Saturday, 28 February 2004

Departure Times Confirmed!!!

Well I just got the email from Nova Corp concerning my departure time/date:

Dear Bradley,

The following flight has been chosen as one of our group arrival flights. The date has been nominated based on the current Visa processing time at the Immigration Department in Japan.

FLIGHT: Singapore Airlines SQ 998

DEPARTURE DATE: 6th April 2004

ARRIVAL DATE: 7th April 2004

DESTINATION: Tokyo (Narita Airport)

Please note that this time of year is very busy and seats are difficult to confirm. Call the Travel Agent as soon as you receive this notice for more information about the group flight.

There's also some info about booking the flight that I'm a bit confused about. Basically they say that the flights already been booked. But I should shop around for a better price? I'll look more into it tomorrow as I'm meeting Bec at the MCA in about an hour and am working until midnight tonight in the city. ;)

Tuesday, 17 February 2004

Thought this was cool...

Found this on a friend's blog (check them all out to find out which!). It's pretty accurrate!

Which 1990's Subculture Do You Belong To?

[Another Quiz by Kris
@ couplandesque.net]

My Preferences

While I'm waiting to find out which one of my living preferences they choose, I remembered that I had forgotten to mention them here!

My first preference was originally Sendai but after doing some quick research I discovered that in Winter it can get 10 degrees BELOW celcius! Though it still sounds great so it is now my second choice of location.

1) Okayama, Chugoku Region

2) Sendai, Tohoku Region

3) Fukuoka, Kyushu Region

Monday, 16 February 2004

Application Completed!!!

Picked up my passport today, photocopied it and sent off the envelope express style. That's it! Two weeks from now I should know where I'll be living and when I'll be leaving!

Sunday, 15 February 2004

Passport on it's way

Well my passport is ready to pick up at the post office tomorrow so I'll make the photocopies in the morning and post those and my application form around midday. All done!

Thursday, 12 February 2004

A Traditional Hobby?

Something that was mention in the semminar and the numerous pamphlets was that many people that teach English in Japan like to pick up a traditional Japanese art during thier stay to become more immersed in Japanese culture. Origami, the many forms of martial arts, bonsai grooming (I know that's the wrong term), tea ceremony, etc.

These past few days I've been thinking about this, and perhaps I'll pick up karate again once in Japan. I got up to 5th belt a few years ago but got bored with it. It's a shame as the 5th (purple) belt is the one before brown, which is the belt before BLACK).

Sunday, 8 February 2004

Nothing important happened today...

Well I'm STILL sick with this mystery illness. Doctors have no idea what it is though I seem to be getting better.

Didn't do much at all today really. Just did some tidying up and a few webby duties that I wanted to get out of the way.

I also added some links to some more friend's blogs. Everyone go say hi to Arrow and Salvia!

I'll get back into the Japanese tomorrow, I PROMISE!!!

Friday, 6 February 2004

Application Process 98% Done!

Phew! Finally wrote my acceptance letter, made copies of all the forms I'd signed and sent off the originals to Nova. All I have left to do now is wait for my Passport to arrive in a week and then copy that and send it to Nova as well.

Oh, and there's another Japanese Application Form that I screwed up (twice!) so I have to wait for a replacement one to come my way. For future reference if you've been to multiple schools, write the last one you've been too but the years for your WHOLE primary/secondary education (not just the years at that school). ;)

But, yeah! All done!

Now for some Japanese!

P.S. If you'd like to help me financially, click on the DONATE button above to send me a donation. I'm worth it, I swear! :D

Today's word is: hirokunai = not spacious

Almost Done With Application

Sorry for the lack of updates. I've caught some mysterious illness that making my life Hell.

On the upside I finally got my Birth Certificate which I needed for my Passport Application, yesterday and handed in my form as soon as I got it. A bit if advice to anyone applying for Nova: As soon as you get an interview, get your passport (if you don't have one). It takes 10 days to process before they send you one and I didn't know I needed one until Nova sent me 20 forms to fill in requesting a photocopy of it. I've only been given until the 9th to get all my forms back in (sending them off today without Passport copies) so I won't be able to give them the copy of my Passport until way after the due date.

I have rung the Brisbane office however and they say it's no problem at all.

Well I filled in all my forms yesterday. Today I just need to print out an Acceptance Letter and photocopy all the forms so I can have a copy for myself.

Today's word is: gogo = afternoon

Monday, 2 February 2004

Reading up

Basically spent most of today reading through all the books, pamplets and letters that Nova sent me on Friday. I wanted to read it all earlier but work and tiredness got in the way and yesterday I was really sick for unknown reasons.

Some great news! I got the identity issue sorted out. The Nova representative got back to me and explained that the "Ross" in my name wasn't important afterall. So I rang the UWS Graduation Office again and the letter's in the mail!

All I have to do now is get a passport!

Today's word is: Let's take a break today!