I Love Technology

I'm leaving in just a few days and the fact that I will be in Japan for a year, starting on Friday, is a bit overwhelming. I keep saying my last "see you laters" (because saying "goodbye" seems far too depressing) to friends and family and it gets harder every time. As happy as I am about the experience that awaits me, I still cry and wish I wasn't leaving the people I love.

Waiting for the 10th to come reminds me of how I feel before I go on stage for anything. That stage fright feeling. Butterflies in my stomach, my heart is racing, my palms sweat. But once I get out there, I start to calm down and everything goes smoothly.

I'm sort of hoping that will happen once I get on the plane...or at least, get into the country.

And while I'll miss people here in America, I know it won't be so bad, thanks to the internet! I'm grateful for services like Skype, which allow me make free (video) calls with people who also have Skype. I'm still connected to home. :)

Granny, my mom's mother who lives with me, got her first look at Skype a few days ago. I went to another part of the house and we talked for a few moments, explaining the concept to her. She's 86 years old. All she can say is, "what will they think of next?" and laughs.

In other news, I've finally finished packing! 0__0 Oy vey!

Still Getting Closer

I just got my visa from the Japanese Embassy yesterday; it's right there in my passport. I feel so official now. :) I also received my welcome package from Aoyama Gakuin University (which from now on, I will refer to as AGU). Among its contents, was a map of the Tokyo Subway. Please observe (You can click on it to see a larger image):



And some people find the Washington D.C./Virgina/Maryland Metro map was hard to follow...

Anyway, I've started packing - a process that I do not enjoy. I'm trying my best to only bring two suitcases and make them as light as possible. It's working so far. But I'm waiting until it gets a little closer to the day I leave to pack it all in for real.

In the time being, I envy all my fellow college friends moving back into their respective campuses, especially those at UMD moving into Dorchester Hall. I went by yesterday to visit some of those people and was giddy from being inside the place. Best dorm in College Park, hands down. I'll be back there a few more times before I'm shipped off.