5 More Hours Before Departure

I've been so busy with my last few days in NY and getting everything together. I am still up and I don't plan to sleep since I have to leave for JFK @5am and it's already 2am. Now that I have to leave, I feel kind of sad. Even though I am only leaving for 4 months, it's still a long time. I'll miss NY, my family and friends, and of course my pets. Without them, it feels different >_<" ...

I just feel a bit sad for leaving now, but soon enough when I am on the plane on my way to Japan...I will feel excited and nervous instead =)

I've never introduce my host family so here they are:
Going clockwise starting with Okaasan, Otoosan, Riho-chan, Cookie, and Haruka-chan.

I will meet them all soon ^_^

Wire Transfer Issue

I did my wire transfer to KGU for the homestay fees through my local HSBC branch. The wire transfer cost me $30, which is a very typical price for wiring funds, so I have no problem with that. Last week, Sean (program coordinator in Japan) emailed me and told me they only received 293,000yen when I sent 296,000yen. So I still owe them 3,000yen + 2,500 yen in bank fees O_O.... I thought there was a mistake somewhere and I emailed Sean about it. He told me the Japanese bank receiving the money may or may not charge a fee depending where it is sent from. Apparently sending from HSBC costs an additional 2500yen fee. Ok, how about the missing 3000yen?....Sean reconfirmed that he only received 293,000yen. That means something went wrong with HSBC when they sent it? Went to the bank and asked. HSBC confirms they sent 296,000yen O.O ...but "now" they tell me maybe along the way, a middle bank/financial institution took a fee of 3000yen, therefore when it arrives at the bank in Japan...3000yen is missing. HSBC said they did sent the requested amount and what happens in between is not their responsibility. Therefore, they won't give me or resend the 3000yen.

So, basically my total fees was $30 + 3000yen + 2500yen = about $80-$85. What!? Honestly, goodness...what a rip off. (Thiti had some problem too since we both sent from HSBC).

I am not satisfy with HSBC's service because if I had to pay additional fees along the way, they should've mention it. On the Japanese bank's part they may not know, but the middle instituition taking a fee...apparently they knew and never told me (so dishonest). Kind of feel ripped off, but nothing I can do about it. My HSBC branch doesn't even want to trace where the 3000yen went for me, but Thiti's branch is willing to do it. HSBC told her it takes 1 weeks, but 1 week passed and they said they need more time. I guess I will find out where the 3000yen really went through Thiti. Now, even my parents said not to go back to HSBC for wiring funds because they too had problems dealing with them previously.

So, for those of you that have to wire funds in the future...don't go to HSBC and for any bank that you go to, make sure to ask about "all" the fees that may occur.

I'll just have to pay Sean the remaining 5,500yen when I arrive.

2 More Weeks

2 weeks left before I leave....still a long time, but at the same time....only 2 weeks!

So, here's the update...gifts for my host family has been pretty much decided.
Otoosan: Business card case (Okaasan told me he works 5 days a week. Leaves the house at 6:30am and comes home at 10pm. Since he is so busy with work, I want to get something he can use at work.)
Okaasan: Still a little undecided. It's either the Teaposy tea set I previously got or a silk scarf that Thiti will help me buy. I am leaning towards silk scarf because then my Okaasan can wear it (and it's easier for me to bring with me, the Teaposy set is big...although I love it.)
Riho-chan and Haruka-chan: My 12 and 9 years old sisters. I got them a really pretty and cute stationery set that can be use as a small treasure/jewelry box. I also got them a keychain pen that has a wacky face on it. I like it, so I hope they do too.
Cookie: My golden retriever dog =).... yes she gets a gift too. I got her a pack of dog snacks, Choco-Milk Drops. My dogs go crazy over it, so I think Cookie will enjoy it too.
* Besides these, I bought some keychains of NYC stuff and will give it to each person in my host family, as well as people I meet along the way. I also want to get some popcorns from Dales and Thomas,....they look so good that I want to eat them all. Probably going to get some sampler packs (for myself, my host family, and whoever). With the popcorn, I will wrap it up with the picture book I got of NYC, I guess this will be a family gift.

Ok, I know I probably spent too much on gifts and what not but oh wells since I bought most of the stuff already. I guess I don't really need to get the popcorns but it looks so yummy, so I will still get it anyways.

Other than being busy on deciding gifts (took me months after all >_<), I already packed up most stuff. So far, I have 1 suitcase and 1 duffle bag carry on as well as a handbag. The suitcase is not full yet so I can fit more stuff in. Looking at how things are, I will probably be able to fit everything into 1 suit case but if not...I will bring a extra smaller one as my 2nd checked luggage, because I don't want to take the chance of my luggage being overweight (50lbs max) and being charge $100+ fee on it X_x. Ok, that's all for now.

Some Updates since last post

I haven't update for a while now. Here's what happened since last update.

1. I received official acceptance from Kwansei (KGU). It includes an acceptance certificate, info on wiring the homestay and other fees to them, and a few pages of info on the meeting date, location, and other stuff. There is also a green paper to fill out which is the Statement of Understanding that needs to be sent out asap. Still waiting for info on host family and Certificate of Eligibility

2. Received email from Gilman Scholarship that I am a recipient for their scholarship on June 20th. Although it is Gilman scholarship, it states that it is funded by Freeman. It seems like I can only received Freeman or Gilman, not both. I follow the instructions to acceptance the scholarship as well as submitting the necessary documents to them by July 7th.

3. Aug 3rd: I received an email from my host family along with a picture. I was very surprised, excited, and happy. The picture shows there is the parents, 2 younger daughters, and 1 golden retriever. I am a bit nervous thinking about living with a family I don't know and having little sisters. I am the youngest myself so I am not used to having younger sisters. Makes me a little nervous thinking about living with strangers. On the good side, they look nice and I love, love, LOVE the doggie. Having a dog in the house will make me feel more at ease and homey since I have 2 dogs myself. From the picture, their house looks more modern. The email was written in Japanese, so I decided to reply in (simple) Japanese not knowing if they understood English. I asked them if they understood English in my reply among other things. They reply back another email, but this time in English. I feel more relieve now thinking "yes! I can communicate with them in English if my Japanese to not understandable =D" I eventually found out the one writing the email to me was my host mother. She seems very nice, and we email back and forth every 2 days or so but at the moment she is away with her family on a mini vacation to Lake Biwa (near Kyoto)

4. Aug 6th: Received call and email from USAC that my certificate of eligibility has arrived at their office and will be mailed out the same day. Fedex says it will arrive at my house the next business day. Yay! finally I can go apply for my visa =)

5. Aug 7th: Certificate of eligibility has arrive along with info on my host family. It states everyone's name as well as their age and their address in Japan (in English).

6. Aug 8th: Went to Japanese Consulate in Manhattan and applied for the visa. Simple process, although some stuff on the application I am not sure what to write so I took my best guess. No fees for U.S. citizens for the visa. They took the passport so they can put the visa onto one of the pages. Thiti have to pay $27 fee when she come pick up the passport. Only takes 3 business days for our visa to process. More info here for NY Japanese Consulate: http://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/en/d/01.html

I believe this is all the important things that have happened since my last update. At the moment I am trying to figure out what type of gift I want to get for my host family as well as getting ready to go to Japan. It's only 1 month away. I will be leaving on 9/12 (Friday) at 7am JFK Airport. I will make a transfer at San Francisco and from there straight to Kansai Int'l Airport (KIX), estimated to arrive at 3:20pm Japanese time. Recommendation for getting airplane tickets, go to student universe if your want to save money. It is the cheapest price I can find, although not the best airline (United Airlines). I would much rather take JAL or ANA (Japanese airline) but the prices is crazy....like $1800 or $2000+. United is $1300 after tax. I wanted to take Southwest Airlines because it's only a little over $1000, but the time didn't match for me. When you search for tickets, search everywhere for best prices....unless you don't care about the price, then go with your favorite airline. That's all for now. Ja ne ^_^

Receive Baruch's C.V. Starr Scholarship

Last Monday I received a letter from Baruch from my C.V. Starr scholarship for studying abroad. I am now a scholarship recipient of theirs. I was so happy because I've been really scared that I will not get any scholarship at all. Now I will have to wait until around the end of June to find out if Gilman will award me a scholarship or not, and I will have to wait until probably sometime in July to find out if anyone rejected a scholarship from Freeman and I become the new recipient or not. All I am hoping for is 1 more scholarship to help cover my expenses. I don't need both, just 1 more.

Meanwhile, I am still waiting for the acceptance package from Kwansei/USAC. So tire of waiting for that but still have to wait. I really don't mind waiting in general but what is bothering me is that I need the package before I buy plane tickets and/or make further preparation. I am worried that the price of plane tickets will go up. My goal is to get the cheapest tickets possible. Sigh...already mid-June. I hope it is coming soon...very soon. In the meantime, more waiting.

Acceptance...waiting pd

I've been officially accepted into Kwansei Gakuin University at Osaka, Japan. I can't wait until I arrive, but before that I am worried about funds that I need to study abroad. I am still uncertain if I will receive any scholarships that I applied for.

Freeman said I am a backup candidate. Gilman, I am still waiting for an answer. As for bridging, they have denied me T_T *tears*

I hope they will let me know soon if I can get the scholarship or not. I also hope the acceptance packet can arrive soon because I need to apply for visa, buy plane tickets, arrange everything, and still need to find a job for the summer. Sigh...so much to do =\