The end of the paperwork trail...hopefully

This whole process has been a long one filled with LOTS of paperwork...

1. The JET application which was quite complex (thanks Ms. Thomas and Dr. Campbell for all your help with this). We had to provide copies of lots of documents (i.e. passport, transcripts, diploma, etc.) and provide lots of information (i.e. essay, activities, school info, etc.)

2. Acceptance paperwork such as a health record, FBI check (criminal background check) and IRS paperwork (so we aren't taxed in the US while we're in Japan).

3. Next was the process of renouncing my Japanese citizenship...thanks to Yuriko and Etsuko for all your help because there is no way I could've done it without you because of my lack of Japanese skills (speaking, reading and writing). The process required us to:

a. contact the Japanese Consulate to find out where a copy of my koseki (family registry -document required for various processes in the Japanese government) is located.

b. My mom faxed over a copy of my latest Japanese passport to the Japanese Embassy. They couldn't easily locate the koseki so they had to contact an office in Tokyo and later found out a copy was in Mitoyo City.

c. Then I couldn't read the City of Mitoyo's website so Yuriko helped me translate and found out what we needed to do. She helped me by filling out the application for me. Etsuko helped by calling the City of Mitoyo and sending the required fee in yen and a postage stamp to put on the self-addressed stamped envelope.

d. We sent the application in. Long story short I had to write out the kanji for the address and hoped it was legible enough to get where it needed to go.

e. My mom called me to tell me that we received the koseki in the mail so I booked a bus trip home and went to the Japanese embassy to formally renounce my Japanese citizenship. The only thing I have left from my Japanese citizenship is my voided Japanese passport (from when I was nine). Many people have asked me if this was a difficult process for me but because I didn't fill out any of the paperwork (besides sign my name) I think I just went through the motions to fulfill the requirements of the JET Programme and of Japan (you have to choose your nationality if you have dual citizenship by the time you are 22 - which I was). Maybe later I'll regret it...but ironically my renouncing my Japanese citizenship will let me learn more about Japan?!

4. Today was the day to prepare for Yuki's trip to Japan. We went to Yuriko's again who filled out Yuki's koseki application so he can apply for his Japanese passport. We went to Kinko's to make copies, Walgreen's for passport pictures (he needed three sets), the post office to apply for his US passport and send off his koseki application and AAA to apply for our International Drivers Permits. Tomorrow we will go register for absentee ballots so we can vote for Obama ;-)

5. There is TONS of paperwork to read from the General Information Handbook, language materials, Fukui handbook, acceptance papers, etc. I'm sure there will only be more paperwork to read and go through once we get to Japan.

So I'm pretty tired of applications and providing documents but soon it will be over and this dream can become reality!

2 weeks away!

So...I've created this blog so that I can reflect on my experiences this upcoming year and also so people back home can know what's going on with me if and when they want. I'm a little more than two weeks away for leaving for Japan. I'm very anxious and excited... I'm going through all kinds of emotions these days. I've been preparing for this trip for awhile because the application process started back in October. I've been packed for awhile to figure out how to get all my stuff from MN to Toledo and then to Detroit (because I can only take one bag on the megabus from Minneapolis to Toledo). I've been trying to study Japanese and refresh what I learned at Olaf but I didn't get as much done as I would've liked. I'm trying to mentally and emotionally prepare myself for the search for my dad. I'm also really excited because I recently found out my brother Yuki will be with me for part of the year so we can really experience life in Japan together!

Every so often I learn a little bit more about my placement. I'll be at Usui Senior High School in Fukui City, Fukui, Japan. It is a mid-size city with what seems like a lot of things to do. I'll be in an apartment that is close to the International Center where I can use the internet and take Japanese classes. I'll be about a 20 minute bike ride away from the school. My predecessor is hooking me up big time by selling me her furnishings in the apartment for cheap. That's really about all I know right now...so I'll just be flexible and go-with-the-flow...

While in Japan I hope to accomplish a lot. Returning to my birth place and fathers country has been a life time dream of mine. For some personal goals I would really like to focus on learning Japanese. I would like to search for my father and his family and get some explanations about why he left and didn't keep in contact with us. On a lighter note I think it would be really cool to learn about some kind of Japanese art (like ikebana, tea ceremony, etc.) and to learn more about Japanese cuisine and the Japanese way of life in general. On a more professional side I would like to learn about the Japanese educational system. Also possible, I would like to travel a little within Asia. So a year may be a long time but I'm sure I'll stay busy and that it will fly by!