READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 263
And in contrast to such blessings, after I completely messed up the midterms as if it were nothing.
In a completely relaxed atmosphere with no tension whatsoever, only the parents of each student and I were busily moving around.
Ah, my assumption that the parents of other students would be busy is purely speculative.
The exams are over, so what could they possibly be busy with?
Why, you ask? It’s because of the preparations for the school trip.
Unlike domestic trips, this is an overseas trip that even requires passports.
That’s right, our high school is going abroad.
The destination is Osaka, Japan.
‘The passport reissuance process…’
So, as soon as I got home, I hurriedly started looking into the reissuance process.
The passport I had prepared when I was supposed to go to the US had long since expired.
As I carefully reviewed the passport issuance process for those under 18, I also opened the bottom drawer of my desk that I hadn’t touched in months.
Grabbing a few yellowed A4 papers, I plugged them into the printer and checked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
The passport issuance process is simple for those over 18: application form, photo, ID, and that’s it.
But for those under 14…
‘Passport application form, passport photo, legal guardian consent form, seal certificate, proxy ID, and for the applicant… that’s me, basic certificate, family relationship certificate or kinship verification documents…’
An overwhelming amount of paperwork awaited us.
I had already gone through this headache before and even used connections with representatives, but now there’s the barrier of being 18.
‘I’m going to lose my mind.’
Just looking at the list of documents gives me a headache.
Rather than making Siyeon handle her part, it was easier and cleaner for me to take care of both.
Siyeon isn’t bad at doodling on the computer, but when it comes to handling official documents, I’m still ahead.
Kim Marie, my English name that I haven’t seen in a long time.
Similarly, I wrote Siyeon’s English name, Lee Siyeon, on the application form.
In addition, the legal guardian consent form, legal guardian seal certificate.
If the legal guardian visits in person, the seal certificate can be omitted…
‘So that means I have to bring it.’
But since I can’t bring someone who doesn’t exist, I prepared that too.
Kinship verification documents, which is the family relationship certificate.
This requires going to the court website, oh my head.
Just to print one or two certificates, the computer is plastered with all sorts of security programs I don’t even know the names of.
Sorry, computer, I’ll delete them from the control panel as soon as I’m done.
The printer, which had been constantly making noise, finally stopped, and I was able to gather all the necessary documents.
Four sheets each for Siyeon and me, including various application forms.
Now all that’s left is the passport photo.
I could take it myself, but considering the strict passport photo regulations, I decided to visit a nearby photo studio.
As I made this decision in my mind, I got up and went to Siyeon’s room to tell her.
“Siyeon, I think we need to go out soon.”
“Now? Why?”
“We need to take passport photos, and after that, we have to go to City Hall to apply for the passport.”
“Okay, just a moment…”
Realizing it’s related to the school trip, Siyeon quickly started getting dressed.
The photo studio, which we hadn’t visited in years.
Honestly, how often do you need to visit a photo studio in your life?
Only for passport photos or ID photos like today…
Oh right, at what age do you get your ID card?
I sneakily searched on my smartphone, and it said 17 years old.
Let’s see, the Korean age minus one year…
‘Huh? Next year?’
Only then did I realize how close the ID card issuance age was, and I quickly looked up.
Are we already that old?
‘Then, I’ll need ID photos too.’
Rather than bothering to visit the photo studio again next year, I thought I might as well get a few extra photos today while we’re at it.
As I was thinking this, Siyeon came out of her room in a white long-sleeved outfit.
“Let’s go!”
“Do you have any black tops?”
“Why?”
“Passport photos have a white background, so white clothes are a bit…”
“Ugh…”
Grumbling about how annoying it is, Siyeon puffed her cheeks and went back to her room.
But she listens well, even while grumbling.
The outfit coordination for passport photos and ID photos was thus completed.
Not exactly couple outfits, but we both wore plain black tops and headed to the photo studio.
“Welcome.”
“Hello, we’re here to take passport photos.”
The place we arrived at was an old-fashioned photo studio.
As soon as we entered the building, the smell of old paper, reminiscent of school library bookshelves, filled my nose.
The friendly-looking owner with only sideburns left was a bonus.
A large stand light in the photo area, a spacious board with a knife for cutting photos.
It was amazing that such a photo studio still existed.
A large table with traces of a recent meal of jajangmyeon and dumplings.
The strangely familiar 2000s sensibility subtly comforted a corner of my heart.
“Want to sit there first?”
“You go first.”
Pushing Siyeon to sit on the round chair, the owner prepared to take the photo.
The front light brightly illuminating the chair.
The owner, holding the camera, gestured in the air and gave instructions to Siyeon.
“Turn your head slightly to the left, no, from your perspective.”
When told to turn her head slightly to the left, Siyeon turned it slightly to the right.
Whether she thought of left from the other’s perspective or just got confused.
Anyway, when she turned her head the other way, the owner’s voice rang out.
“Yes… stay still.”
Then, with a pop, the shutter sound echoed, and a bright flash momentarily blinded us.
The flash charging sound beeped once, and in the chair direction, Siyeon’s face was seen with her eyes tightly closed.
That must have been blinding.
While Siyeon’s photo was being processed, it was my turn.
Pop, the flash left an afterimage in my eyes, which I tried to shake off with quick blinks.
There’s not much difference between ID photos and passport photos, but passport photos are more expensive.
After paying, we received a small brown paper envelope containing the photos.
After submitting all the documents at City Hall, I also discussed the school schedule with the Minister at home.
“Yes, yes, it’s about our upcoming school trip. We’re going to Osaka, Japan… that’s why I called in advance.”
“Yes, you said it’s 3 nights and 4 days? Could you tell me the detailed schedule, like when you depart on the first day and when you return on the last day?”
“Uh, well…”
I hurriedly pulled out the school trip notice from my school bag and looked at the page with the schedule.
The first day’s schedule is quite tight. Gather at the Grand Park by 5:40 AM, departure procedures at 7 AM.
We’ll leave the airport around 8 AM and arrive in Japan around 10 AM.
Even on the day we return from the trip, we won’t be back until 10:30 PM.
“We’ll need to be ready by 4:30 AM on the first day, and we won’t be back until 10:30 PM on the last day.”
“Then I’ll ask you to be ready by 4 AM on the first day, is Siyeon on the same schedule?”
“Yes, we’re in the same school.”
“Okay, I understand. Both of you, forget about work and enjoy the 4 days. You’ve heard that it’s excluded from your salary, right?”
“Of course, we’re going on a trip. Thank you-”
After confirming the call ended with a beep, I took the phone away from my ear.
By the way, an overseas trip.
It’s my first time since the US, will it be okay?
It’s not a free trip but part of the school schedule, so there shouldn’t be major issues, but the language barrier is a bigger concern than expected.
Japanese has a lower entry barrier because of anime, but that alone isn’t enough to carry a conversation.
‘I’ve heard there are many self-referential expressions.’
Many people think ‘ore’ is used by men and ‘watashi’ by women, but it’s a bit different.
‘Ore’ is mostly used when angry?
Anyway, generally, ‘boku’ and ‘watashi’ are more common.
Since we’re going to Japan soon, I looked into it a bit, even if it’s just scratching the surface.
Learning from anime doesn’t seem quite right.
“Phew, leave Japan to me!”
Anyway, as the school trip approaches day by day, Siyeon’s confidence soars sky-high.
She’s never actually talked to a Japanese person…
But she’s been watching anime from that side since she was a kid, and she chose Japanese as her second foreign language, so she’s confident.
Even though she’s never watched anime without subtitles.
‘Besides, we’re in different classes…’