scribbles

Recuperation

I'm still alive--don't worry. I need a bit more time to gain some strength, and I'll get the pictures from the truly awesome party on Sunday!

Everyone who came: you all freakin' ROCK!

Everyone who didn't: OK, you're kind of cool too.

Time for more sleep.

What do I pack?

Pining for more updates? Not getting any?

Ha! I take no pity on all your information-deprived souls! The end is upon us, and new beginnings are afoot! There just ain't enough time for all the necessary goofing off before my departure. So, the best thing would be if everyone would just come to the massive party coming this Sunday: consolidated goofing off.

Nils Ferry has put up a panorama of Kyoto on his blog. I keep looking at it and getting all hot and bothered.

Nearly everything is in place for me to set off.

• visa - check
• passport - check
• plane tickets - check
• bank account - check
• health insurance - check
• new address - check
• sexy clothes - check
• iBook - in transit
• digital cam - check
• japanese dictionary - check
• 30,000en - hmm, soon
• more money - oh shit!

The Post Partying Predicament

I spent a week preparing for the party, and then I spent a week recovering from the party. Those who were there will understand why.

There was craploads of good food, gallons upon gallons of alcohol, and there were hoards of friends there to enjoy it all! There were homemade cookies, special punch drinks, cheese, bread, chicken, eggrolls, and just so much freakin' food!

Besides the food, there was, of course, the beer! Beer beer beer! Chio and Vince brought Bacardi and made something called a Mojito (alright, I spelled it wrong the first time--thanks Thierry and Dave) which tickled my tummy. Rocco brought a 40oz of King Cobra. And, of course, there was the Vodka... oh, the Vodka.

Well, you can see it all for yourself!

Thanks to all who came! And for those who didn't, you missed a great party! I guess you'll just have to wait until my Return Party for another event as huge as IGHO!

Takin' Care of Business

Got off the ass and down to the DMV at 8AM to wait in line for an hour and a half to get my motorcycle license. Welp, I passed, and I'm waiting for the official one to plop in the mail soon.

Closed my old bank account, got a new one at a bank I'll be able to use in Japan. I'll be eventually getting an account at the Post Office in Japan too--at least, that's what folks are saying I can do!

Got my International Student ID Card.

Did laundry. Did laundry again.

Got my housing information (I've got a kitchen, awesome!).

E-mailed Mr. Nishihara at KUFS regarding health insurance issues; that guy is so incredibly friendly and helpful!

Still haven't boughten the iBook (I'm waiting for prices to go down more!).

Read a few more chapters from Kavalier and Clay.

Discovered, Part Deux!

I've been found once more! Norry has discovered that I've discovered her discovery of me.

I guess now is a good time to introduce myself.

I am a Japanese major at San Francisco State University.

I will soon be going to Kyoto University of Foreign Studies to study for a year.

My name is Ivan. In Japanese, I pronounce it as Ai-ban. I've decided to use as the kanji for my name.

Also, I don't like natto. :)

Yoroshiku!

Inching Closer to Kyoto!

It's August! And I'm only a month away from Kyoto!

So, what's the status report so far?

I received my Certificate of Eligibility from KUFS with my packet. With that, I was able to apply for my student VISA, which I did last week. And, at long last, after much bantering and bothersome beauracracy, I was able to get the VISA today.

I got my flight switched from Narita to Kansai Airport, which makes so much more sense since I'm going to Kyoto after all! At the same time, I'm kind of disappointed in not being able to get lost trying to transfer between local trains from Narita to Kyoto. My flight leaves on September 5th!

I'm landing on (duh!) September 6th, five days before I can move in to my apartment. I'm going to make reservations at a place called Kyoto My Pension; I'd typically have no trouble with that, except all the information and the application is in Japanese. Time to break out the Kodansha!

Aw, crap! What am I supposed to pack? Lots of peanut butter and Abercrombie shirts?