The Community Effect, Temples, and Phones

The Community Effect

As I said I have never lived in a dorm before so the experience is brand new, but I think especially in a foreign place, it really serves as a community.

The male looks like he was one of the 4 deer each year that have their antlers  cut for ceremony.

When students have been here nearly a year they give away their things to newcomers, useful items like bikes and phones. 

They leave parting words of wisdom like “Don't be too loud in the dorms” and while some are happy to return home and leave Japan, others are sad to say goodbye to the place, experiences and friends they will leave behind in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Old architecture of Nara.

I knew in advance from several students who came before me from CMU, that the international students you finally start to bond with, will leave just as you are really getting to know them, and then a new group comes in shortly after. So with this knowledge I tried to not get too attached to this group, it's hard because there are some really cool cats here.

At first though, I really just wanted my space, time to settle in before I even talked to the others in the dorm. Even still some days there are certain people I would rather avoid. Then of course as fate would have it on those days I run into them at least 6 times during the day, it's almost as if they are trying to run into me. I wonder.

The Romanians and Russians remind me of what I thought the Kansai people would be, just a fun bunch living it up. They smoke as much as I thought they would. The Austrians here are quieter than I thought they would be, the Chinese are louder eaters than I thought they would be...All these people living under one roof, sharing the kitchen area, shower area and the like and now the dynamics are going to shift and the community (or nunnery as some call our women's dorm) is going to have a different collective personality.

Entrance to shrine in the primeval forest.

These words are practically meaningless to students still in their home countries, pre-departure. But after you get here, the impact of the peoples around you, (especially supportive and friendly people) after nearly the first month when you are finally feeling settled and included is undeniable for me and several others in this same situation.

Shrines, Temples, Heritage Sites, and Festivals

Saturday I thought it was practically lazy of me to not have at least visited a singe shrine or temple. I had walked past Kofukuji ( the 5 story pagoda) many times on my way to the shopping district, and unknowingly biked past the Kasuga Taisha a week before, it's a really large red temple in the woods with tons of stone lanterns and a rich history.

Shrine in Kasuga forest way up in the mountain.

I had actually been searching Saturday for it and found a hiking path that will take you there, but it was 3 hours there, and 3 hours back so I went to the first shrine set I found, looked down at the climb back and went back to the dorms for a shower, short nap before I set out to go to Nara Park where the huge congregation of deer are, and then the easy way to Kasuga Taisha- by bike and easier than a 3 hour hike, though I still want to take that hike on another day.

I at least felt satisfied after I toured the various temple, shrines, and other heritage sites. It felt almost shameful to have been here nearly a month and not have been there. I had been close by all these areas, and passed by them all as well, but Saturday I went there and found a pleasant experience in the midst of it all.

Really worn out and sweaty but happy on the mountain.

On my way back from the morning hike I took the back road behind the dorms which has some great scenery and if you stop into this neat shop that sells handmade items, calligraphy goods, and even serves some food, you are sure to have a new friend in (Atsukosan) the lady who runs the place. 

Takabatake road, near where Atsukosan's shop is.

She's an energetic, happy woman who even knows some English. She makes a killer shiso juice drink that may keep you alive till you're 100. If you're in the women's North dorms you may even be able to shout out a morning greeting to her from your balcony she's that close. Go and say hi, tell her Arielle says hello, and she'll start calling you “Besto Furends” in no time.

Cafe break time.

On Internet, and phones here

Originally my plan was to get internet, but not a phone here since I figured I could just email everyone because the email can go to their phones anyway and the service would be multi purpose, however this is not the case.

I now actually have a phone, but with no plans for buying the internet. Let me explain.

I did not foresee that internet providers (like many services here) require a 1-2 year contract. 

View of Nara Park where deer and tourists gather

I knew this about phones but never guessed it would be the same with internet. Then if you have to say leave the country after your study abroad for a year, you have to pay a cancellation fee that is often quite expensive (think $100 equivalent or more depending on the carrier, and contract).

So the group of Americans here decided to check out the internet prices and how it works, this is one scenario; You can buy a pocket Wi-fi thing that makes Wi-fi, it's about $100 I believe for that, then you pay about $30 for (amazingly fast) internet per month, and I think it's a 2 year contract so if you are here less than that you have to pay a hefty cancellation fee. I'm here a total of four months.

Kasuga Taisha entrance

Add that up and thats more money than I and others want to pay for the luxury of having internet access away from school.

Kasuga Taisha is full of lanes of stone lanturns.

When I found out about this I decided it was alright because I could just use the internet at the school during the school week, and then had no plans to get a phone.

Then I found out 2 things about phones here. 

The first was a little tempting but still not a preference for me and that was that you can take on someone's unfinished contract that way they don't have to pay cancellation fees and you don't have a 2 year contract when you are here either a semester, or a year.

Deer themed area where guests cleanse hands and mouth.

A view of the moon, and deer at Nara Park

The second thing however was a game changer for me. Prepaid cellphones. 

Wisened looking tree in Nara park.

Yes, pretty similar I think to tracphone or net 10. I can go to the konbini, get a international calling card for roughly the same price as what I paid in America, and bam, I hope to be able to call my family on it. 

And because of that amazing international student community I talked about earlier, I don't even have to buy the phone itself because Liza from Russia gave me the previous Lockhaven Pennsylvania student's old phone.

Also I didn't realize just how many times a week I was going to have to explain to Japanese people that I don't have a phone, and just how much they typically use them.

Kasuga Taisha

Just a side note it was absolutely lifting to be able to hear my boyfriend and family on the phone. Now I have to figure out how to call INSIDE of Japan.

Ukimido Hall