After arriving at Narita International Airport, I was anxious to make my way to University of Tsukuba campus and start my life as an official 学生 (student)! Unfortunately, that would take a lot longer than expected. In fact, even though we touched down around 3pm, we wouldn't make it to campus until about 8pm. While waiting at the airport, I was able to better acquaint myself with some of the other students and learn about their particular goals and interests. There were students from all over the world, from Slovenia to China and beyond. It was truly amazing to see such a beautiful rainbow of cultures and ethnicities all coming together to live and learn in Japan.
Eventually after wrangling everyone together, we all loaded onto a charted bus and took a 2+ hour bus ride to University of Tsukuba. In Japan, the sun begins setting around 4:30 and turns pitch black by 6pm. Needless to say, it looked as though it was midnight by the time we arrived at the University of Tsukuba and transversed our way through the gargantuan 636 acre campus to our dorm rooms at Ichinoya. When the bus finally arrived at Ichinoya dormitory, we were each greeted by our respective tutors who would help us with the basics of living in Japan - things like opening bank accounts, buying a 自転車 (bicycle) and 携帯電話 (cellphone). My lovely tutor, Mizuho, who is a wonderful aspiring English teacher, was gracious enough to help me to my room and take my friend Rochelle and I to eat our first authentic ramen (wherein I proceeded to commit a major faux pa by forgetting to say いただきます(loosely means: I humbly receive this meal) before inhaling my noodles!)
My first impression of my new living quarters was..."this is it eh?" The rooms were small, plain, a little dirty and obviously a few decades old. Believe it or not though, getting a room in this particular dormitory was actually like winning the dorm lottery. I was lucky enough to receive a room with air conditioning/heat, a small stove range and an even smaller bathroom inside - students in adjacent dorm buildings don't have any of these things and actually have to pay $1 per 9 min for their showers (and have to make it home before 11pm if they want their shower hot)! My room, which was on the 4th floor (no elevators) of the building, contained the following: an old metal desk, chair, wooden bed with hidden drawers, a blasphemously uncomfortable microbead pillow, a table lamp (which was broken), a wire storage shelf, a stove, sink, a bathroom with a shower attachment. I was most excited about the bathroom - it was nothing like I've ever seen before! At first glance, the bathroom looks like little more than a mirror and a toilet and a large sink. However, when you move the sink cover over the toilet, the entire room becomes a shower! Not only that, the hot water controls are on the outside of the bathroom. We went through 2 days of ice cold showers before we found out from our tutor that you had to press a particular button to make the water hot (D'oh!!).
Currently, having lived in this dorm room for the past 4 months, I can say without hesitation that it is like a second home to me. As I write this I am in Texas, thousands of miles away from Japan on a short holiday visit to America, and honestly all I can think about is missing my tiny little dorm room and my awesome life in Japan. I'll be back in Japan in a few short days and I am beyond excited!
じゃまた
Ashia A.
Monday, December 29, 2014
Thursday, December 18, 2014
First Days Revisited: #1 My Arrival in Japan
Before I launch into all the interesting things I've been getting into, I would first like to spend the next few posts revisiting the early days of my time in Tsukuba, Japan. So please relax, sit back and join these trips down memory lane!
Getting on the plane at San Francisco International Airport was, for me, a mixed bag of emotions. While I had been dreaming of this moment my whole life I was somewhat torn about the prospect of leaving my life in California behind. So there I was with the airport check in line in front of me and behind me, my poor Mom crying over watching her baby bird flutter away (being the youngest, I am always the baby ;o). For a fleeting moment I even pondered if I shouldn't go at all. But when it came down to it, I knew in my heart that I had to go and fulfill my dreams - who knows when this opportunity would come again? So I hugged my Mom tight one last time and then trumped forward. Onward to Japan, onward to my dreams!
The flight to Japan was very long, about 11 hours, and overall very pleasant. It was at the airport that I met Rochelle, another Sac State student who was also participating in the CSU IP program in Tsukuba, Japan. She and I became fast friends (and still are pretty close! Love that girl <3 <3) and sat together on the airplane. The only issue? I really wanted a window seat so I could look out the window and pretend that I'm flying through the clouds (because I'm 5 years old obviously)!. Rochelle luckily did have a window seat. The stewardesses adamantly informed us that we couldn't switch. We did anyway. This did not please the stewardesses. They made their displeasure to us clear in passive, yet hilarious ways - things like passing right over Rochelle when ice cream was passed out or offering everyone ice with their water but not Rochelle. Touché stewardesses. Touché. Of course we couldn't be defeated that easily and decided to borrow (steal?) their airplane blankets and cute airplane silverware in retaliation. HAHAHA take that ANA!!!
One day later (literally due to the time zone difference) we were in Japan and in awe. Yes in awe of just how hot and humid it was. I have never seen my hair poof up faster than when I got off that plane! Well, even with poofy hair, I was so excited to finally be in Japan!! I even took a pic to commemorate the awesome moment.
With hard work this could be you too!
じゃまた
Ashia
Getting on the plane at San Francisco International Airport was, for me, a mixed bag of emotions. While I had been dreaming of this moment my whole life I was somewhat torn about the prospect of leaving my life in California behind. So there I was with the airport check in line in front of me and behind me, my poor Mom crying over watching her baby bird flutter away (being the youngest, I am always the baby ;o). For a fleeting moment I even pondered if I shouldn't go at all. But when it came down to it, I knew in my heart that I had to go and fulfill my dreams - who knows when this opportunity would come again? So I hugged my Mom tight one last time and then trumped forward. Onward to Japan, onward to my dreams!
The flight to Japan was very long, about 11 hours, and overall very pleasant. It was at the airport that I met Rochelle, another Sac State student who was also participating in the CSU IP program in Tsukuba, Japan. She and I became fast friends (and still are pretty close! Love that girl <3 <3) and sat together on the airplane. The only issue? I really wanted a window seat so I could look out the window and pretend that I'm flying through the clouds (because I'm 5 years old obviously)!. Rochelle luckily did have a window seat. The stewardesses adamantly informed us that we couldn't switch. We did anyway. This did not please the stewardesses. They made their displeasure to us clear in passive, yet hilarious ways - things like passing right over Rochelle when ice cream was passed out or offering everyone ice with their water but not Rochelle. Touché stewardesses. Touché. Of course we couldn't be defeated that easily and decided to borrow (steal?) their airplane blankets and cute airplane silverware in retaliation. HAHAHA take that ANA!!!
One day later (literally due to the time zone difference) we were in Japan and in awe. Yes in awe of just how hot and humid it was. I have never seen my hair poof up faster than when I got off that plane! Well, even with poofy hair, I was so excited to finally be in Japan!! I even took a pic to commemorate the awesome moment.
With hard work this could be you too!
じゃまた
Ashia
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Long Time No See
久しぶり! It's been a while hasn't it? Well to start, I am very much alive. ANNNDD I am living in and loving JAPAN!! Yes I made it to Tsukuba, Japan!!! I apologize for the lack of posts from these past few months but I have been doing a lot of different exciting things and frankly I got just a tad bit (a lot) lazy. But I am back, and boy is there a lot to write about! Stay tuned for a barrage of posts varying from my first days at University of Tsukuba to my few trips around Japan (Tokyo Disneyland anyone?)
じゃまた
Ashia
じゃまた
Ashia
Sunday, September 21, 2014
How to Apply for Study Abroad and What to Expect
With less than 48 hours to go before I'm on a plane to Japan, I thought it would be a great idea to talk about how I got here. Deciding to study abroad was not a decision that I made on a whim - I spent many nights thinking about whether I should apply and then later preparing the application materials needed for the CSU-IP Program. It was not an easy task, but I would certainly do it over again.
With that said, let me tell you how it all went down.
First things first, I never ever thought I would apply to study abroad. I had it in my head that studying abroad was only for rich students with impeccable grades (as much as I want it to, this does not really apply to me) and it was therefore something that was just not in the cards for me. Even after completing 3 years of Japanese and Asian Studies courses, I still felt that I would not make the cut. It wasn't until I learned a friend of mine (who had been taking Japanese courses along with me) applied and was accepted to study abroad in Tokyo, Japan with the CSU IP Program ('13-14) that I decided that enough was enough. If she had the confidence to not only apply but also get accepted into this incredible program, then I could too. If I applied and failed, at least I would have tried. Sitting back on the sidelines watching others live their dreams was no longer an option- I had to get into the game.
So, I began compiling my application to the CSU IP Program. I talked with friends who went through the study abroad process, meet with the lovely study abroad adviser Janis, and had different people look over the many drafts of my application essay. I spent several months alone writing and rewriting this particular essay because I wanted to make sure my passion and excitement would shine through. I asked my Japanese professor and a Biology professor from my freshman years to write me letters of recommendation and was pleasantly surprised when both agreed without hesitation.
*My advice to prospective applicants is to not be afraid to ask a professor if they could write you a nice letter. If the professor is not too familiar with you, be prepared with a little bullet point list of interesting/impressive things about you that a he/she may include in their letter. Also make sure to email the professors every now and again after they agree to write your letter. Professors get busy and tend to forget to complete/submit the letters (from personal experience :)).
After the frenzy of completing my application, I then had to worry (a little) about the two interviews with professors on campus. This step can be either relatively easy or a little nerve-wracking depending on who happens to interview you. In my case both professors were easy to talk to and didn't hit me with any hard to answer questions (although one professor, who upon learning I had some knowledge of Japanese, pretended that our interview would happen entirely in Japanese!!! NOOO WAY I'm not that good yet!)
After the interviews are done, and as long as you aren't deemed insane by the Sac State committee, your application is sent to CSU IP for review by their committee. And the long wait begins. And by long I mean turning in your application on December 15th and receiving your acceptance letter in the mailbox around mid-MARCH. That's March with a capital M y'all!!! So yes the wait is nearly unbearable, BUT when I finally received that acceptance letter in the mail...I can tell you that it was one of the happiest days in my life thus far. I could not stop smiling and even skipped (Yes I skipped, and you will too!!) to class the next day :)
Of course following my acceptance there was much, much more paperwork and then several unforeseen circumstances on my part that put into question whether I would be able to go abroad at all - this is because just submitting an application and getting accepted would be entirely TOO easy.
But this I'll save that for another post. For now just revel in the fact that you have been selected among ALL applicants in the entire CSU University System. Read and then frame
that beautiful little letter on your wall. Hold it close and picture yourself in Japan (or wherever your heart desires). You have just passed the first hurdle and you are a few steps closer to the finish line.
じゃまた
Ashia A.
With that said, let me tell you how it all went down.
First things first, I never ever thought I would apply to study abroad. I had it in my head that studying abroad was only for rich students with impeccable grades (as much as I want it to, this does not really apply to me) and it was therefore something that was just not in the cards for me. Even after completing 3 years of Japanese and Asian Studies courses, I still felt that I would not make the cut. It wasn't until I learned a friend of mine (who had been taking Japanese courses along with me) applied and was accepted to study abroad in Tokyo, Japan with the CSU IP Program ('13-14) that I decided that enough was enough. If she had the confidence to not only apply but also get accepted into this incredible program, then I could too. If I applied and failed, at least I would have tried. Sitting back on the sidelines watching others live their dreams was no longer an option- I had to get into the game.
So, I began compiling my application to the CSU IP Program. I talked with friends who went through the study abroad process, meet with the lovely study abroad adviser Janis, and had different people look over the many drafts of my application essay. I spent several months alone writing and rewriting this particular essay because I wanted to make sure my passion and excitement would shine through. I asked my Japanese professor and a Biology professor from my freshman years to write me letters of recommendation and was pleasantly surprised when both agreed without hesitation.
*My advice to prospective applicants is to not be afraid to ask a professor if they could write you a nice letter. If the professor is not too familiar with you, be prepared with a little bullet point list of interesting/impressive things about you that a he/she may include in their letter. Also make sure to email the professors every now and again after they agree to write your letter. Professors get busy and tend to forget to complete/submit the letters (from personal experience :)).
After the frenzy of completing my application, I then had to worry (a little) about the two interviews with professors on campus. This step can be either relatively easy or a little nerve-wracking depending on who happens to interview you. In my case both professors were easy to talk to and didn't hit me with any hard to answer questions (although one professor, who upon learning I had some knowledge of Japanese, pretended that our interview would happen entirely in Japanese!!! NOOO WAY I'm not that good yet!)
After the interviews are done, and as long as you aren't deemed insane by the Sac State committee, your application is sent to CSU IP for review by their committee. And the long wait begins. And by long I mean turning in your application on December 15th and receiving your acceptance letter in the mailbox around mid-MARCH. That's March with a capital M y'all!!! So yes the wait is nearly unbearable, BUT when I finally received that acceptance letter in the mail...I can tell you that it was one of the happiest days in my life thus far. I could not stop smiling and even skipped (Yes I skipped, and you will too!!) to class the next day :)
Of course following my acceptance there was much, much more paperwork and then several unforeseen circumstances on my part that put into question whether I would be able to go abroad at all - this is because just submitting an application and getting accepted would be entirely TOO easy.
 |
| After many months of manhandling, my letter is sadly a little worse for wear. |
じゃまた
Ashia A.
Welcome to my blog!
Hello All! Welcome to my blog. My name is Ashia and I will be studying abroad for one year at the University of Tsukuba in Tsukuba, Japan. I am very VERY excited to spend a year in the country of my dreams and can't wait to share my experiences.
I decided to create this blog for several reasons:
- After spending many hours surfing the web for information on past student's experiences in the University of Tsukuba (or Japan itself for that matter), I realized that the pickings are very slim. I am the kind of person who wants all the specific details when I do something whether that be a school assignment or travel - I am the definition of an information sponge. Going to Japan for a year is a huge undertaking and I need to know everything there is to know about making this big transition. So, with next to nothing available on the internet I decided to create my own little website of important, interesting or just plain fun info and tips as I go. Hopefully any students planning to study abroad at the University of Tsukuba/Japan in the future will find this blog very helpful and informative.
- There is positively no information available for African American Women going to Japan!!! TRUST ME, I looked! As a African American women, I know that my experience in Japan will be quite unique from anyone else. I am going to a entirely new country where the people, food, clothes, and just overall lifestyle is, for me, a complete 180. What will I do if I can't find my size in clothes (I'm assuming being 5 ft 8 won't help me much)? What about my favorite food (Stuffed crust pizza and Rocky road ice cream...Enjoying my youthful metabolism while it lasts)? How the heck will I keep my hair looking somewhat cute in rain and humidity??? SERIOUSLY WHAT ABOUT MY HAIR?!
>>By the time I am on a flight back home I shall compile a list of African American friendly salons and underground railroad-like locations for us ladies :) That's a pinky promise y'all.<<
3. I have been waiting a very long time to make my dream of going to Japan come true and I want to remember everything. I want to remember every sight, sound, person and feeling that I experience while I am abroad so that when I come back home, I will be able to experience those moments over again.
In just 2 days I will be leaving for the adventure of my lifetime. I can't wait to share my experiences.
じゃまた :)
Ashia A.
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