I felt like shit when I woke up the next day. My eyes were red from the crying and rubbing and so was my nose. I was really not in the mood to speak to with my family after the “talk.” I didn’t want to be in the house and instead go somewhere really far away just to calm myself down.
I spoke with a friend till 3am since I knew she was still up and knows about the program. Through my sniffles and wavering voice I told her that it may be unlikely I will be able to go to Japan. Then proceeded to tell her that they don’t understand that the experience will be different compared to living there for a year to going back for a few weeks. By the time it is considered safe, I would already be working full time, with only a couple of weeks of vacation time and hopefully get married later on. There wouldn’t be enough time to enjoy everything and absorbing the culture. Asian parents are way too overprotective compared to American families who are a bit more open minded.
That day I called my Japanese professor and had my dad speak with her since I need another opinion on the matter and I still felt insecure with my answers. Questions and answers were exchanged and she tried to explain with the best of her knowledge that the radiation has a very short half life. Also she felt that Japan is safe, even with the areas I chose especially one of them is roughly 250 miles away from Tokyo. Her suggestion would be to fill out the paperwork and submit it in to see where I will be placed instead of just outright decline it on the spot when I don’t know where I will be living. She understands a parents concern however I would be missing a great opportunity and it is prestigious that I was able to get through such stiff competition. So after that phone call, a temporary comprise has been made. I will submit the paperwork and see where they will place me and then the 2nd round of talks will begin again. My motto since then has been “we shall see…”
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