Dormitory: What a Nightmare!

I would start saying that some picture are worth thousands words! I've checked and re-checked the dormitory pictures and description a few times before chosing one. In the end i was told that only one was available, as the other two are for girls. (Dormitories are defined as Male / Female depending on the number of students). In any case, a reservation has to be done well in advance as places are limited

The above were the pictures published on the website. It looked neat and clean. Unfortunately I guess that the pictures were taken ages ago.

The Following are some of the pictures i took when i've entered the dormitory, I will not comment them

Even though I could not believe it, and wanted to leave straight away, I've instead written to the school principal and asked for an appointment. I'm not sure how much they know about the condition of the place.

In the meantime i've bought a full Sleep-set: Futon + Pillow + Blanket + Bed Sheets = Total Investment 9,870 yen (CHF 120.--) at Daiei.

I spent a day more at the hotel so that i had time to clean up at least the room and getting the Bed ready. Even so, i could not sleep if not after 3.00 AM...

First Few Nights: Union Hotel Sannomyia

The first few nights, i've slept at this hotel. I must say it: It is a really nice and fine hotel! The courtesy of the staff was impressing. Now you may object here saying that "it is so everywhere in japan". Well... it might be so, but it is not the rule. Another hotel not far away where i was staying last year (the Kitagami Hotel - 北上ホテル) was not so. I really suggest staying away from that one!

You might wonder, what is different in a japanese hotel compared to western hotels? Well...a few things...

1) The hotel had vending machines on the 2nd floor. First of all, drink can be found cold or warm (you can have hot or cold coffee in cans)

2) You can buy some snacks, which taste really nice. In western hotels we would find Potato Chips or Chocolate bars. In a japanese vending machine you would find bread and other snacks that would be suitable for a breakfast

3) This is really nice, you're going to love it ;) : In some japanese hotel you have a Mobile phone recharge corner! Yes...you understood right! Did you forget your phone charger? no need to worry about...they have all Japanese Mobile phones chargers. Normally, if you need to charge your phone, they have a "coin-locker" style drawers, where you can put your phone, close and lock the door and come back later to pick it up.

4) The price! The price for this fine hotel, was about 6,000 (CHF 70.-- ) yen on Rakuten travels. Is always worth to surf around a little, since this hotel was listed as around 10,000 (CHF 120.--) yen for a single room!

Day ZERO: Flying to Japan

Today I finally boarded the Finnair flight to Japan. The evening before i went to sleep at 2 AM... Finishing all the things to do, packing and weighting my luggage. Final weight was 21.9 KG. The maximum weight is normally 20kg but if they are not too strict, sometimes you can get away without too much trouble for a couple of KG more ;)

I woke up at 5.45 to say goodbye to my father. We had coffee at home togheter and when he left, it was at that time that i've realized i would be gone for a long time.

The evening before leaving i greeted my sister, her husband, my nephew and niece. I think i'm going to miss them, especially my nephew. He is now 2 and started to say some words a while ago. Some of them are not yet clearly spoken, but we know what he wishes to say. I'm sure i'm going to miss him calling me "tio dade"...

At 7.00 AM Jim picked me up at my parent's home and we headed to the airport. The plan was the following: while i was doing the checkin, he would keep my hand luggage (18kg!!) since i've already had a backback (7kg!!). He had this idea: they normally check you during checking, not at boarding for the carry-on luggage. It went great, no checking at the counter and no checking at boarding, and there i left with my over 50kg of stuff ;) amazing uh?

The flight was quiet, but i couldn't sleep well, just a couple of hours. By the time i've arrived in japan i just wanted to sleep...but i had to hold on, even though i took a 2 hours nap ;)

On the airplane, next to me, was sitting a Japanese man. Amazing! He was a professional sleeper i guess. He slept 80% of the time...and even without lowering down his seat! That was some performance!

After quick checking of my travel documents and stamped visa i was allowed thru immigration and customs without any troubles... Japan, here I am!!

-22 days: Preparing to Move out...

Only 22 days before leaving for Japan. Still many things to do. Most of them are paperwork.
During the past weekend i've started packing my stuff. I think i Can pack all my belongings in about 8 Ikea boxes.

You cannot imagine the stuff i had to throw away... i'm really keeping now only essential things... I'm trying not to leave too many things at my parent's and my sister's house...

The Plan is to move out on March 25th and move all the furniture (a Bed, a Closet, a Desk and 8 boxes) to my sister's house. I will be spending few days with my parents and a couple of days with my sister, nephew and niece. It will be a while before i can meet them again...

School Enrollment Completed...

Togheter with the CoE, the school confirmed my enrollment as a student!
To keep the Student Visa, i will need an attendance of 80% ...

CoE Arrived! (Certificate of Eligibility)

After 3 months waiting time, the Certificate of Eligibility has arrived! With this certificate, Issuing the visa by the Japanese Embassy should be done in few days. Normally it might take up to 3 months to get the visa once applied.
Fortunately I've been assigned a 1-year visa that should allow me to open a bank account, find a job (max 20 hours per week) and be resident as a student.

Doll Festival (雛祭り - Hina-matsuri)

Each year the 3rd of march, is the Girl's Day and it's called Hina-Matsuri (雛祭り). It is custom in japan to prepare and display ornamental Dolls. How it is done today, the dolls are displayed in homes and shrines starting mid of February and take them out right after this festival. It is believed that families too slow to put them away, might have troubles marrying their daughters ;)

The origin of this festival was during the Heian Period in Japan (794 to 1185 d.c.) and originally called hina-nagashi (雛流し) and people used to put the dolls on a boat and send them down the river. It was believed that doing so, bad spirits would be sent away. This tradition partly died because the dolls would get stuck in fishermens nets. So, for a while, after people sent the dolls down the river and spectators are gone, dolls are taken back to the temple and burned.
In any case, the more modern tradition is a little bit different. Dolls are not burned. Actually some of the dolls can be very expensive, therefore, as many other celebrations, the more modern way of celebration might slightly differ in meaning and way of doing...