Ittekimasu = I'm leaving . . . in less than a month!!

    The main reason why I created this blog was to keep my friends and family informed of my adventures next year.  I was accepted to become a Rotary student ambassador for the 2010-2011 year in Sendai, Japan, where I’ll be attending high school. . . again.  Sendai is about three hours northeast of Tokyo by Bullet Train, or 230 miles (370 km) with a population of about one million people, which enormous compared to my hometown’s population of 4,000.
    The date that I depart is getting closer and closer. . . literally.  I was set to leave on August 16, but it seems that my host club wants me to leave earlier, around the 28th of July.  Although I'm excited to leave earlier, there is a certain amount of fear that goes with that.  All of this time I’ve been telling myself, “Mid August, mid August. . .” but now, I have less than a month!  I have to take on a rapid studying speed to learn as much Japanese as possible before I go, I need to figure out what I have to pack, what I need to buy and sort out some more things with colleges before I leave.
    Sometimes I think of not seeing my friends and family for a whole year.  During the holidays, when I start balling because I’m incredibly homesick, the most my mother will be able to do is have a Skype date with me.  Facebook will become my main source of news from home.  I also know that I’ll come back a changed person.  Will I no longer be able to relate with my friends?  These thoughts always kind of scare me, although I always remember that my friends have always loved me through thick and thin; a year in Japan isn’t going to change that.
    With all of this uncertainty must come the opposite; yin and yang.  Plagued by curiosity, I’ve tried researching my new school as much as possible.  I’ll be attending Tokiwagi Gakuen, which is an all girls’ private school. A sailor uniform is required, which I’m kind of excited about.  I tried google translating the school website, but much of the text is in an image so it couldn't be translated.  I’ve looked it up in google maps’ street view and have gotten a 360 view of the building (yes I did internet stalk my new school).  It’s absolutely gorgeous; four stories with a huge open atrium.  I think their soccer team is supposed to be really good too, although I doubt I’ll join because I haven't played since mid elementary and I wasn't even that good then.  I don’t know what school activities they have, but I’m determined to be very involved so it's easier to make more friends.  The more culture oriented activities like Culture Club and Japanese archery, the better. 
    I’ve collected quite a few images from my internet search, so here are a couple of my favorites.  I think I’ll eventually put them all in a slide show and post it.  So enjoy and until next time. . .  さようなら^^.

 My uniform

 The side of the school

Students entering the front

I'm pretty sure this is the archery club.  I loooove the pants : )

These images are taken from the Tokiwagi website, Google Maps and Tokiwagi School Diary