Changes and Good News
So I had an eventful week!
On Wednesday, I popped upstairs for my break, and checked my email. Three emails from Shinako-sensei (my supervisor at Ehime) and John (teacher at Brookes). The subject line contained the word 'JASSO'.
Here's part of the e-mail-
'I've just got a very happy news!
Our faculty has just gained the opportunity to apply for JASSO scholarship
this year, and Catherine has been chosen as an applicant for the scholarship.
According to the office, only two applicants are approved among ALL the
faculties of our university this year, and our Dean and vice-Dean has
recommended that she is the first one to receive this scholarship!
Congratulations, Catherine!
It's still on the process of application, but the office says that
it is HIGHLY probable that Catherine will receive the scholarship,
which will provide her around 80,000 yen per month.'
Cue me dancing around my room and letting out a high-pitched shriek.
I have since calmed down. As it is not certain yet, and I have to wait for my application to be approved, I can't get my hopes up too much.
But....I don't know if I can emphasise how amazing this would be for me. Currently, 80,000 yen is just over £500. Plus my student loan, this makes it about £800 a month.
Then, there's a 'relocation allowance' which you get in your first month. That's another £500.
This means-
-I don't have to worry about accommodation costs. Rather than settling for an okay apartment, I can get a nice one maybe, with possibly some more room. I can afford to look around and have choice!
-I can travel around easily and see more Japan without having to restrict myself
-I can do proposed trips down to Australia, go back to China, see Malaysia...maybe even go to the Phillipines with Jo. I can have fun choosing somewhere to see.
-If I feel like it, I can take a short trip home when I have a holiday.
-I can buy myself stuff without too many worries
-I can afford plenty of food
-I can have fun and see places/do things which I would have to limit myself on, on a smaller budget
-I can save money for travels, to pay off overdrafts, for the next university year...
Overall, it would mean that I wouldn't need to worry. Financially I would be very comfortable and able to relax and concentrate on my studying and enjoying Japanese life. It means a lot, especially considering how stressful it could get, financially.
So, this is extremely good news, but I'm restraining hope. I know I'm their number one person to receive it, now I just have to wait to see if they accept me. So please keep your fingers crossed for me!
A new look
On Thursday morning, I looked like-
On Thursday afternoon, I looked like-
Drastic change, I think but....I felt like it. I need to make changes, and I wanted to 'update' my image too. I like it, but it's going to take time to get used to!! I may like to grow it out a little longer and see what I think of it then. What do you think? Didn't know whether to laugh or cry when more than one friend told me I looked like the stereotypical quiet girl in manga with the glasses >_>; Um.
I've played with making it spiky too, which is fun.
Japan is drawing closer...42 days away...
Additionally! I'm going to start a new blog for Japan. I just need a name for it. I want to include the word 'mikan'. It's a small orange, tangerine, that Ehime is known for having many of. So I want to include an element of that in the name..I just have to add something to it....what do you think? Any ideas? And I might do the blog elsewhere...but I'll post a link.
Tomorrow I have a lovely, lovely, lovely lie-in! And I have laundry to do, and some planning for Japan. Possibly seeing a friend who's come back up to Oxford, we shall see~
Had a nice day today. Spent most of it with Laura and Nat, sitting in the Mission eating nachos, then in Starbucks, then sitting in Nat's room reading Gaijin Smash and talking about Japan :)
I also got a pretty green long top from Gold Stone (Asian-fashion orientated store) and a skirt. They were both on sale!
(Check out http://www.m-butterfly.co.uk/ They have a lot of nice things but beware smaller sizes if you're Western. However, their one size footless tights fit really well and are really resistant to getting runs in them!).
There are negative things going on right now which are following me around and I wish would see some light of resolution, but I'm focusing on these good things :) I complained this week that karma never seems to work my way, and then, these things happen. So, must stay positive~
On Wednesday, I popped upstairs for my break, and checked my email. Three emails from Shinako-sensei (my supervisor at Ehime) and John (teacher at Brookes). The subject line contained the word 'JASSO'.
Here's part of the e-mail-
'I've just got a very happy news!
Our faculty has just gained the opportunity to apply for JASSO scholarship
this year, and Catherine has been chosen as an applicant for the scholarship.
According to the office, only two applicants are approved among ALL the
faculties of our university this year, and our Dean and vice-Dean has
recommended that she is the first one to receive this scholarship!
Congratulations, Catherine!
It's still on the process of application, but the office says that
it is HIGHLY probable that Catherine will receive the scholarship,
which will provide her around 80,000 yen per month.'
Cue me dancing around my room and letting out a high-pitched shriek.
I have since calmed down. As it is not certain yet, and I have to wait for my application to be approved, I can't get my hopes up too much.
But....I don't know if I can emphasise how amazing this would be for me. Currently, 80,000 yen is just over £500. Plus my student loan, this makes it about £800 a month.
Then, there's a 'relocation allowance' which you get in your first month. That's another £500.
This means-
-I don't have to worry about accommodation costs. Rather than settling for an okay apartment, I can get a nice one maybe, with possibly some more room. I can afford to look around and have choice!
-I can travel around easily and see more Japan without having to restrict myself
-I can do proposed trips down to Australia, go back to China, see Malaysia...maybe even go to the Phillipines with Jo. I can have fun choosing somewhere to see.
-If I feel like it, I can take a short trip home when I have a holiday.
-I can buy myself stuff without too many worries
-I can afford plenty of food
-I can have fun and see places/do things which I would have to limit myself on, on a smaller budget
-I can save money for travels, to pay off overdrafts, for the next university year...
Overall, it would mean that I wouldn't need to worry. Financially I would be very comfortable and able to relax and concentrate on my studying and enjoying Japanese life. It means a lot, especially considering how stressful it could get, financially.
So, this is extremely good news, but I'm restraining hope. I know I'm their number one person to receive it, now I just have to wait to see if they accept me. So please keep your fingers crossed for me!
A new look
On Thursday morning, I looked like-
On Thursday afternoon, I looked like-
Drastic change, I think but....I felt like it. I need to make changes, and I wanted to 'update' my image too. I like it, but it's going to take time to get used to!! I may like to grow it out a little longer and see what I think of it then. What do you think? Didn't know whether to laugh or cry when more than one friend told me I looked like the stereotypical quiet girl in manga with the glasses >_>; Um.
I've played with making it spiky too, which is fun.
Japan is drawing closer...42 days away...
Additionally! I'm going to start a new blog for Japan. I just need a name for it. I want to include the word 'mikan'. It's a small orange, tangerine, that Ehime is known for having many of. So I want to include an element of that in the name..I just have to add something to it....what do you think? Any ideas? And I might do the blog elsewhere...but I'll post a link.
Tomorrow I have a lovely, lovely, lovely lie-in! And I have laundry to do, and some planning for Japan. Possibly seeing a friend who's come back up to Oxford, we shall see~
Had a nice day today. Spent most of it with Laura and Nat, sitting in the Mission eating nachos, then in Starbucks, then sitting in Nat's room reading Gaijin Smash and talking about Japan :)
I also got a pretty green long top from Gold Stone (Asian-fashion orientated store) and a skirt. They were both on sale!
(Check out http://www.m-butterfly.co.uk/ They have a lot of nice things but beware smaller sizes if you're Western. However, their one size footless tights fit really well and are really resistant to getting runs in them!).
There are negative things going on right now which are following me around and I wish would see some light of resolution, but I'm focusing on these good things :) I complained this week that karma never seems to work my way, and then, these things happen. So, must stay positive~