Only a Few Hours Left in the U.S.

I was really panicking this morning. I had just opened up my suitcase, and after a few minutes of frantically stuffing rolled up clothing articles into my big roller suitcase, it was already full! I believe my heart rate actually increased just from stuffing my suitcase full of clothes, and I was unsure of how many more items I would need to fit into my navy blue frame pack, which is not all that big and cannot actually hold fifty pounds worth of luggage. But now I have compiled my toiletry articles and miscellaneous items, and it looks as though I will have no trouble stuffing everything into my frame pack to complete my packing.

Now that most of my packing woes are behind me, I can contemplate all the challenges that I will face in Japan. Japan's culture, I feel, is so nuanced, and it will be a real challenge to learn the correct behaviors for various social situations. I'll have to learn what types of gifts are appropriate, how to eat sushi and sashimi correctly, and what is appropriate to wear (my regular wardrobe - a t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops - is too casual for everyday activity in Japan). Furthermore, I feel such pressure to become fluent in Japanese. I know graduate students who have studied the language longer than I have, and they are not fluent. How can I expect to achieve fluency in nine months? I think I will need to reevaluate my original goal of fluency. I also feel that because I frequently speak the little Japanese that I do know with fellow students, people who have heard me speak assume that I'm quite capable when in fact I have a long way to go before I'll even be at an advanced intermediate level.

But I guess I can worry about that all when I arrive in Japan. Right now, I'm going to spend my last few hours at home with my parents.

Before Departure!

My blog title may seem a little idealistic, I suppose. But hey, I was under pressure to come up with a title in a hurry (not only because I don't have all day to sit in front of the computer and dream up a perfect title, but also because I need to be at the airport in less than thirty-six hours, and I haven't even opened a suitcase yet to pack!). However, the title does reflect my desire to learn much about Japan in the coming year. I'd like to delve into life there to such an extent that I feel as though Japan is my home, that I belong there, that I have "become one" with Japan. This, however, will be no easy feat if I think about what I already know of Japan. It is such a contradictory nation, and at face value it may give off certain impressions, which may easily dissolve into entirely different vibes the instant one digs a little deeper and explores Japan through books, conversation, or adventures in the country itself. So if you're interested in learning of my experiences during the next nine months of my life, please enjoy reading my blog and seeing Japan through my eyes.