The title of this blog more or less explains my circumstances, so I’ll just add a little detail by saying that I’ll be in Kyoto starting early September, 2010, continuing through until late April, 2011.  I’ll be attending classes (taught in English) at Doshisha University and staying with a host family.

I’m keeping this blog because I’ve been told that it’s a good idea, because it helps you catalog your thoughts, emotions, experiences, etc.  Plus I love telling stories and discussing my life, which I don’t really do that much because talking about yourself too much is pretentious, and many of the stories I have to tell are about my own life, so there you go.  Anyway, that’s what this blog will be: my experiences in Japan.

I thought I should start because I’m beginning my preparations for my departure.  At the moment I’m nervous and a bit anxious.  I received information on my host family earlier this month, and I freaked out.  I have a year of Japanese language experience, whereas most people on this program have two.  On top of that, I’ve forgotten most of what I learned over the summer, so you can understand my fear and anxiety when I couldn’t form a sentence more complicated than “people are big.”

Since then I have started a regular studying schedule, and it’s coming back to me rather quickly.  But re-learning Japanese is only one of many worries.  I have to make sure I have the right clothing, I have all the electronics I’ll need, I need to find gifts for my host family, I’m being pressured to contact them since I received a letter from them, and I just remembered I need to get textbooks for my classes.

I’m whining too much.  I’ll stop now.  I’ll get everything together in time, I always do, somehow.  I probably won’t post again until right before I leave, since all I have to do is prepare, and my feelings on the subject aren’t likely to change much.

Well, until next time!

-Shimon