Tokyo 'r Us RE-ENACT

So, it's been... almost a year now since I made my last post, right?
It's been quite the eventful year so far.
First off, my lovely girlfriend Asami came to visit me in Sweden during spring and stayed at my apartment for about 1.5 months. Also, Ryosuke and Natsumi visited Stockholm as well!
I got good grades at my University during the spring term and now I'm currently working, as every I do every summer, at a supermarket in my hometown. I love my co-workers and customers and the job pays well! I do different things there. Everything from being a cashier to handling goods.

Now, I think most of you guys know why I'm starting up this blog again. However, some new readers may not so I'm going to explain why! :P

It all started way back, when I wasn't able to extend my stay at Nihon University last year. I had to figure out how to be able to go to Japan again, and soon, because there were still so many things that I wanted to learn and experience. Also, Asami was still in Japan so I wanted to be close to her of course.

Ever since I got home from Japan last December, I've been studying a great deal for the Monbukagakushou (MEXT) Japanese Studies scholarship exam. Yes, this would be my ticket back to Japan. The ticket back to where I want to be right now. It was a golden opportunity and I took it.

For those who intrested, and those who want to aim for this scholarship, I will try explain the process step by step (seen from my point of view of course). For those who don't want to read this, just skip this part.

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What is the MEXT scholarship? The MEXT scholarship is a prestigious scholarship which is a subsidy provided by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). There are 6 different scholarship, whereas Japanese Studies scholarship is one of them. For the fiscal year 2010, 340 students are granted the Japanese Studies scholarship. I don't know how many were accepted previous years though, but I'm think it hasn't changed.

So what does the scholarship include? You will receive flight tickets (a one-way ticket to Japan, and then a one-way ticket back home once the scholarship period has ended) and a monthly stipend. The amount of the stipend varies, depending on which scholarship you received and the current Japanese budget. Last year, the Japanese Studies scholarship stipend amounted to 125 000 yen per month. This would be equal to almost 11 000 Swedish Kronor. Also, as I understand you have to sign up for a National Health Insurance, which covers some things but not all expenses if something happens. You pay about 1500 yen I think per month for this.
The university you are accepted to, will of course provide you housing such as a dormitory. However, it does seem to me that you have to option to search for your own apartment.

The process of getting the Japanese Studies Scholarship (for embassy recommendation) includes two screenings.
The first step is a written examination and the second is, if you pass the examination, an interview at a Japanese consulate or embassy. As far as I know, we only have a Japanese embassy here, which lies in Stockholm. Thus, those who want to take this exam have to go to Stockholm in order to do it. Do not forget to apply for the examination, otherwise you probably won't be able to take it. The requirement is that you have studied Japanese for at least one year, that you are an undergraduate and that your major is the Japanese language now and after you get home from the time spent in Japan.

The written examination took place in early February. I'm guessing it's the same in all countries.
It is said to be a combination of JLPT 2kyuu and 1kyuu. It was only a written test, however, with no listening comprehension or conversation. It was a very hard test, to be honest. We had 2 hours and the test included kanji reading, grammar and long texts.

After the examination, we were told that if not contacted by the embassy within 2 weeks, you have not passed the preliminary screening. The embassy in Sweden contacts every candidate by phone.

The interview took place in March sometime. I've forgotten when it was, but think it was in the middle of March.
The interview was made by two culture attachés from Japan (I'm guessing from MEXT) and one Swedish man from the Sweden-Japan Foundation (which also have scholarships). The interview was in English and Japanese.
The interview ended and I was told that we were to be contacted within a few days for the results.
Fortunaly, it only took a few hours before the embassy called, notifying which ones were recommended.

After that, we had about two weeks before we needed to hand in a medical certificate.
Then, the long wait began...

Also, as I understand it, there is a chance to get recommended through your university as well, but I have no experience of that so I'm afraid there's nothing for me to say about that.

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So, we were about 30+ people who took the examination and eight people made it through the first screening (written exam). All of the eight who made it through the first screening also made it through the second screening (interview), thus we were eight people who were recommended by the embassy for the scholarship.

Now, I've been worried sick about if I will really be granted the scholarship or not. During 2008, seven students were recommended, however only six received it. Last year, six were recommended and everyone received the scholarship. This year, we were eight students. It made me nervous that we were so many who were recommended. And while knowing that in the past two years, six people each year had been granted the scholarship. I assumed quite early that not all eight would receive it.
A few weeks ago, one of my classmate who also were recommended got an e-mail from Nagoya University (Nanzan University) about accommodations. I figured straight away that he already gotten a green light by MEXT (although not official) and started to worrying even more.

It wasn't until yesterday, August 12th, that I received notifcation from the embassy that I have been granted the scholarship

I was sitting in my car, driving towards downtown Karlskoga and suddenly my cell phone started to vibrate and ring. I always put my cell phone inside the smallest pocket on the right side of my jeans because the pocket is a perfect size for the phone. However, since the size is "perfect", it also takes time to take it out from the pocket. I was struggling with that and when I finally got it out I got a heart-warming
"This is from the embassy. I have good news for you!"
"Did I receive the scholarship?!"
"Yes."
"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS"
As I yelled, I realized that I was still on the phone, however not embarrassed in any way though for screaming out loud.

It's been a long 6 month process of screening, interviewing and waiting. But in the end, I can't tell you how happy I am that MEXT granted me this scholarship. However, in one way the saddest thing about this whole process was the notification. A very good friend of mine didn't receive the scholarship. He has been very down after that and I don't know what to say to him.
All I can think is how sorry I am that he did not receive the scholarship. I was looking forward to it very much, being with him in Tokyo together again. I hope he will decide to take the opportunity to go to Japan as an exchange student this coming spring instead.

For me, however, suddenly all these dreams about experiencing a university life in Japan will come true. There are a lot of events in Japan I've yet to experience such as firework festivals, Christmas Eve, the fine colors of cherry blossoms during march and April... So many things I want to do and experience! And talk about being happy, being able to spend a whole year with Asami.
We have been talking so much about doing different things together if I get this scholarship.
Dating, eating out together, going to hot springs, going to the movies... Ecstasy.

Now you know why I have restarted this blog. I will try to do better this time.
The last time I tried to write too much too often and I got tired of it. Now I will either portion it up or write a longer topic once every week.

For now, I hope you'll have a good day and I hope that you, just like I, will be looking forward to a continuation of this blog.

I will right again soon someday, if not once the preparations for the trip has started.