Oh...the...GOD! Best Friday Ever!

I received a letter Friday (April 17) from the copy editor of the "Japan Studies Review" journal that my Asia Through Film professor, Mr. Ian Cohen, had submitted one of the film analyses I had written for his class for publication and that they have chosen to publish it in their 2010 edition!!! The film analysis they're going to publish is a six page essay that analyzes the color symbolism in the movie "Hero" by Zhang Yimou through the "lens" of Feng Shui.

I am so very excited, since this will be my first published work and it will be an invaluable asset to my writing portfolio. For those of you asking yourselves what the "Japan Studies Review" journal is and why you have never heard of it before, don't worry. According to the UCLA Center for East Asian Studies website, the "Japan Studies Review" is a peer-reviewed journal published by the Institute for Asian Studies and sponsored by the the Southern Japan Seminar at Florida International University (a.k.a. my Alma Mater.)

Although it has been 24 hours since I received the news, it still sort of feels like a dream. What's more, I can't believe that my old professor, Mr. Cohen, still remembered me almost a year after graduation, still had my essay on hand, and had the time and energy to submit it for me to the journal. As I've already told him, I am truly in his debt. Hell, I have half a mind to track him down and hug the nonsense out of him! He is SOOO getting a formal, Japanese-style thank you note this Christmas!

I'll keep updating how the editing process goes from here, so wish me the best everyone!