So as this is my first post, I’ll being with a introduction!
My name is Dana and I’m currently a junior at Eastern Michigan University. I plan on spending the fall 2010 semester at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata, Japan. I wanted to create this blog because in preparation for going abroad, I’ve been reading the blogs of other previous Kansai students and found them extremely helpful. Plus I hope that this can be something that my family and friends back home can read while I’m in Japan. And maybe in the future be helpful to someone else.
So obviously I’m still working towards to getting accepted by Kansai Gaidai. So far the entire application and waiting process has been pretty extensive and rather nerve wracking. I started the process so long ago that it still seems like it’s something so far off in my future. I’ve already had to fill out endless paper work for EMU, because they have to nominate you for your program. After nominations, we have to fill out all of Kansai’s applications online and submit it all back to the study abroad office. Once they send it off and Kansai receives it, we have to wait three more weeks to hear a definitive yes or no. That right there is the hardest part. The yes or no. I’m planning a huge event in my life, and I don’t know if I’m doing it in vain or not. Its extremely stressful. Kansai usually only accepts five or six students from EMU, since we are an affiliated school. They recently upped the number to eight or nine. But there are fifteen people who applied for the program. Kansai let EMU nominate us all, which according to them means they will accept all of us. They have in past years. But it doesn’t really stop me or anyone else that applied from worrying.
Today was the day I submitted all of my final paper to be sent off to Kansai. Now it’s back to waiting again. I have finals coming up, and then a quick vacation. So I’m hoping that by the time all of that is over, I’ll hear back from Kansai.
Until then!
Dana in Japan 