I received the university approval permit through email in February, a couple of weeks after I sent the documents. One month later, in March, I received the permit for the embassy – visa purposes, through mail. So that’s when I started the visa application.

However… I received a news that I may have to change department and redo the application. I was told that I can decided that in Japan, but turned out that I needed to decide it soon. Therefore, I decided to change department, and sent in another research student application and fee to Japan. It’s basically the same, but I need to write lesser amount of “why this course/university” thingy.

Since the university has received my form and the application fees (10,000 yen) already, the matter’s resolved in April. The tuition fee is paid only after reaching Japan. And it’s not that much. Research student fee is around 130,000 yen per semester (6 months). Master course is 6-700,000 yen per year. Comparing to how much I paid in Australia per year… it’s AUD 24,000. It’s more than half. ^_^; The accommodation is much more expensive, though.

Well, next is the packing. =3 Must not bring too many stuff there. Kind of hard to decide which one’s more important…

1 year single entry visa

07 April 2009
Picked up my passport at the embassy~ I got my visa!

I didn’t realize the expiry year until mom pointed out to me. It’s in July 2009! Only 3 months while the stay is given 1 year? Stupid me for not checking it first. So I decided to check out. On the internet. orz

Found this on gaijinpot. And it mentions that the date mentioned on a single entry visa is the date you are allowed to first enter Japan. Once you enter, the visa will be stamped used. If you want to go for a holiday in the period of your stay in Japan, you must acquire a re-entry permit. This website has a detail on it. I will post mine when I do it there =3

Now that I get my visa, it really feels like the Japan I’ve always dreamed of is much closer. XD

What’s left is my mom’s visa, as the ticket could have some date changes to them now. I have to wait.

Thankfully, my father’s friend in Japan helped me in finding the place. Meanwhile I also search around the internet for places around my university. Well, the stations that are close to the campus. It’s best to have a place near the station, right? Later it was decided that a furnished ones is preferable, as buying them would be too troublesome as I’d have to move to another place in less than a year time.

I looked at so many websites. But asked for like 5 apartments. But they’re all impossible to have contract with. Some of the reasons are I have to be in Japan already, the apartment’s not yet done, least contract is 2 years, some didn’t give me any email reply. I’m actually not sure if it has something to do with me being a gaijin. But to do a contract from abroad is difficult. I actually have some contact with this company, he seems nice, but since dad’s friend is helping me, I decided to stop the process.

The secretary then advised me to looks at leo palace. It’s actually a pretty good place, furnished, flexible, and a relatively nice price, also has Teppei. Normally you’d have to pay those bulky unrecoverable amounts when you sign the contract, but not for this. But, apparently I can only do the contract after meeting the person in charge directly in Japan. And I was told that the wall is so thin. I was beginning to get scared if I can never get an apartment before I reach Japan.

Then, my friend told me there’s this monthly apartment that’s pretty good. I thought monthly apartments are normally big and expensive, for the foreign expats. This one is well, still expensive, but considering I’m living for less than a year, it costs more or less the same with normal apartments (considering the thank you money, etc). There’s a cheaper one nearby, but the room’s too small.

So finally I could secure a contract. Yay. I had to pay the whole amount in front, though. But I can still change one month in advance, if I want to leave the place earlier. Mine costs 4500 yen per day. I think it includes the electricity and such. I’ll recheck when I get there. But it definitely includes a cable(?) tv and an internet connection. I accidentally ordered a package for sleeping/living. So I don’t need to buy/bring a new fry pan etc.

Timeline:
January 2009 Started searching Apartment
March 2009 Finally get an Apartment Contract
April 2009 Revised Apartment Contract

• Fudousan Archive, contains addresses of apartments

So I refused to see the dormitory since I don’t think I can enter the university. And that was sort of a wrong choice. Now I don’t know how good/bad the dormitory is. It’s in another campus’ complex. And I have to take a free shuttle to reach my campus. And that other campus is far from the station (I think). Oh well.

Though mom was also sure I’d pass since the professor kept on asking whether I can pay the tuition fee without working part time. I’m not sure if I won’t be allowed to work part time (I’d love to work in a konbini, imagine being surrounded by those cute snacks and drinks and sweets).

Later in the afternoon, I received an urgent email from the secretary, saying that the professor needs to meet all of use, the exam takers. Since it’s not possible to go on that day (it was already too late by the time I knew the email), I decided to go for the next day.

I arrived early at the university. The queue into the train was so awesome. Very. Very. Tidy. They all queue in one line, should’ve took pic of it. After waited for awhile, I was asked to go in and talk with the professor.

The professor told me that I was the worse among 6 of us. I knew it. And he was sure I won’t pass even though the official announcement is still 1 month later. He told me that if I want to enter as a research student, he’ll accept me. And that I can enter at any time I want. The other students entered as a research student in September, I think. One was since  April.

I was asked again whether I studied properly or not. *cringed* I feel so very guilty. But he also told me that there’s never been the case of a foreign student got in directly through the entrance exams. Normally, people go through a research student phase. And that made me relieved. He expected too much of me, maybe? But I’m pretty sure I’m the dumbest of them all. Not to mention the only girl. I already felt very intimidated. Though that does give me a plus.

So. I said I will talk again with the secretary regarding research student after discussing with my family. The secretary then gave me the form for research student and told me that this is a rare chance. They rejected lots of students in the past. And for me to be able to be his research student was awesome. And that what made me sure I have to grab this chance. I was initially unsure that I’d fit with this field and wanted to pursue another field.

So yes, I shall begin my life in Japan as a research student.

As soon as I arrived in Osaka few days before the exam, and checked into the hotel, I went to the university just for small greetings and gift to the lab. Also to check how much time is needed to get to the university. After that me and mom went for some shopping. For the days before exam, it’s like, shopping till night.

Then I’d try to do last minute study at night on the bed. While tempted to watch the awesome variety shows on TV. I know it’s bad. But the quality of the TV was so good and it’s a really big LCD TV in our hotel room at Cross Hotel (don’t expect any help with luggage and remember to return both room keys on check out, other than that, awesome hotel). Nonetheless, I doubt last minute studying can help much on my minimum exam preparation. I was busy with university back then and no one to help me with.

It took more than an hour to get to the university from the hotel. I think we went somewhere near 7am. The exam starts at 9am. I didn’t have any confidence on passing the exam. And my preparation was definitely not enough. We went to the old building where the exam was held. It was so old and so dusty. Probably one of the dirtiest place I’ve seen in Japan. The room is not dirty. But the floor outside was. I was very nervous and after some time of waiting, other guys who’d be taking the exam with me came. And they’re all boys, as expected. Moreover, there are only 6 of us, and 4 of them are Chinese. And turned out that we were all going for the same professor. o_o; I can’t imagine how popular my professor is. At least with the foreign students. It’s a foreign student exam btw.

And so the exam. Of course the introductory speech was all done in Japanese. But I had no trouble understanding it. The problem was the exam. I think it lasted for 3 hours. And there were 2 papers to be done in that time given. I was already finished probably in 1 hour. And I really couldn’t think of what else to write. Those other guys were all still busy writing. Oh btw, when applying I was supposed to choose 2 subjects out of 10 options for the exam. I suppose it could be expected that those guys took similar subjects as I did. And so, that indicates how badly I did at the exam. I never finishes writing exam answers before the time finishes, and I always stay behind for checking the answers. But I never finish 2 hours earlier! I was sleepy waiting for the exam time to finish and tried to add more answers as I could.

And then when the time finishes. It’s time for lunch. I was relieved to leave the exam place. Though after that I had to face an interview exam. The lunch was wonderful though. The canteen is big and had lots of nice food. And it has this conveyor belt for people to put away their bowls and stuff. It’s awesome. But I miss how Australians male would normally open doors for ladies or people behind. It’s not the case here. =(

Time for the exam, and I was back at the designated building. We were told to wait in this waiting room till our number was called. I was the last, being the only person who was not a research student. After the person before me is in the interview room, I waited at the chair right outside the interview room. I was dreaded by that time…

I was expecting 3 people interviewing me. Heck, 1 person is scary enough. But. There were like… all of the department’s professor present in the big meeting room. At least 10 of them. I feel so dead. Most of them remained quiet and seem to be busy with something else. The one asking me were the main professor, my professor, and another professor who marked my exam (yes, already, how fast, it’s only during lunchtime!!).

I heard from the other students that they were only asked general questions like why you choose this university and so. But for me. I was asked what I did I major in. My exam result was so bad. So bad that it’s shameful (maybe?) that I come from a sort of mechanical background. Also asked if I didn’t study. I answered that I didn’t study enough. I couldn’t answer properly in Japanese and also had trouble hearing them in Japanese. So we used English. I was asked if I can make it to level 1 ability of Japanese. I knew I wouldn’t be able to pass the JLPT level 1 I just took. So I said so but I will try hard for getting better before April. It didn’t last long, 10 min max. And I was let go.

But I felt so awful and just want to get away from there. I felt really low and stupid and crazy for even trying to go for the exam. At least I proved I’m brave enough as the only girl there. Maybe. Sigh. And so next… is after the exam, and what research student really is.

I’m in contact with the professor’s secretary through email. Firstly I use English, after a few exchange I use Japanese. It’s a bit awkward at first, but heck, I’ll be learning in Japanese over there! Then, I first send the scanned version of my completed application form as well as my resume, university results, and a letter certifying that I’m finishing my bachelor degree that year. I don’t need TOEFL as I have an Australian degree.

The next month, in October. I was told to call the professor himself. Aggh… It was so embarrassing. I couldn’t talk properly and was very nervous. And kept on saying sumimasen in a weird way. I wanted to dig a hole… But I was told to continue my application anyways. T_T

After that, I was told to sent the documents by mail. Costs about $36(?) from Australia, reaching Japan in around 5 days, I think. Had to send a few times as more documents were needed. I must thank EMS for fast delivery, though I wish they costs cheaper. Then, bank transfer for the application fee.

Oh, I also needed guarantor. Luckily my dad has a friend who’s willing to be one. He’s been very very helpful. The secretary helped me to submit my application in November. Throughout the time, I was worried with the exam date. Since I have to book ticket and apply for visa. I only know the date roughly before mid-November, and I booked the ticket and hotel with the rough date reference. The exam was decided to be at the end of December, and it fit into the date I booked, phew.

And so the dreadful exam…

On the day of visit, it was my fault that we didn’t leave early enough. We accidentally took the wrong train and was late for the meeting for almost an hour. Luckily, they still warmly welcomed us (me and parents and brother), and the very busy professor was still there in the office. It’s a bit surreal to see what I’ve seen only in media, alive. The foreign student there brought us for a little tour. Then showed us the way to get home. It was a loooong walk, and involved another unknown Japanese students on the way. They’re all so kind. =3

And so, a few months later, in September, it was decided that I go to this school. So we contact the university through a friend in Japan, but was asked to contact directly with the secretary. And then goes the long journey of emails…

I suppose it’s time for me to write about my own journey to Japan. No, I’m not there yet right now, but it is close. If I wait till I get there, there’d  be quite a lot to write. Firstly, I’m a research-student-to-be in Osaka. Hmm, let me think what to share first:

• University contact
• University application
• University exam
• University after exam
• Finding accommodation (uni / leopalace / normal / with furniture / monthly)
• Visa procedure (which I haven’t yet started, eeps!)
• University Application part 2

I’m still not too sure how I’m gonna get there, even though I already have the guarantee. I believe in less than 2 months, I’m gonna be staying in Japan. And so, this is my story. m(_ _)m

PS: WP ate my first post.