I've worked for a Japanese animation convention called Acen in Chicago for the past decade. I've traditionally spent much of my time in programming, but over the past couple years have transitioned into guest relations. Before anybody laughs or pulls the weeaboo/japanophile card, keep in mind that planning any kind of event where over 15,000 people converge is quite the task, more so considering that nobody on staff is paid for their work. For me, the reward is when people get excited over a guest announcement and give huge thank yous for doing this. That feeling is priceless.
Of course, the job is not without its share of stress, even with the best of outcomes. In this case it is the board of directors authorizing myself and another member of the guest relations acquisitions team, June, to attend Tokyo Anime Fair in three weeks to more or less meet with representatives of various animation companies. It's great for the convention and will hopefully give us more options in future years to get interesting guests of honor from overseas. When it was approved at a meeting, both of us were quite happy and immediately came up with any number of potential plans.
Five minutes later it hit me.
Tokyo Anime Fair takes place from the 25th to 28th of March and I have a plane ticket to depart for Tokyo for school on the 31st. Each way to Tokyo is approximately 15 hours with departure from Milwaukee. I will conduct three ways between Tokyo and home over the span of a week, meaning 45 hours hours on a plane. I am dreading the kind of jet-lag I will endure with that kind of turnaround.
Tokyo Anime Fair is going to be great. My mental condition after those flights and complete unbalancing of my sleep pattern will be debatable. My only hope is that my sleep pattern is irregular enough that I may actually be unfazed with the ordeal and come out of this relatively unscathed. I am not counting on it, but can hope.
I love Acen, and for that I am willing to test the limits of my body to travel around the globe. I've hurt my back and knee over the years with them, what's a little sleep deprivation at this point? I have a kindle and a laptop- bring on the horrors of air travel!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Japanese And Immigration Bureaucracy
Before received my official acceptance from Sophia University, I was warned by the International Student office of my school that Japan would send back a package that would not spare the trees. They were correct.
Most other study abroad students, mostly Europe or Latin America in my case, get a few sheets and they are ready to go.
This is the pile of paperwork that I had to dig through. This may not seem quite as impressive by the photograph, but it did add up- and I did a couple pieces. You know the "thick envelope" that people associate with acceptance to a University? I received one of those for all purposes... all for a couple semesters of study at their school. As they send it to my school as opposed to directly to my address, I had to pick it up and hope that I would somehow not lose something important.
In all honesty, the paperwork sent is mostly understandable. Japan wants to ensure that any foreigners staying longer than 90 days is registered and has a purpose for remaining in the country. However, they do go a little overboard in sending an official letter of acceptance and several other documents specifying my student status in addition to the certificate of eligibility that the school obtained from the Japanese immigration offices. It certainly seems redundant to have all of these components to submit for my visa, but I doubt this is different from the United States as we are notorious for our red tape.
Not all of this is red tape. Some of this is legitimately useful. After 15 hours on a plane, I am going to want to know exactly where I will need to go for language testing (the day after I arrive... which will not be particularly fun) and how I pay for my housing. So while I may be indirectly responsible for the destruction of a 200 hundred year old tree by applying to this school, at least they are thorough.
To me, this is just one step closer to getting overseas. After having a heath setback at the beginning of the month (I recommend avoiding open abdominal surgery if at all possible), this was a very nice reward.
Most other study abroad students, mostly Europe or Latin America in my case, get a few sheets and they are ready to go.
This is the pile of paperwork that I had to dig through. This may not seem quite as impressive by the photograph, but it did add up- and I did a couple pieces. You know the "thick envelope" that people associate with acceptance to a University? I received one of those for all purposes... all for a couple semesters of study at their school. As they send it to my school as opposed to directly to my address, I had to pick it up and hope that I would somehow not lose something important.
In all honesty, the paperwork sent is mostly understandable. Japan wants to ensure that any foreigners staying longer than 90 days is registered and has a purpose for remaining in the country. However, they do go a little overboard in sending an official letter of acceptance and several other documents specifying my student status in addition to the certificate of eligibility that the school obtained from the Japanese immigration offices. It certainly seems redundant to have all of these components to submit for my visa, but I doubt this is different from the United States as we are notorious for our red tape.
Not all of this is red tape. Some of this is legitimately useful. After 15 hours on a plane, I am going to want to know exactly where I will need to go for language testing (the day after I arrive... which will not be particularly fun) and how I pay for my housing. So while I may be indirectly responsible for the destruction of a 200 hundred year old tree by applying to this school, at least they are thorough.
To me, this is just one step closer to getting overseas. After having a heath setback at the beginning of the month (I recommend avoiding open abdominal surgery if at all possible), this was a very nice reward.
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