Anyone a Japanese Studies applicant? (MEXT)

[charruakun]

Thank you for your quick reply and kind words!
Let us know when you hear from Niigata! I'm sure it'll be an incredible experience for all of us. I've never been to Niigata, but a friend of mine said it has a very idyllic setting and warm people.

I'll be having an orientation in the Consulate where I applied; then, they will give me more precise info on health insurance, what I can do, what I cannot. Last year's Japanese Studies scholarship recipients will also attend. I guess it'll be good to relax a little.

Let's hope other people also decide to keep in touch, after all we are not so many.

Congratulations again and keep us posted when you receive more info!

edit: I just received a contact from Okayama U. concerning hall of residence and university rules.

 

[Harborcoat]

I haven't had any direct contact from the university either.

Any news on that front? I haven't had *any* contact with my university and they won't reply to my emails. This is especially frustrating because the course guide says there is no space available in their dorm for MEXT students, and I'll have to find a place on my own, which is annoying. Most rooms are unfurnished in Japan, so that means I'll have to buy my own fridge, bed, desk, chairs etc. Not to mention all the contracts I've seen so far are 2-year contracts.

 

[Lamourha]

My embassy told me to contact Hiroshima university myself so I sent them an email. I got a reply the next day, and they told me that they have reserved a room in the International house for me They also promised to send more info about arrival and stuff later.

 

[charruakun]

Likewise, even without consulting me, my university (Okayama) reserved a room for me in one of their dormitories. I also have been told that I will receive more information on classes, rules and stuff from September, when they will send to my current address some kind of booklet.
Harborcoat, I guess they will reply to your e-mails after O-Bon. Now they are in the middle of this holiday, after that probably they will start organizing their schedule for Fall semester.
About renting someplace in Japan, you can inquiry your university about the possibility of they acting as your 保証人 (guarantor); most universities have this kind of system to help their students. Plus, they have students cooperatives that can help to locate a room for you somewhere!
Ganbatte!

Lamourha, we will be both staying in Chūgoku area! I confess I'm still doing my research on this region.

 

[kibo88]

Still no news from the university here either ☝
You guys say that your universities already reserved rooms for you in the dormitories. Do you think it may be a problem to live outside the campus with my friends as it's not my first time in Japan? Did they write something like if you don't want the room in the dormitory, let us know, or something?

 

[charruakun]

Still no news from the university here either ☝
You guys say that your universities already reserved rooms for you in the dormitories. Do you think it may be a problem to live outside the campus with my friends as it's not my first time in Japan? Did they write something like if you don't want the room in the dormitory, let us know, or something?

Yep, they did tell me I have to contact them ASAP if I don't plan to live in the room they reserved for me. As far as I could understand, there is not any kind of trouble to "reject" their dormitories as long as you can attend the classes. They even mention that if you want to bring your family or rent an apartment by yourself, they can provide assistance.

 

[chaitea]

Just had an email from the Embassy this morning.

There's been another student selected from Australia, which is really great to hear. He's a fair distance away though, so there's little chance of getting to meet him before departure.

I've also been instructed to make contact with Niigata University to see whether they're making arrangements on my behalf. If you haven't already, Kibo88, it seems like this might be the way to go.

And I've got the form for the visa application!

Things are starting to get exciting!! Makes it hard to concentrate on this week's end-of-semester exams though...

 

[scottwo]

Any news on that front? I haven't had *any* contact with my university and they won't reply to my emails. This is especially frustrating because the course guide says there is no space available in their dorm for MEXT students, and I'll have to find a place on my own, which is annoying. Most rooms are unfurnished in Japan, so that means I'll have to buy my own fridge, bed, desk, chairs etc. Not to mention all the contracts I've seen so far are 2-year contracts.

THAT stinks! You think they'd at least get back to you even if they hadn't 積極的に contacted you. Any news yet?

 

[Harborcoat]

THAT stinks! You think they'd at least get back to you even if they hadn't ﾂ静鞘?ｹﾃ俄?廬窶堙 contacted you. Any news yet?

They took their sweet time but in the end I got a room at their dorm!
I actually called them and they said they had no idea about my arrival and told me to call back the following day so they could give me more info about private accommodation. An hour later they contacted me (via Facebook!) and told me they had reserved a room for me, which is great because it's only 17,000 yen/month.

 

[Harborcoat]

Have you guys heard from the embassy in your countries about the plane tickets? Still very quiet here

 

[charruakun]

Have you guys heard from the embassy in your countries about the plane tickets? Still very quiet here

Nothing here either.
But I was informed that it could happen. Being handed my plane tickets only 10 days before the travel itself. That's crazy. Almost doesn't feel like it's really happening. So quiet that it seems like I'm the only one worried about it! Haha.

 

[42kyokai]

Have you guys heard from the embassy in your countries about the plane tickets? Still very quiet here

MEXT scholar here. Just got mines yesterday from the travel company. It's about time, seeing as I leave in less than a week.

 

[charruakun]

MEXT scholar here. Just got mines yesterday from the travel company. It's about time, seeing as I leave in less than a week.

Congratulations! So you got your ticket about 10 days before, right... Wow, so what they said to me is really accurate.
Where are you going to? Do your tickets go until Narita or they also give you tickets to the nearest airport?

 

[42kyokai]

Thanks, you too!
I'm headed west to Doshisha University in Kyoto , so I'm headed directly to Kansai International Airport (KIX)

 

[chaitea]

Congratulations, 42kyokai!!

I've received an electronic plane ticket from the Embassy for departure on October 1. Apparently the university is sending a representative to meet me upon arrival too, which is very kind. That representative will give me the necessary information about domestic travel.

Good luck for those of you leaving in the meantime!

 

[charruakun]

Got my plane ticket reservation about 5 days ago! Will be leaving also in October 1st. Now, Wednesday, I will have a "meeting" with some people who works there and last year Japanese Studies' student. Like a guidance or something. Also, contact with university is often. They just sent me some "important papers", which I'm looking forward to receive.

 

[scottwo]

I got my itinerary two weeks ago, but no ticket, yet. They said they'd issue me a e-ticket, but I haven't gotten anything from them yet and I leave next Tuesday (18th). What form did the ticket take, 42kyokai and chaitea?

 

[chaitea]

Hey Scottwo --

The ticket is in the form of a PDF 'itinerary/receipt' with 'eチケットお客様控え' as the title. Basically the kind of print out that you get whenever you book a plane ticket electronically.

If that doesn't match what you've got, I'd definitely start checking where yours might be. For instance, I only found out second-hand from my university contact that my flight had actually been moved forward a day to coincide with the university's schedule. The travel agent contracted to act as a go-between for the university and MEXT apparently forgot to pass on the information to MEXT to pass on again to me. Oops.

Perhaps a similar communication breakdown has happened in your case...?

 

[scottwo]

Chaitea,

The travel agency just sent me my ticket. I don't know what they were waiting on. Guess I just needed to ask them... :\ haha. Phew. Okay, now I just need to pack.

 

[chaitea]

Haha, I'm really glad it turned out okay! Good luck in Yamagata -- it's not so far from Niigata, so perhaps I'll see you over there sometime.

 

[scottwo]

Chaitea, Yeah, I've got a friend in 小千谷 and I have to go through niigata to get there, so I'll definitely be in your neck of the woods some-what frequently.