More than two years ago, I found myself at a Study-in-Japan convention. You see, it was so long ago, I don't even remember where it was held, but I remember being there, and I remember keeping an envelope of reference materials related to the mother-of-all-scholarships: The Japanese Government Monbukagakusho Scholarship (MEXT).

Why I didn't apply there and then, was simply because there is no way to request for a service disruption, nor could I defer the scholarship for 2 years had I obtained it.

And so, that envelope was left at the very bottom of my drawer of "important stuff". Over the years, the more certificates and awards I obtained, and the fatter my portfolio became, the more obscured that envelope became, and I eventually forgot all about it.

...

Until 3 weeks ago...

A friend of mine on YUI-Lovers was ranting about how he had failed the MEXT scholarship when we asked him about his dreams. The moment I read that, I was on a google-spree, and within the week, completed my application form, including a reference letter from a great friend and teacher of mine (Mrs. Genevieve Tan if you're curious, she wrote it for me in a day!), and submitted it.

I beat the deadline by just 1 week.

...

The Scholarship (Undergraduate):
- 1 year intensive Japanese language and bridging course in Osaka/Tokyo
- 4-5 years degree of choice, in school of choice (depending on vacancy and how well you fare in the first year)
- Two way ticket to Japan
- Tuition fully paid for
- 123,000円 monthly allowance (SGD 1, 875)
- No Bond.


The process:

Stage 1: Application Screening

Stage 2: MEXT Examinations, Subjects depending on course of choice
   - For some reason, Architecture was grouped under Natural Sciences A, which had me doing Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, English, and Japanese, all in one day

Stage 3: Interview

Stage 4: Recommendation to Japanese Government

...

wait.. WHAT?! CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS, AND MATHS!?

Yea, so I had about 2 weeks to get back to standard, essentially what I haven't touched for almost 2 years now, and mind you the exams were of A-level standard, IN A DIFFERENT SYLLABUS.