Being a massive geek (AKA attending Studio You's 'Golden Blood' at Tokyo Big Sight)

Being a rabid JJBA fan, I'd noticed things like [GB14] and [GB15] on Pixiv, and discovered that it's a JoJo-only event, held in Tokyo Big Sight (and other places across Japan)! I attended Golden Blood 17.

Health check!

It's an eerily quiet first period on the Waseda campus when I go to get my health check done, though it's just starting to pick up as I write this. The ground is wet from last night's rain (the trees showered me as I went to line up), and a sparrow is hopping fearlessly around my feet. A campus tour has just walked past.

I have class from 10:40 and the checks opened at 9:30 so I arrived just before and was maybe 15th or so in the queue. I wasn't sure how long it would take, but I was finished just after 10!

First we showed our Waseda ID cards and received some forms to fill out, then went inside and went to the numbered stations in turn:

①Chest X-ray (In a little van-like thing outside. you have to wear one layer, a plain top with no prints and no metal bits, and they clipped my hair up as well so it didn't hang down. You have to put your chin on a rest and your chest and shoulders against the machine, then breathe in, breathe out, and hold it. There's one little room outside the X-ray room where everyone (all girls) can take off/put on their bras etc..)
②Urine sample (at a desk near the toilets. you pee in a cup (there are also lids so you don't need to walk around showing your urine to everyone!) then they dip a test strip in it and if relevant ask if you're menstruating.)
③I think this was just the sign to the big room (Okuma Garden Hall) where the rest of the checks took place?
④Height and weight
⑤Eyesight (not really a full eye test, they just tested quickly how good each eye was while I was wearing glasses)
⑥Blood pressure
⑦Interview(not as scary as it sounds! They just ask if you have any health problems and are taking any medication. Then thet give you an information sheet (one side English, the other Japanese) about how to get a medical certificate printed etc.
⑧Handing in the documents

---

I thought I published this back when it was written but apparently not!

We thought you need to wait until around the 21st to sign up for the gym (building 30, Toyama campus) but you can do it with the little blue health slip! You also need a photo (passport style; there are booths near the ticket machine), a 3000 yen ticket from a vending machine in the same building and your Waseda student card.

Stay healthy!

How to book live performance tickets via eplus and pick them up at the conbini!

A couple of days before leaving for Japan, I looked up a couple of artists I like to see if they were doing any performances soon that I'd be able to go to. To my excitement I stumbled across NT.NIGHT, which is hosted at Sanrio Puroland and features several artists including JASMINE, CREAM and the CYBERJAPAN DANCERS group. (Sorry for all the caps, that's just how they style themselves. :P )

The ticketing process was through eplus, which is apparently one of the major ticket sales companies in Japan.

I decided to sign up as a member first so that any potential purchasing would be quicker later.

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　(^_^)/~

Twitter　　←ツイッター
Tumblr　　←タンブラー
Instagram　←インスタグラム
Main blog　←他のブログ（英語）