I got accepted at Ryuukoku university (Kyoto)!
Still don't know if I'm going to have a scholarship for monthly expenses from a portuguese institution, but I'm going to pay today the first semester.

http://intl.ryukoku.ac.jp/jclp/index.php

It starts in september 1 this year and lasts till september 1 2013.

After 3.5 long years studying japanese (around N1 level by now, in all skills except probabl for long texts production, I don't know, because I never write long stuff), I'm finally going there to study. I plan on going to Fukuoka (personal interest in one city there) and on visiting Kyoto and even going to China to see some friends who will be studying there (and also because I know some chinese too).

I don't know for sure what I'm going to do when I come back, but probably will enroll in one translation (japanese-portuguese, and still considering english) masters as I said in some place else already. I'm reading a translation book and will continue studying it in Japan.
Since I know chinese too, I' even considering going to china for like one year after coming back (always good for the resume right?).

Oh my dog, I'm going to have classes fully in japanese! Oh my dog I'm going to make so many new friends and learn so much new things!

Anyone already taken this kind of course? How was it? Anyone in Kyoto by the time I'll be there?

I live in Kyoto^^
And will be there until August 2013.

@CarolinaCG

Congratulations! I feel very happy for you, that you made it so far and got even accepted at an University in Japan. 羨ましいなー I hope you will have a lot of fun and perhaps you will get a chance meeting a few members from this board (Tzadeck perhaps?). We have a lot of great brains on here, so this makes me kind of jealous, too.
Is this university in Japan a partner university of your portugese one? Or did you just apply there? If so, what were the requirements? You passed N2, right? Was that required? (I guess yes, but I just want to ask to make sure)
How expensive will it be?

Currently, I'm thinking what to study at University. I will probably have not enough points studying medicine or anything going into the direction of natural sciences (I love Biology for example, but it's said to be very hard/difficult getting a job after your masters in Germany at least and I want to get a job I know more or less I will be able to get employed with).

Japanese studies/eastasian studies came into my mind, therefore. I would be straight-accepted with my current average and I would also be able to have a semester as an exchange student in Japan, if I'm good. (I'm about N2 level, except for listening).
My question is: how safe is this study in terms of getting a well-paid/regular/safe job afterwards? Learning Japanese is really fun to me and if I cannot become a doctor I want to turn it into my job; but not only Japanese, also Chinese and later on I want to polish up my Russian.

CarolinaCG Wrote:(always good for the resume right?).

I'd argue it depends what you are doing. Overseas experience will only add so much to a resume.

Tori-kun, I'm a bit in a rush now so that I will reply to your post later.

vix86.
I want to go to China to not only to improve my chinese but also because I want to have the chance to change my career in the future, you never know what's going to happen right. I will focus on japanese translation and japanese, but eventually I will want to change my life and when that happens, or if that happens I will have the chinese option under my belt too.

What I want to do? Either translation/interpretation or working for some company.

.

For those who are/will be in Kyoto. Let's meet someday!

Tori-kun,

Thank you!
Nope, Ryukoku University is not a partner university of my portuguese one. I applied to it by myself, and since I have some money saved for this kind of ocasion, so I decided to use it.
Yes, I passed N2, but I'm probably at N1 level now. Requirements were to have at least JLPT4 and having finished high school.

I think it will be more or less 10.000€ for the whole year (with expenses included I think). I already paid the first semester (3.000€+-)

Here in Portugal there are no speacialized courses (bachelors, masters) in japanese language. Starting from the next school year there will be one masters in translation though (only N3 is required).
I think that when it comed to looking for a job I wn't have much problems, considering that I'll spend at least one year in Japan, will afterwards take a japanese language related masters (translation) and also knowing chinese and english will probably good me good chances in the job marker.

If I knew my japanese could reach this level, I wouldn't have come to my bachelors (east asian studies). I would have studied something like international relations, marketing or something like that, studying japanese on the side.

Congratulations, CarolinaCG!

I'm also a fellow Portuguese (although living in Brazil for almost 5 years) and I've been following your blog for a while. I can only imagine the joy and sense of accomplishment you must be feeling now! Finally, after studying the language and the culture all this time, being able to go to Japan for a whole year is a dream come true. I wish you the best of lucks and hope you make the most out of it! It's also amazing that you're at N1 level! I'm still just barely fighting my way through to scratching N3...

There's also a possibility of me going for a study abroad semester at a Japanese university this September. But I would be going to Tokyo. I'm waiting for an answer, that will probably come until the end of the first week of July. I'm trying not to set my hopes too high, but I'm really hoping I'm able to go. It would mean the world to me.

Well, keep us posted on your next steps! And if I'm fortunate enough to go to Japan in September as well, we can even hopefully meet there!

CarolinaCG Wrote:Oh my dog, I'm going to have classes fully in japanese! Oh my dog I'm going to make so many new friends and learn so much new things!

I think you mean "Oh my god". =)

franciscobc84 Wrote:Congratulations, CarolinaCG!

Obrigada, andava com problemas sobre se ia ou não, mas a universidade já mandou o certificado de elegibilidade, agora é ir à embaixada buscar o visto pronto. Também ainda não sei nada em relação ao alojamento...
Espero que consigas ir, e se fores diz qualquer coisa!

I was having some troubles, I couldn't get the scholarship...but I'm able to go anyway, sent an email to the university explaining and they send today by express mail the certificate of elegibility I needed to go to the embassy. 在留資格, I think this is that certificate at least.

Still don't know where I'm going to stay (either kyoto or shiga), but anyway, I'm looking forward to this year!

btw, twitter/ayupt I'm going to update it with details and pics of my trip

Que bom que deu certo! Eu estou na mesma situação em que estavas até há pouco. Estou à espera do certificado de elegibilidade... Deve estar para chegar esta semana. Muita ansiedade e nervosismo até estar tudo confirmado mesmo.

Eu vou estudar na Sophia University, bem no centro de Tokyo (Chiyoda). Honestamente, Kansai (Osaka em particular) era a minha prioridade, mas foi a oportunidade que apareceu. Já sei onde vou ficar, num dormitório em Kokubunji, cidade em 多摩地域. Mas é caríssimo!!! Os preços em Tokyo são obscenos...

Vamos mantendo contacto, ok? Boa sorte com todos os preparativos!

Well, in a nutshell, I've received my acceptance letter from Sophia University. I'm just waiting for the certificate of eligibility now. Crossing my fingers that everything goes well.

franciscobc84 Wrote:Que bom que deu certo! Eu estou na mesma situação em que estavas até há pouco. Estou à espera do certificado de elegibilidade... Deve estar para chegar esta semana. Muita ansiedade e nervosismo até estar tudo confirmado mesmo.

Eu vou estudar na Sophia University, bem no centro de Tokyo (Chiyoda). Honestamente, Kansai (Osaka em particular) era a minha prioridade, mas foi a oportunidade que apareceu. Já sei onde vou ficar, num dormitório em Kokubunji, cidade em 多摩地域. Mas é caríssimo!!! Os preços em Tokyo são obscenos...

Vamos mantendo contacto, ok? Boa sorte com todos os preparativos!

Well, in a nutshell, I've received my acceptance letter from Sophia University. I'm just waiting for the certificate of eligibility now. Crossing my fingers that everything goes well.

Ficas até quando em Tokyo? Eu vou querer ir lá nas férias, quando as tiver.

Already have a dorm! 5 minutes walking to Ryuudai.
Today I went to check for ticket prices and that stuff. And I think I will go in september 9th (Sunday) and will arrive at kansai international airport at 7am. the flight will take like 3 hours oporto-frankfurt and like 7/8 hours frankfurt-Osaka.

Got my certificate of eligibility! Also the details about my dorm and other useful information about my semester as an exchange student from the university. I'm going to buy the airplane ticket this week. Will probably arrive at Narita on September 18th.

CarolinaCG Wrote:Ficas até quando em Tokyo? Eu vou querer ir lá nas férias, quando as tiver.

Fico até ao fim de Março. Vou quere viajar pelo Japão e logicamente que Kyoto (e a região de Kansai em geral) são imperdíveis. Já vi que vou ter três períodos propícios a isso: em fins de Outubro/começo de Novembro vai haver uns dias seguidos sem aula na minha faculdade; no final de Dezembro há a paragem de Natal e Ano Novo; e a partir de 1 de Fevereiro, as férias da faculdade. Vou ter que me planear e decidir.

mine has arrived too! already have a dorm, already have the days prior to classes schedule

This week or in the next tops, I'll go to the embassy.

so...I got my visa! I'll leave in like 3 weeks! ONE YEAH STUDYING WHAT I LOVE!

CarolinaCG Wrote:I don't know for sure what I'm going to do when I come back, but probably will enroll in one translation (japanese-portuguese, and still considering english) masters as I said in some place else already. I'm reading a translation book and will continue studying it in Japan.

Did you consider finding a job there before leaving and get a work visa?

I'm coming back to take a master course. or I'll try to get a scholarship in Japan and apply to a masters there.

Why neglect the change of getting hired? Why not get a job there (translation?) and study your masters? Just a suggestion. Good luck and enjoy it to the fullest!

undead_saif Wrote:Why neglect the change of getting hired? Why not get a job there (translation?) and study your masters? Just a suggestion. Good luck and enjoy it to the fullest!

well, I have much things planned to do in Japan, I'm not negleting a possible job, I just really haven't though about it. tomorrow I'm taking some 30 minutes to think about it .

Besides japanese and japanese culture classes I want to study lots of nihonjinron by myself, actually this has became my main purpose lately.
I actually am taking to japan a book on japanese translation, which I intend to practice a lot there.
I really want to hang out with japanese people (a job or volunteering would be awesome to get some experience with "older" people).
I want to start reading manga! (I just can't read online)

I gradually getting excited, I still have not internalized the fact that I'm really going.

timetable ^^
http://intl.ryukoku.ac.jp/english/html/s...ss_04.html

I see. So many things to do, eh?
I wish you the best of luck!

undead_saif Wrote:

CarolinaCG Wrote:

I see. So many things to do, eh?
I wish you the best of luck!

Thank you so much! I'll keep you guys updated

CarolinaCG Wrote:so...I got my visa! I'll leave in like 3 weeks! ONE YEAH STUDYING WHAT I LOVE!

Hell yeah! Congrats!! I also got mine today! Everything's set now. Airplane ticket, lodging, visa. Just counting down the days! =)

Best of luck to you! The best thing is you already have an advanced level of Japanese, which will make the experience all the more memorable and enjoyable. I wish I was in the same siatuation as you... And I can totally relate with what you say about not having internalized it yet... I think that even after arriving, it will take some time.

franciscobc84 Wrote:

CarolinaCG Wrote:so...I got my visa! I'll leave in like 3 weeks! ONE YEAH STUDYING WHAT I LOVE!

Hell yeah! Congrats!! I also got mine today! Everything's set now. Airplane ticket, lodging, visa. Just counting down the days! =)

Best of luck to you! The best thing is you already have an advanced level of Japanese, which will make the experience all the more memorable and enjoyable. I wish I was in the same siatuation as you... And I can totally relate with what you say about not having internalized it yet... I think that even after arriving, it will take some time.

Likewise!

I still need to pack :p
I feel so relaxed, I think the nerves will affect me only the day before the flight. when are you leaving? if you ever go to Kyoto let me know.

I leave on the 16th and arrive at Narita on the 18th.

And yes, I definitely intend to visit Kyoto. Also give me a heads up when you go to Tokyo! I`ve sent you a message with my contact.

Fellow koohii users, I'm leaving to Japan within some hours from now.

Thank you to all of you, you have contributed to this, to one of my dreams coming true (all the others are related though). If it wasn't for you I would never get motivated to "study" japanese.

Here I go