Japan’s Pre-Departure Blog

I decided last year after attending an early Japan meeting. As soon as I heard about the program, I became instantly interested. The reason I initially wanted to be apart of the program was because it is a psychology credit. Once I complete this course, I will be done with my psychology minor. Therefore, this program benefits me professionally. As the class became closer and closer, I began attending the information meetings about the program. I discovered just how exciting and special this experience is going to be. I have always wanted to travel out of the country. I have been to Italy twice but both times I was too young to remember. I have also been to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Canada on vacations with my family. I have never been to East Asia and am really excited to be going there. Another reason I wanted to participate in this program was because my grandpa was a navigator in a B52 bomber in WWII. He was flying over Hiroshima when the bomb was dropped. This was really one of my main reasons that I wanted to go to Japan. My grandpa passed a few years ago, I think it will be a truly amazing experience. I think my biggest fear/anticipation is the actual transportation to Japan. I have never been on a plane ride longer than four hours, that I remember. I think I am really going to struggle with the sixteen hour flight. I do not like flying that much but I can handle it. It definitely freaked me out when during the pre-departure presentation, she told us she passed out during the flight from not staying hydrated. When I am on a plane I do not really think to drink water so I am nervous that is going to happen to me. I am also worried about the time difference and adjusting correctly. I know we will adjust pretty quickly when we get to Japan. I am more worried about when we come back and being able to get back to a normal schedule. Overall, I am mainly just excited for the trip and ready to learn/experience their culture. I think I will do good with the amount of traveling we are doing because I am used to it from previous vacations. I am just so excited to see everything and experience new things that being up and on my feet everyday will not even bother me.