A Start of Something New...

In a few days, I, an American for twenty-one years, will be spending three and a half months in Japan, a country halfway around the world, fourteen hours ahead of us. To a lot of Americans, this seems a little daunting. Where I live, most of the people are shocked that I would be doing such a thing, where staying and growing up in the place you lived in is just part of the culture. But I'm getting way ahead of myself. I have to explain...

To those of you who have somehow stumbled upon this page, my name is Chad DeHartchuck. I am a student of Appalachian State University (you know, the college that beat Michigan in football) located in North Carolina. Here is another startling fact about me: I'm a political science major with the intent of throwing my name in the political arena someday. You know, for the greater good of my country and not for my personal interests. People get frustrated, angry, and aggressive when discussing politics. I can talk to anyone about how I feel about anything without getting too excited (unless we're talking about comics, then that's another story) (I do promise to stop using so many cliched sayings when this blog really does start, promise). 

My interests include running, reading, politics, filming, writing stories, visiting other countries (such as Japan), watching old movies (the title of my blog is a play on Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, a 1939 film, starring James Stewart), playing Jeopardy! with my family (I'm watching it as I type this), taking care of the animals, participating in community service activities, and hanging out with my friends and family. This is probably the most boring part of this blog, so there I got it out of the way. People can look back and say, "Hey, he did talk about who he was!" Yes; yes I did.

So how did I get here? To this blog? To Japan?

Godzilla

This sounds a little crazy, but if it was not for Godzilla, I would have never thought of going abroad and learn one of the most difficult languages in the world. As a child, the one film I kept coming back to was King Kong. It had excitement, drama, action, romance, suspense, the list goes on and on. I was mesmerized by this film and I could not help but watch it again and again. One day, my family went out to Toys R' Us to pick up a sandbox for outside. I was somehow wandering around and found the video section. I found another King Kong film called King Kong vs. Godzilla. I had no idea who Godzilla was, but I knew who King Kong was. The film was purchased and was watched, until I found another Godzilla film. And another. And another. And... you most certainly get the idea. Twenty-eight films, toys, and pictures later, one could say I was hooked.

In 2003, I went to G-Fest, a convention of friendly individuals who have in an interest in Godzilla. The person in charge of the convention, Mr. J.D. Lees, brought up the idea of taking a tour of Japan in 2004, the 50th Anniversary of Godzilla's first film. Fans were intrigued by the idea and so was I. That following year, my father and I, along with sixty others, took a tour of Japan and the cities that Godzilla had...ahh... visited. My senses were overwhelmed with a sense of something I had never really felt before: adventure. I could write about all of my experiences, but then I realize, with this blog, I'll have plenty of time to write this and other, newer situations when I return. The trip really helped me focus on what I could do, not only as a person, but as a student. I had to return to this country.

In 2006, I was accepted to Appalachian State University, my first choice for college. The campus is beautiful, the people are extremely nice, and the town of Boone is a majestic sight to the eyes. The reason I attended this college was because it would allow me to study abroad in another country, like Japan, and help me prepare for it, like study the language first. As soon as I entered college, I was put to work on deadlines for papers needed for studying abroad. Two years later, I was accepted into a program, through Temple University, to stay in Tokyo. Mission Accomplished.

This will probably be the longest entry I write because I do not want to bore my audience (namely the internet). I plan to post photos and write about my experiences, obviously, about the cultural and political differences between Japan and the United States. This country of ours is going through tremendous political battles, but so is Japan, so I am excited about what I will find out. 

The message I have for my viewers is to take a big risk, not with what clothes will I wear, or how many hours you need to study, but actually leave your state or your country and see something new, exciting, and beautiful. Studying abroad is a lot of paper work, but it is entirely worth the work put into it. I plan to have a message for everyone at the end of my blog, just to differentiate myself from other blogs.

So I have eight days before the trip to Japan. I plan to relax, chill in Boone, and enjoy the United States in whatever form it presents itself. I'm ready for a whole new world.