Interlude

Hello everyone! Greetings from THE FUTURE! I've actually been a day ahead for over a week now, but it's still sort of cool, even if it's not as exciting as actual time-travel. Anyway, I'm not quite ready to type up a blog on China (though I'll probably get around to it later today), but something happened in my Aging and Culture class that I wanted to share with you all: Class was interrupted by a smoking volcano. Nowk, I don't mean the ash from an explosion threw the ship into chaos or anything, I just mean that there was an announcement on the intercom that there was a smoking volcano outside, so everyone rushed to the window to get a look. Yet another one for the "only on SAS" book, if one existed.

 

Anyway, today is the day before we dock in Kobe, Japan. My plans are more or less finalized at this point: I'm going to Kyoto either the first or second day and exploring Kobe the day I don't go to Kyoto. After that I'm getting back on the ship for a day and then getting off the day after that in Yokohama. Right after that I'm heading to Tokyo, where I'm going to Akihabara for nerdy things, the Pokemon Center to get stupid souvenirs, and Shibuya/Harajuku to go shopping (probably more like browsing...don't think I want to actually pay the prices) for normal things. The final day I'll probably just hang out in Yokohama. I'm pretty bummed that I was never able to get in touch with my host families to meet up with them (especially considering one of them lives, or at least lived, in Yokohama), but I'm also pretty sure I'll make my way back to the country again, so I can try again next time. After all,  I'm certain I want to do the JET program after I graduate and pay off my loans.

 

You know, SAS has really made me remember how much I like to travel and how  I used to want to do international business, so I'm thinking of once again pursuing an international affairs career at some point. The diplomats that debrief us at each port have really made their career look attractive. I'm not sure if being a diplomat is something I necessarily something I want to do, but just the idea of constantly being paid to travel (and making a lot of money in the process) sure sounds like a good deal to me. SAS even made me decide to pick up my Global Studies minor again, but that's also partially because I think a Global Studies minor looks slightly more legitimate than a Geography minor to an employer. It helps that I already have some of the classes out of the way for Global Studes, too. Still, I haven't entirely given up on voice acting, and I've resolved to really try to get into theater classes and workshops when I get home. I'm going to try to take up a theater minor again (I actually came in to UCLA as a theater minor...I just never took any classes for it) to get into otherwise restricted classes, and I'm going to try to find a soundproof room on the campus for my voice acting hobby. They're things I've always thought about doing, but never got around to, but I think it's time I start getting serious about things. We'll see how long my resolve lasts, but I feel like if I don't start taking action, I'm never going to be able to do what I really want to do, and I'm also realizing that I really don't have that much time left to be wishy-washy about everything.

 

SAS has also made me realize that UCLA was probably not the best college choice for me, which is somewhat depressing. I've still had a good time at UCLA, but I sure like how much easier it is to talk with professors and staff here in this small setting. I probably would have liked a small, liberal arts college setting a lot more than the large, public school setting I have at my home campus. But on the plus side, it's made me really appreciate the class setting here on SAS. Furthermore, thanks to this experience I also have some good references for letters of recommendations. I haven't asked for any yet, but I'm sure some of my professors here would gladly write one for me if I ever needed one.

 

Anyway, it's pretty depressing to think that SAS is almost over. I've really enjoyed the experience. Sure, there's still Japan and Hawaii, but I know that Japan is going to go by in a flash and then I have to concentrate on classes until Hawaii. I probably won't even be able to relax in Hawaii, because the day after, we start exams. I think they'll all be pretty easy, but I'm still going to need to put a decent amount of time into preparing for them. After that we have the Ambassador's Ball and maybe a few other events, but then after that we dock in San Diego. I can tell you, going back to normal school sounds REALLY unattractive at this point. The only thing I'm really looking forward to is getting involved with TBS again (my marching band sorority) and seeing friends I haven't seen in about 3 to 7 months.

 

This blog isn't particularly exciting, but I promise the next one will be about my exciting adventures in China and/or China and Japan. Until next time, then!