Photo time!

I have new pictures!!

But I'm borrowing Maria's internet so I have to give it back, so no explainations just yet!

An interesting night

So, today, like I said, was crazy. They scheduled everything at the same time and it all hinged on random crap. It was so busy and stressful that I actually teared up partway through the day. You see, I was early to the 1:30pm loan seminar because I skipped the "meet the faculty" meeting, so that way I could get my loan, do my payments and get my registration number before 2pm, when I had a meeting for homestay students. This was impossible. I couldn't even get the loan portion done, because half way through my paperwork the lady realized I didn't have my recipts for the bills I was paying. They were back at my dorm, which is a 20 minute bike ride through the heat and humidity of a florida july and at this point I only had 10 minutes before my homestay lecture. So I was a little nervous, she said she could get me copies from downstairs, but she's have to ask after her shift, which wouldn't be until 4pm and the payment office closes then and registeration lottery stops at 5pm. AND I had a computer lab orienation at 4:30pm. So I ran downstairs and tried to talk to the ladies in the office to see if I could get them to reprint my recipts. They totally didn't understand me and I started to lose my shit (hence the sniffling and the tearing up). I didn't actually cry, which is a record for me and they felt really bad for me and everything worked out, so it was okay, but I just feel like a total loser.

Thankfully they got me copies while I was in my homestay meeting (which was comedic and made me feel better) and I was able to get my loan and pay and get my number, which is 244 out of 444. It's not good, but it's not too terrible either.

I have no idea where I'm supposed to pay off this loan, but meh. I'll figure that out tomorrow after I fight to the death for my classes.

I found out more about my homestay family too! They live 15 minutes away from campus by bike, so getting "Simple Time" the creamsicle colored bike of my dreams was a good idea. They're a mom, dad and two kids, but to be more speicific they're a house wife (birthday 10/1/60) a revnue office worker (6/21/58), a vocational college student (04/86) and a high school student (05/88) The boy is the college student and the girl is the high school student and both of their hobbies are listed as: playing games and watching anime. So I think I'm golden. The only downside (that I can see, they could be horrible people, but I'm hoping not) is that they don't have pets and smoke inside the house. The Dad also plays Go! They don't speak any English (I'm screwed) and they want me to teach them English.

So here's to hoping!

Go squirel!

Okay so there's a squirel inside the ATM who's now letting me take out more money. I took the placement test and got my ass handed to me in someparts and then kicked some ass in other parts.

I think the loan thing with work out. Now I have to find proof of my health insurance. I swear I had a million copies of it, but I don't think I brought a damn one with me. I can't register for classes without it, so again with the fucked.

After all this crap I get to see Mayu tomorrow!! (She's Josh's girlfriend and she was at UF two years ago)

Also my roommates are Erica (the vegan from Rhode Island) and Tracy (from Burmingham, England) they are both awesome. I have a few stories to tell, but I have to run and get my papers together to get my loan.

Love you all!

I'm still fucked

Well I missed the whole "You have to bring $3000 in yen to pay all of your fees before we'll let you register for classes" thing. Thanks Kansai. I thought everything was through UF so I ignored the ONE note I got mentioning it. Now my own parents won't email me back and no one here knows how to do Western Union. Sooooo I'm fucked.

I'm getting a loan from the University, which is free of interest rates, and trying to pay off as much as I can every day. Which is $100, which is the only amount the ATM will let me have. But on the upside I did bring a lot of money that I converted into yen so I can pay a big hunk of it off. So my debt should only be around $2200. fuck.

I made it!

Hey guys I made it to Japan and I couldn't be happier. Everything went so smoothly and my dorm looks AMAZING. The problem is that I don't have internet in my room so I have to do blogging downstairs at the moment.

I have a campus tour I could take tomorrow, but I'm going to blow it off and sleep in. It's not required and I think I'll focus mostly on studying for the language exam I have on Wednesday.

(hint: right now it is 10pm on August 28, Monday)

I have to run if I want to make it back in my dorm gates that close at 11pm, so I'll update more later!

<3

My first entry

I have to be very honest with everyone. I haven't used blogger since Barr made us sign up for one in the two days we had him before he got fired. So I'm a little rusty and I can't help but laugh whenever I think about blogger and it's involvement in leading my AP British Studies class to be lead by the pool manager.

That aside. This is my first post and I'm not even in Japan yet. I signed up for a logan pass to use the wifi for the next hour and a half as I wait to get on my plane. I actually like the idea of taking two planes to get to Japan as opposed to the Atlanta direct to Narita Airport (Tokyo) . It means two hours then 13 hours, which translates into a slow boat ride to Hyannis and then a car trip up into Canada. Or maybe down to Virginia.

If you're already familar with my internet existance you know that I have a livejournal/facebook/AIM/MSN/flickr accounts. All of those will be active, but since I will have more loyal viewers I'll be trying to keep things simple and PG-13 rated.

Basic Contact Info:
email: MandoPandotheCommando(at)gmail(dot)com
flickr (i.e. all my photos): http://www.flickr.com/photos/din