Visa Info and Harper's Island

Ok, first of all, I just want to inform you all about a few more useful bits of knowledge concerning visas. To get your visa, you need a Certificate of Eligibility from your host country, as I've mentioned before. The info here is, you have exactly 3 months to enter the country from the day the Certificate is issued, otherwise, you're out of luck, so that's something to watch out for. I think there was something else I wanted to say, but I can't recall at the moment. Oh, and also, unless you plan on going to the consulate, which takes two days of your life to get finished, you'll be sending your info in via mail, to get your visa, which means mailing your passport off. They suggest that you do this via FedEx Airmail so it doesn't get lost, and you have to include either a SASE or a FedEx Airmail slip filled out for the packages return journey, and these Airbill's will end up costing you about $20 each way.

On another note...
Just finished watching Harper's Island last night. I was ready to be disappointed, but, much to my surprise, it was brilliant. I actually got the killer and the death toll correct, so that was cool. If you haven't seen it and want to, you can watch all the episodes for free online at cbs.com. So, go check that out, and I'll catch you cats later!

Homestay vs. Apartment

Ok, so this grand old debate, which I thought I'd settled, has somehow cropped back up again to make my life more difficult. I've been asked to choose between doing a homestay or staying in an independent apartment while I'm over studying in Japan. The school said that a homestay will cost, total about $1,000 a month, but that they'll pay $400 of it, and it will include food, so I'd be paying about $600, whereas an apartment is somewhere between $300-400 a month, but obviously without food. And, though I thought I'd decided on homestay before, now I'm having to rethink it, and I can't decide. You see, the pros for a homestay: social atmosphere, constant practice in Japanese, able to observe typical Japanese customs, have someone's aid if I need it, will get to eat real Japanese cooking, etc. Cons: not independent, will have to follow pre-designated rules even though I'm in my early 20s and no longer a child, may not get along with them, etc. Apartment Pros: all by myself, can come and go and do as I please, will be able to choose my own meals, will get to enjoy life on my own. Apartment cons: much more responsibility, will be alone if I need help, will bear the brunt of shopping and cooking, may end up staying in by myself, instead of going out, minimal social interaction. So you see, they're neck and neck. And I thought I wouldn't have to deal with this again.
Well anyways, I'm just going to think and pray about it some and I'll tell you about which decision I've made later. Feel free to weigh in on the issue and add your opinion and comment, if you like. I'll catch you cats later!