Before these wings take flight.

I'm at once mentally exhausted and excited at the same time. All the sleepless nights of studying and paper writing have finally come to an end: I am finally done with over 31 pages of writing and 2 written finals. I have spent more than enough quality time with textbooks. I'm not really sure how I'm still functioning, but my flight on Saturday is more than enough to keep me energized. I still cannot believe that I will be spending but a single day at home before my big flight to Japan. This will be my first visit to Asia since 2002 and the my first visit to Japan since I was five years old.

(Finally back at home after a long finals week love affair with my literary theory book)

In the midst of all this messy packing of odds and ends, I am simultaneously piecing together my thoughts on this journey to come. To say the least, this is a well-needed change in my routine. Academics have been swallowing my life whole, and I think some time to grow on my own will be good, especially in a new environment with new folks.  I cannot wait to just talk to new people and learn from these day-to-day experiences. I can always use some stretching - of social skills and ability to adapt. And the foodie that I am is calling out to me to go experience the culinary secrets that Japan might be hiding. A number of friends will be in Japan visiting as well, so I might have the pleasure of seeing a few of them during my long months away from home. 

And I'm sure, of all things, that this little dip into the business world will be incredibly productive for me in the long run. I am finally getting an opportunity to get experience business hands-on, and I certainly hope my experience with UCLA will be of service to Ryugaku Journal. To be working with fellow university students and to share experiences will be a really good opportunity for me to appreciate my UC education as well as my commitment to academia. But also, I will get a glimpse of Eastern education through authentic Japanese voices. Inevitably, this will a mutual learning experience of East and West.