The Countdown Begins...: Retroactive Post from Myspace

Actually, the countdown officially began yesterday, since I had one week to go at that point, but I was too lazy to post. For those of you who haven't seen or talked to me in a while, you might be wondering what it is that I'm counting down to. The answer is that in less than one week, I will be in Japan, Nagoya to be specific, where I will be living for the next three months.

I'm going to be living with my aunt and uncle there, where I'll mostly be sightseeing and being a tourist. I'll also try to volunteer at the local school as a tutor or something, since part of the reason why I am going is because I've applied to the JET (Japanese Exchange and Teaching)Program, which involves teaching English in a Japanese elementary, junior high or high school for a year.

This is a huge deal for me, since it will be my first international traveling experience, save for my immigratory trip from the Philippines to the US when I was three, and my wanderlust is such an integral part of my personality that I can't remember when I didn't want to travel. However, now that it's finally happening and I start preparing for my trip, my life seems to take on this surreal aspect to it. I can't believe that in 6 days, I will be in Japan, surrounded by its culture, its people, its language, its architecture, everything that makes it Japan and not the United States.

I am a mess of emotions right now. I am nervous about traveling to Japan with very little knowledge of the language; I'm excited about finally fulfilling one of my dreams; I'm sad that this means that I'm leaving my friends, family and boyfriend; I am a bit overwhelmed by all the things that I need to get ready before I go there, and in the background is anxiety about whether I am going to get into the JET program based on my application and my interview at the Consulate this last Wednesday.

Anyway, for anyone that is interested in hearing about my travels in Japan, I'll be posting blogs while I'm there, but feel free to email me if you ever want to see what's going on. For everyone that I've already said good-bye to, I just want to say thanks for celebrating with me and know that I'll miss you guys a ton; and for those that I have yet to see one last time, just know that I'm looking forward to it.