I love food. I love to cook, and I love to eat, so, naturally, I am looking forward to the cuisine of Japan. Most people are probably familiar with Japanese foods like sushi or tempura, but there are many more foods that I have read about or even tried in the U.S. which I am looking forward to trying when I get to Japan. In my researching, I have learned that Japanese cities have certain foods that each one is famous for. It's like how Philadelphia is famous for the cheese-steak or how you have to eat a Chicago-style pizza pie when you go to Chicago. My future residence of Nagoya, Japan has some famous foods, too. Here are a few that I've discovered:
Tenmusu
Tenmusu is an onigiri stuffed with shrimp tempura. In English, it's a rice ball stuffed with fried shrimp and wrapped in roasted seaweed. What's not to love?
Tebasaki
This is Nagoya-style chicken wings. Fried chicken wings with a soy-based sauce. Apparently, there are two rivaling restaurant chains that claim to have the best tebasaki. I am totally okay with trying both, and loving each of them equally.
Misokatsu
Katsu is basically a pork fritter, and miso is a soybean paste you may have had in the form of miso soup at U.S. sushi restaurants. Misokatsu is a pork cutlet covered in a miso-based sauce. I even found the website for a major misokatsu restaurant in Nagoya! Check out Misokatsu Yabaton. Looks a little weird, but sounds sOoO goOod.
Hitsumabushi
Ok, so, up until now, things have basically been Japanese versions of foods we typically eat in the U.S. (fried shrimp, fried chicken, fried pork,...) Here's where things might get weird, but stay with me. Hitsumabushi is a bowl of rice and freshwater eel. Don't say "EEW"! Eel is so tasty! It's super rich and tender and delicious, and like everything I've ever eaten at a sushi restaurant here, I hear it's way better in Japan. I cannot wait to eat some!
And all of that is just the tip of the iceberg. There's so much more to eat and discover. While I'm there, I'll be sure to let you in on all of my yummy discoveries, and even the ones that are less than yummy.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
どうして日本語？Why Japanese?
Ugh, the assignment posts are pretty lame O.o I decided I will not subject the public to any more of those. Instead, I'm going to submit assignments separately and blog about things that I think people might actually be interested in.
Let's try this again:
I have been learning Japanese off and on for a few years now, and one question I often hear is "Why do you want to learn Japanese?" The short answer is "I dunno. I just like it," but most people aren't satisfied with that, so I've been thinking about it a lot and I've come up with some ideas about why I find Japan and Japanese so fascinating.
Many people I know started learning Japanese because they love anime (Japanese animation) or manga (Japanese comic books) or Japanese music (J-rock/J-pop). I like to watch anime, read manga, and listen to J-pop because I like Japan. I find the pop culture interesting, but it is not what got me started on my Japan-ventures. I think it started with a general interest in Asian cultures and how different they are from the U.S. First, I was fascinated by Japan's history and cultural traditions (Samurai! Kabuki! Tea! Geisha! Ninja!). Next, I got interested in Japanese pop-culture (Harajuku fashion! Hello Kitty!). And when I was able to minor in Japanese at Illinois State University, I couldn't resist.
After studying Japanese language and culture for some time, I began to realize that I identify a lot with them. A few examples:
~Japanese are generally very polite and modest. I feel uncomfortable at the thought of doing something bold and showy, and I don't like to get too much attention.
~Japanese are generally perfectionists. There is only one way to do pretty much anything from correct stroke order when writing to the correct way to hold chopsticks. I am not quite this particular, but I typically feel like there is a best way to do things, and if you're going to do something, you may as well do it right.
~The Japanese make everything into an art. Ikebana flower arranging, calligraphy, dance, martial arts, sushi... in pretty much any field, there are people who have dedicated their lives to perfecting that craft and attaining a certain aesthetic. I also believe that if you're going to do something, you may as well do it beautifully.
So this is kind of what I mean when I tell people "I wanna go to Japan 'cause, well, I just think it's awesome." This is also why I have decided to go back to school to try and make Japanese a career. I mean, hey, if I enjoy it so much, why not try to make money with it, too? Don't you think?
Anyway, I fly out in less than a month, which should mean that soon I'll have cool photos and fun stories and not just vaguely coherent ramblings...so you have that to look forward to ^-^
Let's try this again:
I have been learning Japanese off and on for a few years now, and one question I often hear is "Why do you want to learn Japanese?" The short answer is "I dunno. I just like it," but most people aren't satisfied with that, so I've been thinking about it a lot and I've come up with some ideas about why I find Japan and Japanese so fascinating.
Many people I know started learning Japanese because they love anime (Japanese animation) or manga (Japanese comic books) or Japanese music (J-rock/J-pop). I like to watch anime, read manga, and listen to J-pop because I like Japan. I find the pop culture interesting, but it is not what got me started on my Japan-ventures. I think it started with a general interest in Asian cultures and how different they are from the U.S. First, I was fascinated by Japan's history and cultural traditions (Samurai! Kabuki! Tea! Geisha! Ninja!). Next, I got interested in Japanese pop-culture (Harajuku fashion! Hello Kitty!). And when I was able to minor in Japanese at Illinois State University, I couldn't resist.
After studying Japanese language and culture for some time, I began to realize that I identify a lot with them. A few examples:
~Japanese are generally very polite and modest. I feel uncomfortable at the thought of doing something bold and showy, and I don't like to get too much attention.
~Japanese are generally perfectionists. There is only one way to do pretty much anything from correct stroke order when writing to the correct way to hold chopsticks. I am not quite this particular, but I typically feel like there is a best way to do things, and if you're going to do something, you may as well do it right.
~The Japanese make everything into an art. Ikebana flower arranging, calligraphy, dance, martial arts, sushi... in pretty much any field, there are people who have dedicated their lives to perfecting that craft and attaining a certain aesthetic. I also believe that if you're going to do something, you may as well do it beautifully.
So this is kind of what I mean when I tell people "I wanna go to Japan 'cause, well, I just think it's awesome." This is also why I have decided to go back to school to try and make Japanese a career. I mean, hey, if I enjoy it so much, why not try to make money with it, too? Don't you think?
Anyway, I fly out in less than a month, which should mean that soon I'll have cool photos and fun stories and not just vaguely coherent ramblings...so you have that to look forward to ^-^
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Financing Study Abroad
In this assignment, I am supposed to research my costs and plans for covering costs. I have done most of the leg work already,
and I think this information could be pretty useful for anyone planning on studying abroad in Japan.
Using the information from my host university's website, I calculated all of my fees and estimated costs of living, and I accounted for tuition, transportation to and from Japan, and things like insurance. It ends up being a pretty big, scary number! I have taken out student loans, but even that is not quite enough to cover all of my expenses. Also, I do not qualify for federal funding such as the MAP Grant. Luckily, my study abroad advisor helped me find and apply for these scholarships:
1. Boren Award
www.borenaward.org
This is a really intense application process, but the award funds your entire study abroad program. The only stipulation is that you have to spend a certain amount of time working for the U.S. government in a field contributing to national security. Anyone can apply, but they have a preference for students who want to learn less common languages or travel to less popular locations.
2.Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
This scholarship application is part of the application to the Nagoya University Program for Academic Exchange. You apply for both at the same time, but if you're accepted to NUPACE, you aren't necessarily guaranteed the scholarship. This award provides a monthly stipend of 80,000 Yen during your entire program.
3.Freeman-ASIA
www.iie.org/freeman-asia/
This is an award for students wanting to study in an Asian country. The award is up to $7,000 for one year, and in return, the student must do a service project at their home university to encourage more students to study in Asia.
4.Bridging Scholarship
www.aatj.org/studyabroad/scholarships.html
The Bridging Scholarship is an award from the American Association of Teachers of Japanese. It is an award of $4,000 for students planning on studying in Japan.
5.Morgan Stanley Japan
www.aatj.org/studyabroad/morgan.html
This is for juniors and seniors at US universities with an interest in policy, economics, or international finance who have been accepted for study in Japan. You have to fill out the Bridging Scholarship application and also write an essay on an a designated topic. Only 2 students are selected for their $7,500 award.
I applied for all of these scholarships, and I was awarded the JASSO and the Bridging Scholarship! It was pretty disappointing to read the other 3 rejection letters, especially after all of the work involved in the Boren Award and Morgan Stanley, but I'm still thankful for what I did get.
I already received my check from the Bridging foundation, so I was able to purchase my plane ticket and take care of prep-related expenses. Student loans should take care of tuition costs, and my savings and the JASSO should cover nearly everything else.
PS: I got the info for these scholarships when I applied for the 2012-2013 academic year, there may be some changes in future years, so make sure you check the websites.
Using the information from my host university's website, I calculated all of my fees and estimated costs of living, and I accounted for tuition, transportation to and from Japan, and things like insurance. It ends up being a pretty big, scary number! I have taken out student loans, but even that is not quite enough to cover all of my expenses. Also, I do not qualify for federal funding such as the MAP Grant. Luckily, my study abroad advisor helped me find and apply for these scholarships:
1. Boren Award
www.borenaward.org
This is a really intense application process, but the award funds your entire study abroad program. The only stipulation is that you have to spend a certain amount of time working for the U.S. government in a field contributing to national security. Anyone can apply, but they have a preference for students who want to learn less common languages or travel to less popular locations.
2.Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
This scholarship application is part of the application to the Nagoya University Program for Academic Exchange. You apply for both at the same time, but if you're accepted to NUPACE, you aren't necessarily guaranteed the scholarship. This award provides a monthly stipend of 80,000 Yen during your entire program.
3.Freeman-ASIA
www.iie.org/freeman-asia/
This is an award for students wanting to study in an Asian country. The award is up to $7,000 for one year, and in return, the student must do a service project at their home university to encourage more students to study in Asia.
4.Bridging Scholarship
www.aatj.org/studyabroad/scholarships.html
The Bridging Scholarship is an award from the American Association of Teachers of Japanese. It is an award of $4,000 for students planning on studying in Japan.
5.Morgan Stanley Japan
www.aatj.org/studyabroad/morgan.html
This is for juniors and seniors at US universities with an interest in policy, economics, or international finance who have been accepted for study in Japan. You have to fill out the Bridging Scholarship application and also write an essay on an a designated topic. Only 2 students are selected for their $7,500 award.
I applied for all of these scholarships, and I was awarded the JASSO and the Bridging Scholarship! It was pretty disappointing to read the other 3 rejection letters, especially after all of the work involved in the Boren Award and Morgan Stanley, but I'm still thankful for what I did get.
I already received my check from the Bridging foundation, so I was able to purchase my plane ticket and take care of prep-related expenses. Student loans should take care of tuition costs, and my savings and the JASSO should cover nearly everything else.
PS: I got the info for these scholarships when I applied for the 2012-2013 academic year, there may be some changes in future years, so make sure you check the websites.
A Personal Profile
These first few entries will be assignments that I need to enter on my "info log". Some are more interesting than others...
Profile Information
Fill out as much as you'd like - at least a sentence for each item, or answer none or not applicable to the ones for which you don't have an answer.
Top Ten Reasons to Study Abroad
Start by reading the top ten, and delete one reason that has the least relevance to you. Write a sentence for each reason that describes how you feel about it, or how study abroad might affect you in this way. Prioritize them in order of importance to you.
1. See the world (or at least a part of it).
I have always been interested in traveling and seeing the world, but it can be difficult to find the time and the means. Studying abroad is a great reason to save up and make it work. Plus, studying there for one year allows me to get to know Japan better than an average tourist.
2. Learn a language in the country where it is spoken.
Japanese is not widely spoken in many places outside of Japan. I am thankful for my Japanese friends in the U.S., but living there is the best way to improve my abilities.
3. Resume builder.
Having experience in a different culture and having strong Japanese language skills should help make me more marketable in international business.
4. Make connections that can last a lifetime.
It gives me a chance to network with other students, teachers, and professionals.
5. International travel and study are fun and exciting.
This one is pretty self-explanatory, I think.
6. Learn about yourself and gain independence.
I like to think I'm pretty independent and know myself pretty well already, but I've never lived and studied overseas by myself before, so maybe I'll learn something new.
7. Gain perspective on your own country and culture.
I'm interested to see what people from outside of the U.S. view our country.
8. Programs work with any academic program.
I will definitely get credit at SIUC for studying abroad, and my academic advisor tells me some of that credit should count toward my major, so that's a plus. This less important to me, though, so it's at the bottom of the list.
9. Studying abroad is a life-altering experience.
All of the points above are reasons why.
Anticipation and Expectation Exercise
A. What are the five things that you are most looking forward to about studying abroad?
Overcoming shyness so that I can interact and make the most of my time in Japan.
Goal Statement
Write your Goal Statement. Think about your own ethnicity and heritage and what special reasons you may have to study abroad. Write at least two paragraphs outlining how you want your study abroad experience to personally affect you in terms of personal growth, global awareness, and diversity.
I do not typically consider myself to have much in the way of ethnicity and heritage. For a U.S. American, I am a pretty average white, middle-class citizen. It is for this reason that I think studying in Japan will be a great opportunity for personal growth and awareness. There are very few Caucasian people in Japan, so I will quickly have to adjust to being a minority.
In terms of global awareness, I have never spent much time outside of the U.S., but I try to keep an open mind and be aware of global issues. I look forward to spending time abroad and learning first-hand about attitudes towards my country and it's people.
Discussion Topic
I would like to discuss the question from above "What are the five things you believe you will miss least from home when abroad?"
I could not think of a single answer. I have never thought to myself "I can't wait to get away from that." Also, from my understanding, Japan is similar to the U.S. in many ways, so most of the inconveniences I find at home will likely still be an issue there. I believe I will not know what I miss the least until I go to Japan, return home, and then realize "I did not miss this/that/so-and-so at all."
Profile Information
Fill out as much as you'd like - at least a sentence for each item, or answer none or not applicable to the ones for which you don't have an answer.
- Previous study or living abroad/travel experiences I have had
- My major(s)/minor(s)
- My school and/or study abroad program(s)
- My host country
- Languages I speak (other than English, if any)
- My fears or concerns about being abroad
- Characteristics that might affect my experience abroad, and that other students might find useful for discussion (ethnicity, religion, dietary restrictions, sexual preference, etc.)
- What I hope to gain from this course
Top Ten Reasons to Study Abroad
Start by reading the top ten, and delete one reason that has the least relevance to you. Write a sentence for each reason that describes how you feel about it, or how study abroad might affect you in this way. Prioritize them in order of importance to you.
1. See the world (or at least a part of it).
I have always been interested in traveling and seeing the world, but it can be difficult to find the time and the means. Studying abroad is a great reason to save up and make it work. Plus, studying there for one year allows me to get to know Japan better than an average tourist.
2. Learn a language in the country where it is spoken.
Japanese is not widely spoken in many places outside of Japan. I am thankful for my Japanese friends in the U.S., but living there is the best way to improve my abilities.
3. Resume builder.
Having experience in a different culture and having strong Japanese language skills should help make me more marketable in international business.
4. Make connections that can last a lifetime.
It gives me a chance to network with other students, teachers, and professionals.
5. International travel and study are fun and exciting.
This one is pretty self-explanatory, I think.
6. Learn about yourself and gain independence.
I like to think I'm pretty independent and know myself pretty well already, but I've never lived and studied overseas by myself before, so maybe I'll learn something new.
7. Gain perspective on your own country and culture.
I'm interested to see what people from outside of the U.S. view our country.
8. Programs work with any academic program.
I will definitely get credit at SIUC for studying abroad, and my academic advisor tells me some of that credit should count toward my major, so that's a plus. This less important to me, though, so it's at the bottom of the list.
9. Studying abroad is a life-altering experience.
All of the points above are reasons why.
Anticipation and Expectation Exercise
A. What are the five things that you are most looking forward to about studying abroad?
- the food!
- finally seeing in person all of the Japanese cultural events I've read about
- discovering new aspects of Japan I never knew about or expected
- traveling and seeing famous Japanese sights
- making new friends
- finances
- I don't know anyone
- what if it's not how I think it will be?
- homesickness
- am I prepared for the coursework?
- My family
- My boyfriend and friends
- Being able to go home whenever I want
- wide-open spaces
- uniquely American foods (root beer, peanut butter, etc)
Overcoming shyness so that I can interact and make the most of my time in Japan.
Goal Statement
Write your Goal Statement. Think about your own ethnicity and heritage and what special reasons you may have to study abroad. Write at least two paragraphs outlining how you want your study abroad experience to personally affect you in terms of personal growth, global awareness, and diversity.
I do not typically consider myself to have much in the way of ethnicity and heritage. For a U.S. American, I am a pretty average white, middle-class citizen. It is for this reason that I think studying in Japan will be a great opportunity for personal growth and awareness. There are very few Caucasian people in Japan, so I will quickly have to adjust to being a minority.
In terms of global awareness, I have never spent much time outside of the U.S., but I try to keep an open mind and be aware of global issues. I look forward to spending time abroad and learning first-hand about attitudes towards my country and it's people.
Discussion Topic
I would like to discuss the question from above "What are the five things you believe you will miss least from home when abroad?"
I could not think of a single answer. I have never thought to myself "I can't wait to get away from that." Also, from my understanding, Japan is similar to the U.S. in many ways, so most of the inconveniences I find at home will likely still be an issue there. I believe I will not know what I miss the least until I go to Japan, return home, and then realize "I did not miss this/that/so-and-so at all."
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Blogula Three Thousand!
Testing, testing! So, I think this is going to be my web log to document my travels in Japan!
I will be studying abroad at Nagoya University in Japan for two semesters. I'm not an especially good writer, but I need to do this to get study abroad credits at my university, plus I wanted to have a place to share my experience, so here it is.
I leave for Nagoya on September 18th. That's just over a month away. Eek! Right now I'm mostly excited and busy organizing things for the trip, but nerves are slowly creeping up on me.
Stay tuned for more adventures!
I will be studying abroad at Nagoya University in Japan for two semesters. I'm not an especially good writer, but I need to do this to get study abroad credits at my university, plus I wanted to have a place to share my experience, so here it is.
I leave for Nagoya on September 18th. That's just over a month away. Eek! Right now I'm mostly excited and busy organizing things for the trip, but nerves are slowly creeping up on me.
Stay tuned for more adventures!
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