5 Shinjuku (tel. 03/3354-3046), open Sunday to Thursday 5 to 11:30pm and Saturday and Sunday 5pm to 4:30am.

Oh, and if only Wiki's were around back then:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Tokyo/Shibuya
I recommend printing/high-lighting info on these -

[so-sharlemaine.livejournal.com]

How exciting!

I think you're going to be the coolest person I know this summer ;-)

Be safe, but have fun too. Can't wait to hear from you there, and show us some pics, ok?

[kaffee-spinne.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah....if you do independent travel, stay at a budget hotel or ryookan, not a youth hostel. Youth hostels in Japan seem to have curfews around 9pm. This totally screwed up my trip to Osaka when I wanted to try and watch noise bands. :(

[katekat]

*glomps* thanks darling!!

[katekat]

Sadly we're doing orientation at a totally different place for the first three days, so I won't get to take it easy to deal with jet lag...

but thanks for the advice about Tengu (and subsequent link!) I will definitely find them, since our dorms are on the north edge of Yoyogi Koen and near Shibuya!

I'm hoping to do as many non-tourstiy things as I can (including finding places to eat) and so will keep your advice in mind! And luckily the night i get there there's a bus to our hotel, so i won't have to worry too much about stinky cab rides.

Thanks again for the hints though! they're great stuff!

[secondalto.livejournal.com]

Safe journey and have lots of fun!

[kaffee-spinne.livejournal.com]

Orientation at a hotel will actually probably be good. No school yet obviously. You'll probably be given lots of food and maybe even drinks. But more importantly you'll have 3 days of being safely snug w/in an orientation program, and the Japanese are always good hosts. I doubt you'll be asked to perform - you'll have 3 days of safe resting in a hotel to get your bearings I'm sure.

I arrived in Tokyo 2 hours late and missed my ride to my budget hotel - and the hotel owner thankfully came and picked me up!

[kaffee-spinne.livejournal.com]

LOL! This was funny: a Japanese English-language program about the budget hotel I stayed in years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVhfmeYmPSc

[lostgirlslair.livejournal.com]

::squeezes you silly:: You're gonna have tons of fun, and that eight weeks? Will feel like eight days. ::nods:: Have fun, sweetie, and don't worry too much, you'll be brilliant!

[mishloran.livejournal.com]

I am excited to hear of your tales! Especially since another flistian of mine has just got back from two week's holiday in Japan, too! Compare and contrast flistians' reactions to Japanland! New fun game for Mish!

It is a great opportunity, and also being outside of the usual student types is good as you get a wider and more detailed, I reckon, perspective on things. Good luck with understanding stuff, too! (Bring me back some tat!)

But seriously. Have fun and enjoy yourself and it'll all be good. I'm so envious! :D Enjoy!!! But don't forget about LJ!!!!

[literati.livejournal.com]

Have a great time, sweetie!! Stay safe!

♥

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

It's so exciting! *hugs* I'm thrilled that you're going to get this experience (and that we'll get to hear all about it *g*).

Hey, any interest in having me email you updates to the story I began posting today? I don't know if that helps your access to it at all, but I thought I'd offer. <3

[catvampcrazines.livejournal.com]

Oh sweet, I'm definitely jealous that you have that knowledge and you're going to be there for eight weeks.

I was born in Okinawa since my dad was in the airforce... and I'm asian (Phillipina and American), but not Japanese. lol. I still consider it home though and hope to live there one day. But, I definitely need to get my but in college and start taking some Japanese classes first. lol.

Anyways, this is very exciting and I hope you have an enriching and wonderful time!

[katekat]

lol - hopefully i can live up to that coolness label! and i promise, i will innudate y'all with pictures as soon as i take some! (still in LA right now, and so will take pics tomorrow, but that's not quite as cool as japan)

Thank you darling!!

*massive hugs*
kate

[katekat]

thanks sweet lady!

[katekat]

*squishes you like whoa!*

thanks darling! you know i'll be in touch, and you're right about the time passing! it's going to be a whirlwhind

*laughs*

[katekat]

i'll do my best with LJ darling, although access to the interwebs may be sporadic at best... but i'll be thinking of you no matter how often i can access or not!

and let me know how my japan measures up in the comparison!!

*massive squishy hugs*

[katekat]

Thanks lady!! I'm sure it's going to be fantastic! *hugs*

[katekat]

You'll probably hear more than you can stand, knowing me! But thanks for the encouraging words anyway.

And you are TOO sweet to offer to email!!! but if i have access to email i'll have access to lj, so i should be able to keep my hand in, at least keeping track of my favorite people (yes, i do mean to include you in that group). But thank you so much for the thought anyway! i'm grinning ear to ear at the prospect. ;)

[katekat]

You know, you don't actually have to know japanese to go - honestly, there's lots of ways even if you don't. Jet for one... if you ahven't looked into it, check it out. But still, i'll be thinking of you while i'm there!

*massive hugs*
kate

[catvampcrazines.livejournal.com]

Actually, I went there (to Tokyo anyways) with my bf a couple years ago. He'd been learning some Japanese for the trip and we managed to get around for a week. *G* Lol. So I know we could manage, but it's just a fun idea to actually have more knowledge when you're there.

[cordykitten]

Save journey! And have a good time :))

[dara-starscream.livejournal.com]

Travel safe, and update us when you can, okay? (waves a hanky)
-BJ