PRE-DEPARTURE; Journal excerpt and info on Shiga Prefecture near Nara

Journal excerpt of remembrance of 1st day in Japan 2 years ago.

June.21.13

Thinking about Japan. 
I sure am excited for Nara!

I remember my first time in Japan,it was in Tokyo, walking down Yanaka Ginza, an older styled shopping area known for its well fed street cats, and it was the first surreal experience I can ever remember having. I kept thinking and probably saying to myself and my sister, "I'm in Japan. I'm really in Japan." 

It may have been a combination of exhaustion, years of planning, and stressful existence after my first flying experiences. These may have added to my delirious surreal experience, but it was amazing. 

Screenshot from Googlemaps of the Yanaka Ginza corner

That night when I looked at those shops on both sides of the brick path meant for pedestrians and bicyclists I felt deeply at home. I felt as though I was where I belonged as cliche as it sounds.

I remember not knowing which way to move when a bicyclist came barreling down the path and honestly feeling like "Yep, I'm going to get hit." and I decided to just stand still after the shuffle-dance of avoidance from both of us. It was fine, they went around the confused gaijin (foreigner).

I remember that balmy night in mid-May two years ago and I treasure it. 

Soon after the bicycle dance, we (my sister and myself) made our way to her apartment made for international students and teachers, and I was in awe again this time at her apartment and the dinner she made quickly me since she knew I was tsukareta (exhausted) from the hectic day of firsts. 

Then I was in reverence of the deep bath of hot water, which is unlike most modern American baths I have been in, and more similar to the clawfoot baths of old, but more plastic and less clawfoot. 

The bath was deeply soothing in an almost spiritual way, once again it could have been the exhaustion, but afterwards I took many a similarly soothing bath in that deep tub that allows you to immerse your whole body in its hot depths, so I am convinced that these tubs are magical for the soul, much better than chicken noodle soup, unless of course you ate homemade chicken noodle (and I mean homemade, noodles included), in the bath. 

I started to fall asleep, my nose dipping into the water several times startling me awake. That was the best bath I have ever taken. Ever.

I really am thankful to my sister for how much effort she put into taking care of me when I visited for a month. That night I slept in her spare room since her roommate from France had left after the earthquake and left a vacant room.

I curled up under the futon blanket and slept my first night ever in Japan, knowing I had finally made it to Japan.

Now I plan and plan and learn as much as I can again. I have the added knowledge of my month in Japan and my time here taking Japanese language classes, and meeting with conversation partners practicing my Japanese language skills 3 times a week.

One lesson specifically that I learned while abroad was to pack lightly, and I mean lightly, because you are going to have to carry and lug all that luggage everywhere. 

Now if you are training to hike the Appalachian Trail, perhaps this is great practice. But I was not, and it was so rude of me on the trains with others crammed in to take up so much space, and it was so stressful for me to carry a jammed duffel bag and a backpack full of stuff for a 20 minute walk.

What I basically took 2 yrs ago....

If you want to feel like a pack mule this is the way to go. Especially if you are like me and you hoard books because you never know when you will need it, like a Hermione Granger, or a Rory Gilmore type, then it makes it even heavier and more stressful.


No I plan to enjoy myself more this time and learn from my previous experiences.

Here is a photo of me, on stress arriving to Narita Airport in Japan. This is stress! I was excited, but exhausted too. Make it easier on yourself!

I even toted the silly duffel bag stuffed with needless things to my 5 day visit in Saitama to meet my host family. And then again when I went home to America. 

Below is a list of what I think is actually essential this time around for me. I have far different plans than before, and I am not pack-muling again! I think part of the difficulty was also that the duffel bag was not wheelable and when I got tired I just drug it around which was easier but still difficult. Wheels make ALL the difference!

My Backpack, and roller-backpack I will use for Japan.

This stuff will fit in 2 bags as seen in the photo---->
I got the backpack for serious discount of $13 and used a gift card I won to pay for it, and then the rolley backpack I won at a silent auction for like $2 brand new. I am not the type of person to go out and buy a new backpack, rolley or otherwise for $40+, no way.

I am not doing checked luggage. I even had an issue before when I came back and the San Fransisco airport decided to check my luggage even though it would have fine in the above compartment in my opinion. 

My rolley bag, you bet it will save my back!

Part of it was because I was later than I would have liked in boarding but also because of their choice. I would have missed my flight home if it hadn't been delayed 3 times due to weather. I was sure glad it was delayed! 






LIST:

• Laptop
• Originally planned to bring my journal, but I will pick one up at a hyaku en (one dollar equivalent) shop there.
• Camera/cord/rechargeable batteries and charger
• Genki II Japanese textbook, and a paper or pdf file of basic grammar formulas from Genki I book.
• My 36 views of Japan new word notebook where I write down new vocabulary
• Hairbrush, my shampoo-bar (since I don't use conventional shampoo), toothbrush, tweezers, citronella essential oil for mosquito repellant, and maybe some eyeliner.
• I don't use conventional deodorant so I am bringing my deodorant stone.
• Mini hand cloths aka Tengui since some Japanese restrooms don't offer towels or dryers for the hands.
• My stainless steel waterbottle, I don't like plastic and I mostly saw plastic ones when I was in Tokyo
• Some paperwork or pdf files of the paperwork for registering for CMU classes while I am abroad, and other papers needed for the study abroad process, visa, passport, flight info etc. 
• Minimal clothing that utilizes layering such as blazers and tanktops that look somewhat professional and not cliche American Tourist. Several slacks and dress pants, at least one non stiff blazer, nice long skirt and leggings ( a must if you want to blend in better I think), and pajama pants and shirt. *Remember Japanese culture is a little different than American and large amounts of bare skin isn't usually smiled on, so long sleeves which also help against the sun in the summer, and leggings might be on your list.
• My cellphone, just so I can have it to call family before I get to Japan, and upon return from Japan, since I know my phone won't work in Japan and I am highly unlikely to purchase one when I get there, though I am unsure at this point. I know they are costly compared to my normal budgeting.
• A wallet that works well not just with American bills, but also Japanese coins and bills.
• 1, maybe 2 pairs of shoes, one tennis shoes for all the walking and one nice for formal occasions.

Biwako and Shiga prefecture information:
Just in case  you didn't know, I am enamored with Lake Biwa and have definite plans to visit a few times and explore the natural beauty of this lake and surrounding areas. If you like nature then you may want to check this site out.

And this is an amazing video about the area: Satoyama Water gardens of Japan