10 days!

So I got my official start date of July 11th!!! <3<3<3

I've been really busy the last few days as you can guess. I learned that my CoE got FedEx to me the day before so I was able to officially buy my ticket for the 6th! I have said in my vlog that I have something for the number 7 so I decided to start my new life in Japan on the 7th! It's only a few days in a hotel before moving into Interac's hotel for training ^^

I have had a life in Tokyo and have friends there so I wanted a few days to see them without worrying about training. For example that Friday I'll stop by Toyo and see the old school again ^^ I might go to the nomikai the next Wednesday for the exchange students ^^

I am tempted to stay at a friends house instead of a hotel but I don't want to impose you know ^^

Ok! So yesterday I quit Target and my amazing brother took me to Ross to get a big suitcase! Rose was the best place to go! They had a selection of cases and even had the type I was looking for.

the Suitcase:

Ok if you aren't much of a traveler and you're moving to Japan and it'd the first big thing you've done now that you are out of school or just thinking of going there for a couple weeks and you came across this post I have some advice for you!

This will be the 10th time I'll be going to Japan since 2003. I lived in Hawaii for school and came home for the winter break or packed it all up to go home for summer. So I've done some traveling ^^

The only bag that you have should that is not a rolling suitcase is you laptop bag, backpack or purse that you would carry on to the plane. If you are packing up a carry on bag so you don't have to check anything for a shorter visit (2 or so weeks) home or in Japan. GET A ROLLING CARRY-ON SUITCASE!

I can not express this enough. When I traveled for the holidays from Hawaii I had a large duffle bag that would fit carry-on along with my laptop bag. @_@ After a couple trips I knew I had to get something else. My flight would be at a gate way on the other end and I would have to carry all that weight on my shoulder in a rush to get to my gate. Very tiring!

Last summer I had to go to Japan for a couple weeks for a class I took at UH. It was a history class so we were in Kyoto! I only had a big suitcase since I was a moving student (from dorm to dorm) and I did not want to use that bag again so I got a rolling carry-on from Walmart for around $20.

Now my insight that I learned about suitcases that i'll pass on to you! A case with 2 wheels is fine for a carry-on case. When rolling it the weight of the case is on your wrist. I have weak wrist so even the carry-on will start annoying my wrist but it won't be that bad. So you can imagine the check luggage around 50lbs is going to be a lot to roll around so I would say GET A SUITCASE WITH FOUR WHEELS! Especially like in this case I will have two 50lb bags along with a carry-on suitcase and my laptop bag to pull around.

That's my rant on suitcase lol even if I helped one person hehe ^^

Anyways I'm getting really excited! this coming up Wednesday night through Sunday my good friends here are going to kidnap me and take me to Disneyland as a goodbye! <3 It'll be amazing! ^-^ So I'm getting into packing mode! Not only am I packing for Wednesday (that carry-on I talked about!) but for the Wednesday after that as well! ^^

Along with the new purple 4 wheel 29" suitcase to go with the other large one I had my brother also helped me out by getting a pair of indoor shoes i'll need for my schools as well as two skirt suits. One gray and one silver... I still want one that is black though ^^ I got myself a nice pair of shoes I was thinking for indoor but liked them so much I thought it would be sad to keep them indoor lol. I think they will be my slip on and go to the conbi or vendi shoes ^^;

Now that all I have left to do is pack up everything I hope to get motivated ^^ I've tried for weeks to get things done but got distracted. Usually I can watch a tv show or movie I've seen and work on something but they've been too distracting ^^ Today I will just try music and see how it goes ^^7

At this point with Interac,

I received emails introducing the staff at Interac. Orientation manual and other info. I believe some info about healthcare and I need to get back to them today about that. They want you decided what medical coverage you want before you come. I think they would need it to start in July and that's why they needed to know by the 30th of june ^^

oh ok! So Friday got my CoE and that day took it to the SF Japanese Consulate. We (my brother drove) arrived around noon which is when the Visa window closes for lunch 12-1pm. We spent the lunch hour looking for parking....omg the city is a nightmare! lol We ended up parked right outside the building ^^ It was nice to be there at the opening after lunch because I was #1 and the first person served.

Entering the building you have to show your id and get clearance to go up to the 23rd floor. You go through a metal detector and the staff is behind windows. I was told if there was a problem they would call me Monday or Tuesday and I thought I heard in the end that if all went well my visa will be ready on Tuesday. I'm going to call tomorrow and check because we will have to plan it.... we have one car for the household and the person who works is in end quarter so he can't really leave so we'd have to get the car in the morning by driving him to work.

Anyways! ^^ I'm excited!! and hears to packing ^^;;;

Time flys!

It's been just under a month since I updated! Shock!~ There really hasn't been much to say. I emailed Interac to see what was going on and maybe a timeline if they could give one. I freaked a bit because the plane prices are going up more and more. well this is what I got....

"You will be happy to know that we have lodged your application for eligibility with the Immigration authorities on 5/20/2011. It usually takes at least 22 working days to obtain the Certificate of Eligibility. We expect to receive it after June 21st. Please note that this is just an approximation, based on the most recent batch received."

I was at my fitting for the bridesmaid dress and setting the date to come back after they finished with it and seeing how close the 21st and the assumed start date of the 4th of July sent me into a little panic lol

I will still need to get the CoE in the mail and then turn around and take that to the Japanese consulate to get my work visa. I called them today to see how long it would take and they said 3 to 5 work days @_@ I think I will be picking up my visa the day before my flight lol

This last Monday i took my driving test and passed so i am now a licensed driver! so now Interac can put me anywhere ^^;;; Though in perfect fashion with my luck the DMV was closed because the system was down but they were still doing driving tests. I girigiri passed lol but hey I passed! though because the system was down i had to go back the next morning and finish up my paper work. I really hope i get the license in the mail before i go! Next thing will be going to AAA and getting my Internation Driving Permit. I might do that on friday. so things look good there.

I woke up to an email from interac saying to fill out an online resume. I've done this but it was yet another resume to be filled out. This I believe was the actual resume they will use to send out to the BOEs to find me placement. I got it done quickly... there was a short essay area asking to intro yourself and what you like about japan/your experience with japan. after that you put down your degree and school and work history and you're done.

I wonder if there is anyway i'll have a placement before i go. I know that if I did get one not to get attached to it because it might change. Funny my thoughts are wanting to know how far i'll be from tokyo. My friends are there and well I'm already planning trips lol like for my birthday I want to treat myself to the musical Dream Boys! ^^

oh I start to ramble so should go work on packing something ^^;;;