Friday, 30 January 2004

Accepted!!!

I'm in! When I got home this afternoon after work I found a huge parcel in our letterbox from Nova Corp filled with numerous books, pamplets, forms and the welcome letter.

Looks like I'll be going in April (no specific date yet) as was my chosen time in the interview, but if you're reading this and you're starting to get worried, don't worry. You get the chance to cheange your date to whenever best suits you.

Anyway, now I have to get myslef a passport, health insurance (that's going to be a pain) and proof that I'm really myself. You see on my application form I wrote my name as "Bradley Ross Stephenson", however on my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree it says I'm "Brad Stephenson". The immigration people need legal doccumentation that proves I'm who I say I am. So (as reccomended in the letter) I rang the University of Western Sydney up and asked for the letter to be written. Guess what? They can't do that because when I enrolled at the University I wrote my name as "Bradley Stephenson" (that's three variations on my own name!). So now I need to get proof from somewhere else to show the University who I am, so they can show Nova Corp who I am so they can show the Immigration Departement who I am. Simple, huh?

Identity crisis aside, I'm really hyped about this and can't wait to go!

Today's word is: ikitai desu = want to go

Thursday, 29 January 2004

Day Fourteen of Waiting...

Just a quick post as I'm tired as Hell after work. ;) You guessed it! Still no news!

Today's word is: kochira = this way

Wednesday, 28 January 2004

Day Thirteen of Waiting...

Still no word on being accepted but have almost finished a little fundraising venture Glomped.net which hopefully will help me raise money for my trip (I'm going one way or the other). Check it out (even if just for the design which I'm very happy about). All purchases are greatly appreciated.

Today's word is: semai = small, narrow

Tuesday, 27 January 2004

Day Twelve of Waiting

Still no word. In the meantime I've been trying to get back on track with my "Teach Yourself Japanese" program that I have let slip lately. There's 6 lessons a week so right now I should be in week 4 or 5. Instead I'm just finishing week 2 tonight.

Hopefully I can get back into it.

Today's word is: mo = also

Sunday, 25 January 2004

Day Ten of Waiting...

Just got back from Sarah's 21st. Had a great time catching up with everyone and finally meeting Sarah's family who have got to be one of the most friendly and generous group of people I have ever met. Happy 21st Sarah!!!

p.s. It's a Sunday so obviously no word from Nova. Probably none tomorrow either as it's Australia day.

Today's word is: ima = now

Saturday, 24 January 2004

A Quick Note

Just a quick note to let you know about the lil' chatter box that's been embeded on the right hand side. It can be used to leave me messages and chat with other visitors to the site!

Day Nine of Waiting...

Just making a quick post before I head off to Singleton for the weekend.

You guessed it; still no word, but it is the long weekend AND a Saturday.

Today's word is: arimasen = am not, are not, is not (talking about things)

Friday, 23 January 2004

Day Eight of Waiting...

Still no news but I'm being pretty cool about it. Even if I don't get accepted, I'm determined to and will use one of the many other programs that let people teach in Japan.

Have a 3 day weekend from work thanks to Australia day on Monday! Am heading up to Singleton tomorrow morning for Sarah's 21st. Looks like a good time ahead.

Today's word is: kono = this

Thursday, 22 January 2004

Day Seven of Waiting...

Well it's a week since the interview and I was starting to get a little freaked until I talked a bit with a friend of mine who was previously accepted and she said they were a little late telling her and in fact she found out via mail!

I'm feeling a bit more relaxed now.

Today's word it: daburu = double

Wednesday, 21 January 2004

Day Six of Waiting...

No news yet (big suprise) though I should definitly hear from them any day now as I was told "within 7 days".

I'm not worried... not at all.... me worried??? WHO'S WORRIED?!?!?

Today's word is: kissaten = coffee shop

Tuesday, 20 January 2004

Day Five of Waiting...

Well, guess what? Yup, still no word on whether I'm in or not though I spoke to Kit last night (one of my references and coolest chick in Oz) and they had called her to find out more about me but they got her machine. :\

On another note my teaching myself Japanese is going very well. A very big thanks to Heather and Roger for the book and cd for Christmas. I should definitly have a firm grasp on the language by April (when I'm planning on going, but to help my study (and add a little extra something to this blog) I'll post one Japanese word and it's English meaning per day!

Today's word is: takakunai = not expensive

Monday, 19 January 2004

Day Four of Waiting...

Still no news. Man, this blog is an exciting read, huh?

Sunday, 18 January 2004

Day Three of Waiting...

It's a bit late and I have to get up for a morning shift tomorrow at 5am so I'll make this quick.... still no word from Nova. ;)

See you tomorrow! :D

Saturday, 17 January 2004

Day Two of Waiting...

Well, it's Saturday so I wasn't really expecting any news today on my acceptance to make this post semi-readable though I'll fill you in on a bit on where I have lived!

I was born in Sydney, Australia and lived here until I was 2 or 3 (I think), then we moved to Megalong Valley where we lived on a farm. When I was about 12 the whole family moved to a farm just outside of Manildra (a little western town). After I graduated high school I went to the University of Western Sydney and stayed on campus (the uni's near Penrith). During this time my parents seperated so my Dad sold the farm and moved to Molong and my Mum moved to a house in Orange. Currently I am living (very gratefully) with Pam, my aunt on my Dad's side where I'm saving up cash for my trip to Japan.

Fingers crossed.

Friday, 16 January 2004

Day One of Waiting...

Well I obviously havn't heard back from Nova yet concerning the results of my interview as it's only been one day and they probably havn't gotten through all the applicants referees (references) yet. I'm still feeling pretty confident.

Thursday, 15 January 2004

Pretty good interiew...

Well I was up at the fun time of 5:30am this morning in preparation for my interview in the city at 8am (they recommend getting there 10 minutes earlier, apparently they assign interviews for after the session depending on what order your arrive).

Got the 6:50am bus to Wynyard station (which luckily leaves from just across the road before 9am) and then got a train to Museum Station. The Marriott Hotel was only a short walk from there (a special thanks to Pam for the help with the road maps last night. Would have taken me a while to get there just walking from Wynyard Station.

Anyway, after being directed to the elevator and level 2 (functions level) I met a guy and a gal both heading to the same session. (Didn't catch thier names unfortunately). When we got to the desk on level 2 I started to freak out as the guy was asked for his passport photo (I sent one with my application form in the mail and didn't think they'd need another one!) I asked the girl and she was more looked worried and then laughed a little. I thought it was pretty funny to (nothing you can do but laugh in these situations anyway, right?) until the man asked the guy for his CV (I sent mine with my application form as well! I didn't know they needed another copy!). At this stage I was thinking I had completely ruined my chances before the information session had even started. You can imagine my expression when teh man asked for the guy's application form. Eventually he was asked for his certificates originals. At least I had those on me. That was afterall ALL that the information letter that I had been sent had told me to bring.

The guy was then directed to the seminar room. The girl went though the exact same motions as the guy and then it was my turn.

As I approached the desk I started to appologise for not having my photo, application form and CV. The man simply laughed as he asked my name and found my file with all my papers in tact. I was told everything's in order and to proceed to the room. Guess I had done the right thing afterall.

The information seminar was pretty basic really. Anyone who's been to uni will know about basic information seminars. The info they presented was the same as that on the Nova website though we did find out that Japan isn't as expensive as it's generally said to be. In fact only 20-30% of our pay will go towards rent (which includes electricity and other bills). The guy next to me was going to Japan through Nova and has said he had a great time (which is why he's doing it again I guess) so everyone within 3 chairs of him in all directions asked him as many questions as we could whenever given the opportunity.

When the session finished (10:30am) we were given our interview times. Mine was only a few hours away at 1:25pm. Meanwhile a girl from Wollongong who arrived 15mins late had to hand around the city until 4:30pm!

During this gap I went to a Boost Juice that I had seen on my way to the Marriott this morning, for an energiser boosted juice. I love that I found this place. The only other one I've seen is in the Imperial Archade in Pitt St Mall.

I also headed over to Kings Comics and bought the latest Tomb Raider and read it in Hyde Park. Much better than last issue still needing something. This book needs to find a direction soon and to start to explain where all the supporting characters have disapeared to.

Eventually I headed back to the hotel for my interview. Got there at 1:15pm and chatted with two guys who had just finished their interview and another guy who was waiting for his. After a few minutes the girl that I had met that morning came out of the elevator. She was having her interview as well. Just then, Stephen Farley (one of the presenters) called us both in for our interviews. I was with him, the girl at the other side of the room with the other presenter.

The interview started with a few basic questions such as if I had any questions about the seminar, then it progressed onto the presentation of my original certificates (HSC, Fine Art Dimploma, Child Care Certificate, etc). Next followed 20 questions to which I had to reply with 1 - 3 word answers (harder than it sounds). Questions ranged from "Why I want to teach in Japan" to "Describe one conflict you have had with a flatmate" (by the way they have only uni-sex share accomodation!!!). After the 20 questions we went back over them and I was allowed to elaborate on my answers.

Next up was a teaching exercise where I had to read a paragraph to the instructor, point out some words he may have trouble with (if he was one of my Japanese students) and describe the definition of "dictate". For some reason my brain wasn't working and I rambled on about how it means to speak proudly like a royal family member or "dictator". I don't know what I was thinking but I quickly corrected myself and joked "I do speak English I promise!" which got some laughter on both ends.

We finished up with some question time where I asked "How'd I do?". I didn't really expect an answer but I got a "very well, but I need to contact your referees before anything's confirmed. You should find out within seven days".

Here's hoping!

Wednesday, 14 January 2004

And so it begins...

If you're starting my journey through online blogginess with this post or some time in the far future you have decided to read through the archives and see how my adventure in Japan began, welcome to my very first post in my online blog covering my life before, during and (if it ever ends) after my time in Japan.

Tomorrow at 8am (don't ask me why it's at that time) I'm attending an information session at the Marriott Hotel, 36 College St in the city (Sydney, Australia) followed by a one-on-one interview which will decide how I will be spending the next year.

Australia or Japan? Stay tuned!