Photo Diary: Being a tourist in London!

宝石の鳥～！
Stumbled across these birds carved out of gemstones in a jewellery shop window! Absolutely gorgeous. ♡

Also fell in love with the Boucheron hummingbird ring. Some day...*sigh~*
価格が書いてない程高いけど、メッチャ欲しい指輪！

It's long, so more under the cut!

カットの後でもっとご覧ください！

Japanese Visa Application Process~

The visa application process was really simple, though it is a bit of a hassle if you don't live in London! Until earlier this year, they'd post your passport back to you, but now you need to go in again to collect it.

I filled out the visa application form in advance with my passport info, flight number, accommodation (Waseda University Student House South Wing ♡), etc.. Apparently for the 'employer' section, you put your home university, and for the guarantor/inviter you put your uni' in Japan, leaving the date of birth and gender blank.

I was worried about the photo size so paid extra to get one in 45x45 just in case, but they're actually not picky as long as it's a clear recent photo. A regular UK passport photo is fine! :)



Once I reached the Embassy of Japan (only about a 20 minute walk from Victoria Coach Station),
we had to show our passports/ID at the door then go through an airport-style security gate! It hadn't even occurred to me that security would be so high, so it was an interesting experience. The scanning machine flagged up my little nail scissors but the guard said they were fine once I showed him.

Intro post!

Hello, Wase-darlings!

My name is Rin, and in less than one month I'll be in Japan once more! This time to study for a year abroad at Waseda, as part of my degree (BA Translation, Media & Japanese at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England).

I've been to Japan on holiday twice already, once in February 2013 and again last summer. Fukuoka is my favourite place, but it wasn't an option so I'm stuck in Tokyo. :P Not too bad as I love gyaru fashion, and several of my UK gyaru friends are currently living in Tokyo. ♡

Japanese is currently the only language I'm learning, although there are many others I'd love to learn! I'm also 100% English and not fluent in any other languages whatsoever (so envious of those who learned several languages from childhood!).

Before going to university, I worked in hospitality for a few years and also completed the CertTESOL, so I'm currently a 'mature student' at the age of 24. XP

Apart from languages and fashion, my interests include photography, food, anime/manga (especially ★JJBA★), and cats. I have a blog already (Gyarurin Style), which is mostly fashion/lifestyle, whereas this'll be kind of study/lifestyle, so I'm not sure exactly how I'll split things up at the moment. Additionally, I may try to write most entries in both Japanese and English, but also already have a blog in Japanese so not sure..? I have a Tumblr here, and may make a side one to dump pictures on (currently undecided but will let you know). Feel free to follow any if you think they'll interest you. ♡

Iiiiiiif you have any questions, please comment!

Coming up: My visa application experience (making the second trip to pick up my passport tomorrow).

Buh-bye for now!





やっほー、早稲ダーリンの皆さん♥

二十四歳のイギリス人のリンでーす。
イースト・アングリア大学の学生で、
九月の初旬に早稲田で留学するために来日します。

この前に二回日本を旅行しました。
福岡が一番気に入った所だけど、
白馬、京都、大阪、江ノ島、
東京等にも行ったことがあります。

所で、直ぐに大学三年生になっちゃいますが、
大学へ行くようになった前、
自習と夜間授業で日本語を勉強しました。

接客業に数年勤めていました。
面倒なこともあったけど、
人を手伝って、喜ばせるのが好きなので、
大部分は楽しかったです　♡

他のブログやSNSも使っているけど、
今使い分けははっきり決めていません（笑）
でもよかったら付き合ってくださいね！

質問とかあったら、コメントして下さい　♡

次の投稿はビザの申し込みについて書きたいと思います！

バイバイー　(^_^)/~

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