endependance

I've decided that, because any plans to go to Europe have been put on hold, I will now talk about my quest for independance and the places I go in order to accomplish that. So far, I can think of two places.

In December I'm going to be moving to Ypsi. I have 4 months between the end of fall semester and when I leave for Japan and I refuse to go home again. Thus, living and working on my own. I'm supposedly on my own this summer, paying for my apartment and everything by myself, but I still work for my father so he still controls something. Of course, I do want to go to Japan and I have a feeling that my parents will say come home or don't go. We'll see how this all unfolds.

Obviously, I will be going to Japan. It's not Europe and it's not exactly a backpacking journey, but it's me, alone, in a country where I barely speak the language, in TOKYO. So it's a bit terrifying and I will miss everyone...a lot. No phone calls. Only internet contact. Because of this, I will be using this journal to talk about my adventures in Japan. I may be double posting in my normal journal sirenicconsort quite a bit.

I picked up my application for the Meiji Gakuin program today. It's more than half filled out but it's not due until October so I'm not too worried about time.

I'll post more information most likely once I figure out if I've actually been accepted to the program...or when my parents disown me for moving somewhere they probably don't want me to be.

Just one wrong move and plans are destroyed and I'm left dissapointed again. This will be put on hold for a year. I won't come home from Japan...

I know that I've already made up my mind about this trip but it's still very difficult to face my parents and listen to their ridicule. I have to hear how I'm making a mistake, perhaps the biggest of my life, and "come on, you only have two more years, you can do this afterwards". This may be true and I could wait, but wouldn't that just be giving in to them again. I don't want to stay, so if I did, I would continue to live by what my parent's say.

My mother told me today that we might not have enough money the year after next for Hope anyways. I might as well take a year off and finish off my schooling at a cheaper school so all my credits will transfer.

I know this isn't about supplies, or planning really, but I want to write out what is going on with the trip and that includes the interactions people about the trip. Don't think I'll back out, I won't...it's just going to be a rough few months until I leave.

Ignore the last post about supplies. We've found better ones.

I decided upon this backpack. It's only $64 and is 4,272 cubic inches big. It's a bit heavier but I'm sure I can handle it.

This sleeping bag is pretty much amazing. Light, cheap, and good for all seasons. It's only $35.

I'm pretty sure we're getting this tent. It's extremely lightweight and especially made for withstanding the elements. Cost is $70.

That added with the $330 plane ticket and $39 plugs is $503. Much better.

Although my_walk_about posted this information already, I felt I needed to be more detailed in the flight plan, supplies, etc.

Our flight, Northwest Airlines flight 895, leaves September 1st from Detroit Metro Airport on a 1:30 pm (EST) to New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, arriving about 3:15 pm (EST). There's a 6 1/2 hour layover in NYC, which will be a nice amount of time to run around the city. I've never been there before. After wandering around NYC, we board Aer Lingus flight 108 at 9:40 pm (EST) non-stop to Dublin, Ireland where we will be arriving at approximately 9:10 am ( IST). The cost of airfare all together is $335 (USD) each.

There are a few things that we obviously need to buy for such a journey. I should have most other things that I need already.

We're going to split the cost of the tent. It's light weight and fits us both.

We're also both looking at this sleeping bag. Also light weight and good for all seasons.

Another light weight addition will be this backpack. Enough space for everything we need and comfortable.

I'm going to buy these plugs for my computer so it will work everywhere. I'll just have to wander around until I pick up a wireless signal.

Total cost so far=650.28

I'm considering purchasing a phone card because we won't have cell phones. I'm not going to be able to call many people, but there are certain people that I should probably check up on every now and then.

I was recently told that I was stuck in a box, only able to grow enough as that box allowed. I'm stuck in this box due to expectations, from my parents, friends, society in general, and am unable to reach my full potential by continuing to try and meet those perceived goals set for my life. I personally, have no goals, no career plan, no desire for a career really, and no ambition. I always knew that I would be content anywhere I was, at least for a short while, even if I had little to no food or money, as long as I was experiencing as much of the world as possible. This being my only true goal and dream in life, I have decided to put it off no longer. Thus begins my journey...

The current plan is, until Sept 1, the date of departure, to save as much money as possible. This will be difficult until this semester of school lets out because any money I have is going towards an apartment on May 1, but after that, the saving begins. According to calculations and if everything goes as plan, I should be making well over $20,000 working this summer. Of course sometimes things to go as planned but I shall be optimistic at this point in the process.

my_walk_about and I will purchase our tickets to Ireland, leaving from Detroit, at some point in May when I have the proper funds. This should not be too complicated and I should make that in a week, after I pay my rent. The ticket should be around $350.

At some point, I will need to purchase to new sleeping bag and a nice backpack. Also, because I need my computer to survive and I love it like a pet/child, I need to buy a travelling case and travel plug package. I can put these things off until I save up a decent amount of money.

According to backpacking site, people can comfortably live for 3 weeks on around $2,600. We don't know how long we're going to stay, but most likely for a year or more, depending on how much money can be saved this summer.

The actual travel plan is to fly in to Ireland, go to Scotland and down to London. Then in no particular order travel to Amsterdam, France (and wreck havoc), Spain, Italy, Germany (might stay here a while), Greece, Istanbul, and Russia. I feel that we must travel across Russia and take the ferry to Japan sometime between April and August. I promised some friends I'd go out drinking with them because I was planning on studying abroad were I still going to be in school. At somepoint, since we'll be in Istanbul and Greece, we may go to Israel.

At a later date, I'll figure out my real packing list and the actual details. Everything is still a bit vague and surreal and I'm still in shock that this is really happening. For now, farewell.