Pre-Departure Preparations

"Travel is the only thing you buy, that makes you richer."

こんにちは
Hello,             

Yeah! That's me....
Harsh Vipul Thakkar, an exchange student to Japan from India. I will be experiencing my whole year in Japan. My host club is Rotary Club of Tokyo Komae R.I.Dist.: 2750, Japan  and my sponsor club is Rotary Club of Bharuch R.I.Dist.: 3060, India.
After 15 years, Japan Rotary had open their window for Youth Exchange Program. So, during my interview it wasn't told that I can also prefer Japan. I preferred Germany because of their dashing cars! Then I came to know that my rank was 2nd and I got an offer for Japan. I was also told that Japan is only for those students who ranked between first 6. I counted it as the best moment of life. By reading my e-mail i took my cellphone and called my dad and talked about it and he was too surprised even my whole family was surprised. After taking some guidelines we immediately accept that offer and I was really thankful to my IYE Counselor, IYE Chairman, Long Term Chair and many more dignitaries. 
Then, I started my preparations. I took guidelines by the past youth exchange students and these dignitaries and I observed that two things were absolutely common. They were as follow:

1. Write blogs.
2. Learn basic Japanese language.     

Then I wonder why everybody is telling me to write blogs then I wrote this blog and another thing I observed that slowly-slowly my hands were out of control, I mean that slowly-slowly I was developing an interest and my hands were continuously writing without taking a break. Then I decided that I will write blogs in Japan also. Coincidentally, this year IYE Chair made compulsory for all exchange students to write blogs :P

Then I also wonder that why it was compulsory to learn basic Japanese language. Literally, my parents were forcing me to learn Japanese (even though they never forced me for the studies before my exams) and one day I really got frustrated and I asked my father that why is it necessary? Then, my father understood that what i want to convey. He calmly made me understand that: 

What if I didn't get my host parents on the airport for picking me up?

How would I communicate with others?

How would I deal with that situation?

Then I understood that what my father want to convey (even though i knew that Japanese people were particular for the time as they are neither early nor late, they are time, that was also my one of the stereotype :P). Then, I also developed an interest for learning the Japanese language.

This was my very fist step of pre-departure preparations.