a few quick notes:

* holy craps and congrats and whatnot about the concert ownage

*capsule hotels are hard-core awesome

* I agree that you wold probably be fine without any language skills, but I think you would do yourself well to go about getting some before heading to Japan, it couldn't help but enrich your experience. I remember seeing a number of foreigner-gaggles walking about various campuses, which truthfully kinda frustrates me as it was basically a bunch of people in freaking homogenalicious Japan yet managing to not interact with anybody Japanese. I'm sure they where still having a wonderful time though.

* I'm finally (as of a week or so ago) officially accepted to my school in osaka! AND i just booked my flight last night. We used mileage tickets and could only get them to Tokyo, which is great, 'cause it finally gives me an excuse to ride a shinkansen, rock!

*Oh, and amen to japanese food being awesome and at times cheap - and to there being ridiculously kind and hospitable people about for the times when it isn't :ロ]

[quote="Jomei"][quote="GoldenRhino"]One could cut down the cost of staying in Japan a bit by staying in a capsule hotel...[/quote]

I've read that many of them deny service to foreigners, though.[/quote]

hostels are the way to go imho. capsule hotels are really more for drunks who missed the last train, i've heard.

@sheerheartattack - there are study abroad programs that include japanese language study. so no problem there.

I would like to do a study-abroad thing for a semester or summer, except my school doesn't really do that stuff (:/) and I have no idea how I would be able to keep taking English major classes while in a study abroad program (if it was during the school year.)

Grey got a mention in the no-bass-jun blog!

http://www.pillows.jp/p/blog/no-bass_jun/20070716.html
"シアトルの少年は大人顔になってたなー"
"the boy from Seattle sure has grown up."

[quote="Marekenshin"]Grey got a mention in the no-bass-jun blog!

http://www.pillows.jp/p/blog/no-bass_jun/20070716.html
"シアトルの少年は大人顔になってたなー"
"the boy from Seattle sure has grown up."

[/quote]

That's horribly cute.

Grey: Your mission is apparent: Make your 1500 GET "Seattle"

Although a bit off topic, but in that blog, Jun says,

"何かアメリカみたいな作り、雰囲気なライブハウス、MUSE。"

What I got out of it from my shitty Japanese is, Something he'd like to see performing live in America is Muse.

I know it's not right, but I was curious. I wouldn't have figured they'd like Muse.

The name of the place they played at (and Mare and I went) was called MUSE.

It seems like he's saying the MUSE (or the show AT the MUSE) had sort of an American atmosphere about it...is that right?

Yeah, he mentions that the atmposphere seems a lot more like an American live, and that watching the show reminded him of their first show in America, with all the energy and excitement and all.

That makes a lot more sense, thanks for clearing that up.

[quote="Thinliine"]I would like to do a study-abroad thing for a semester or summer, except my school doesn't really do that stuff (:/) and I have no idea how I would be able to keep taking English major classes while in a study abroad program (if it was during the school year.)[/quote]

Yeah, Study Abroad didn't sound like something that would happen to me after I had put some thought into the thing. But I'm planning on probably doing JET when I graduate in 2 years.

[quote="Crescent"][quote="Thinliine"]I would like to do a study-abroad thing for a semester or summer, except my school doesn't really do that stuff (:/) and I have no idea how I would be able to keep taking English major classes while in a study abroad program (if it was during the school year.)[/quote]

Yeah, Study Abroad didn't sound like something that would happen to me after I had put some thought into the thing. But I'm planning on probably doing JET when I graduate in 2 years.[/quote]

Yeah, I'm thinking about using the JET program or Nova Group. That sorta thing. However, it'd still be sweet as hell if I could study abroad for a semester.

Either way, just go talk to your Study Abroad counselors and f-ing go somewhere! I want to do JET too, but I don't know what I'll be doing then...

Not a bad idea. BUT

BUT

BUT!!

Make sure you're prepared.

www.gaijinsmash.net

Read ALL of them, from the beginning. This should be required reading for JET flunkies.

[size=25]i might do it someday... maybe... we'll see.[/size]

Hah, yeah, I read that a few years ago.

[quote="I is buster?"]I want to do JET too, but I don't know what I'll be doing then...[/quote]

I consider that an advantage in my own case. I have absolutely no goddamn clue what the fuck I'm going to do with a BA in Political Science and some little certification in Japanese, so I figure it's a good way to delay the inevitable for another year after that. Plus, it's Japan. (Not forgetting the benefit of the entire thing being an infallible ruse for me to see The Pillows and High and Mighty Color).

aww man, so jealous

kim deal live.. i was like.. dreaming that