Departure! "Adventure is a path."

Hello to those reading the first post on my blog! I will be using this webspace exclusively as my means of documenting my experience in Japan for the next four months. A "me" at any point in the past before now would have been thrilled to chance upon this treasure of a blog. The "me" of now, then, aims to thrill! I have the heart of a shounen hero!

This blog is going to be where I describe both my personal experiences and detail the places that I visit.

But first, introspection. I will soon board a plane for 21 hours (layover in Hong Kong), crossing nearly half the entire Earth. To me, who has never ventured outside of the US and outlying islands, this is a huge adventure. And I'm not just leaving the continent, no, I'm visiting the place I most want to visit in the world: Japan. Fluid joy is pulsing through my veins.

I have to ask myself, though. "What do I expect?" Flying rainbow-neko hover-cars piloted by bionic large-eyed lolis? (First thing I thought of after typing that: "Needs to be shopped." i.e. see above) The truth is, I'll most likely be outside of my comfort zone at least once or twice. Things won't be ideal. But *gulp* this is the kind of challenge I want. Although that joy is slowly changing to anxiety.

This somewhat famous guy I don't really know once said:

“Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.” 

I like this quote -- ironically making the experience sound like an awesome anime.

For the next four months I will be attending Nanzan University in their Japanese Language Program. Nanzan is located in Nagoya, Japan, and I will be living in the Nagoya Kokusai Koryu Kaikan which seems to be right across from campus. I'm a little anxious about meeting my roommates and displaying proper etiquette, but they'll probably be really nice people.

"Expectation" in Japanese is 期待 (kitai). I remember this word by its parts -- the ki refers to a set period of time and the tai refers to waiting. So in a way expectation is just waiting for something for a while. I guess I relieve my anxiety by just telling myself, "just gotta wait a little longer!"

So what do I really expect? I expect to interact with a very shy society, encounter the occasional unassuming insult, and make a few good friends while seeing the sights every once in a while. While my expectations are vague, my anticipation is alarming. I... just can't wait!

I packed light. Trust me.

I'm pumped. Can't you tell?