Hey Guys!
A long, long time since my last post. Here's some updates for you! I've been in Japan for about 2-3 weeks now! IT'S TRULY AMAZING!!!! Here are some important tips for all of you studying abroad: 1. Resident Card/Registering Residence Right when you enter Japan, you'll have to get a resident card. This is really, really easy. As long as you have your certificate of eligibility, you'll be fine. They'll give you a card with your face on it and important information when you go through immigration. This is important! You have to keep this with you at all times. Once you move into the dorms, you'll have to register your residence at your local ward office. This was super complicated, but luckily my RA took us! I was so thankful. If you don't speak or read or write any Japanese, you'll truly have trouble. Everything is written in katakana/hiragana, and there are few English speakers. I would HIGHLY suggest you take a friend or go with someone for this. Also, get a copy of it. You'll have to fill out ANOTHER form for this, it will cost 600 yen, but you'll need it for orientation. While doing this, you'll also have to register for National Health Insurance. If you don't have your student ID card with you, you'll have to come back so you can get the student discount (6000 yen vs 2000 yen). 2. Pocket Wifi Everyone I have met so far has a SIM card for their phone. However, I have a pocket wifi that I love! It was SO easy to pick it up at the airport. I went to a postal office at the airport, where it was ready for me to pick up. I went through this company: http://en.wifi-rental-store.jp/. It wasn't too expensive, and they give envelopes so you can mail it back when you're finished. I found this extremely useful for my family to use as well. If you do this, make sure you have an external battery charger! 3. Opening up a bank account This was pretty hard to do, but LUCKILY, the RA took us as well! Most of the dorms are by Hiyoshi Station, and that's where we made our bank account. You'll need to open one in order to pay rent. I would suggest opening one up near the Mita Campus (where your classes will be), because there are more English speaking workers, and they have experience with Mita students! I would go here as soon as you can, so that you can schedule an appointment. The banks get very crowded! Before you open one, get an ikan (at a 100 yen store)! You'll also need to know how to write your name in katakana or hiragana! side note: they do not take traveler's checks! 4. Moving into the Dorm My dorm is Plume IS! Moving in was super easy. However, it was very, very dirty. Typically, no one is allowed into your room; however, the dorm manager let my family come in! The dorm people are so friendly, and the RAs are SO helpful! I bought a whole bunch of stuff on the day I moved in: Pots and pans, water, CLEANING SUPPLIES, and more! 5. Orientations There are a whole bunch of orientations you'll get to go to. PAY ATTENTION, they have such useful information. In addition, make sure you look up what to bring (ID PHOTOS). It was so, so cool getting to meet all the other exchange students from around the world! You'll get to meet people from France, Austria, Taiwan, Montreal, Chicago, California, and more!
0 Comments
Hi Friends!
So, I got my Visa this past Friday! ** Please note: The hours for the Japanese Consulate are a little tricky. Online it says they're open from 9 am to 4 pm; HOWEVER, they are open from 8:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm! (I went to pick up my VISA at the Japanese Consulate at 3:05 PM but they closed). The Visa is like a sticker that's on one of the pages of your passport and your certificate of eligibility is stapled onto your passport as well!! Preparing my study abroad trip to Japan makes me so excited! Each step that I take in pre-departure really makes it more real that I'm going to be living and studying in Tokyo for four months! It's completely crazy and I'm so excited! Here's some of the previous deadlines I've had to accomplish in order to get here:
Previous Deadlines: September 7: Mix Nomination to Keio September 22: Keio Application Forms Due November 18: Mix Pre-departure Orientation December 12: Keio Acceptance Email in! December 18: Keio Dormitory Registration January 13: Contact Information Due for Certificate of Elegibility Notes: Classes: I've registered my MIX credits in MyUH! It's so weird having no school from January-March; however, it's great because I have more time to prepare for Japan! In terms of classes in Japan, I've contacted previous exchange students, and they have said that they didn't plan their course load until they get there! Thus, I won't really know what transfers over until March :( ! I don't know how I feel about this! Flight: I've booked my flight! I leave on March 16 and I'm so excited. Because a lot of my family members have not been to Japan, I'll be going up with my entire family plus my aunty and uncle! I'm so excited to experience it first hand with my family. VISA: I'm waiting on my certificate of eligibility to apply for my VISA. It should be coming in at the beginning of February or Late January. Once I get it, I'll update you guys! I hear it's a very easy process! Train Pass: UPDATE! My friend who has been to Japan several times has given me her Suica Train Card! I'm so excited. It honestly makes it feel more real that I'm leaving now that I have it! For more information about SUICA cards click here. I heard that the only way to reload it is by cash at train stations, so I'll have to load it when I get there. I also heard that it works on a lot of the vending machines! I'll probably load up a lot at once! I'm still going to get a commuter pass to school, since it will probably be expensive if I don't get it. According to Keio, I'll have to get it when I'm in Japan. Health Insurance: I've purchased the mandatory health insurance through MIX for TW Lord Insurance. This was a total of $143! However, I must also purchase Japanese National Health Insurance for the time I'm there. Dorming: December 18: Keio Dormitory Registration March 23-24: Dorm Move In Keio August 3: Move out I'm waiting on which dorm I get! I've applied to motosumiyoshi as my first choice. Click HERE for a youtube link of what it looks like (from a previous student's vlog)! I hope I get it! I'm so nervous. The dorm looks so private and big! I LOVE IT! The only thing that scares me is that it's a 45 minute commute to the Mita Campus. Things I must do: I really need to get cracking on more things and research more! Here's a list of things I have to research, which I'll update you guys more on in the future! - Banking - Commuter Pass - VISA - National Health Insurance - Booking my flight back - Pocket wifi - Places I want to go - How to get to school MORE! |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
July 2017
Categories
All
|