interview blues

interview blues
today was the day. The culmination of the long and arduous application process (my entire life and times in triplicate no less)! My interview was scheduled for 1h20 in the afternoon, at the Japanese consulate (21st floor standard bank centre, Heerengracht for those who wish to know). So I left training early (thanks Lorna) which was okay because it was the academic literacy part of the course which
a) I've done before ... And
b) is hella boring

in any case, I caught the taxi through to town and for once the driver didn't feel the need for conversation and the gaatjie did not scream like a banshee (or whistle annoyingly in an attention grabbing manner) the entire journey. So it was a relatively peaceful journey. I felt that I had time to reflect and relax myself so that the OVERWHELMING TERROR I was feeling could be repressed. Down. Way down.

it turned out that I was early. waaaaaaaay early. You see, Angela at the embassy (which is in Pretoria. We are in cape town. Why is she in charge?) got the time wrong. I only had to be there at 1h40. I was there at 1h05. So I had plenty of time to peruse JET material, watch a video about the JET programme and chat to my fellow interviewee. Sorry. I don't remember your name. But you were special to me. You helped me feel better. At least I can say "Amanda to moshimasu, hajimemashite". At least I have that.

anyway... My interviewers were Ken, Alex and professor something. Ken and Alex liked me, I could see, but the professor, he was a bit more sceptical I think. Cynical perhaps? Or maybe he doesn't trust short people with brown hair and green eyes. Whatever. They asked a lot of questions about the language... And the culture thing. And whether I really enjoyed a challenge. Like people who want to stay home and be hermits and live ordinary mundane lives would engage in a course of action where they are thrust into a culture and language completely dissimilar to their own. Well, that's my conception anyway. The professor wanted to know how I'd represent south Africa. I mean what kind of questions are these, is anyone going to answer "I'd say it was crap"? I mean come on!

I think the interview went well though. But I'll only find out in march, which is too long to wait, but I'll manage. Repression. yum.