tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55478360080151111242024-02-21T02:52:39.682-08:00Arielle, Exploring JapanI am a Journalism Major, Anthropology Minor CMU Junior going to Nara, Japan for a study abroad in fall 2013. This will be my second time in Japan, and first study abroad. My first time was in Tokyo for a month-long independent stay. I plan to dig deeper into the culture and language to understand Japan better. I want to look below the surface of touristy places, and appearances and get to the many layers of Japan's culture.Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-30948133681689203812014-06-25T14:53:00.000-07:002014-06-25T15:05:41.388-07:00Wrappig up and Reflections<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span><span style="font-size: large;">o</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> I am organizing this into three sections. </span><b style="font-size: x-large;">Part one</b><span style="font-size: large;"> wraps up my experience as a whole, </span><b style="font-size: x-large;">Part two</b><span style="font-size: large;"> covers the scholarship repayment events I did when I returned, and </span><b style="font-size: x-large;">Part three</b><span style="font-size: large;"> includes some great milestone links from my experiences for people maybe embarking on their own similar yet unique journey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Wrapping up and coming full circle.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have finished my semester in Nara, Japan am back in Michigan, and wanted to wrap up this blog with useful information for people planning on going to Japan, or specifically studying in Nara.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">PART I. What was the purpose of this blog, my experience, where am I now, and what are my plans for the near future?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>W</b></span>hen I returned after a semester in Japan, I was depressed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I went from living in a tight-knit international dorm in Nara- always with other internationals- to being a solo student not always surrounded by friends in America. </span><span style="font-size: large;">After months of dealing with something on my return (depression) I had never dealt with before, things gradually got better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was more of a readjustment to being back in a different lifestyle than anything. I wasn't desperately missing Japan like many people I know in the same situation. But </span><br />
<img height="300" src="https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1526173_627743710619589_1682215488_n.jpg?oh=e069d83203d41a89a317d791a44b8d83&oe=540E1C87" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I deeply missed the people and the connections I had made. </span><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3euBgNTR2Pqv3tcNPlG_asI5PGqxwGaKNu7xBv_eBrtAjohz6pZPwBaLvRiHghJTi8deFCGWdQN2veQJbm1sdTA_aIRhnO4uqGfwEFfNPsI3Ck5S7qWji5_Ry1gqYmn5fajcCRYzeSqc/s640/IMG_9402.JPG" height="480" width="640" /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I also did, and still do, miss the landscape, architectural layout and typical foods that are difficult to come by here in our neck of the woods.</span><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhvdRwVDxQ3olZkbcnBpjK3nNAPu6kGjM4YPz6d_CD5o30sBdCMfsCIShcFL4xxuTgcbBT3TI-sCTY4YqSXn6qRzJmjQS7aq95-1T0VFv1xVVk_m0Do1jB_vzKsJX6jr8o9pQfKJp24k/s640/IMG_9869.JPG" height="640" width="480" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Things changed for me after the Japan experience in many dynamic ways. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1e9J8AZFyWHOtmnJS6jImOmdL0w4hXzcbnmtADPf9MEmmguMaPTpUU0I0Yg5jGz4CEvJJAM09S9aaxXJSNXYAOq8zWrQihrHuA3S1aafzLpSlZa2mZ61W0ADAzNrS02agZ7PXIrqNbPE/s1600/IMG_9458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1e9J8AZFyWHOtmnJS6jImOmdL0w4hXzcbnmtADPf9MEmmguMaPTpUU0I0Yg5jGz4CEvJJAM09S9aaxXJSNXYAOq8zWrQihrHuA3S1aafzLpSlZa2mZ61W0ADAzNrS02agZ7PXIrqNbPE/s400/IMG_9458.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Of course I had great experiences both abroad and at home, but the adjustment was an experience in itself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eventually (maybe about 4-5 months later) I gradually got my self confidence back, I didn't feel abandoned and I felt consistently happy and normal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Little things like visiting with friends, going to the movies, painting, and new experiences helped me to re-adjust to my newly altered life back home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I am working at a radio station reporting news and striving towards a spring graduation as a journalist. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Looking forward, I plan to gain more news experience with a local news organization and then eventually be a foreign correspondent. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope to keep getting better, using what I have learned in Japan, and at home to become a better more experienced journalist who is connected to the people I report about and work with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>PART </b><b>II. Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship Project</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> After I returned </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">or the repayment scholarship project I planned to do events when I returned from January til May that would help bring members of my community together to learn and enjoy parts of Japanese language and culture. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Here are some of the event recaps:</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-My first event was helping with the Study Abroad Expo at CMU where I talked with students about my experiences, offered advice and answered questions about Nara and what I did while studying there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-One event was to have a Teen Night at the Chippewa River District Library where teens learned about writing styles of Japanese, made candy sushi, had a scavenger hunt, and conversations about living in Japan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-I met with a Japanese language class and talked with them about my stay, study and learning Japanese. I also answered questions and was able to meet with enthusiastic students beginning their journey of discovery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Another event was a live web chat with an expat living long term in Japan. <a href="http://matsuuchi.com/main/#/home">Hiroki Matsuuchi</a> answered questions about living in Japan and also talked with students about practices in Japan as far as business, politics, language etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-I also organized a Children's Day Holiday celebration at t he CRDL Library for families on May 5th where kids could do origami, practice with chopsticks, color, write in Japanese, and make Teru Teru Bozu to scare away the rain.</span><br />
<img height="480" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/10373139_712378198822806_4978520003850215236_o.jpg" width="640" /><br />
<img height="240" src="https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/t31.0-8/10271272_1497062083850884_7354092054180389402_o.jpg" width="320" /><img height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfa1/t31.0-8/10296481_1497062080517551_9133536435992798776_o.jpg" width="320" /><br />
<img height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/10333701_1497062073850885_5013151996179157510_o.jpg" width="320" /><img height="320" src="https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t1.0-9/10307169_1497062070517552_473530630308215579_n.jpg" width="240" /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">-I helped to organize a table representing Japan at the 2014 International Expo where people could learn more about places to visit, see a Yukata, meet Japanese people, learn phrases, write in Japanese etc.</span><br />
<img height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/10169408_1490870594470033_4591364664763682037_n.jpg" width="400" /><img height="320" src="https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/10154252_1490872307803195_4066276330830056801_n.jpg?oh=08e77974c93308406fbf0f9ad69ec945&oe=54319440" width="240" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">- Before going to Nara I had the opportunity to talk with and do video interviews with several Japanese students from Okaya Japan and I am still working on editing and translating the video and<b> will</b> post a link as soon as I have completed it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">-Another project was actually done while in Japan, I did an independent photojournalism class while in Nara where I learned about three Japanese people and concepts while in Japan through photographing them </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://arielleinjapan.blogspot.com/">Independent Photojournalism Class</a> </span><br />
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</span><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">PART</span></b><b style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"> </b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>III. Useful links for students and others in similar situations</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Starting out preparations dealing with the paperwork process. I had to choose between Nara University and Hikone options for my school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Basically it came down to price and Nara won, it also helped that Nara was the original capital and traditional focal point within Japan.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Milestone events:</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://arielleinjapan.blogspot.com/2013/03/application-phase-i-complete.html?q=apply">Applying</a> was a whirlwind of hurry up and wait. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I had to hurry up and prepare for deadlines and then wait for government and other agencies to get back with me with <a href="http://arielleinjapan.blogspot.com/search?q=acceptance+letter">acceptance letters</a>, scholarship information etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I tried to apply for everything and prepare for what I could far in advance which helped me be prepared, but also made me anxious at times since I had to wait for responses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once I had finished applying and was accepted and received scholarships, bought my round trip ticket through travel agency and had packed my 2 bags as lightly as I could, I <a href="http://arielleinjapan.blogspot.com/search?q=acceptance+letter">found myself</a> in Nara, Japan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Soon I was adjusting to my new school, a <a href="http://arielleinjapan.blogspot.com/2013/09/i.html">dorm setting</a> and living in Japan.I was photographing for fun and class, and taking little <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmUiqxt29u4&list=PLaFIZQz0yjzxjG3StTJ2Af_2iiXtI6viK&noredirect=1">videos</a> here and there when I could. This was also a way to cope with changes and living without my boyfriend and in a new environment.</span><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxcVfDay10_30q9BnofHN24NuDTyXQN8Kf6KQqVMDOVtA7i6E6cttgZzq0vvxI-zzMH8p5peh3_CnUIjswisoICa2giBIub5HkhtObEyOLuS4f4uOJuFRlWSfxhUxHGOFOWJehfh6V6w/s640/IMG_3302.JPG" height="480" width="640" /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I also turned to art as a way of adjusting. <a href="http://arielleinjapan.blogspot.com/2013/11/nara-prefectorial-art-museum-yamato.html">Viewing</a> and creating art really kept me going. I went to museums, did fun watercolors, listened to little known performers, even made pottery as part of a <a href="http://arielleinjapan.blogspot.com/2013/11/biwa-lake-study-trip.html">school trip</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://arielleinjapan.blogspot.com/2013/09/uneme-moon-viewing-festival-photos.html">Festivals</a> were something to look forward to as something to enjoy as well as something representative of the Japanese culture I was trying to learn more about.</span><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2XOwZxRuGd9HnEWXJ70ranz5XxFHj9Ewb4ucP7_0HPxoEkZT8WaEUv_JnAcGSPgHh3PA0jzoPc1ldJZ2RtitTwmNZtl2tYsod4GeATEcjlgIQkm8gHR92KGQTtbJDUYMGcIyNY0tjVQ/s640/IMG_2527.JPG" height="480" width="640" /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There were many other adventures I did and did not write about, but I encourage you to go out and explore and have your very own unique adventure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading! </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Feel free to email me! </span></b><img height="320" src="https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t1.0-9/1551673_571223896288833_1827774731_n.jpg" width="240" /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I would be happy to answer any questions if you email me at ariellebreen@yahoo.com</span><br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQR167YAbztHTbEdkZ-PPD_DoTN519rKjITx_qf_PxMvRLOFwJNIbGwnmzfgaSG141KNMIoYNjAhQhx31iC6nMc87uQJm_mtVe1TL91FRJKO5jtIl0V5VUSuSdc2E9ZRS-SAChTCP_tMQ/s640/IMG_3369.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <span id="goog_825234184"></span><span id="goog_825234185"></span> As I have been back now for a month as of tomorrow I thought it would be prudent to talk about how things have been for me personally.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trailer-park swingset in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. 2014.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> When I first came back some things seemed so surreal such as using dollar bills to pay instead of Yen coin or bills. I wasn't sad when I left, I made that point in an earlier posting. I had and still have a feeling of accomplishment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I started my regular classes 2 weeks after I returned which was good because it gave me time to get re-situated with people and culture again. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trailer-park playground in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. 2014.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> The people you leave when you go abroad do not stop their lives when you are gone, and your country, and town and other things will have changed too. This I knew but didn't grasp until I saw it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Just seeing my town again after so long in comparison to the way Nara was laid out as a city was a big deal to me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The foods doubly so. I had and am still having a rough time with the rich foods often loaded with sugar, salt, and grease and understand why my friend from Nara who studied at CMU before I came to Nara lost so much weight- he couldn't eat the food we are so surrounded by here.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UtakNqNzVip4n6tyxiWEyqWfnV5_VSnbEt4kJ8qxrcWOOFgMlu3Q7xHxgem1pvJdHUAjnEPAFqiwAiLIiotKAGn60G_xsM-IPsPPO9_iBl6HMW9urUDVaCa0osegPS5TE5hTm-pImY4/s1600/IMG_3485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UtakNqNzVip4n6tyxiWEyqWfnV5_VSnbEt4kJ8qxrcWOOFgMlu3Q7xHxgem1pvJdHUAjnEPAFqiwAiLIiotKAGn60G_xsM-IPsPPO9_iBl6HMW9urUDVaCa0osegPS5TE5hTm-pImY4/s1600/IMG_3485.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trailer-park swingset in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. 2014.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I miss the international students especially my dorm-mates who I would see like at least 5 or 6 times a day just by going to the kitchen or common room.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I miss the amazingly light and delicious and affordable simple foods like Udon soup or soba noodle soup I could get at the school cafeteria for about $2-3 that fill you up!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> However, there are plenty of things I do not miss. I do not miss that Kawaii, or cute culture where even trivial items (to me) are made into 'cute' caracatures. I also really do not miss the frustration of not being able to speak on deeper topics in Japanese like I can do in English.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMPCWnu1yOjyclqGSQymHk8RtBdwDdAjJSG6ffsgPzB9tkd1mkAMYhb12ej79xptwYLZlLHvUTELtUfUflGnel1CaDjBi4V_5myaSY9I0b6mMn5tREgkbNfIdBjSrRhcPx2sImewxunw/s1600/IMG_3498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMPCWnu1yOjyclqGSQymHk8RtBdwDdAjJSG6ffsgPzB9tkd1mkAMYhb12ej79xptwYLZlLHvUTELtUfUflGnel1CaDjBi4V_5myaSY9I0b6mMn5tREgkbNfIdBjSrRhcPx2sImewxunw/s1600/IMG_3498.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trailer-park playground in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. 2014.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I missed being in class and really 100% or 99% of the time knowing precisely what I am supposed to be learning, and I also missed my Major and Minor's (Journalism and Anthropology) classes. My writing skills were suffering from a lack of usage.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I also missed eating game animals and wilderness exploration. Since I am so familiar with Michigan I know where you can go and what is allowed as far as state land public access rules etc. but in Japan I was lucky to be able to read the kanji on the sign that said bicycles were prohibited.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> It's not that Nara didn't have wilderness it just didn't have it in the same capacity and I didn't have the connections to be able to have access to eat game animals, and plus in Nara venison is pretty much off the menu as they are <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=mn9R8-0G4LgC&pg=PA351&lpg=PA351&dq=nara+deer+protected&source=bl&ots=gXX-upgh3q&sig=PqHzFik-eblrM38DS2cOU8xVjwU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RNznUs2iBsnWyQGH84DAAQ&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=nara%20deer%20protected&f=false">protected as National Treasures of the area</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> It was weird to be back with my boyfriend who I live with and was actively around for nine years. After my return it was odd for him as well as for me. We had both adopted different lifestyles in our separate environments for four months, so it was difficult at first to re-adjust. Plus I feel a little like an abandoner even though I know it wasn't really like that.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdUy9aNDD7RYbzq8w-kxkJJ6PPvNjxz3nsfRb9gL20gOvlD8lpryF7-iJSKfFIG-obZGS9xQdWFexw14_Yt0EHwcUj76r4KprCCiVAWAZ9FmP0c2Z8qESsKGNTr4aQeRhh3cf_i7OJnc/s1600/IMG_3536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdUy9aNDD7RYbzq8w-kxkJJ6PPvNjxz3nsfRb9gL20gOvlD8lpryF7-iJSKfFIG-obZGS9xQdWFexw14_Yt0EHwcUj76r4KprCCiVAWAZ9FmP0c2Z8qESsKGNTr4aQeRhh3cf_i7OJnc/s1600/IMG_3536.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Michigan University's Park Library. 2014.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> So far I also noticed a significant change in the way I had been communicating (in English) since I only used English (sans with the other Americans) to communicate with international students for whom English was a second or third language.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I also have said some interesting things (during my time in Japan and upon my return) such as "Got shirts none?" and calling gravy "potato juice" because it was in with the potatoes...It's funny but just a shift in my thinking patterns and also comes out in stressful "I can't think fast" times.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNkCRftWFdF3eZRnCzX01LF0_ZKpoObM5IxzZrOYuyGGT6XFlPMBPYTl3bbNhvYiF-1Z3LAgcvTqYQ_E-um4RTB55uF8fzMr8-ic-6SZBRMj7kQG84Mt4km1rZmapg8UkoNMReWsV4vs/s1600/IMG_3537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNkCRftWFdF3eZRnCzX01LF0_ZKpoObM5IxzZrOYuyGGT6XFlPMBPYTl3bbNhvYiF-1Z3LAgcvTqYQ_E-um4RTB55uF8fzMr8-ic-6SZBRMj7kQG84Mt4km1rZmapg8UkoNMReWsV4vs/s1600/IMG_3537.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Michigan University's Park Library. 2014.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Another big change for me was the attitude towards college expectations in society. In America we hardly think much about it but our collective concept is that when you enter college you are considered an adult- a young adult who may party or whatever but an adult none-the-less and that you should act in such a way as to be treated as an adult.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> In Japan they typically work their butts off to get into a good middle school, then to get into a good high school then into a good college...But then something changes. The college scene is seen as a break-time, a time before the tempest when they will have to work their butts off in their adult careers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> So the expectations are less, the stress is sometimes lower, and the over all feeling (not all the time or everywhere but comparatively) is more relaxed.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCBXmbawh2bRLa2jHvsSJnhhOzEc8LYkEs6pwW5rJ4lTfnabHe-683VIUjEwfvPEvpJVx0p41k_TJRPdpb4WkvFLGoiGYWP8t5iNer1ALrFBOFrrH6XtkRYBy39C-Hre4FerN_rst7DE/s1600/IMG_3548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHCBXmbawh2bRLa2jHvsSJnhhOzEc8LYkEs6pwW5rJ4lTfnabHe-683VIUjEwfvPEvpJVx0p41k_TJRPdpb4WkvFLGoiGYWP8t5iNer1ALrFBOFrrH6XtkRYBy39C-Hre4FerN_rst7DE/s1600/IMG_3548.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Wiggins Lake, Gladwin Michigan. 2014.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Now that I am back I can really feel that difference. Extensive lists of readings, multiple topics of homework submissions, quizzes on my first day (seriously- it was technically everyone else’s' 2nd day but I transferred into an added class after the first class).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuksD3NtS0vx6NMZ3FSaIq0M3GMU2RIZEDsHfDfSfc8hxc0NL0JbzjpK8dJ1y89H0z4uE1Quoit6mhKAdlNIBOyTcx6AHrYi50A_POm4X0xtNaFSZhS0fWig0XNppt3mevR8yW9w_E5s/s1600/IMG_3585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Many of the internationals I had talked with said similar things, some were stressed so badly by their colleges back home their hair was falling out and they had had anxiety attacks. Several students called their time in Japan their 'holiday' because it was done at a slower pace. Part of that was because they weren't as strict on foreigners learning Japanese, but also was because of a difference in attitude.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqx4sJhOkaSzqatV8hr3U55thgBjDbaVFP7C2X0AKW3MjwqKs1qRHh0vA266xzZXYgCOhEmCFKpOk3EvZY7aoQQvyPHPDPYOURnkPshUfzXCdzHZ7gaImY9vrlk5XExpegVxQXinf6lg/s1600/marydow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqx4sJhOkaSzqatV8hr3U55thgBjDbaVFP7C2X0AKW3MjwqKs1qRHh0vA266xzZXYgCOhEmCFKpOk3EvZY7aoQQvyPHPDPYOURnkPshUfzXCdzHZ7gaImY9vrlk5XExpegVxQXinf6lg/s1600/marydow.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Michigan University's Park Library Mary Dow Reading Room. 2014.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Another huge difference was the weather. I literally didn't even bring a coat to Nara. As someone from and used to Michigan weather I knew I was leaving December 29th and had checked the typical temperatures in Nara for that time of year. It was no big deal I just wore a hoodie when I was cold.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Coming back to the snow and cold though was a drastic change but I missed it, so I was glad to be back to this frozen tundra called Michigan. Really I was, and still am. It makes me appreciate warm beverages, house slippers and wool socks even more, but so be it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmv15oGqr86VRc8RpYv3AXArN6eaUwjf-hsWu9fADo3AiI43VYG8FFEzFos7GBFKTQJg1GlBoRVQXqcjPCUgc-c5hzvUYUKI64jcCYOxrmbWGGXyIpJEv93tQvsgzJm2LOaL-jnBCiN8/s1600/woldt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmv15oGqr86VRc8RpYv3AXArN6eaUwjf-hsWu9fADo3AiI43VYG8FFEzFos7GBFKTQJg1GlBoRVQXqcjPCUgc-c5hzvUYUKI64jcCYOxrmbWGGXyIpJEv93tQvsgzJm2LOaL-jnBCiN8/s1600/woldt.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Michigan University's Woldt H<span style="font-size: x-small;">all student lounge</span>. 2014.</td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Another</span> example <span style="font-size: large;">of a <span style="font-size: large;">positive re-adjustment for me<span style="font-size: large;">, is based on my realization in Japan that </span></span>our movie<span style="font-size: large;">s here are so cheap compared to theater prices in Japan.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> For me <span style="font-size: large;">it was going to be about $16 for a ticket after my student discount, typically it is $21. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> BUT here's one for the <span style="font-size: large;">women, <a href="http://www.miejets.org/gb/index.php?title=Toho_Cinemas_Kashihara"><span style="color: #990000;">Wednesday is Lad</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.miejets.org/gb/index.php?title=Toho_Cinemas_Kashihara"><span style="color: #990000;">ies' Night</span></a> at many places so you can get a ticket for about $11.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I also missed Roller Derby, but now I miss Karaoke and the pub culture of <span style="font-size: large;">Japan that we don't really have here.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrfACWWkF6QL88b7Bp2ZW5poQgQXFjUUlsnQESpI4dTpt-Kf_RGx7YkQ9peUIz8YLgG53K1V1z9ibwGU-0kDq2TyLBnetaHDneIeOSpLSNUwnk0TeFWi6dP4RdGaHyncWGRFglxo2T44/s1600/yanaka+ginza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrfACWWkF6QL88b7Bp2ZW5poQgQXFjUUlsnQESpI4dTpt-Kf_RGx7YkQ9peUIz8YLgG53K1V1z9ibwGU-0kDq2TyLBnetaHDneIeOSpLSNUwnk0TeFWi6dP4RdGaHyncWGRFglxo2T44/s1600/yanaka+ginza.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In Yanaka Ginza, Tokyo, Japan.</span></td></tr>
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</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I was in Japan I missed being active in a community as an equal citizen. It was great to volunteer and help out in <span style="font-size: large;">Japan<span style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> However, my situation and interactions</span> w<span style="font-size: large;">ere</span> not the same<span style="font-size: large;">. Since
I was not viewed as a Japanese person the treatment was often different
(for example I was told I would be working a popcorn stand and instead
they <span style="font-size: large;">told me to go en<span style="font-size: large;">joy the festival even after I <span style="font-size: large;">insistently</span> came back every 20 minutes or so to offer my help). <span style="font-size: large;">T</span>his wasn't always the case, but it often was.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRPWB3v32zb3ANK6MKF4jHfkjpVKCPGLsKJGB_5aCFV2M_H-pYbzqlm7QcqWQJ3tQWCibKNlIzJBF8qRAMnQNJTIgERYPO3BzVpL4SfHx3JCumuLJcRxzDAyrSJetki6ySJxB6bZQWzw/s1600/sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRPWB3v32zb3ANK6MKF4jHfkjpVKCPGLsKJGB_5aCFV2M_H-pYbzqlm7QcqWQJ3tQWCibKNlIzJBF8qRAMnQNJTIgERYPO3BzVpL4SfHx3JCumuLJcRxzDAyrSJetki6ySJxB6bZQWzw/s1600/sunrise.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowy sunrise in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. 2014.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Overall I am very happy with <span style="font-size: large;">the variety of</span> experiences in Japan<span style="font-size: large;">.</span> I do plan to continue using the Japanese language as I have been, and continue to pursue a career in Journalism that will benefit from these experiences<span style="font-size: large;">.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I feel accomplished, but I am also very glad to be back to the cold-snowy weather of Michigan, my Journalism and Anthropology classes, and of course I am happy to be back home with my boyfriend and closer to my family.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuksD3NtS0vx6NMZ3FSaIq0M3GMU2RIZEDsHfDfSfc8hxc0NL0JbzjpK8dJ1y89H0z4uE1Quoit6mhKAdlNIBOyTcx6AHrYi50A_POm4X0xtNaFSZhS0fWig0XNppt3mevR8yW9w_E5s/s1600/IMG_3585.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuksD3NtS0vx6NMZ3FSaIq0M3GMU2RIZEDsHfDfSfc8hxc0NL0JbzjpK8dJ1y89H0z4uE1Quoit6mhKAdlNIBOyTcx6AHrYi50A_POm4X0xtNaFSZhS0fWig0XNppt3mevR8yW9w_E5s/s1600/IMG_3585.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Study Abroad Expo at Park Library corridor. Jan. 2014.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> If I could have the best of both worlds scenario though, I would import my international friends to America and move them in next door to me, convince Americans that they really should adopt Japanese foods for their health, pocketbooks, and happiness, and I would be able to eat all those deer in Nara that kept staring at me next to my veranda...but we can't have it all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> So currently I have become involved in the Society o<span style="font-size: large;">f Professional Journalists to further <span style="font-size: large;">my career, am helping out with Study Abroad events like the expo shown above, and maintaining ties and relationships with my Japanese friends<span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In Japan, I took an independent Photojournal<span style="font-size: large;">ism class that got me off my butt, sent me out the door and taking pictures. It also was part of my ticket to learning more about many areas of Japan<span style="font-size: large;">ese culture and was a <span style="font-size: large;">free pass into th<span style="font-size: large;">e parts of</span> Jap<span style="font-size: large;">anese <span style="font-size: large;">lives not all foreigners <span style="font-size: large;">get to see.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> However, it also had an<span style="font-size: large;">other effect on me. It made me interested in Photojournalism like I hadn't been before. Now<span style="font-size: large;">, I still don't want to be a photojournalist but that doesn't stop me from being deeply interested in a way I wasn't before even in my <span style="font-size: large;">photojournalism classes. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Uft8tBWV3mWiDxHuioXLSxHL0w2-RY2fJmJ-Sv6Ac5PZiDDBTKIrHdlOCs1c95TDHpVWGNovQsKlOdm2PsrDYLShO2B_CbivaVyZAegQq4UYz9gYpfXvOXNxvFKP1UTjhNhcWMXTVsc/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Uft8tBWV3mWiDxHuioXLSxHL0w2-RY2fJmJ-Sv6Ac5PZiDDBTKIrHdlOCs1c95TDHpVWGNovQsKlOdm2PsrDYLShO2B_CbivaVyZAegQq4UYz9gYpfXvOXNxvFKP1UTjhNhcWMXTVsc/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rice harvest in Tawaramoto, Nara, Japan. 2013.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Something about getting out there with a camera, face<span style="font-size: large;">-to-face with a new place really got me interested. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Then I read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shutterbabe-Adventures-Deborah-Copaken-Kogan/dp/0375758682">"Shutter<span style="font-size: large;">b</span>abe</a></span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shutterbabe-Adventures-Deborah-Copaken-Kogan/dp/0375758682">"</a> </span></span></span>and this feeling of interest in <span style="font-size: large;">p</span>hotojournalism, art, <span style="font-size: large;">j</span>ournalism and travel really took hold and made me deeply want to know<span style="font-size: large;"> even more of our interestingly culturally diverse world.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdGSaPTgrrUk0nb38pSn_ZQqri3StwdE6NK13LupuvU5VWYoL9SQtfaKdyWuQPc-XR4xCmABeKWS2htxnmX1aB55GeYk4e_Q6I8QJKu5K2BSF1nk_MsVfLafGpgKkyj16FeB8dq8QsdQ/s1600/IMG_3370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdGSaPTgrrUk0nb38pSn_ZQqri3StwdE6NK13LupuvU5VWYoL9SQtfaKdyWuQPc-XR4xCmABeKWS2htxnmX1aB55GeYk4e_Q6I8QJKu5K2BSF1nk_MsVfLafGpgKkyj16FeB8dq8QsdQ/s1600/IMG_3370.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting on<span style="font-size: x-small;"> outside wall of business in Shinjuku, Japan.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I <span style="font-size: large;">also have been taking advantage of the cultural and artistic points of Michigan and America I missed when I was in Japan such as film, theater, sports, and <span style="font-size: large;">local culture.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> As</span> a result of my friendships with <span style="font-size: large;">students from all over the globe<span style="font-size: large;"> and my goal to<span style="font-size: large;"> be a foreign correspondent, </span></span> I have become intensely interested <span style="font-size: large;">in international news and events from al<span style="font-size: large;">l </span>over. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtQF2TYwkN0QxdEbJfqewSmoIn1vhBDveGqKR_ZreT6DgQ0UKl2xH8cnSq3drRrjXyO8fWYg8-mioXM3nlkzuvCjgt01aiK28AiqPwuUTuJ9TqAPHC24ns8vh_Iw4zlv023662rm8HlY/s1600/img_3752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtQF2TYwkN0QxdEbJfqewSmoIn1vhBDveGqKR_ZreT6DgQ0UKl2xH8cnSq3drRrjXyO8fWYg8-mioXM3nlkzuvCjgt01aiK28AiqPwuUTuJ9TqAPHC24ns8vh_Iw4zlv023662rm8HlY/s1600/img_3752.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near Yanaka <span style="font-size: x-small;">Cemetery, Tokyo. 2011</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> U</span>nlike at any time before where <span style="font-size: large;">I had</span><span style="font-size: large;"> merely <span style="font-size: large;">a detached interest, now I <span style="font-size: large;">think of specific people <span style="font-size: large;">I have met and connect them</span> to news events of their home country.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">W</span>hen I hear about <span style="font-size: large;">the revolution in <span style="font-size: large;">Ukraine, or the advancements of Brazil<span style="font-size: large;">'s government<span style="font-size: large;">, </span> the latest scandal from the Fren<span style="font-size: large;">ch president, the social classes of India, or the controversial roles and rules fo<span style="font-size: large;">r</span> Gypsy's or Roma people**(See note of clarification below) in Romania<span style="font-size: large;">, I now have these actual connections with these places<span style="font-size: large;">' culture and people<span style="font-size: large;"> that I lacked before I <span style="font-size: large;">met them.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">**I wanted to make a note of clarification on the term `Gypsy` used to reference the Roma people. In many news articles and other publications the term is used to reference the Indigenous Romani peoples. From Wikipedia's page on racial slurs </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.1875px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gyppo, gippo, gypo, gyppie, gyppy, gipp</span></span><br />
<dd style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>a.</b> A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romani_people" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Romani people">Romani people</a>.</span></dd><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;">b.</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;">(UK and Australia) Egyptians.</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-99" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs#cite_note-99" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[99]</a></sup><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;">These are variations of </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;">"</span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsy_(term)" style="background-image: none; color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px; text-decoration: none;" title="Gypsy (term)">Gypsy</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;">", the most common word in English for people of </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;">Romani origin. "Gypsy" is not in itself an ethnic slur but its</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.1875px;"> usage is sometimes controversial".</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRo0t0gcoV6-r3V434d3hzi1EMn9fGPCbfqcF-Yy9S0x_u9R75LxDmSDl5XHRYVepUWNUTh9Dqn6_biBcuwx4vpe7PwEMkmDXZ8cuqu-M-59xuNNDlHlkMBTmnz4ugdxKOy63b3MeNiC8/s1600/Lakshmi+and+me.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRo0t0gcoV6-r3V434d3hzi1EMn9fGPCbfqcF-Yy9S0x_u9R75LxDmSDl5XHRYVepUWNUTh9Dqn6_biBcuwx4vpe7PwEMkmDXZ8cuqu-M-59xuNNDlHlkMBTmnz4ugdxKOy63b3MeNiC8/s1600/Lakshmi+and+me.png" height="412" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot from "Lakshmi and Me", "a story about a relationship between unequals" (New York Times).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I think it is especially important to be aware of the many global issues and <span style="font-size: large;">now I also have a deeper desire to watch foreign films and documentaries (<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/world/asia/a-maids-pay-and-choices-of-morality.html?ref=world&_r=0">example</a>) that depict and offer a different perspective than the American dominant lifestyle that we are surrounded by- especially in films.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> For this and other reasons, I am very prou<span style="font-size: large;">d of my decis<span style="font-size: large;">ion to study abroad. Who knew when I went to Nara<span style="font-size: large;">, Japan I would learn so much about the <i><span style="font-size: large;">rest</span></i> of the world in the process<span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-59455674771214157112014-01-20T17:14:00.003-08:002014-04-11T12:11:44.074-07:00Tokyo and Nagoya trip.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLx1PTPeoO80-HSKwmvCOWUe-qbji6e0TRv_f3HmBenLTWyAMYjHaOTCYG5r1OOg6_jjK2GfmAeuO6KSXrjdoDSl0RHFEkHCK2M95z4RCP0e15KeLMi6EqIKnuholZMXHoAJSjQq3MnMc/s1600/IMG_2180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLx1PTPeoO80-HSKwmvCOWUe-qbji6e0TRv_f3HmBenLTWyAMYjHaOTCYG5r1OOg6_jjK2GfmAeuO6KSXrjdoDSl0RHFEkHCK2M95z4RCP0e15KeLMi6EqIKnuholZMXHoAJSjQq3MnMc/s1600/IMG_2180.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night view of Takabatake Cho, where our dorms are, Nara at night.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Night Buses and Bullet Trains</span></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSI82ghPqch1_Xjqxge3xAv4MpwIxaTH9aW096EptPDhrluR96OAYiA9dsZz3SX2x_VQEm-IR3dhDndniPGxIWw1iw10hsIXp08PKu24zwlOjfcWjrqZ-OHwsrGbgLNyirH53Y4Ndy90M/s1600/IMG_2146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSI82ghPqch1_Xjqxge3xAv4MpwIxaTH9aW096EptPDhrluR96OAYiA9dsZz3SX2x_VQEm-IR3dhDndniPGxIWw1iw10hsIXp08PKu24zwlOjfcWjrqZ-OHwsrGbgLNyirH53Y4Ndy90M/s1600/IMG_2146.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yamazoe Mura Tea Ceremony with host family.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My final destinations in Japan were Tokyo and then Nagoya.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPVeYPhnv4c2tlHrz574A5316GQ3atnhA-c8wybPtZZTL6RH1H_BYul6a1S0smOu34yLwHkfiHZVuo0mKlKbN9LwSkH7_ioz4LDg9GeQsMugwItiQ3PZzvTNoEkhEpoPqBlUd8H16i1Y/s1600/IMG_2190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPVeYPhnv4c2tlHrz574A5316GQ3atnhA-c8wybPtZZTL6RH1H_BYul6a1S0smOu34yLwHkfiHZVuo0mKlKbN9LwSkH7_ioz4LDg9GeQsMugwItiQ3PZzvTNoEkhEpoPqBlUd8H16i1Y/s1600/IMG_2190.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night view of fruit tree on Takabatake cho, Nara.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After I said goodbye to friends, I left Nara, I took a bus to the Nara city JR Train station, to take a train to the Osaka Umeda station, with a friend. Our goal was to take the "Night bus" to Tokyo from Osaka.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6ylCfMp3FdVapdQo5pPL5qs2sny1YQNp7o_HPSwUon8XkoHMtKpj5Vi_TPzXUogTUQJi6zTE9Oois6U4MQUDwLaSroQ3J9OJT5Ns7r2q31ZyY3kJnMUndyGAsQ0_BEw3YVtQ6PCUSkI/s1600/IMG_3353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6ylCfMp3FdVapdQo5pPL5qs2sny1YQNp7o_HPSwUon8XkoHMtKpj5Vi_TPzXUogTUQJi6zTE9Oois6U4MQUDwLaSroQ3J9OJT5Ns7r2q31ZyY3kJnMUndyGAsQ0_BEw3YVtQ6PCUSkI/s1600/IMG_3353.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shinjuku</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A note on "Night buses", often but not always they are at night, and the most inexpensive way to travel long distances. For my situation, I ordered 2 tickets from Osaka to Shinjuku by way of bus from the Willerexpress website. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After I ordered them I was given two options of how to pay; either by credit card or go to the convenience store within 2 days and pay there.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivaQrmnURvUMlURj_oP_YKvlWZfHTL4G9hFswL7HRrcZKGzrlt35Wu8qONlStHvcPx_gxIzbLqAM6TBuiZ0jo9YpbseMBm2BXpZFaLfXCg_zTAJ1ywWVVBUYFK56Juww7uvMmFzZBHf0/s1600/IMG_2200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivaQrmnURvUMlURj_oP_YKvlWZfHTL4G9hFswL7HRrcZKGzrlt35Wu8qONlStHvcPx_gxIzbLqAM6TBuiZ0jo9YpbseMBm2BXpZFaLfXCg_zTAJ1ywWVVBUYFK56Juww7uvMmFzZBHf0/s1600/IMG_2200.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The trip was from 9am. until about 8pm and costed about $30 per person. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My friend and I barely made it on the bus, we were 2 minutes late and the tickets were non-refundable. Thankfully the many awesome, helpful and friendly Kansai people we stopped for directions along the way helped us to get on the bus before it left.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We couldn't believe we had made it on the bus, and that we were on our way to Tokyo. We were full of doubt when we were running to the bus station and our lungs and legs were burning, but we pushed on and made it!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We even saw Mount Fuji along the way. Unfortunately my camera was in my bag in the luggage, so I don't have an actual photo, but I have a great mental photo.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXAoGsRfEfVhyKgwrsFn6gppMAVpPVqXhk4FrDrlGYMIceUj_JgVnY9NesTOWTwoY84fgFCZyVWI8OspDJXzCytnHrttCqjkSKR2XaJE41L1BE3y3H566Ac3fiu4kIACucrYYkea87r4/s1600/IMG_3338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXAoGsRfEfVhyKgwrsFn6gppMAVpPVqXhk4FrDrlGYMIceUj_JgVnY9NesTOWTwoY84fgFCZyVWI8OspDJXzCytnHrttCqjkSKR2XaJE41L1BE3y3H566Ac3fiu4kIACucrYYkea87r4/s1600/IMG_3338.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside Karaoke box in Shinjuku</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">During the trip it was about 1 break every two hours which was absolutely necessary for me to get up, move or whatever.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After we arrived in Shinjuku, we had no real idea where we were, I had banked on getting a good map at the station upon arrival, but was told that they didn't carry maps (this was at the information center of all places).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then it started raining, and of course neither of us had an umbrella and were so exhausted it was difficult to think rationally on next to no sleep and a squished bus ride.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So wandering around trying to find a hotel, in the rain when our brains were mush we decided to sleep in a karaoke box. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Turns out that because it was so close to the station they charged an outrageous price, about 3 times the price we typically paid back in Nara for the 11 o'clock til 5 am time slot.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSPJI5j9ApppBvGqZ0j2kWCegiZ8cMITxhYftv7NvmdQXzU79_i1H26hoGbCAl1nN1BEWzqpqgZFkmkGkXHBcTdZhWKJwD0K-p8Q9fKqhNxBm08n4CgjurAlK8Q3jhpLLQGWoO31a0sk/s1600/IMG_3348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSPJI5j9ApppBvGqZ0j2kWCegiZ8cMITxhYftv7NvmdQXzU79_i1H26hoGbCAl1nN1BEWzqpqgZFkmkGkXHBcTdZhWKJwD0K-p8Q9fKqhNxBm08n4CgjurAlK8Q3jhpLLQGWoO31a0sk/s1600/IMG_3348.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the Washington Hotel in Shinjuku.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And after we paid and tried to sleep we couldn't because it was so loud and drunk people kept making noise outside our door. It was not a fun night for us.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocvWx9N-iDCSfE83kZhkq8WbTtenwnEb6i0KQ4y5SM5idKSELm9uFteodmxujIeSDdldDz2jUJ0Qe50znGctERjpLeWbAg6832sWg3MLzWM-zWnyn_g1qcmlx4ygU0IWw7vDMOW8hcn0/s1600/IMG_3350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocvWx9N-iDCSfE83kZhkq8WbTtenwnEb6i0KQ4y5SM5idKSELm9uFteodmxujIeSDdldDz2jUJ0Qe50znGctERjpLeWbAg6832sWg3MLzWM-zWnyn_g1qcmlx4ygU0IWw7vDMOW8hcn0/s1600/IMG_3350.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After we left the karaoke box having gotten maybe an hour or two tops of sleep we managed to find a clustering of hotels. We stayed in one until noon or 1pm and then decided to be more proactive and find a place to sleep before the Friday night crowd did.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After we secured a place to sleep we felt much better and were able to explore the Shinjuku area more. For me I love the backstreet areas.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix44vyuWI0mDFY1RWrsdwJCgX8K3xnBBGQxArZB-qQow8AWfzKFj22T1DjAgC39WLj2ApHnuT5_VtHXgEDZqINB2PRQgTCd4W9Ipwc9E9fZJAvZ-sRdSK1uLkvJC_GeIGDVGBYnMZIL1Y/s1600/IMG_3367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix44vyuWI0mDFY1RWrsdwJCgX8K3xnBBGQxArZB-qQow8AWfzKFj22T1DjAgC39WLj2ApHnuT5_VtHXgEDZqINB2PRQgTCd4W9Ipwc9E9fZJAvZ-sRdSK1uLkvJC_GeIGDVGBYnMZIL1Y/s1600/IMG_3367.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shinjuku back street wanderings.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We met up with some friends and had Gyros street food at a stall near Times Square and then went to bed early enjoying our nice hotel room even though we wanted to try out the capsule hotel scene.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5hUMkEaelBEBXqAEJG8XjJw87F-TQrbmobEL1mwKywPUACmpkNt53CI05aH_0EcCvrBfYZWj9JdOnhRVsfVN7C4hd9QVeO6Oihihi2xj4764-wBmuqtaeQhNVsn-ZzWFCr1bnQaL9Zk/s1600/IMG_3365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5hUMkEaelBEBXqAEJG8XjJw87F-TQrbmobEL1mwKywPUACmpkNt53CI05aH_0EcCvrBfYZWj9JdOnhRVsfVN7C4hd9QVeO6Oihihi2xj4764-wBmuqtaeQhNVsn-ZzWFCr1bnQaL9Zk/s1600/IMG_3365.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In a garden, backstreets Shinjuku.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The next morning we ate (I of course had a natto roll), got some money out for a shinkansen (bullet train) ride, and then we took a train from Shinjuku to Bunkyo-ku's Sendagi and Yanaka Ginza areas.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dH27VhfW8G0vQsmMLMNes6RuDd2mGFFqlTVyi-R_-KP45X2Rri7Ls73jT7H5TQCV7X0q3mHc4YtONstfjDn3UEw19aPUMfcPQML6AnwOCSNqDQBF5h5LSt5VXGgt4FyxB8FkIdZqzoI/s1600/IMG_3370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dH27VhfW8G0vQsmMLMNes6RuDd2mGFFqlTVyi-R_-KP45X2Rri7Ls73jT7H5TQCV7X0q3mHc4YtONstfjDn3UEw19aPUMfcPQML6AnwOCSNqDQBF5h5LSt5VXGgt4FyxB8FkIdZqzoI/s1600/IMG_3370.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local business wall painting in backstreets of Shinjuku.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After we arrived at the Nippori station I was happy to see I could find my way around well. We bought our Shinkansen tickets at the station for Tokyo station to Nagoya for roughly $120. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQR167YAbztHTbEdkZ-PPD_DoTN519rKjITx_qf_PxMvRLOFwJNIbGwnmzfgaSG141KNMIoYNjAhQhx31iC6nMc87uQJm_mtVe1TL91FRJKO5jtIl0V5VUSuSdc2E9ZRS-SAChTCP_tMQ/s1600/IMG_3369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQR167YAbztHTbEdkZ-PPD_DoTN519rKjITx_qf_PxMvRLOFwJNIbGwnmzfgaSG141KNMIoYNjAhQhx31iC6nMc87uQJm_mtVe1TL91FRJKO5jtIl0V5VUSuSdc2E9ZRS-SAChTCP_tMQ/s1600/IMG_3369.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side streets of Shinjuku.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was expensive but it was also my next to last day in Japan and it was an experience I had planned for for some time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQseJQWuthryYvv4zLCGNoIy5XEGF7d26e7E-4NJbGT5kvDdkEC4bQr0DRK_qHlcMTO8GujzXBQNlEzbmVLZQx828jFmUhvy75OSA3pyt-wvdUnDsag6kz0hksGRQZFlAGveJ5TM223Is/s1600/260539_172209122839719_2279009_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQseJQWuthryYvv4zLCGNoIy5XEGF7d26e7E-4NJbGT5kvDdkEC4bQr0DRK_qHlcMTO8GujzXBQNlEzbmVLZQx828jFmUhvy75OSA3pyt-wvdUnDsag6kz0hksGRQZFlAGveJ5TM223Is/s1600/260539_172209122839719_2279009_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cats sleeping on bench in Hibiya park, 2011.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After we left the station we visited the Yanaka Ginza areas, and Yanaka cemetery as well as areas of Sendagi like the park and coffee shop I had frequented on my previous trip to Japan.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4HWeYvpNWoLrA8p5w00R4boTFwSNFF7HZ2AWqTaRfzUDQf8pQbASyrH0UdgpH3wk6bcVLrca1oMjPzFdzLn4SLn9uMlGBJe0iTUcG9qghVrmIHSZdR30u6bvG_31dHPMfFD4fAMYTeI/s1600/260178_172170106176954_2852573_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4HWeYvpNWoLrA8p5w00R4boTFwSNFF7HZ2AWqTaRfzUDQf8pQbASyrH0UdgpH3wk6bcVLrca1oMjPzFdzLn4SLn9uMlGBJe0iTUcG9qghVrmIHSZdR30u6bvG_31dHPMfFD4fAMYTeI/s1600/260178_172170106176954_2852573_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cat sleeping on tree trunk in Tokyo's Hibiya Park, June 2011.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I even saw a man making rope by hand and another older guy who made wooden foldable knives some smaller then my thumb.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/v/t34/1499819_594328887281333_1292557484_n.jpg?oh=c1cf54313ed23d3d0713d1a526fd6c68&oe=52DFE359" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy Photo of Boglarka Kiss, Bunkyo-ku Cafe Espresso Factory.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">After our short time in Bunkyo-ku we headed back to the station so we could get on the Shinkansen and then off to Nagoya.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSScB5qxsvtnY0PeXTiVtbdUXzOmbgEIgNkg25gsDvXXdcwZgOt3vmUiikhK8K0b6FIOeTOZo67kkVZQb4dER4PDpCYhTTSFp81yp3cn30-_isysiDgQeBDq81-7jmYQAi7Poxhj5wU8/s1600/249720_173144402746191_1460001_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSScB5qxsvtnY0PeXTiVtbdUXzOmbgEIgNkg25gsDvXXdcwZgOt3vmUiikhK8K0b6FIOeTOZo67kkVZQb4dER4PDpCYhTTSFp81yp3cn30-_isysiDgQeBDq81-7jmYQAi7Poxhj5wU8/s1600/249720_173144402746191_1460001_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Studio Ghibli visit, on the way, 2011.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Shinkansen trip was interesting, not as fast at times as I had assumed, but at other times it sounded like a plane and it was so comfortable!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After the Shinkansen ride I said goodbye to my friend twice, once at first and then again because she had my camera in her bag.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMk32yheBlth4dcocMBxHwTEBs5sg3vngNEC-K1_E7o3OJPhWcRUTutTBkvggtdXnrf_VXiBZpP9AxMUjwa6naUgoNqtQoVmhqfsXnYGw34Qf1ufe_hzPsGJQY3Ug0hFRzvAecbQzUJe8/s1600/IMG_3402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMk32yheBlth4dcocMBxHwTEBs5sg3vngNEC-K1_E7o3OJPhWcRUTutTBkvggtdXnrf_VXiBZpP9AxMUjwa6naUgoNqtQoVmhqfsXnYGw34Qf1ufe_hzPsGJQY3Ug0hFRzvAecbQzUJe8/s1600/IMG_3402.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Shinjuku, saying goodbye to the Karaoke box we slept in.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I explored the areas around the station as I waited to meet up with my friend who had studied for the summer at CMU, who lived in Nagoya.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I went with her and friends to Karaoke (even though I thought after the karaoke box sleeping debacle I would never again). Then we went out to eat some amazing Nagoya foods, and we took a packed train to her boyfriends where she let me sleep over.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitceVcFwDqupBRE857OqkYMYwBbOQSYh88mYPMul3q_KL3MwwcpqMQUrWMwaXkR5OBKkIp7nECxe9G3zTPFuPSLBU4MjbIDSs7EEeAjy2tnq08_1UodV3NemA1KDlAT94uazzgjG5ZGeM/s1600/IMG_3414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitceVcFwDqupBRE857OqkYMYwBbOQSYh88mYPMul3q_KL3MwwcpqMQUrWMwaXkR5OBKkIp7nECxe9G3zTPFuPSLBU4MjbIDSs7EEeAjy2tnq08_1UodV3NemA1KDlAT94uazzgjG5ZGeM/s1600/IMG_3414.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Nagoya's Centrair Airport.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then in the morning she took me to the Nagoya airport (making it my 3rd airport in Japan-Narita, Osaka and now Nagoya). We said goodbye and wished each other a great new year.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid17CS5vm5C1Vw_eHzH4eez1jafmO6dlo7Met3jhUPfEwesfFXr0VmIgcsP2M2dah064MClofd2p8XNoTaRVCmEvJ3hlI5z5KLrgMqGYa-XsGiCe9MafBKL-S_Vwb4WB5_stWLh_rJWnk/s1600/IMG_3423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid17CS5vm5C1Vw_eHzH4eez1jafmO6dlo7Met3jhUPfEwesfFXr0VmIgcsP2M2dah064MClofd2p8XNoTaRVCmEvJ3hlI5z5KLrgMqGYa-XsGiCe9MafBKL-S_Vwb4WB5_stWLh_rJWnk/s1600/IMG_3423.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using a cloth mask as a personal humidifier on the plane home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This time coming home I didn't cry, I didn't fret, and I was excited to see my people.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It wasn't because Japan was bad, on the contrary- I was so happy with my experiences in language, and culture this time around, so much so that I felt accomplished, but also I missed things from my life. Mainly my boyfriend and my active role in Journalism writing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I felt like I had met my goals head on, and while some times were tough, I made it, persevered and did what I came to do. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As a result I feel I did and still am benefiting from the amazing journeys I have had.</span><br />
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Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-34897105038994496332014-01-07T15:11:00.003-08:002014-01-07T15:27:39.719-08:00Now you know, Advice for students coming to Nara.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br />N</b></span><span style="font-size: large;">ow,
before I do my post about my Tokyo and Nagoya trip I wanted to offer
some brief important tips and points for students coming to Nara. I
may add more later on but I wanted to at least give you some pointers
to start off with.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq37HSZ5nPrv8YwN-S_798UHyeYpDXb4SkT2Q7KavN_bhV4BdILq9EqxZwjY7hyrpXEzlUKKf4NqyIsBUfkQG8jUCEnXiJOYQEkaK1B_azGpB1YCDT1LjCGC7nZFdiHovXIdA7Xy5IwG8/s1600/IMG_9403.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="640" name="graphics1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq37HSZ5nPrv8YwN-S_798UHyeYpDXb4SkT2Q7KavN_bhV4BdILq9EqxZwjY7hyrpXEzlUKKf4NqyIsBUfkQG8jUCEnXiJOYQEkaK1B_azGpB1YCDT1LjCGC7nZFdiHovXIdA7Xy5IwG8/s1600/IMG_9403.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq37HSZ5nPrv8YwN-S_798UHyeYpDXb4SkT2Q7KavN_bhV4BdILq9EqxZwjY7hyrpXEzlUKKf4NqyIsBUfkQG8jUCEnXiJOYQEkaK1B_azGpB1YCDT1LjCGC7nZFdiHovXIdA7Xy5IwG8/s1600/IMG_9403.JPG">
</a></td>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pre-rice
harvest in Nara city.</span></span></span></div>
</td>
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</center>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Get
OUT</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Get
out on foot, by bike, and by bus and just explore. I learned so much
by just hoofing it. If I was lazy I would just take a bus, the
yellow buses are the city loop line so they are really easy
to learn. You just walk up to the bus at a stop (they come every 10
minutes) put 200 yen in the receptacle and go sit down- not in the
special seats for elderly though. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscPDEEweF3wiLRynEZ6NOK6uD7EZUp32ND77BxW-WWFWKiOHda6diPJsHZolPqX2pbY7W6ws27qS_nrjd7AHy7mr-xhIXGbpGky-1W-jbsNmOiicOZ5Rt1WfBLwj0PfO41TWaM8uAQoM/s1600/IMG_3343.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="640" name="graphics2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscPDEEweF3wiLRynEZ6NOK6uD7EZUp32ND77BxW-WWFWKiOHda6diPJsHZolPqX2pbY7W6ws27qS_nrjd7AHy7mr-xhIXGbpGky-1W-jbsNmOiicOZ5Rt1WfBLwj0PfO41TWaM8uAQoM/s1600/IMG_3343.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
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</a></td>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shinjuku
near Times Square, Tokyo.</span></span></span></div>
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</center>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
found so many great opportunities just by getting out and exploring,
and when you feel familiar with a place you can adjust more easily.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This
was actually the number one thing that helped me to find unique
opportunities in Nara, just getting out of the dorms and school to
explore on my own or with a friend.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4wvwuwdHXmiXhQHx5tfr-l9ResmBIGM5BM_VZTLfP_wmsmtTq6tXIJy54HTsmz3YYs2_Gqef6H1jvR1pFmekE74uX37OSJkoNaPwwhr0AuTFkcC0MXZ0WVWx89g8lugFz4eNN8U5JrQ/s1600/IMG_2716.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4wvwuwdHXmiXhQHx5tfr-l9ResmBIGM5BM_VZTLfP_wmsmtTq6tXIJy54HTsmz3YYs2_Gqef6H1jvR1pFmekE74uX37OSJkoNaPwwhr0AuTFkcC0MXZ0WVWx89g8lugFz4eNN8U5JrQ/s1600/IMG_2716.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4wvwuwdHXmiXhQHx5tfr-l9ResmBIGM5BM_VZTLfP_wmsmtTq6tXIJy54HTsmz3YYs2_Gqef6H1jvR1pFmekE74uX37OSJkoNaPwwhr0AuTFkcC0MXZ0WVWx89g8lugFz4eNN8U5JrQ/s1600/IMG_2716.JPG">
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Near
Nara park, Nara city.</span></span></span></div>
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Socks</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now
that I am back in Michigan I remember just how much I had to walk
each day in Nara, and Japan in general. It wasn't a big deal and my
legs are actually much stronger now as a result, but with walking you
pay a price. Bring good socks.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You
also may want to bring black socks or socks that can look nice since
you have to take your shoes off in so many places and occasions so
its smart to invest in nice looking and good quality socks. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_BHPJIRX8VRBewtmZPHauKUilq1hMrupDicJeOfS17pWs6D0Xut4Xos4spNBYNvTObg8Q-obJ-mR3NO14csALF9e2GFOCyBcbKx91iLFQfl6e6ZmzArhHGbwbJ9OPaYNSFFA-1fYdic/s1600/IMG_9455.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_BHPJIRX8VRBewtmZPHauKUilq1hMrupDicJeOfS17pWs6D0Xut4Xos4spNBYNvTObg8Q-obJ-mR3NO14csALF9e2GFOCyBcbKx91iLFQfl6e6ZmzArhHGbwbJ9OPaYNSFFA-1fYdic/s1600/IMG_9455.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_BHPJIRX8VRBewtmZPHauKUilq1hMrupDicJeOfS17pWs6D0Xut4Xos4spNBYNvTObg8Q-obJ-mR3NO14csALF9e2GFOCyBcbKx91iLFQfl6e6ZmzArhHGbwbJ9OPaYNSFFA-1fYdic/s1600/IMG_9455.JPG">
</a></td>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kasuga
Mountain area, Nara.</span></span></span></div>
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">About
a month and a half after the other international students arrived
many of them were throwing out their threadbare socks left and right.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1gdzhAxRvWteWxjjtOOSBHX6peRAnEX2Y7XVEOyO-KhWvlgG7MuebPA6R3j15qH70Tm-8e7_yOktXgO3ezxilgEb7mx2jntBYK2XooGfzDExazbwqaG1EObA0LvW9FYgyd4NJaCtNfI/s1600/IMG_3296.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="300" name="graphics5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1gdzhAxRvWteWxjjtOOSBHX6peRAnEX2Y7XVEOyO-KhWvlgG7MuebPA6R3j15qH70Tm-8e7_yOktXgO3ezxilgEb7mx2jntBYK2XooGfzDExazbwqaG1EObA0LvW9FYgyd4NJaCtNfI/s1600/IMG_3296.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1gdzhAxRvWteWxjjtOOSBHX6peRAnEX2Y7XVEOyO-KhWvlgG7MuebPA6R3j15qH70Tm-8e7_yOktXgO3ezxilgEb7mx2jntBYK2XooGfzDExazbwqaG1EObA0LvW9FYgyd4NJaCtNfI/s1600/IMG_3296.JPG">
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Volunteer
time at Yamazoe middle school.</span></span></span></div>
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</center>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Get
to know the other students AND NON students!</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's
great when you finally know the other international or Japanese
students since it really makes a difference in your experience, but I
think its even better when you can step out of your comfort zone and
meet new non-students.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Go
walking, stop into random shops and I assure you the locals will
welcome you back, give you free stuff and in general be super warm
(in the Kansai region especially).</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When
I left I knew so many great locals and I miss them now but it is a
really great feeling when you've had a grumpy day and you walk home,
and as you pass by the plant shop on the way to the dorms and the
lady welcomes you home. That's a day changer.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOMxb_DJ0eNp-TKKddzFJYpRm35sw0CtLX0DzRngpfMQlDmjNFJEV5vTiTG0c2QgKfupZM4aBcW9-FoYectJyW3qGddMVhlRUuMkUQLEB_EJmt_s-u9yh6Ahr0MMlNXW44MIbdW_YKic/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics6" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOMxb_DJ0eNp-TKKddzFJYpRm35sw0CtLX0DzRngpfMQlDmjNFJEV5vTiTG0c2QgKfupZM4aBcW9-FoYectJyW3qGddMVhlRUuMkUQLEB_EJmt_s-u9yh6Ahr0MMlNXW44MIbdW_YKic/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOMxb_DJ0eNp-TKKddzFJYpRm35sw0CtLX0DzRngpfMQlDmjNFJEV5vTiTG0c2QgKfupZM4aBcW9-FoYectJyW3qGddMVhlRUuMkUQLEB_EJmt_s-u9yh6Ahr0MMlNXW44MIbdW_YKic/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG">
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<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Workers
welding new ditch covers near International Student House dorm
road, Nara city.</span></span></span></div>
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Get
Familliar</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seriously
I can't tell you how useful it is to be familiar with
Celsius, Centimeters, Liters, Kilometers, Kilograms, military time,
and the like.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RzJE8aDOMzLWzzgzYXFf_Wh9TXIJL2fp029PHEnii4pwxOvtD66H6zH0zoPre7E7_p3r-oAKdjGQ5eY3cuRHtzQjyLCgdUQb5gaTfFDRj7LbfS67gsV2ubJ-KaxU7ugQO2YiQg3-BvA/s1600/IMG_0112.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="640" name="graphics7" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RzJE8aDOMzLWzzgzYXFf_Wh9TXIJL2fp029PHEnii4pwxOvtD66H6zH0zoPre7E7_p3r-oAKdjGQ5eY3cuRHtzQjyLCgdUQb5gaTfFDRj7LbfS67gsV2ubJ-KaxU7ugQO2YiQg3-BvA/s1600/IMG_0112.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
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</a></td>
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<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Locals
shop at the mini farmer stand outside Nara City's Information
Center.</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not
just for Japanese people, but virtually any other non-Americans you
talk with it is going to come up in conversation. And it feels good
to be able to continue the conversation and have some reference idea.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
took a Celsius to Fahrenheit chart that I colored
so I could tell at a glance what was considered hot, cold, and
insanely hot weather. When I looked at the newspaper forecast I
could easily tell after a while if it was going to be a nice day or
not without my chart.</span></span></span></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="642">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ENBwoy4FhIqusddh_lTjUPovGv88UrrWCjcOJLawNIqLke4gyatcuAoddriVwas56qFUsFfOZpgt2yRE5vVilR08R2OEZvcqDOHk9KJkFMuDED7KJ20f4WSAHc1jxLEa4GUgne-gbhk/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics8" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ENBwoy4FhIqusddh_lTjUPovGv88UrrWCjcOJLawNIqLke4gyatcuAoddriVwas56qFUsFfOZpgt2yRE5vVilR08R2OEZvcqDOHk9KJkFMuDED7KJ20f4WSAHc1jxLEa4GUgne-gbhk/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ENBwoy4FhIqusddh_lTjUPovGv88UrrWCjcOJLawNIqLke4gyatcuAoddriVwas56qFUsFfOZpgt2yRE5vVilR08R2OEZvcqDOHk9KJkFMuDED7KJ20f4WSAHc1jxLEa4GUgne-gbhk/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG">
</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="642">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Maintenance
or construction workers outside of NUE's library.</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sure
you could do what some of the Americans did and refer to your smarty
pants phones every time, but personally I would rather have that
knowledge so I can easily focus on what the other people are talking
about rather than waste the flow of convo while I look up something
the rest of the world sans Americans knows.</span></span></span></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="642">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpeVKc1A40AzuGddzC4o76b_YwyOZ4eLg3Stqu0GxVkpFfiUuoewnbN3wcNJYakY53dm4cVXUvRceipx4ByB7Xf17cLktyJ0mYwlbZi_NFvrzhvo7Q_FXsY_bGhzXZtC1OraVmM2ik7Q/s1600/IMG_2690.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics9" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpeVKc1A40AzuGddzC4o76b_YwyOZ4eLg3Stqu0GxVkpFfiUuoewnbN3wcNJYakY53dm4cVXUvRceipx4ByB7Xf17cLktyJ0mYwlbZi_NFvrzhvo7Q_FXsY_bGhzXZtC1OraVmM2ik7Q/s1600/IMG_2690.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpeVKc1A40AzuGddzC4o76b_YwyOZ4eLg3Stqu0GxVkpFfiUuoewnbN3wcNJYakY53dm4cVXUvRceipx4ByB7Xf17cLktyJ0mYwlbZi_NFvrzhvo7Q_FXsY_bGhzXZtC1OraVmM2ik7Q/s1600/IMG_2690.JPG">
</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="642">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Classis
car near local Nara City post office/bank.</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Know
Yourself</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Know
ahead of time what things you can rely on for comfort and use for
coping. For me it was different things at different times, but art
(painting, viewing...), films, nature, my goldfish, plants, books in
English, time with friends, visiting a cafe, and cooking new things.</span></span></span></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="482">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetclVR_Pm62Ciu1c3jh-3-4UvDRl-YOI_xVkxjGlGUoJzxBw463xhzTc839p57oBC_dE5uuXhoq5Z9Xua0w-grhs2J6NtVKksErTl71uv5A-qcTABO3PQBPBFHQ7GhLOPmqSvw2CcKQs/s1600/IMG_9399.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="640" name="graphics10" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetclVR_Pm62Ciu1c3jh-3-4UvDRl-YOI_xVkxjGlGUoJzxBw463xhzTc839p57oBC_dE5uuXhoq5Z9Xua0w-grhs2J6NtVKksErTl71uv5A-qcTABO3PQBPBFHQ7GhLOPmqSvw2CcKQs/s1600/IMG_9399.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetclVR_Pm62Ciu1c3jh-3-4UvDRl-YOI_xVkxjGlGUoJzxBw463xhzTc839p57oBC_dE5uuXhoq5Z9Xua0w-grhs2J6NtVKksErTl71uv5A-qcTABO3PQBPBFHQ7GhLOPmqSvw2CcKQs/s1600/IMG_9399.JPG">
</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="482">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ditch
used to divert water from the mountain area near NUE.</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There
are days that make you appreciate the good days, and when you have
those junky days and you need a pick-me-up, you can look in your back
pocket for a way to deal. These coping things really make a
difference.</span></span></span></div>
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<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigblBZLoBNETVQ2x7eY8tPiOeWFX0cLHWDzIfHzGKH8osfXRWzQkhzSp0JlRgdfweebSNCrYflj6dEZuZ6NCxPX1G5F5l8TDTwJm_6HycJfpJ6FSSWmwtmVlX_cUSYRd9kvkGp4Ll510w/s1600/IMG_1532.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigblBZLoBNETVQ2x7eY8tPiOeWFX0cLHWDzIfHzGKH8osfXRWzQkhzSp0JlRgdfweebSNCrYflj6dEZuZ6NCxPX1G5F5l8TDTwJm_6HycJfpJ6FSSWmwtmVlX_cUSYRd9kvkGp4Ll510w/s1600/IMG_1532.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigblBZLoBNETVQ2x7eY8tPiOeWFX0cLHWDzIfHzGKH8osfXRWzQkhzSp0JlRgdfweebSNCrYflj6dEZuZ6NCxPX1G5F5l8TDTwJm_6HycJfpJ6FSSWmwtmVlX_cUSYRd9kvkGp4Ll510w/s1600/IMG_1532.JPG">
</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="642">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View
from Kyoto station.</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Takesumi</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For
me coming from places that usually have well water that tastes
amazing and non-chlorinated, it was a real pain for me to drink the
water at the dorms. </span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To
be honest the chlorine was so strong I would come out of a bath or
shower smelling like I had been in a pool. It was bad and I love
water, and I refuse to buy the bottled stuff for a few reasons.</span></span></span></div>
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<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdghpFluwRAmJX9Q67BJ5w1MkRWi3BCzF2PeqnUnrC31YMWjg8byly-qZ6bLfDgkEAvXjoaJdFnjUia5KBEUe6tB4QLite06UQNiwxaQ7dScHOMoDiWk0vVZu4NoIz0BpaSBxOKPjgn8/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="640" name="graphics12" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdghpFluwRAmJX9Q67BJ5w1MkRWi3BCzF2PeqnUnrC31YMWjg8byly-qZ6bLfDgkEAvXjoaJdFnjUia5KBEUe6tB4QLite06UQNiwxaQ7dScHOMoDiWk0vVZu4NoIz0BpaSBxOKPjgn8/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdghpFluwRAmJX9Q67BJ5w1MkRWi3BCzF2PeqnUnrC31YMWjg8byly-qZ6bLfDgkEAvXjoaJdFnjUia5KBEUe6tB4QLite06UQNiwxaQ7dScHOMoDiWk0vVZu4NoIz0BpaSBxOKPjgn8/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG">
</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="535">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A
view from inside the trenches that run along the road Takabatake
Cho Nara city.</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">One
big reason is if you remember you have to walk a lot, so you are
going to be carrying that heavy water all the way home, or biking it
home, or busing it home, either way thats a pain in my but.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And
another is its expensive (it adds up), its tedious, wasteful etc...
So my solution? Takesumi.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_qmKa1boNyKIn0TZvYS6so9heu0ONvTqCWrWwMsFbOoDEJOcJR1S308QH9_uUZ7hgfZEQnjkNKivQ8aFsTpbIOcpxKmR3T13lWLR-myKkoezbW_Bynvzt2LeOcsI3xIDGlxGvMhvMC0/s1600/IMG_0780.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="640" name="graphics13" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_qmKa1boNyKIn0TZvYS6so9heu0ONvTqCWrWwMsFbOoDEJOcJR1S308QH9_uUZ7hgfZEQnjkNKivQ8aFsTpbIOcpxKmR3T13lWLR-myKkoezbW_Bynvzt2LeOcsI3xIDGlxGvMhvMC0/s1600/IMG_0780.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_qmKa1boNyKIn0TZvYS6so9heu0ONvTqCWrWwMsFbOoDEJOcJR1S308QH9_uUZ7hgfZEQnjkNKivQ8aFsTpbIOcpxKmR3T13lWLR-myKkoezbW_Bynvzt2LeOcsI3xIDGlxGvMhvMC0/s1600/IMG_0780.JPG">
</a></td>
</tr>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="482">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Near
Higashi Muki and Sarusawa Ike pond Nara city.</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Take
means bamboo and sumi is to clean or purify and its basically a
bamboo carbon filter that the Japanese have been using for a long
time.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You
can buy these bamboo charcoal like sticks, put them in your glass, or
pitcher of water and in about a minute depending on how much water
you can have delicious water that doesn't smell like a jug of bleach.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91YpDsg79_X0RooRTWIArunxVfbUyzZtCYBd-poS4gUArjGrFUKN4nl0BrqrWX2m8DgeQf49icFKZK4LQ8ZvOcrr4NF3E6MP7KK4QRM6WVNskj1Xub7qgGtSzDurWyjW7yg8Sr_RuiGI/s1600/IMG_9563.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="640" name="graphics14" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91YpDsg79_X0RooRTWIArunxVfbUyzZtCYBd-poS4gUArjGrFUKN4nl0BrqrWX2m8DgeQf49icFKZK4LQ8ZvOcrr4NF3E6MP7KK4QRM6WVNskj1Xub7qgGtSzDurWyjW7yg8Sr_RuiGI/s1600/IMG_9563.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91YpDsg79_X0RooRTWIArunxVfbUyzZtCYBd-poS4gUArjGrFUKN4nl0BrqrWX2m8DgeQf49icFKZK4LQ8ZvOcrr4NF3E6MP7KK4QRM6WVNskj1Xub7qgGtSzDurWyjW7yg8Sr_RuiGI/s1600/IMG_9563.JPG">
</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="482">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nara
park filled with deer nearing night.</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Slippers</b></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If
you go anywhere or do any home stays chances are you will come in
contact with Japanese slipper culture. Many people know it is
customary to remove your shoes at the entrance of many homes,
schools, and businesses in Japan, but what then?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPqj-SCuzdCASZizgEB5hHxQsjyrn5qRHGe9M_thv4XhRungkv7IwYLoTT0Dq9gHMroDrmCGbzd4PprPhbT-2Jk7Bc2qcJpPCFV8WluLMp0gJUslGaxUC4i7PrLFoCl9jjXt-LrytQpo/s1600/IMG_9743.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics15" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPqj-SCuzdCASZizgEB5hHxQsjyrn5qRHGe9M_thv4XhRungkv7IwYLoTT0Dq9gHMroDrmCGbzd4PprPhbT-2Jk7Bc2qcJpPCFV8WluLMp0gJUslGaxUC4i7PrLFoCl9jjXt-LrytQpo/s1600/IMG_9743.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPqj-SCuzdCASZizgEB5hHxQsjyrn5qRHGe9M_thv4XhRungkv7IwYLoTT0Dq9gHMroDrmCGbzd4PprPhbT-2Jk7Bc2qcJpPCFV8WluLMp0gJUslGaxUC4i7PrLFoCl9jjXt-LrytQpo/s1600/IMG_9743.JPG">
</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="651">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nara
city locals gather to watch and dance at the yearly Bon odori
festival at Ni Gatsu Dou Temple.</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Most
often you are given these dark green looking slippers and told to
wear them. Personally I had a hard time understanding why I couldn't
just go in socks but I dealt with it and changed into various
slippers so many times I have lost count.</span></span></span></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="482">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8b_mTuHIZADI0xc7dDIaodwSncERd7O93mMifDI1h4yE1QUJ2xGVSET4mek6QMgsu4MVINpuDAkBhA7MiI-SDTgzGSaQM7HuuQ8PFuISmZNY7K41IFT15jrpnZso1yG9SVbeFQVe9U8/s1600/IMG_9624.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="640" name="graphics16" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8b_mTuHIZADI0xc7dDIaodwSncERd7O93mMifDI1h4yE1QUJ2xGVSET4mek6QMgsu4MVINpuDAkBhA7MiI-SDTgzGSaQM7HuuQ8PFuISmZNY7K41IFT15jrpnZso1yG9SVbeFQVe9U8/s1600/IMG_9624.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8b_mTuHIZADI0xc7dDIaodwSncERd7O93mMifDI1h4yE1QUJ2xGVSET4mek6QMgsu4MVINpuDAkBhA7MiI-SDTgzGSaQM7HuuQ8PFuISmZNY7K41IFT15jrpnZso1yG9SVbeFQVe9U8/s1600/IMG_9624.JPG">
</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="482">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View
from the top of Ni Gatsu Dou Hall Temple area at sunset.</span></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: large;">There
are slippers for the house, for the rock garden area, for the
toilet.....the point is get used to slippers. Now that I'm home I
just want slippers to keep my feet warm in winter.</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;">
</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />So
I think these pointers will at least give you a heads up, but just
get out there learn, and have fun exploring, it's a great place to do
it!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
</div>
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--><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-c6P2WRBLvj8%2FUsyGH_ZUNcI%2FAAAAAAAAC-4%2F2HvhkUZM6B0%2Fs1600%2FIMG_9624.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8b_mTuHIZADI0xc7dDIaodwSncERd7O93mMifDI1h4yE1QUJ2xGVSET4mek6QMgsu4MVINpuDAkBhA7MiI-SDTgzGSaQM7HuuQ8PFuISmZNY7K41IFT15jrpnZso1yG9SVbeFQVe9U8/s1600/IMG_9624.JPG" -->Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-70271732987382509292014-01-06T10:15:00.002-08:002014-01-06T10:50:25.447-08:00Leaving it all behind, but not really. My last day in Nara.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">y
last day in Nara and of course I got sick. From the stress of leaving so many people behind, and the endless list of things I was supposed to do before I left.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;">Just an irritating sinus
infection, but enough to keep me down a little on my last day with the
people I had spent so much time with, the places and scenery I had
adored so much for four months and I was leaving it behind.</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tCb9beJPGWNHJ_2VSyorglZnvhoenrJVDXj1oigbGtw4_G8CPjdT7lTRkzoz0Grk06Ha6J_M4o8deBpulFusfgO6FFinBefxQqjpxi1zGRZSkE_b0b1h2k5dD24TeRtK84Dk_osSmYA/s1600/IMG_3257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tCb9beJPGWNHJ_2VSyorglZnvhoenrJVDXj1oigbGtw4_G8CPjdT7lTRkzoz0Grk06Ha6J_M4o8deBpulFusfgO6FFinBefxQqjpxi1zGRZSkE_b0b1h2k5dD24TeRtK84Dk_osSmYA/s1600/IMG_3257.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: x-small;">At Nara University of Education near the library.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">For
my last day in Nara I did not go to tour the Asahi Shinbun (a really
prestigious newspaper), nor did I go to the theater as I had planned.
I slept and tried to get better, and got a little lost in my
thoughts. </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">That's alright though. There's a lot I would have liked to have done in Japan, but I am leaving feeling accomplished, I set out and did what wanted to do. </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">And I can remember all the interesting things I have done and experienced, and I'm not sad that I didn't get to do every little thing. But it made me more aware of just how much you can accomplish just by trying, and setting goals and then taking the first steps.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60clP2H_qP4oBq8XjQrloQjyl6ZPIxPAOyZRSvYhMvsmqYOddDXjadxmsLFM9IzzKICOvsxiexfvfCiq3tBptz9O6P79g4DguPefQrCTF_FWMwuX3PR0-ur8FZK53SzQQIrremu52C-o/s1600/IMG_3260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60clP2H_qP4oBq8XjQrloQjyl6ZPIxPAOyZRSvYhMvsmqYOddDXjadxmsLFM9IzzKICOvsxiexfvfCiq3tBptz9O6P79g4DguPefQrCTF_FWMwuX3PR0-ur8FZK53SzQQIrremu52C-o/s1600/IMG_3260.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">One of my favorite corridors at NUE near the Art offices.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">I got to climb a mountain, be a photojournalist abroad for a while, tour a tea factory, cut rice with Japanese farmers, go in the rural mountain areas and hunt for </span><span style="font-size: large;">chestnuts, seen a corpse wheeled from a home for a funeral, go fishing on an island and catch delicious fish, ride down marshy canals in a house boat, make traditional pottery, paint a sunset, catch goldfish that were decedents of goldfish raised by local Samurai in Yamato-Koriyama- with a tissue paper net! ... and the list goes on.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20ejayCfkBzyD7AMhCDi1hDSWKBqRiWfgEVZClkazrPzbTO3kIUMp9bJlUMZG_MRSYDdv1iqeMu5t_Ef2BBOWLJUBMFFF18yfkGApYwG2oO_wUfkoUuZwdihnRGxr9YSuXpP5qIi10Lc/s1600/IMG_3256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20ejayCfkBzyD7AMhCDi1hDSWKBqRiWfgEVZClkazrPzbTO3kIUMp9bJlUMZG_MRSYDdv1iqeMu5t_Ef2BBOWLJUBMFFF18yfkGApYwG2oO_wUfkoUuZwdihnRGxr9YSuXpP5qIi10Lc/s1600/IMG_3256.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: x-small;">Near the library at NUE during construction.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">Later
that night I watched Harry Potter with some close friends since the
film had a weirdly familiar feel to it. A bunch of young people on a
magical journey of self exploration, all leaving their families,
friends and partners behind to come to a new place, live together,
eat together and learn together?</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhit-5zmoa5WTwG7_sbuQ9ZtoHrTw1SXSiED9BV3gPYlFy5qaGa2g1xMOh47UbC0QS_2KKWLbZqBEKQb4k-jVauY_7XvYUxCzJiRBvrx-Y7guFm-uUM1kp3fDyaNdG8Aei1X3FbuK7Z494/s1600/IMG_3262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhit-5zmoa5WTwG7_sbuQ9ZtoHrTw1SXSiED9BV3gPYlFy5qaGa2g1xMOh47UbC0QS_2KKWLbZqBEKQb4k-jVauY_7XvYUxCzJiRBvrx-Y7guFm-uUM1kp3fDyaNdG8Aei1X3FbuK7Z494/s1600/IMG_3262.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">It may not look like much but I love walking here at NUE and looking at the art bulletins.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">Yeah,
it felt like we were all at Hogwarts, a Japanese Hogwarts. And we
were there with one another having formed deep bonds because nothing
shows bonding like trying to explain what an enema is to your
Hungarian friend.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxsld53Fa0D-Z5rVyLoWC87xg8JS_VIMPTBQ6Q8wvh7RkGVH0ChvWRa-FsT8xfoe7bpCACQc_BAoBRN91o7XbFUMaQcTgS6YdCeVTpS8HKxAxV_QR4U3qwbJFQ02Jenmqhfka3ov9PV8/s1600/IMG_3335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxsld53Fa0D-Z5rVyLoWC87xg8JS_VIMPTBQ6Q8wvh7RkGVH0ChvWRa-FsT8xfoe7bpCACQc_BAoBRN91o7XbFUMaQcTgS6YdCeVTpS8HKxAxV_QR4U3qwbJFQ02Jenmqhfka3ov9PV8/s1600/IMG_3335.JPG" height="640" width="576" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Someone even left us all Christmas presents at our dorm doors.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">So
we watched and felt a little sad because we were leaving. But unlike
when Hermione said "It feels strange to be going home, doesn't
it?", and then Harry said "I'm not going home...not really"
I actually would be going home. </span>
</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxcVfDay10_30q9BnofHN24NuDTyXQN8Kf6KQqVMDOVtA7i6E6cttgZzq0vvxI-zzMH8p5peh3_CnUIjswisoICa2giBIub5HkhtObEyOLuS4f4uOJuFRlWSfxhUxHGOFOWJehfh6V6w/s1600/IMG_3302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxcVfDay10_30q9BnofHN24NuDTyXQN8Kf6KQqVMDOVtA7i6E6cttgZzq0vvxI-zzMH8p5peh3_CnUIjswisoICa2giBIub5HkhtObEyOLuS4f4uOJuFRlWSfxhUxHGOFOWJehfh6V6w/s1600/IMG_3302.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">View of the river in the western part of Nara city.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><br />But
it's different when you're the only one going home.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">However leaving Nara wasn't the end of my journey in Japan! I still had Tokyo and Nagoya to visit. The next posting will be about my journeys in Japan after I left Nara.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCER3OKZ98O8nEtXOqzsFMcUWXyWqMLgsEVLZoa0ij8zqzuZLbmkeGnFKC3XtR_id8SKZybiqsTpR1_fJxTeFYrq9DlAlmla0SdAI_UnWvQSO04CQ6HHwDbZWxYYhiTKpamiBUbF27xA/s1600/bunkyoku2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCER3OKZ98O8nEtXOqzsFMcUWXyWqMLgsEVLZoa0ij8zqzuZLbmkeGnFKC3XtR_id8SKZybiqsTpR1_fJxTeFYrq9DlAlmla0SdAI_UnWvQSO04CQ6HHwDbZWxYYhiTKpamiBUbF27xA/s1600/bunkyoku2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arielle in Yanaka Ginza in Tokyo. Courtesy photo from Boglarka Kiss.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
</div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-3999740342994903952013-12-24T11:40:00.001-08:002013-12-24T11:40:07.793-08:00Oh the places you can go<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">To be honest, originally I had no idea
how busy I would become when it came to the month of my leaving.
Basically at the month mark I just got a landslide list of to-do's
from myself, friends, the Japanese government and the school (both
CMU and NUE).
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">With everything vying for my attentions
it was flattering but has also been kind of exhausting. I have
definitely had to prioritize on some things.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For example playing badminton with my
Hungarian friend in the dark outside our dorms was definitely a
priority, but then again so was going to city hall and trying to
understand that they had to adjust my insurance (in my favor), and
then on the walk back home I saw a cadaver under sheets that was
wheeled right in front of me on a side street that I took.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am absolutely proud of the amazing
people I have met here, locals and internationals alike, and the vast
variety of experiences I have had in Japan even up until this point;
and I'm not even done yet.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have one more day left in Nara and
I am absolutely continuing to make goals and live ichigo ichie style
(similar to yolo but it has a much longer history as a phrase in
Japanese).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After my day here is up, myself and
the lady Hungarian Horntail will be going to Tokyo, we may see some
other international students there or we may not, but we are
definitely going to have an adventure or two in Tokyo and then I fly out from Nagoya to Detroit. Then I fly from Detroit to Lansing.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today is Christmas and personally it hit harder than I thought it would. It seems Christmas is more of a cumulative feeling you get after being around family, getting excited about things and the new year, the good food and people, and the crazy music.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We luckily saw snow last week and it helped to raise our (people used to snow at Christmas time) spirits since many of the Europeans and Americans right now don't feel like it is Christmas.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I tried to watch Home Alone, but that helped a little and then it also made me want to be home even more. In Japan it is almost the opposite with Christmas and New Years. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">They tend to celebrate Christmas more as an after thought and as a couples holiday and it isn't that big of a deal, but oh just wait until New Years-that is a very big deal and families celebrate it together.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I will be home for New Years though so maybe I can have a belated Christmas with family and friends but for the others here they are going to have to enjoy our make-shift international Christmas.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then later on they can enjoy the Japanese style New Years which is really more like our Christmas as far as how Japanese people spend it with their families.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">.............................................................................</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So this may be my last post until I return home to Michigan, but I would like to post updates and photos and videos after when I have time so there will probably be more to come. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">`Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-1053154679373519232013-12-03T22:56:00.000-08:002013-12-03T23:34:38.111-08:00Another wave in the rollercoaster, an update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b>t is now less than a month until I leave Japan to return to America and I really have a lot of mixed feelings, like I knew I would. I knew I would miss people from home, but some of the things on the list shocked me.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEMWiao3XMRMoBPiCQ9VZi7GS2Lu8F5ROnc7pakpItkFS2-l7BsRrxQa6JDw-b_Qd33ieoF5VYXK2cp7ingLKGPTzRhxP-8CpXFBFDQI2DaDS6A22W3gj1BHf1qeCcaLAd_Iu6T2v8PQ/s1600/1466292_601267916600502_1750624459_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEMWiao3XMRMoBPiCQ9VZi7GS2Lu8F5ROnc7pakpItkFS2-l7BsRrxQa6JDw-b_Qd33ieoF5VYXK2cp7ingLKGPTzRhxP-8CpXFBFDQI2DaDS6A22W3gj1BHf1qeCcaLAd_Iu6T2v8PQ/s320/1466292_601267916600502_1750624459_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For example I didn`t think I would miss my bed so much, that one was a slap in the face the first week here- I didn`t see it coming.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps the refreshingly large bath tubs and hot spring culture here make up for my missing my bed. If not that, then possibly the abundance of </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">delicious, affordable, filling and healthy foods here.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanksgiving and Halloween weren`t what I thought they would be. Originally I believed that Japanese at least knew about Thanksgiving, but it`s not common knowledge which was fine just it was a surprise. And since I organized an International food party it was a nice way to celebrate since none of us had our families.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Halloween is not taken seriously here in my opinion, it isn`t celebrated except in some corners of large cities like Osaka and Tokyo and some people who like to dress up, but it isn`t on the same scale, as far as I have seen. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">What I didn`t forsee at all was the lack of pumpkins. For some reason I thought everyone had pumpkins. I still haven`t seen an actual pumpkin- and the little green gourds (Kabocha) don`t count.</span> </span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYnDdNQB4nQtof-DZ9alKkSauGIAhyphenhyphenEcU3itrrFpaacG0nG9bAK5gAQN0N814wfIlhyphenhyphenLcowhs6AP_UCOtBID0oINlrPLE1QRKuSwOlMkMzWfFSu_kOoJowVjY4_7frYB0Qu-YC1jUJQs/s1600/naramachi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYnDdNQB4nQtof-DZ9alKkSauGIAhyphenhyphenEcU3itrrFpaacG0nG9bAK5gAQN0N814wfIlhyphenhyphenLcowhs6AP_UCOtBID0oINlrPLE1QRKuSwOlMkMzWfFSu_kOoJowVjY4_7frYB0Qu-YC1jUJQs/s640/naramachi.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">More seriously though, I didn`t think I would get so attached to the people here. The other international students, the local shop owners who wish me a safe return home each and every day that I see them when I leave for school or when I return home and they welcome me home. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The lunch ladies here at the university that are so warm, friendly, and love to laugh. The cleaning lady who cleans the dorms or the dorm advisor...all of them so interesting, spunky and welcoming.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6M0jDRVz14sxbb4_vgtW4ZlCxU3oWMG44RgsrRYmnygVor89MvOMy3DxfTVi59njCCt30D8kjuSROVnX6cEyvqpUXc3fAXsqKh5FvciEPMo_z8A6zYnryjwF4maBfhZ79CcMuoXAss0/s1600/1471769_601262283267732_1778379451_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6M0jDRVz14sxbb4_vgtW4ZlCxU3oWMG44RgsrRYmnygVor89MvOMy3DxfTVi59njCCt30D8kjuSROVnX6cEyvqpUXc3fAXsqKh5FvciEPMo_z8A6zYnryjwF4maBfhZ79CcMuoXAss0/s640/1471769_601262283267732_1778379451_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I will miss the slurping of noodles in public places, the well-known Kansai people`s overt friendliness, and maybe even the heated seats of the toilets that make it feel like someone was just sitting on it. Maybe not that last one-yeah it still freaks me out a little each time. </span><br />
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</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXafZlfTI55oOTikOXlpSroz11J96uwUuDqu1_bfs5I8JpqPHc_uZFI1KGz_3eOMsq_nC2NwpGu2c-5Hu6DPChE7d_G5Mejit-P5MDu2AXCNjZckx2UqYpSAnqeeCiOYuKEQnfHlO7Zo/s1600/1465351_600800033313957_923212969_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXafZlfTI55oOTikOXlpSroz11J96uwUuDqu1_bfs5I8JpqPHc_uZFI1KGz_3eOMsq_nC2NwpGu2c-5Hu6DPChE7d_G5Mejit-P5MDu2AXCNjZckx2UqYpSAnqeeCiOYuKEQnfHlO7Zo/s640/1465351_600800033313957_923212969_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I`m going to miss the culture of older people who just keep going, and walking and moving. Getting out of their homes for a walk all the time. I`ll miss the lack of a large population of obese and inactive peoples and think it will be a visual shock when I return home.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphV90YU_kqTpYvEw_Yc3EBcbLY4oDTVCqqbAejg1sHcRjDACo5i9uzQdNgKCAForrLfYG75Xstvx-iqMrgPaZhk6tg3lau6kK4Hb-FEwGBc77jhV9byO6YXVMfyZaCaibVPS9BSISoCo/s1600/toushi+jima+fishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphV90YU_kqTpYvEw_Yc3EBcbLY4oDTVCqqbAejg1sHcRjDACo5i9uzQdNgKCAForrLfYG75Xstvx-iqMrgPaZhk6tg3lau6kK4Hb-FEwGBc77jhV9byO6YXVMfyZaCaibVPS9BSISoCo/s640/toushi+jima+fishing.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There are also many things that top my list of things I will not miss. One of those is the dominance of the `Kawaii` or ubiquitous cute culture here where everything from clothing to mushrooms in the grocery store are cartoonized into `cute` caricatures.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I won`t miss the hot and muggy impossible summer weather, but maybe I will miss the loud call of cicadas that accompanies it. I will not be missing the loud crows that wake me up each morning at 5, but maybe will miss the shrieks of the elk-like deer that are everywhere in our area here.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2LWE1dNQpfuEgC-872BX1fnqIH4Rmxpom2FvHdhRXCN3e4rNVxi-oomGDNOzERpe_5zyBNzSfrgysSMtKtYJWKxV96El27d87s27zKhdgl9rxxyVcNSAPmDbfuTktrKpCkdSh_fF_gc/s1600/deer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2LWE1dNQpfuEgC-872BX1fnqIH4Rmxpom2FvHdhRXCN3e4rNVxi-oomGDNOzERpe_5zyBNzSfrgysSMtKtYJWKxV96El27d87s27zKhdgl9rxxyVcNSAPmDbfuTktrKpCkdSh_fF_gc/s640/deer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span>side from the things I will and won`t miss I have of course exams I am preparing for, an independent Journalism class that has been helping me to get off my butt and get out to talk more with various Japanese people that has been keeping me busy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And now I also have to deal with the tedious things like going to city hall to declare that I am leaving the country soon, paperwork, and more paperwork.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That was one thing that was so nice when I started to finally feel settled I didn`t have to keep filling out forms and going to government buildings and visiting advisors to re-submit forms I could just go on adventures by myself or with others and didn`t have as many commitments. But now I am also realizing just how little time I have to do all the things I would like to accomplish.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It was nice after the first month and a half because I knew my way around Nara, had become familiar with the processes and procedures, could find a train or bus to easily go places, and I just had a nice sense of familiarity and not a huge sense or urgency.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWib_43vCyA7XXIyQ2is9P73u1oNSwA6bpEbSOxbXijgr-6jltDwISOQ3YvSVLSYAYSGapC8KsFmqn2VXE3H1W2wCYFVn7n-n2YSpbaOg5GC3ygm9s5crEPVtsMmz2S_eNfJEThW3SgE8/s1600/uneme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWib_43vCyA7XXIyQ2is9P73u1oNSwA6bpEbSOxbXijgr-6jltDwISOQ3YvSVLSYAYSGapC8KsFmqn2VXE3H1W2wCYFVn7n-n2YSpbaOg5GC3ygm9s5crEPVtsMmz2S_eNfJEThW3SgE8/s640/uneme.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At first I used art, books, movies and nature to cope and then as I got better, I also could adjust with the other international students and relied less and less on the art, books, movies and nature and more and more on group activities and gatherings.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Recently, I have finally gotten used to living in a dorm setting, with a bunch of women on one side of the street, and then if I walk across the street I can hang out easily with the guys at their South dorm, and the variety of personalities at both dorms to me is just so cool I know it will be hard to do without in the future.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I really love having midnight chats about politics, culture and our future goals. Fun and harmless gossip about the other international guys and women, and our triumphs and inadequacies in Japan. It has all helped to build strong social bonds that make living in a foreign place feel so much less foreign and much more like a place I feel at home with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfD8DhyE5ev1iqL38D0Hw73RQ8IJEFsdvnAinJNLnYWj0RbseYlgu9jYfo8HM3Dshln0FIRu2epYhrE3WlWR3FWbFzYzE6jJaZGaCQYMlTuWC6oSO1_97JVvzP2CnC5MOq53WzoKYyp4/s1600/room1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfD8DhyE5ev1iqL38D0Hw73RQ8IJEFsdvnAinJNLnYWj0RbseYlgu9jYfo8HM3Dshln0FIRu2epYhrE3WlWR3FWbFzYzE6jJaZGaCQYMlTuWC6oSO1_97JVvzP2CnC5MOq53WzoKYyp4/s640/room1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, just as I have become pretty well adjusted (I knew it was coming-really it`s ok), and my room is finally cozy, I have to get going and start preparing for my return home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnVC4v4D5aB16Np37m5vUZEteAG-UCGlO4ZPr1tkH88n2PpAOt-3xto8-7Bf6feG-F9nGaVBTNhgyYx9ZPhWlSmj0Plr0xcn2wqvMT0q3yMpj6iN14XQbhW-WDYd8mooU5tM5JeOxGvk/s1600/room2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnVC4v4D5aB16Np37m5vUZEteAG-UCGlO4ZPr1tkH88n2PpAOt-3xto8-7Bf6feG-F9nGaVBTNhgyYx9ZPhWlSmj0Plr0xcn2wqvMT0q3yMpj6iN14XQbhW-WDYd8mooU5tM5JeOxGvk/s640/room2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I`m ready, but part of me isn`t ready, just like when I came here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But I will fill out forms, pack, get things done ahead of time and last minute, and spend time with friends just like before only this time I know that the people I leave behind I probably will not see again except for maybe on Skype or Facebook. </span></div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-47261394070322268462013-11-25T00:51:00.002-08:002013-11-25T00:56:56.152-08:00Minpaku; National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka field trip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVGyRPFiQJuMYuYddu_uqYWcagDiJrClkK39lCvB4RjLlCZ5hqo3BP54smvIyXyb-BSYDVt43KRX6swAk-RlS5Hp470Ho7oWHy9zFSs7fDgD0aNasX06ah9_T17ag9zlQTDf0bEyLGp0/s1600/IMG_2531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVGyRPFiQJuMYuYddu_uqYWcagDiJrClkK39lCvB4RjLlCZ5hqo3BP54smvIyXyb-BSYDVt43KRX6swAk-RlS5Hp470Ho7oWHy9zFSs7fDgD0aNasX06ah9_T17ag9zlQTDf0bEyLGp0/s640/IMG_2531.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">riday I and two other CMU students went with a group of junior high school students to </span><a href="http://www.minpaku.ac.jp/english/" style="font-size: x-large;">Minpaku</a><span style="font-size: large;">, or National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka for a field trip. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VQUyzLOhLKBjFD7of3GQUkewU8GuCmZCbZ3AyDeD3cQHzVXegqST5ePOsV-lXTO7f7vLdlmLUfNmblISZeusrIZXa2wZDfEMiX3feQFYTPFLtaimXhTR_F6UjcQxTSH_Q8txblTNX7Y/s1600/IMG_2221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VQUyzLOhLKBjFD7of3GQUkewU8GuCmZCbZ3AyDeD3cQHzVXegqST5ePOsV-lXTO7f7vLdlmLUfNmblISZeusrIZXa2wZDfEMiX3feQFYTPFLtaimXhTR_F6UjcQxTSH_Q8txblTNX7Y/s640/IMG_2221.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large display in the Oceana section.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were on our own each on a different bus and told to speak English with the students, but personally it was hard to just communicate in English with them so I cheated and spoke a mixture a lot.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy3dMTGVnVKkl7Z8tZOmK-vT5iwe9FrSD7XAfkgaxdewYRWDgQPtAGWLGmDYcCsmj8ydQlc2WdSKaMnbDSnHXLo8fCpWVe1KsTuMPF3C2in71H1o1PoIwbnoY7W9ffW6ptdNO7krNOL8/s1600/IMG_2226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy3dMTGVnVKkl7Z8tZOmK-vT5iwe9FrSD7XAfkgaxdewYRWDgQPtAGWLGmDYcCsmj8ydQlc2WdSKaMnbDSnHXLo8fCpWVe1KsTuMPF3C2in71H1o1PoIwbnoY7W9ffW6ptdNO7krNOL8/s640/IMG_2226.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After the bus ride where I was asked all sorts of questions about my favorite music, and whether I had a boyfriend or not, we made it to the museum. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgVFM3wN7g78sZpAHJlGPEkGUT4pSQp42HQd4LrGuQD0Um7uS-pS-bE5CY6LAixB1LtMRkDNTdfTVzlJplfNrPYSun1IEaM5C4ijoVipFdW0Knwa5oCqS0AO0yCOpRyQm_aAKCtLef30/s1600/IMG_2231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgVFM3wN7g78sZpAHJlGPEkGUT4pSQp42HQd4LrGuQD0Um7uS-pS-bE5CY6LAixB1LtMRkDNTdfTVzlJplfNrPYSun1IEaM5C4ijoVipFdW0Knwa5oCqS0AO0yCOpRyQm_aAKCtLef30/s640/IMG_2231.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The grounds of Minpaku are gorgeous and show a great deal of detail, and was especially inviting for a museum.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVHieed0XwCwaoOqS-jUs0qGKvGlhfeXSQBS3mykzdVcMGyIC2r9D5XdnQM4pwMhCyGHOLVaz545nFFDykk7pIzTdi7KV-hxxp6IsekOq4MTXopZ3gB76tAYiQv3alVGAB00oV5v-WDw/s1600/IMG_2238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVHieed0XwCwaoOqS-jUs0qGKvGlhfeXSQBS3mykzdVcMGyIC2r9D5XdnQM4pwMhCyGHOLVaz545nFFDykk7pIzTdi7KV-hxxp6IsekOq4MTXopZ3gB76tAYiQv3alVGAB00oV5v-WDw/s640/IMG_2238.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replica of early Australian rock paintings.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I went around the museum looking at the various world areas such as Oceana, Southeast Asia, Europe... as shown in the websites <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xGNPQKQ3uyE">video</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcGgeH-XtNgvVvXG9I0lQEnNsYk5xpYHyHNc3xGPeI92W_XBba4RDRsaqSj8roofRLkgcOXEAQPOuB6VtoWZGwi98vqCqgZkmioBqQoScZI5eVFjYPE8MgtX1iRIKo9gRoDyp1hOE2yU/s1600/IMG_2266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcGgeH-XtNgvVvXG9I0lQEnNsYk5xpYHyHNc3xGPeI92W_XBba4RDRsaqSj8roofRLkgcOXEAQPOuB6VtoWZGwi98vqCqgZkmioBqQoScZI5eVFjYPE8MgtX1iRIKo9gRoDyp1hOE2yU/s640/IMG_2266.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Display of Native American foods.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After looking at and interacting with the many intricate, numerous, highly informative and interesting artifacts, displays and such we all had lunch in the park area together. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrAUYQHXJK6ijoAWUOYGFy-DcAxSerDdqeXolbafxEv-4Pecz18ANGmpza8r9MXE1NukVkLueEw-MjyiB_4FxVEba8R7YQAaENeWn1CzreU4cDkVWXDiBxJqCvtbdE29QxIGiq5BCYhs/s1600/IMG_2278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrAUYQHXJK6ijoAWUOYGFy-DcAxSerDdqeXolbafxEv-4Pecz18ANGmpza8r9MXE1NukVkLueEw-MjyiB_4FxVEba8R7YQAaENeWn1CzreU4cDkVWXDiBxJqCvtbdE29QxIGiq5BCYhs/s640/IMG_2278.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite displays. This one about Mexico's skull culture.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The park, just like the museum was huge. I just couldn't believe how large the museum was and how much it had packed inside.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD45t78RlAidkk5ufx1M6D_J7Fo8TAvpCktKAOLauePoxVanOogBXmwFEABexiTnzvxPOtH0nnIMykYGKSu2iFW6JY6DJHbJd2fUdIci6OBNbHr1S1rOF-Qivj4736QLiJ6f5UQ5nHCxI/s1600/IMG_2290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD45t78RlAidkk5ufx1M6D_J7Fo8TAvpCktKAOLauePoxVanOogBXmwFEABexiTnzvxPOtH0nnIMykYGKSu2iFW6JY6DJHbJd2fUdIci6OBNbHr1S1rOF-Qivj4736QLiJ6f5UQ5nHCxI/s640/IMG_2290.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I would love to go back again and just spend as much time as I like wandering around and I love that they allowed photography in nearly every location inside.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaR2NnQDpQw0kvisNs8UetX_DMobmR89T-FNuokh8pACT7TZqe45pAN6slkZh3nb-6iD9BmRmwBDJJhh-91fEjyLSYoce73igKHGVdUN2F4aLIKbEsF3lIq4WnadwF1dC_OHrzKfP2ATE/s1600/IMG_2300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaR2NnQDpQw0kvisNs8UetX_DMobmR89T-FNuokh8pACT7TZqe45pAN6slkZh3nb-6iD9BmRmwBDJJhh-91fEjyLSYoce73igKHGVdUN2F4aLIKbEsF3lIq4WnadwF1dC_OHrzKfP2ATE/s640/IMG_2300.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the European section.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP-a45ZN1I9Nos9z-4UJrESQqnvvUMtP-jxSKWMw4hFBvlSt0JoBdIbQsbWcUxSBhxYU78EpMpzqP-F2jbOnWivYn0v0KVr14NJVvY1RbjYyuX9Fx9etoYr0fTXuN0EPb3iin_7mWjkw/s1600/IMG_2339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjP-a45ZN1I9Nos9z-4UJrESQqnvvUMtP-jxSKWMw4hFBvlSt0JoBdIbQsbWcUxSBhxYU78EpMpzqP-F2jbOnWivYn0v0KVr14NJVvY1RbjYyuX9Fx9etoYr0fTXuN0EPb3iin_7mWjkw/s640/IMG_2339.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was from floor to the ceiling.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was amazing to be able to have access to some of Japan's Anthropological side.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrlgU6EgcdTtuKrgvNyHnguUlYxO4lMD02HPKnfixHPH8x_eRdukCslcB6VCITAIWMuIz1sBzybjmvWROK4A9cTBgMKGk6ECPJn6taeiVhVGHJ430DABEt6UktUKZ9JHua65AG9RCObg/s1600/IMG_2480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrlgU6EgcdTtuKrgvNyHnguUlYxO4lMD02HPKnfixHPH8x_eRdukCslcB6VCITAIWMuIz1sBzybjmvWROK4A9cTBgMKGk6ECPJn6taeiVhVGHJ430DABEt6UktUKZ9JHua65AG9RCObg/s640/IMG_2480.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> In their record collection.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCeqKbEZ_hHPthHdWINJ9Q1AiRcHMC9t3lGi8fWQzgK_11hKG_HALoMt9KJ9i0eML-thYixCiReIc7aKVR7fvqEE_4iohyBzVQFDrjw11NlVgSOTrDGh2zE3LrLJUc391T6SAkSgWgRA/s1600/IMG_2354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCeqKbEZ_hHPthHdWINJ9Q1AiRcHMC9t3lGi8fWQzgK_11hKG_HALoMt9KJ9i0eML-thYixCiReIc7aKVR7fvqEE_4iohyBzVQFDrjw11NlVgSOTrDGh2zE3LrLJUc391T6SAkSgWgRA/s640/IMG_2354.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Display of Guitars near the Woodstock section.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbySoXUfD2S09sM3LsOEmPxyT5y2Rc8bxCZKPpF_1OQV8S2GYWAJaIg_iwLVhTbGn6x1LlPDpAp6t2H27YRbPkVuMWTGe8xI5TVUr9qvyef6mn9mL2Dri5EnAQFujjIERuoPjAe7KkpQ/s1600/IMG_2369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbySoXUfD2S09sM3LsOEmPxyT5y2Rc8bxCZKPpF_1OQV8S2GYWAJaIg_iwLVhTbGn6x1LlPDpAp6t2H27YRbPkVuMWTGe8xI5TVUr9qvyef6mn9mL2Dri5EnAQFujjIERuoPjAe7KkpQ/s640/IMG_2369.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Woodstock area in the music area.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRuwgNOUDryq4HPqpKNDVndbDOX1TjJoR34XYdZAtxsxPWIxmvZ3YjyaNAmgnstXeFG4ap4ak4cjWSTxi5VMP2dVSSW7I4WNmi_nIRMOh1pDzLjLiPGUDxUtdaWoorenpAq5j5fOcNSQ/s1600/IMG_2326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRuwgNOUDryq4HPqpKNDVndbDOX1TjJoR34XYdZAtxsxPWIxmvZ3YjyaNAmgnstXeFG4ap4ak4cjWSTxi5VMP2dVSSW7I4WNmi_nIRMOh1pDzLjLiPGUDxUtdaWoorenpAq5j5fOcNSQ/s640/IMG_2326.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kAMgA5DCse3gVNi7paIIoNWELOBOB_m-3aQwD1dHIPupWHk_7k6NuUnmn2dgrMCbkqug4a2fR0jaVuGPe_OacJWS6TmhdkY5jZJ-p-nKqwZDl0Tg48lJ_WFs14X120-gwO_RACB8kAw/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kAMgA5DCse3gVNi7paIIoNWELOBOB_m-3aQwD1dHIPupWHk_7k6NuUnmn2dgrMCbkqug4a2fR0jaVuGPe_OacJWS6TmhdkY5jZJ-p-nKqwZDl0Tg48lJ_WFs14X120-gwO_RACB8kAw/s640/IMG_2398.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many masks on display.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLH8a7BtddDuFMhW73YPd7UDkEHjghEhdpTlfGq2NFXKRwvDas1IQC7-5JOPF10cQA4DEK6F_5W-FXK6l5QsypE1WFIU0Q1tLVSAiEKn8s4XbGapjFZNBzUULoNJPlrlOzb-0o1nhkalE/s1600/IMG_2443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLH8a7BtddDuFMhW73YPd7UDkEHjghEhdpTlfGq2NFXKRwvDas1IQC7-5JOPF10cQA4DEK6F_5W-FXK6l5QsypE1WFIU0Q1tLVSAiEKn8s4XbGapjFZNBzUULoNJPlrlOzb-0o1nhkalE/s640/IMG_2443.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the India Exhibit.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5BrnMDOhj4C3JPX3ClLrKtTN4QFcv9ccz1Z9yn3p3yOKIv8k1sEwvWNgrled2GcoiQbMq1-KdHu-jMy6GwVSenetmlueVwvf-NRHGSh6k_eyxGXnXp_Poh-aBKfpixmnZEghALU1cvU/s1600/IMG_2417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5BrnMDOhj4C3JPX3ClLrKtTN4QFcv9ccz1Z9yn3p3yOKIv8k1sEwvWNgrled2GcoiQbMq1-KdHu-jMy6GwVSenetmlueVwvf-NRHGSh6k_eyxGXnXp_Poh-aBKfpixmnZEghALU1cvU/s640/IMG_2417.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the India exhibit.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the park we played dodgeball, volleyball, soccer, jump-rope and frisbee while we walked around enjoying the beautiful fall weather and the changed colors on the trees.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEItaXTOYcu3RWX-a3_UEg39q011He6OPMNtZ-CHu4-N3Bh9weDUDEoZuxZ5eWaRP9VW3u5ExFJfcgxCjOmiQxHhQQH2OSj1o3oggHEvQnbQy0rEt7RfWY6TwuGf1BR7fbBwU-o7xvSyo/s1600/IMG_2500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEItaXTOYcu3RWX-a3_UEg39q011He6OPMNtZ-CHu4-N3Bh9weDUDEoZuxZ5eWaRP9VW3u5ExFJfcgxCjOmiQxHhQQH2OSj1o3oggHEvQnbQy0rEt7RfWY6TwuGf1BR7fbBwU-o7xvSyo/s640/IMG_2500.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the India exhibit area.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2X5Wis7agwTwQD7RYlTJht3aXdoXPKKE9_9JE8NaIFDNtpzdEEAp2eBmv5UmtWrO1XEavwV6s7bPvquWbyVw3sflkxkdIA5Uyv7CfsHkoFnLtsbRyyBv5s1A7HjvcH4qcEiVm9HSQqo/s1600/IMG_2412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO2X5Wis7agwTwQD7RYlTJht3aXdoXPKKE9_9JE8NaIFDNtpzdEEAp2eBmv5UmtWrO1XEavwV6s7bPvquWbyVw3sflkxkdIA5Uyv7CfsHkoFnLtsbRyyBv5s1A7HjvcH4qcEiVm9HSQqo/s640/IMG_2412.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PlhkpTl4FkMfvTY_Ic4Bx-4sOwZTbqQSFNBwj7_m8QkJhtqDWvJGsmNKPuyUIjeZVGSLa07S4hWc0nLKTK9S8_lPAffiSDp33pEVocq3j8vvNYClQ_z1SxqAyPHbu2UijTrNMu5d8GM/s1600/IMG_2460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PlhkpTl4FkMfvTY_Ic4Bx-4sOwZTbqQSFNBwj7_m8QkJhtqDWvJGsmNKPuyUIjeZVGSLa07S4hWc0nLKTK9S8_lPAffiSDp33pEVocq3j8vvNYClQ_z1SxqAyPHbu2UijTrNMu5d8GM/s640/IMG_2460.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the India Exhibit.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB-V3z7rcw9gPj0ywF82xDhujNJCjrizVRDbdnSIsx4gdqrE5wBgR2qAi3wWZJhq7cSEJzM0xub3DL7d6FVNvy05HT8INPH8mVo_VG6hYHqitpODCGqm-LAburXhRzgxfs2qjFPEw5lE/s1600/IMG_2511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtB-V3z7rcw9gPj0ywF82xDhujNJCjrizVRDbdnSIsx4gdqrE5wBgR2qAi3wWZJhq7cSEJzM0xub3DL7d6FVNvy05HT8INPH8mVo_VG6hYHqitpODCGqm-LAburXhRzgxfs2qjFPEw5lE/s400/IMG_2511.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In my group thethe volley ball was either lost in the river or in the top of a tree three times until a student climbed up the tree and got it out, and from the river area they had to wait for the ball to get on the other side to resume playing again.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2XOwZxRuGd9HnEWXJ70ranz5XxFHj9Ewb4ucP7_0HPxoEkZT8WaEUv_JnAcGSPgHh3PA0jzoPc1ldJZ2RtitTwmNZtl2tYsod4GeATEcjlgIQkm8gHR92KGQTtbJDUYMGcIyNY0tjVQ/s1600/IMG_2527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2XOwZxRuGd9HnEWXJ70ranz5XxFHj9Ewb4ucP7_0HPxoEkZT8WaEUv_JnAcGSPgHh3PA0jzoPc1ldJZ2RtitTwmNZtl2tYsod4GeATEcjlgIQkm8gHR92KGQTtbJDUYMGcIyNY0tjVQ/s640/IMG_2527.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXUJiZjw3rgXQJnZgxv9OK84hCzVUa4dMKNPs6dF4U5PSduVGriXTBNrM7_L2t5EjABJj086iXvQMqHfEvd-u32am5Q97bpSI3v2aru0iNa_qpLH6GIkzbhM3s4l_pJb9zVI1reKaZe4/s1600/IMG_2554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXUJiZjw3rgXQJnZgxv9OK84hCzVUa4dMKNPs6dF4U5PSduVGriXTBNrM7_L2t5EjABJj086iXvQMqHfEvd-u32am5Q97bpSI3v2aru0iNa_qpLH6GIkzbhM3s4l_pJb9zVI1reKaZe4/s640/IMG_2554.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But it was great fun and I was happy to get out and have fun doing something so free. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMchuT-RSeChtYiysPPJONS-6x_eXpK4c2NR9q9HqjRyu3Pa2Vo4KOC_HUFJqIUen6-Fc4112BjVgEHXALHoUr9WWfZ638H_ZkAdmSxEbxRj9HZBKa243VXp-8EB_Fuks-ypj2BWIpZms/s1600/IMG_2535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMchuT-RSeChtYiysPPJONS-6x_eXpK4c2NR9q9HqjRyu3Pa2Vo4KOC_HUFJqIUen6-Fc4112BjVgEHXALHoUr9WWfZ638H_ZkAdmSxEbxRj9HZBKa243VXp-8EB_Fuks-ypj2BWIpZms/s640/IMG_2535.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFJBumRUonpO1WpuTzvQdN6IbKGHfkXjEb0HBsnAK0-MgaGunKD6nPvfJ2j-pok4CFegFqVd0bTy0q0Q3PijAYn5qEkmmz4LVfbotD912_ale0YkZCqDHBt-uyHNoj89QJLO_7FQdgrE/s1600/IMG_2544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFJBumRUonpO1WpuTzvQdN6IbKGHfkXjEb0HBsnAK0-MgaGunKD6nPvfJ2j-pok4CFegFqVd0bTy0q0Q3PijAYn5qEkmmz4LVfbotD912_ale0YkZCqDHBt-uyHNoj89QJLO_7FQdgrE/s320/IMG_2544.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students finishing their field trip notes in the park.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was also happy to see they had much more freedom on their school trip than the international students at my University had on our field trip in some ways (it was still fun but I wanted that freedom that the junior high school students had).<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUM-hlgt4ZgNQjKqyJBtxzDdBQfz14fkzVB4TAWrprQ4ZFMdXAdx0W-bZyCLQLMH2p7JIr7XYEiNHoGLh47gCmsale8oVhhLKqgiqr_2qDGo_jCxjxHM44BvLFg2vcYtqv__hbLPmgwI/s1600/IMG_2539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUM-hlgt4ZgNQjKqyJBtxzDdBQfz14fkzVB4TAWrprQ4ZFMdXAdx0W-bZyCLQLMH2p7JIr7XYEiNHoGLh47gCmsale8oVhhLKqgiqr_2qDGo_jCxjxHM44BvLFg2vcYtqv__hbLPmgwI/s640/IMG_2539.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the river area in the park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0RsEC_cDLsnc8h0H2BiWiVBHULUwaMXS_rlxP6djzJZdX2XShZ-2akifu41KyxTmux0WYpFoBvsG1WV_E3yawca1tdHRQ8CO4GS2dAvTQ51LFPk8fdXeuBaGBuU81BsLaQXe-RbIH4M/s1600/IMG_2610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0RsEC_cDLsnc8h0H2BiWiVBHULUwaMXS_rlxP6djzJZdX2XShZ-2akifu41KyxTmux0WYpFoBvsG1WV_E3yawca1tdHRQ8CO4GS2dAvTQ51LFPk8fdXeuBaGBuU81BsLaQXe-RbIH4M/s640/IMG_2610.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the top.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After we were done playing in the park we left to walk through the woods and then to a wooden tower structure where you could see for a long ways.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8cBtmGvTklLpl73uRZiUHydb7jkmRw8-7BA4zYva3Clh1mTxAukum9PEgt3d7M7fmejMgyb4npujuJDf5fEgOpfd7P9Kzt8X42B9oW2dGyoVXDzEbHsFWT4WBE2h-mTWSdMnwo3umTE/s1600/IMG_2543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8cBtmGvTklLpl73uRZiUHydb7jkmRw8-7BA4zYva3Clh1mTxAukum9PEgt3d7M7fmejMgyb4npujuJDf5fEgOpfd7P9Kzt8X42B9oW2dGyoVXDzEbHsFWT4WBE2h-mTWSdMnwo3umTE/s640/IMG_2543.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHCMz2N4D2-HdQwYm_GPGjUeiG7TzN_9i7BZTy-v8M9h2v4vkSAldxvS3G1_qApmE8t132wCkUf4ou9z3Yv_H-K65AYHOnKuX8wiltKELx32phh1Ap3sdY8a1YJp6J7NwQ4f16vOcTww/s1600/IMG_2575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHCMz2N4D2-HdQwYm_GPGjUeiG7TzN_9i7BZTy-v8M9h2v4vkSAldxvS3G1_qApmE8t132wCkUf4ou9z3Yv_H-K65AYHOnKuX8wiltKELx32phh1Ap3sdY8a1YJp6J7NwQ4f16vOcTww/s640/IMG_2575.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one was NOT the large tower, this one is a baby in comparison.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz91_tMvlJR1fgSV4ADtohfsA9i2IBDNnp0j938jjQJXVnjH7Tc69iruDJiWpmxBZM9DNETlTqnikAW8uCtjMi2S5tBwckQfQmsvp4K0Eec_OB_wIJCXq8wgGBxi0gvklO5rxvjNrVlm4/s1600/IMG_2594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz91_tMvlJR1fgSV4ADtohfsA9i2IBDNnp0j938jjQJXVnjH7Tc69iruDJiWpmxBZM9DNETlTqnikAW8uCtjMi2S5tBwckQfQmsvp4K0Eec_OB_wIJCXq8wgGBxi0gvklO5rxvjNrVlm4/s640/IMG_2594.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one was the big one.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvshgcjUJzTbydW772TmkxiD-j6bMVELj0pcEkU11wm_94ATPcZOAXGhrkYMaXpYf-N5W4k4R1l__rFOs5Obz-b07n0NZNykOsu5B308R469N0zMFMTnsL_0Ixl2brqwN35bpknyUV98A/s1600/IMG_2570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvshgcjUJzTbydW772TmkxiD-j6bMVELj0pcEkU11wm_94ATPcZOAXGhrkYMaXpYf-N5W4k4R1l__rFOs5Obz-b07n0NZNykOsu5B308R469N0zMFMTnsL_0Ixl2brqwN35bpknyUV98A/s640/IMG_2570.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidH9NhF7a3TSPQ5UGX64P_FtFx-7945dqnai5m2xGehP8QB6eNsc3nGY1Gmjm2GdEU-hskjU5HabIKmI79tQiHK5BnpiTswXj-Uw2ixoQmF_WOA5YeqawjSUD4ztXMR3SRLIM17fgP-2I/s1600/IMG_2572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidH9NhF7a3TSPQ5UGX64P_FtFx-7945dqnai5m2xGehP8QB6eNsc3nGY1Gmjm2GdEU-hskjU5HabIKmI79tQiHK5BnpiTswXj-Uw2ixoQmF_WOA5YeqawjSUD4ztXMR3SRLIM17fgP-2I/s640/IMG_2572.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpVRrjDn2Zji4cGxJ6N1A2pTz2O7UqkUSG87QF4qxXS1ZHzhpSDhpOEVurp56zzSPqT3pHTVDYLAizXwT-aDhxp-d6Tw-TAmkBwtIjuAlbvpPclke97Z8t_V66KXtRkYQHFeeebvooaA/s1600/IMG_2581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpVRrjDn2Zji4cGxJ6N1A2pTz2O7UqkUSG87QF4qxXS1ZHzhpSDhpOEVurp56zzSPqT3pHTVDYLAizXwT-aDhxp-d6Tw-TAmkBwtIjuAlbvpPclke97Z8t_V66KXtRkYQHFeeebvooaA/s640/IMG_2581.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of the gorgeous fall colors in Osaka.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">After everyone had had a chance to climb up and get a view we returned to the bus area thanked the students and teachers for having us and then chose a bus to ride back with the students.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9bXjhzwPoaAHl5allxjkyZ8uJetTRsW9jk8My3dVbbfEFefC7syD7ZKwCq3NugiXN-Z_vscfKMNpNs4V4tYuSHHkMSy7XTr5BYJxHhDIs7TA4NbxFxgnsjUomRlHXB15RVsf97brRiA/s1600/IMG_2622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9bXjhzwPoaAHl5allxjkyZ8uJetTRsW9jk8My3dVbbfEFefC7syD7ZKwCq3NugiXN-Z_vscfKMNpNs4V4tYuSHHkMSy7XTr5BYJxHhDIs7TA4NbxFxgnsjUomRlHXB15RVsf97brRiA/s640/IMG_2622.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the walk back to the bus area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-37811983474853603552013-11-19T00:46:00.002-08:002013-11-25T01:05:41.673-08:00Kyoto, Fall colors, and Finding Starbucks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Eikan-dō
Zenrin-ji</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcF_qaee1ie92Phzm8SAGtT0bPZRmzpq4_jJ2BLQa7D_Vd7JpUzD3FwagCR79p-s2wTh5OK-4FBjg_SE1KaO69V5TNFKa3we_njdSU-Pj4sB9IWn3G05BOpy_sSFfvUL6dHIxgOea37Q/s1600/IMG_1959.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="300" name="graphics1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcF_qaee1ie92Phzm8SAGtT0bPZRmzpq4_jJ2BLQa7D_Vd7JpUzD3FwagCR79p-s2wTh5OK-4FBjg_SE1KaO69V5TNFKa3we_njdSU-Pj4sB9IWn3G05BOpy_sSFfvUL6dHIxgOea37Q/s400/IMG_1959.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcF_qaee1ie92Phzm8SAGtT0bPZRmzpq4_jJ2BLQa7D_Vd7JpUzD3FwagCR79p-s2wTh5OK-4FBjg_SE1KaO69V5TNFKa3we_njdSU-Pj4sB9IWn3G05BOpy_sSFfvUL6dHIxgOea37Q/s1600/IMG_1959.JPG"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">I
recently took a trip to Kyoto looking for beautiful Autumn colors and
found them. </span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"><br />A
group of Japanese students and international students decided to go
to Kyoto, and I joined them.</span></span></span></div>
</span></a><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcF_qaee1ie92Phzm8SAGtT0bPZRmzpq4_jJ2BLQa7D_Vd7JpUzD3FwagCR79p-s2wTh5OK-4FBjg_SE1KaO69V5TNFKa3we_njdSU-Pj4sB9IWn3G05BOpy_sSFfvUL6dHIxgOea37Q/s1600/IMG_1959.JPG">
<span style="color: black;"></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGdL6RHhUpWOL86dLHa0wMI60FhmTGHBOS4vGMM3KQAnnZqeSL5RyURQaF74hlrgn_C7GywJNSJIWoDAvqVNy7GmrfoRjdPrOyAgUS_LLEB19CTTHByEgfSnFxcnJ8CACnsBhTI0gy44/s1600/IMG_1900.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="320" name="graphics2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGdL6RHhUpWOL86dLHa0wMI60FhmTGHBOS4vGMM3KQAnnZqeSL5RyURQaF74hlrgn_C7GywJNSJIWoDAvqVNy7GmrfoRjdPrOyAgUS_LLEB19CTTHByEgfSnFxcnJ8CACnsBhTI0gy44/s320/IMG_1900.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGdL6RHhUpWOL86dLHa0wMI60FhmTGHBOS4vGMM3KQAnnZqeSL5RyURQaF74hlrgn_C7GywJNSJIWoDAvqVNy7GmrfoRjdPrOyAgUS_LLEB19CTTHByEgfSnFxcnJ8CACnsBhTI0gy44/s1600/IMG_1900.JPG"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"><br />The
interesting architecture and inclusion of gardens, koi ponds, bridges
and stairs in the shape of a dragon were really calming. </span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"><br />It
was a perfect way to embrace the season. Now it has gotten colder and
winter is coming- perfect weather to curl up with a book and a hot
cup of tea or talk with friends.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
</span></a><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGdL6RHhUpWOL86dLHa0wMI60FhmTGHBOS4vGMM3KQAnnZqeSL5RyURQaF74hlrgn_C7GywJNSJIWoDAvqVNy7GmrfoRjdPrOyAgUS_LLEB19CTTHByEgfSnFxcnJ8CACnsBhTI0gy44/s1600/IMG_1900.JPG">
<span style="color: black;"></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9vbOax5R_SAcx1XxKWNKau2hD9PsTFM8oonFBHXD0qM4LqsCS_laGMM2pqm4ETtNQp5clA1ZbyP0fif54Hd2nEi7w_WtoujUT_DligZKbB1CEvNJougAx9xdL4fmi98Sy0saz302xdI/s1600/IMG_1918.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9vbOax5R_SAcx1XxKWNKau2hD9PsTFM8oonFBHXD0qM4LqsCS_laGMM2pqm4ETtNQp5clA1ZbyP0fif54Hd2nEi7w_WtoujUT_DligZKbB1CEvNJougAx9xdL4fmi98Sy0saz302xdI/s640/IMG_1918.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9vbOax5R_SAcx1XxKWNKau2hD9PsTFM8oonFBHXD0qM4LqsCS_laGMM2pqm4ETtNQp5clA1ZbyP0fif54Hd2nEi7w_WtoujUT_DligZKbB1CEvNJougAx9xdL4fmi98Sy0saz302xdI/s1600/IMG_1918.JPG"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">It's
getting closer to the time for me to return home to America and I am
getting a little nostalgic since I've met so many cool cats
here. I really do like the Kansai people and many of the
internationals here, and know I will miss them.</span></span></span></div>
</span></a><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9vbOax5R_SAcx1XxKWNKau2hD9PsTFM8oonFBHXD0qM4LqsCS_laGMM2pqm4ETtNQp5clA1ZbyP0fif54Hd2nEi7w_WtoujUT_DligZKbB1CEvNJougAx9xdL4fmi98Sy0saz302xdI/s1600/IMG_1918.JPG">
<span style="color: black;"></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYBazmHCGOCMI6dA1JPcBs6uw7WPl1goiVgI0LFcr9oETMwNNUGQJ4GNg6a6-AYMJuoKUmEa-G1B68vPUW5DYhwKiHemlpCD8A1uxJW07w7uxUwSrWIG8Ayl8fmKHyca11YOxoNwSK6c/s1600/IMG_1940.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYBazmHCGOCMI6dA1JPcBs6uw7WPl1goiVgI0LFcr9oETMwNNUGQJ4GNg6a6-AYMJuoKUmEa-G1B68vPUW5DYhwKiHemlpCD8A1uxJW07w7uxUwSrWIG8Ayl8fmKHyca11YOxoNwSK6c/s640/IMG_1940.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYBazmHCGOCMI6dA1JPcBs6uw7WPl1goiVgI0LFcr9oETMwNNUGQJ4GNg6a6-AYMJuoKUmEa-G1B68vPUW5DYhwKiHemlpCD8A1uxJW07w7uxUwSrWIG8Ayl8fmKHyca11YOxoNwSK6c/s1600/IMG_1940.JPG"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"><br />I
will be happy to be home, see my boyfriend and family, and quite
frankly there are things I like and dislike about both countries, so
I feel like I am having to say goodbye to more than just the people.</span></span></span></div>
</span></a><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYBazmHCGOCMI6dA1JPcBs6uw7WPl1goiVgI0LFcr9oETMwNNUGQJ4GNg6a6-AYMJuoKUmEa-G1B68vPUW5DYhwKiHemlpCD8A1uxJW07w7uxUwSrWIG8Ayl8fmKHyca11YOxoNwSK6c/s1600/IMG_1940.JPG">
<span style="color: black;"></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rNQHMML8hKe59m-LLAKyizzERoXxnjecCW7WhC41Mnw55oRp38qsYvGKynvSyLeKsJ2fdKSdm6jWHAz7M9U1HqwbGwIypY9bnWbC90AHRH9dwaUk0INHXWBXslUotKTZHLIVgfNxZ8A/s1600/IMG_1954.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rNQHMML8hKe59m-LLAKyizzERoXxnjecCW7WhC41Mnw55oRp38qsYvGKynvSyLeKsJ2fdKSdm6jWHAz7M9U1HqwbGwIypY9bnWbC90AHRH9dwaUk0INHXWBXslUotKTZHLIVgfNxZ8A/s640/IMG_1954.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rNQHMML8hKe59m-LLAKyizzERoXxnjecCW7WhC41Mnw55oRp38qsYvGKynvSyLeKsJ2fdKSdm6jWHAz7M9U1HqwbGwIypY9bnWbC90AHRH9dwaUk0INHXWBXslUotKTZHLIVgfNxZ8A/s1600/IMG_1954.JPG"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"><br />For
example I love Japan's food culture, but find the 'cute' culture
(emphasis and constant use of 'cute' things) to be irritating
and ubiquitous and do not feel like I will miss it.</span></span></span></div>
</span></a><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rNQHMML8hKe59m-LLAKyizzERoXxnjecCW7WhC41Mnw55oRp38qsYvGKynvSyLeKsJ2fdKSdm6jWHAz7M9U1HqwbGwIypY9bnWbC90AHRH9dwaUk0INHXWBXslUotKTZHLIVgfNxZ8A/s1600/IMG_1954.JPG">
<span style="color: black;"></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4ZFdkVBoxolbNvgjBJdz8PHzgRfgzyoiqKauksIsjgW2OYmLrwZCf6nLGyEp7-EENUCIxuUzSHrBTq3vafui4_5gI2kZGreixyNcyFypufzCnwJrsXYLz7i5MalPIOY-_1QrD-2RhZw/s1600/IMG_2041.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics6" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4ZFdkVBoxolbNvgjBJdz8PHzgRfgzyoiqKauksIsjgW2OYmLrwZCf6nLGyEp7-EENUCIxuUzSHrBTq3vafui4_5gI2kZGreixyNcyFypufzCnwJrsXYLz7i5MalPIOY-_1QrD-2RhZw/s640/IMG_2041.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4ZFdkVBoxolbNvgjBJdz8PHzgRfgzyoiqKauksIsjgW2OYmLrwZCf6nLGyEp7-EENUCIxuUzSHrBTq3vafui4_5gI2kZGreixyNcyFypufzCnwJrsXYLz7i5MalPIOY-_1QrD-2RhZw/s1600/IMG_2041.JPG"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"><br />American's
are known here and among the internationals as basically doing what
we want regardless of the rules and I think that is partially true
with us especially compared to Japanese who have a lot of legal and
social rules and structure compared to America, which is a vague
statement but emphasizes my current feelings.</span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="background: #ffffff;"><br />I
really do love the mountains and scenery and emphasis on nature that
is prevalent in Japanese culture especially in the Nara and Shiga
area.</span></span></span></div>
</span></a><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4ZFdkVBoxolbNvgjBJdz8PHzgRfgzyoiqKauksIsjgW2OYmLrwZCf6nLGyEp7-EENUCIxuUzSHrBTq3vafui4_5gI2kZGreixyNcyFypufzCnwJrsXYLz7i5MalPIOY-_1QrD-2RhZw/s1600/IMG_2041.JPG">
<span style="color: black;"></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRuwKdlXyuLMalJciDNLLZmeSERSqN0JOA4jrp-2ATvjV9rtLLnpGaqePNh4DCgpuy3L99mY_xArBvuPfii9LXJ84h8UAVjWn6jcNlKmeC2svVGLNFeXWXR7h3npkKsvQtWD_02ZjKT0/s1600/IMG_2008.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics7" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRuwKdlXyuLMalJciDNLLZmeSERSqN0JOA4jrp-2ATvjV9rtLLnpGaqePNh4DCgpuy3L99mY_xArBvuPfii9LXJ84h8UAVjWn6jcNlKmeC2svVGLNFeXWXR7h3npkKsvQtWD_02ZjKT0/s640/IMG_2008.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRuwKdlXyuLMalJciDNLLZmeSERSqN0JOA4jrp-2ATvjV9rtLLnpGaqePNh4DCgpuy3L99mY_xArBvuPfii9LXJ84h8UAVjWn6jcNlKmeC2svVGLNFeXWXR7h3npkKsvQtWD_02ZjKT0/s1600/IMG_2008.JPG"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;"><span style="background: #ffffff;">Finding
Starbucks</span></span></span></div>
</span></a><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRuwKdlXyuLMalJciDNLLZmeSERSqN0JOA4jrp-2ATvjV9rtLLnpGaqePNh4DCgpuy3L99mY_xArBvuPfii9LXJ84h8UAVjWn6jcNlKmeC2svVGLNFeXWXR7h3npkKsvQtWD_02ZjKT0/s1600/IMG_2008.JPG">
<span style="color: black;"></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvGpW627GYYS3EiMK4M8UBIbC3w2_NGjs_zeJpxgKbrzqa9Dl9RMHdx-5-WxifmedcsiOMvGeVZhP1CEZui8VrghoazaYpKftBCKSfTxU3yJjd0ThD-py2yt37Ejsa9Uj13QVZH2mxTM/s1600/IMG_2119.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics8" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvGpW627GYYS3EiMK4M8UBIbC3w2_NGjs_zeJpxgKbrzqa9Dl9RMHdx-5-WxifmedcsiOMvGeVZhP1CEZui8VrghoazaYpKftBCKSfTxU3yJjd0ThD-py2yt37Ejsa9Uj13QVZH2mxTM/s640/IMG_2119.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvGpW627GYYS3EiMK4M8UBIbC3w2_NGjs_zeJpxgKbrzqa9Dl9RMHdx-5-WxifmedcsiOMvGeVZhP1CEZui8VrghoazaYpKftBCKSfTxU3yJjd0ThD-py2yt37Ejsa9Uj13QVZH2mxTM/s1600/IMG_2119.JPG"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;">The
last time I went to a Starbucks in Japan was 2 years ago, and it took
forever walking around in the pouring rain.</span></span></div>
</span></a><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvGpW627GYYS3EiMK4M8UBIbC3w2_NGjs_zeJpxgKbrzqa9Dl9RMHdx-5-WxifmedcsiOMvGeVZhP1CEZui8VrghoazaYpKftBCKSfTxU3yJjd0ThD-py2yt37Ejsa9Uj13QVZH2mxTM/s1600/IMG_2119.JPG">
<span style="color: black;"></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4L-v9CKZWM0uWsVcxnf-xE3FijLhnSZwRksgnIoao4Hgbv-usmKkKQiZqlK4lOwY11KlzfbLMq7JDW_d0uscFh_wBBln4Ak_sF24ZpVydw7eNRCrRSljxk9nuCjvTPQJ8JZiA1zD0UN0/s1600/IMG_2121.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics9" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4L-v9CKZWM0uWsVcxnf-xE3FijLhnSZwRksgnIoao4Hgbv-usmKkKQiZqlK4lOwY11KlzfbLMq7JDW_d0uscFh_wBBln4Ak_sF24ZpVydw7eNRCrRSljxk9nuCjvTPQJ8JZiA1zD0UN0/s640/IMG_2121.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4L-v9CKZWM0uWsVcxnf-xE3FijLhnSZwRksgnIoao4Hgbv-usmKkKQiZqlK4lOwY11KlzfbLMq7JDW_d0uscFh_wBBln4Ak_sF24ZpVydw7eNRCrRSljxk9nuCjvTPQJ8JZiA1zD0UN0/s1600/IMG_2121.JPG"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;">This
past week there was a Starbucks grand opening so I asked some
internationals if they wanted to go. Little did we know it was going
to be a long night searching for the place. </span></span></div>
</span></a><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4L-v9CKZWM0uWsVcxnf-xE3FijLhnSZwRksgnIoao4Hgbv-usmKkKQiZqlK4lOwY11KlzfbLMq7JDW_d0uscFh_wBBln4Ak_sF24ZpVydw7eNRCrRSljxk9nuCjvTPQJ8JZiA1zD0UN0/s1600/IMG_2121.JPG">
<span style="color: black;"></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtb4fFPgtWwO4a8I0f0JytsNIBHTCL6_6ZgYF1GLUFVOLals0NuX0l047V9ECGIYgy0E2Uwc1kJTVEI4in1wAnDS0hcejJFICkdi-gJB6LBaWFaEFgtMbsOOfWodbw1ATs88eSct-db4/s1600/IMG_2126.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="640" name="graphics10" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtb4fFPgtWwO4a8I0f0JytsNIBHTCL6_6ZgYF1GLUFVOLals0NuX0l047V9ECGIYgy0E2Uwc1kJTVEI4in1wAnDS0hcejJFICkdi-gJB6LBaWFaEFgtMbsOOfWodbw1ATs88eSct-db4/s640/IMG_2126.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtb4fFPgtWwO4a8I0f0JytsNIBHTCL6_6ZgYF1GLUFVOLals0NuX0l047V9ECGIYgy0E2Uwc1kJTVEI4in1wAnDS0hcejJFICkdi-gJB6LBaWFaEFgtMbsOOfWodbw1ATs88eSct-db4/s1600/IMG_2126.JPG"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;">We
even saw a tower that looked like a mini Tokyo Tower, and finally
found the mall after about an hour of looking and walking through the
city and then the country side area.</span></span></div>
</span></a><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtb4fFPgtWwO4a8I0f0JytsNIBHTCL6_6ZgYF1GLUFVOLals0NuX0l047V9ECGIYgy0E2Uwc1kJTVEI4in1wAnDS0hcejJFICkdi-gJB6LBaWFaEFgtMbsOOfWodbw1ATs88eSct-db4/s1600/IMG_2126.JPG">
<span style="color: black;"></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3-DkgxeVjQnLcgfZpi11Rd3bRRPh9i8HLuuffesdPYr3sAsvF2rSHU1AbQEoQ4umQ1Wyk8vz2ZmIr_Aqrx6Y74ts-dGIOCVODZLBdhdxXiv55EanCZ_jTIQtNuP6q8jR9gwiw8j8r9M/s1600/IMG_2128.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics11" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3-DkgxeVjQnLcgfZpi11Rd3bRRPh9i8HLuuffesdPYr3sAsvF2rSHU1AbQEoQ4umQ1Wyk8vz2ZmIr_Aqrx6Y74ts-dGIOCVODZLBdhdxXiv55EanCZ_jTIQtNuP6q8jR9gwiw8j8r9M/s640/IMG_2128.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3-DkgxeVjQnLcgfZpi11Rd3bRRPh9i8HLuuffesdPYr3sAsvF2rSHU1AbQEoQ4umQ1Wyk8vz2ZmIr_Aqrx6Y74ts-dGIOCVODZLBdhdxXiv55EanCZ_jTIQtNuP6q8jR9gwiw8j8r9M/s1600/IMG_2128.JPG"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;">After
we found the mall, we discovered just how enormous it was, 3 floors
and packed with stores.</span></span></div>
</span></a><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3-DkgxeVjQnLcgfZpi11Rd3bRRPh9i8HLuuffesdPYr3sAsvF2rSHU1AbQEoQ4umQ1Wyk8vz2ZmIr_Aqrx6Y74ts-dGIOCVODZLBdhdxXiv55EanCZ_jTIQtNuP6q8jR9gwiw8j8r9M/s1600/IMG_2128.JPG">
<span style="color: black;"></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdilWii9wNwOSSiQdXyYG1hDEvq5vECToHSCIE98amI69qbFaBMTEzCBnzKAHrVTVUtqcq94Zj7rQ23eqPsIvCEsjgaORnYFoxKkX7bPx6vy7PLVpVKnS_fOJMUCTlLfbA-4yFyK4fBQ/s1600/IMG_2125.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="640" name="graphics12" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdilWii9wNwOSSiQdXyYG1hDEvq5vECToHSCIE98amI69qbFaBMTEzCBnzKAHrVTVUtqcq94Zj7rQ23eqPsIvCEsjgaORnYFoxKkX7bPx6vy7PLVpVKnS_fOJMUCTlLfbA-4yFyK4fBQ/s640/IMG_2125.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdilWii9wNwOSSiQdXyYG1hDEvq5vECToHSCIE98amI69qbFaBMTEzCBnzKAHrVTVUtqcq94Zj7rQ23eqPsIvCEsjgaORnYFoxKkX7bPx6vy7PLVpVKnS_fOJMUCTlLfbA-4yFyK4fBQ/s1600/IMG_2125.JPG"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;">Then
we found Starbucks which was really neat, but the selection of food
was really small and expensive, so we ate at a Viking or all you can
eat buffet that had various types of foods. </span></span></div>
<center>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 642px;">
<colgroup><col width="642"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="642">
<div align="CENTER">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3R0Bk7DNjAw3EgNSx9Gfjoj8dVbnvOhL2qbe5L85CQlnQoU-qGED5vDhnbNN3hjs_yQuEkLBws9DvzWC5o1gD_2gdrayhPEITAULKMJhGiJqpTZbSFGVEZaduePjrywLgQerpktzqho/s1600/IMG_2134.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="480" name="graphics13" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3R0Bk7DNjAw3EgNSx9Gfjoj8dVbnvOhL2qbe5L85CQlnQoU-qGED5vDhnbNN3hjs_yQuEkLBws9DvzWC5o1gD_2gdrayhPEITAULKMJhGiJqpTZbSFGVEZaduePjrywLgQerpktzqho/s640/IMG_2134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3R0Bk7DNjAw3EgNSx9Gfjoj8dVbnvOhL2qbe5L85CQlnQoU-qGED5vDhnbNN3hjs_yQuEkLBws9DvzWC5o1gD_2gdrayhPEITAULKMJhGiJqpTZbSFGVEZaduePjrywLgQerpktzqho/s1600/IMG_2134.JPG">
</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;" width="642">
<div align="CENTER">
<span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;">Yamato
Koriyama area is well known for goldfish that were raised by
Samurai as a part time job.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</center>
<div style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;">We
looked around the mall a little and then took a bus to the train
station. Then we took a short train ride home and then walked from
the station to do all night Karaoke.</span></span></div>
</span></a><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdilWii9wNwOSSiQdXyYG1hDEvq5vECToHSCIE98amI69qbFaBMTEzCBnzKAHrVTVUtqcq94Zj7rQ23eqPsIvCEsjgaORnYFoxKkX7bPx6vy7PLVpVKnS_fOJMUCTlLfbA-4yFyK4fBQ/s1600/IMG_2125.JPG">
<span style="color: black;"></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_MTw0vuA_dYa4muJwMZETzf8pvXUrSklpJ_p7tsZVCD1eilvwXMp86EVM6ND5pdxQN5sB1blNGh_TjZxFgxKbVEFIUzeeH3zkq7hTup8kBKnf3v5haO6tsUpJere7sEffKCgMNkbvuw/s1600/IMG_2130.JPG"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="320" name="graphics14" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_MTw0vuA_dYa4muJwMZETzf8pvXUrSklpJ_p7tsZVCD1eilvwXMp86EVM6ND5pdxQN5sB1blNGh_TjZxFgxKbVEFIUzeeH3zkq7hTup8kBKnf3v5haO6tsUpJere7sEffKCgMNkbvuw/s320/IMG_2130.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_MTw0vuA_dYa4muJwMZETzf8pvXUrSklpJ_p7tsZVCD1eilvwXMp86EVM6ND5pdxQN5sB1blNGh_TjZxFgxKbVEFIUzeeH3zkq7hTup8kBKnf3v5haO6tsUpJere7sEffKCgMNkbvuw/s1600/IMG_2130.JPG"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.34in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Liberation Serif, serif; font-size: large;">It
was nice but I didn't even realize it was 5am when we were walking
home- I thought it was maybe 11 at night or midnight, but was
surprised when an old lady said goodmorning.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
</a><br />
</div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-36729001203741975782013-11-12T00:34:00.000-08:002013-11-12T00:42:22.755-08:00Nara Prefectorial Art Museum - Yamato Jikara <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUVaTTy2eCmkgIHlvsnGpjH7x0wDhFYcPt2ufX4Gd5D5_DwVloleK2gAYNP2uOgdvCrZUHfIYDTRKgFuEx4cbQnPkfh0PXNhyj-Pgahx-HvUlkYe00wgpvdQnJtKUOCGoOB1rBPurAug/s1600/IMG_1859%5B2%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUVaTTy2eCmkgIHlvsnGpjH7x0wDhFYcPt2ufX4Gd5D5_DwVloleK2gAYNP2uOgdvCrZUHfIYDTRKgFuEx4cbQnPkfh0PXNhyj-Pgahx-HvUlkYe00wgpvdQnJtKUOCGoOB1rBPurAug/s640/IMG_1859%5B2%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Nara Art Museum Yamato Jikara exhibition.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>oday I finally got off my lazy butt and went to the Nara Prefectorial Art Museum to see the Yamato Jikara art exhibition.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uv-SvHPrlJERde_FgykUVkjzvLtFbfuVolfczvfH2D_d59V8mnGTxkWqTDSGIpUauqFbJGh6KQ7EMvDd5O5-hMM_SAUW5CmtSru7yzyqXDIbCllfZXqfGDQZNTDxMGdc8LCBQj0SjEM/s1600/IMG_1893%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uv-SvHPrlJERde_FgykUVkjzvLtFbfuVolfczvfH2D_d59V8mnGTxkWqTDSGIpUauqFbJGh6KQ7EMvDd5O5-hMM_SAUW5CmtSru7yzyqXDIbCllfZXqfGDQZNTDxMGdc8LCBQj0SjEM/s640/IMG_1893%5B1%5D.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXso9nHqkkUxcIjsYNhLTySGaQqJpyezAdz-J64257mqggV6C0rx2cn3TZSSiwAiu-sO5X01Iero7ikHa7M_sIVp_LYsrmwrlVMS9WfOlUW3rQD_U_M2aFDjV7LL36sTAth1fr-L1FAM/s1600/IMG_1835%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXso9nHqkkUxcIjsYNhLTySGaQqJpyezAdz-J64257mqggV6C0rx2cn3TZSSiwAiu-sO5X01Iero7ikHa7M_sIVp_LYsrmwrlVMS9WfOlUW3rQD_U_M2aFDjV7LL36sTAth1fr-L1FAM/s640/IMG_1835%5B1%5D.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like the wolves in the film Princess Mononoke</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM7I24vm3S-q2hHRr4u8rSW0bXjpLZouSdsjFfRAsbf8vYLvvgqS_s0y_-HFI33lfDcPQDYrtCbE-S9R-V-GWdDezPjIPC2nuACikzrFvVP4goyJ_i1N8-cYlayBndh5WXiUETenyqsc/s1600/IMG_1865%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmM7I24vm3S-q2hHRr4u8rSW0bXjpLZouSdsjFfRAsbf8vYLvvgqS_s0y_-HFI33lfDcPQDYrtCbE-S9R-V-GWdDezPjIPC2nuACikzrFvVP4goyJ_i1N8-cYlayBndh5WXiUETenyqsc/s640/IMG_1865%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I usually don`t have class on Tuesday`s until 2;40 so I thought it would be a good day to go. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2pnoI8H_K4M5l8nh1YFkv7iF0GbZ83vKsjxwmzFIAQt4i9s-4rJOjquebTwZqF-ree40fOfZS5rHjgoKp6EoQnNaTeqwHRs4Zqt-dQQHsu8fQol2H4O8kYPOYY8wOMNZQ7lYFEY9FGI/s1600/IMG_1851%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2pnoI8H_K4M5l8nh1YFkv7iF0GbZ83vKsjxwmzFIAQt4i9s-4rJOjquebTwZqF-ree40fOfZS5rHjgoKp6EoQnNaTeqwHRs4Zqt-dQQHsu8fQol2H4O8kYPOYY8wOMNZQ7lYFEY9FGI/s640/IMG_1851%5B1%5D.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKaec7yflDx8tsLdv2vvcnGbaPEwrtN7KImTT396ViTVcCEjBz6UeOPlhxUzJ42eEnJa9XHSIOLxb3QjFKz7YCH_qzoEvXnp5RcIt3CXogzRQIEJYPcOQcrG3wPcUtW4z5zxJMBDZGLY/s1600/IMG_1852%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKaec7yflDx8tsLdv2vvcnGbaPEwrtN7KImTT396ViTVcCEjBz6UeOPlhxUzJ42eEnJa9XHSIOLxb3QjFKz7YCH_qzoEvXnp5RcIt3CXogzRQIEJYPcOQcrG3wPcUtW4z5zxJMBDZGLY/s640/IMG_1852%5B1%5D.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I got there later than I originally wanted and so could only see maybe half of the exhibit, but it is free for me since I have a Museum passport that gets me into exhibits cheap or free (If you are interested just ask Hosonosan or the people in the office for an application)</span>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2PhCDdUnGnLwohyh0JjJnI1LcBY2JrAmbs0-CMQBnRtuqFFvWUA2UW9eN_zYPRI2cizzrtPPsOWb9XbA7eTsLYrH1teSMI5648ZAo_Bnh_QgdxHyj57lZ-zJOYCy_u-5caMZgqSFTaI/s1600/IMG_1849%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2PhCDdUnGnLwohyh0JjJnI1LcBY2JrAmbs0-CMQBnRtuqFFvWUA2UW9eN_zYPRI2cizzrtPPsOWb9XbA7eTsLYrH1teSMI5648ZAo_Bnh_QgdxHyj57lZ-zJOYCy_u-5caMZgqSFTaI/s640/IMG_1849%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you wander around Nara you will often see this guy.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcTHoglsQHwdZ-TI3SBZL2ZLEdnrwiv_INLGD-AN6iYxY_YpyLA99ujEVmQWe193FDZBIS0jODEe7iWBmBYAPVW4l3L2XXP6AuPXC37CUeLlWdPA1USU-KX8MeT33ZSyJAkXdrWDCK90/s1600/IMG_1869%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcTHoglsQHwdZ-TI3SBZL2ZLEdnrwiv_INLGD-AN6iYxY_YpyLA99ujEVmQWe193FDZBIS0jODEe7iWBmBYAPVW4l3L2XXP6AuPXC37CUeLlWdPA1USU-KX8MeT33ZSyJAkXdrWDCK90/s640/IMG_1869%5B1%5D.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nara seems to have a lot of great cultural opportunities and art exhibits so if you are interested it`s really easy, inexpensive (remember to tell them you`re a student), and close by.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjUAWObaQ62gvOidu2-XkFOTl_1x4WZofMFBZ0gM-ZjkN27MSFlvidmTU4AwC4MFFKBs5CJiviP7Sm5Azn9zR91GIJ5uybjJKHu1nSUQF5IDydsKkwi54VvFkD5Ds6bPGQ7qyguWmt0Y/s1600/IMG_1883%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjUAWObaQ62gvOidu2-XkFOTl_1x4WZofMFBZ0gM-ZjkN27MSFlvidmTU4AwC4MFFKBs5CJiviP7Sm5Azn9zR91GIJ5uybjJKHu1nSUQF5IDydsKkwi54VvFkD5Ds6bPGQ7qyguWmt0Y/s640/IMG_1883%5B1%5D.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA00drGwcTEfMAfoRLG4MUnfzuLzgiFrPnj6yNTXjB8Npy3HYbf5gCWs58omXxgjiUiF29PRS7oPpu3Td1OYjDEue4GmEM1XZAVvqSkVg_SV94yd04HvR3cGgfeRc5mGRLOd-4YVoAf0g/s1600/IMG_1878%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA00drGwcTEfMAfoRLG4MUnfzuLzgiFrPnj6yNTXjB8Npy3HYbf5gCWs58omXxgjiUiF29PRS7oPpu3Td1OYjDEue4GmEM1XZAVvqSkVg_SV94yd04HvR3cGgfeRc5mGRLOd-4YVoAf0g/s640/IMG_1878%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I am often going around wandering and finding new places but if you`re not like that then talk a friend into coming with you so you can have motivation if you need, but there are so many great places well known and off the track too.</span></div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-27139423790544353042013-11-10T22:03:00.000-08:002013-11-10T23:05:42.106-08:00Biwa Lake Study Trip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bowl with two Kodama (tree spirit) faces.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span><span style="font-size: large;">riday all the international students went to a study trip to Japan's largest lake (Biwa Ko) Friday where we did traditional pottery, </span><span style="font-size: large;">rode small boats on the canals, ate a traditional meal, and toured the city with a tour guide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The experience was grand, especially the pottery making. It was so much fun to play with clay and make something. Plus I had been trying to find clay for a few weeks prior. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUUT6SuR8UsgFU5lN8GO86_0m__MNuR5QNcG4MqoO55JZSU5bIhnAHWIMYnydUPgVyzIusAHTLDja32P6onzI2A_tC9SCB8LLGaq3s40WRD518L2I2J5njo2DXT6PK2Qy0w0yHRaJ-AM/s1600/IMG_1739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUUT6SuR8UsgFU5lN8GO86_0m__MNuR5QNcG4MqoO55JZSU5bIhnAHWIMYnydUPgVyzIusAHTLDja32P6onzI2A_tC9SCB8LLGaq3s40WRD518L2I2J5njo2DXT6PK2Qy0w0yHRaJ-AM/s640/IMG_1739.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A look back on our house boat ride in the canals of Omihachiman.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLs5dHtm6qm9_CQJFpzwqpvjE2bWOqf9-r8rrrFinG6afakPOobyo7cinuvLGGxMyO0zT4-4PjCKxq1tKBFCUz80YcAA1fj6PAsqJ8CfvBpMMGK9bNkQeoi9Wf9tXgPFTyI6dLacCJn7s/s1600/IMG_1742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLs5dHtm6qm9_CQJFpzwqpvjE2bWOqf9-r8rrrFinG6afakPOobyo7cinuvLGGxMyO0zT4-4PjCKxq1tKBFCUz80YcAA1fj6PAsqJ8CfvBpMMGK9bNkQeoi9Wf9tXgPFTyI6dLacCJn7s/s640/IMG_1742.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Omihachiman canal view by house boat.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's almost as if the teacher's were reading my mind about wanting to play with clay and go to Biwa Ko (even though they had been doing that trip every year for the students).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbyt2fuffWbOmu8zmBYMs07tAf-y2iH6OA5hRUlP7hk7WhqpLOh54xIzu57jBUpaiK9AErAtWg3lWR1D-_B8W3aoPK7iCH5DprO4sAAA3PSf94VLvxyJLD0x0uVCDu72JZLPkQTbFU1k/s1600/IMG_1744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbyt2fuffWbOmu8zmBYMs07tAf-y2iH6OA5hRUlP7hk7WhqpLOh54xIzu57jBUpaiK9AErAtWg3lWR1D-_B8W3aoPK7iCH5DprO4sAAA3PSf94VLvxyJLD0x0uVCDu72JZLPkQTbFU1k/s640/IMG_1744.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Omihachiman shrine on the canal, view seen by house boat.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was really nice to go out with the other ryuugakusei (international students) and just have fun getting our hands dirty with clay, riding the neat boats on the gorgeous canals and such.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Plus the weather was amazing, real fall weather, but nice and sunny perfect for a house boat ride and walking around town together.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdyiafY_qBS5wLiufEeWUegA8aP8DYzbM4sviz_47XZjieWQ65SndFqL0RonBVCeql-p4ZWGzj6WphaEpBG_ob_36roTc55uacRZBXEn7g78bx44I3iUyAVnv7n1LpW5nC5ky-s1v8t8/s1600/IMG_1749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdyiafY_qBS5wLiufEeWUegA8aP8DYzbM4sviz_47XZjieWQ65SndFqL0RonBVCeql-p4ZWGzj6WphaEpBG_ob_36roTc55uacRZBXEn7g78bx44I3iUyAVnv7n1LpW5nC5ky-s1v8t8/s400/IMG_1749.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Hachiman, seasonal art.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is one thing I would inform possible students coming to Japan about. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJZl2Gpy73zjVfUkAAbCct_lRyttoNP7whZqQeh59QcnH8hiz5pqTslBPS5bmmdXqovN07jNBCLnKPFC82JirbA23DKD_7h2-sKPigMFQbrHB_Q06UsF_Cs-FEhoDGs1YmA2hieD4To4/s1600/IMG_1728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJZl2Gpy73zjVfUkAAbCct_lRyttoNP7whZqQeh59QcnH8hiz5pqTslBPS5bmmdXqovN07jNBCLnKPFC82JirbA23DKD_7h2-sKPigMFQbrHB_Q06UsF_Cs-FEhoDGs1YmA2hieD4To4/s640/IMG_1728.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional foods at Akindo no sato with seasonal vegetables, soup, rice, fish, and pickled foods.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Often I have been mistaken in my assumptions when Japanese people tell me we are to have a party, or an event and I assume it is more like free-time since in America and other countries too, when we say a party it usually means unstructured or lightly structured free time to talk with whom you want and basically relax with friends. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByIOxa1zb6D7xVSxenHuchoRFtjg666u9RqBACwJIPECEE86G74Wjsk9lUR3_bTWU8e0L5huBGTytX2z_eYUIm0ONeosaJig_R8_usNJ5eAtRq2dy0gB4qP8g0iqmBHSk-vwiOdzDoXA/s1600/IMG_1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByIOxa1zb6D7xVSxenHuchoRFtjg666u9RqBACwJIPECEE86G74Wjsk9lUR3_bTWU8e0L5huBGTytX2z_eYUIm0ONeosaJig_R8_usNJ5eAtRq2dy0gB4qP8g0iqmBHSk-vwiOdzDoXA/s400/IMG_1752.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional streets in Hachiman.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Typically when I think I am going to a party, even a school party done by the school I think of people just getting together, having fun eating, talking, and relaxing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">However several times I have had this assumption shattered. </span><span style="font-size: large;">It is often a different style here and it's very structured.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Typically the Japanese school related events (at least here) are highly organized and scheduled, meaning it's not really about free-time, or doing whatever you want and wandering around to talk with random people on a whim, and there is a set schedule of events.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There isn't anything wrong with this, however it was something that keeps catching me off guard when I least expect it. It happened again when I went to Biwa Ko on the class trip.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDN_jf2nFVJIOQBkMSBv0TONik-lb60tJWeDUXjvdavOopDOCeqhAROcCS_aR_1x8KxGHCPRS8hR_6Z3ikaFvzXlvCxc6WgCMdU9IZRRfI1fdGctlBGxatL4iDQkjKLnYg-t-KQidWuTo/s1600/IMG_1755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDN_jf2nFVJIOQBkMSBv0TONik-lb60tJWeDUXjvdavOopDOCeqhAROcCS_aR_1x8KxGHCPRS8hR_6Z3ikaFvzXlvCxc6WgCMdU9IZRRfI1fdGctlBGxatL4iDQkjKLnYg-t-KQidWuTo/s400/IMG_1755.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A unique view from Hachiman.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When we did each thing we had a schedule and that was normal, but when my pamphlet that described our trip said we would be walking around <a href="http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/shiga/omihachiman.html">Hachiman</a> (the town's name), I assumed we would all just have free-time to wander around as we pleased and then meet up at a certain time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQVetzTIV6uLxNsIaywZ7itfv8Ep40PI-JHxE_SNUPYKIYrSdo-KC-JQRkz5mFSM27CHRcMnBK4m4lvZjt0RVW64il7eEhikb7FWgjADExyF-cLqDxNtpJEIY-gbuFu490zceVh_CTdk/s1600/IMG_1786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQVetzTIV6uLxNsIaywZ7itfv8Ep40PI-JHxE_SNUPYKIYrSdo-KC-JQRkz5mFSM27CHRcMnBK4m4lvZjt0RVW64il7eEhikb7FWgjADExyF-cLqDxNtpJEIY-gbuFu490zceVh_CTdk/s640/IMG_1786.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple in Hachimanbori.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This was not how it was though, we had a tour guide and we had to stay in our group and go where they directed us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> We also had a tour guide on the bus on the loud speaker which was really unexpected for me and to be honest I really just wanted to quietly watch the scenery or talk with friends on and off.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> But I could see how some people may enjoy being told about the various landmarks as we pass by them.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4a8x7HhvriRyImQWyOMHdSkX6vUcvNmhwzLjYB2z82RE1kBNy14N0_CNWGLZUMPNJTD5jTuAXiZEVKNEFS46scwb5aOuY04nxHmkQATrQDjpSrCF4Y-yIWgdwQHoitQaAHv4rg5R3-u0/s1600/IMG_1762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4a8x7HhvriRyImQWyOMHdSkX6vUcvNmhwzLjYB2z82RE1kBNy14N0_CNWGLZUMPNJTD5jTuAXiZEVKNEFS46scwb5aOuY04nxHmkQATrQDjpSrCF4Y-yIWgdwQHoitQaAHv4rg5R3-u0/s640/IMG_1762.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street in Hachiman.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not usually one to be be put off by cultural differences but this is one thing I have a really hard time dealing with lately. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8Vt9xdle11GVbabP5Kh7X6gY9mr6bVyY0cQ5drrVGh99zsaXedbdSDmvrpKx6DQ3BHRlzmb1oHCPgrM5HqfCSgQJjz1KAbq3z98wcci7WQr4AwTKENwnOnX2zCB7jgV3xwK5oX4tvOU/s1600/IMG_1774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8Vt9xdle11GVbabP5Kh7X6gY9mr6bVyY0cQ5drrVGh99zsaXedbdSDmvrpKx6DQ3BHRlzmb1oHCPgrM5HqfCSgQJjz1KAbq3z98wcci7WQr4AwTKENwnOnX2zCB7jgV3xwK5oX4tvOU/s640/IMG_1774.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the entrance of Hachiman Temple.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When I think I am going to an event and that it will be unstructured or lightly structured with lots or freedom, and then I find it actually isn't like that, I have a really hard time and I feel caged in and panicky, and then grumpy as a result.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyfPM4lsD3tdZ8_EUXwMfb7KTJQsO2FC5tg5vYBIJTHF_Otvk7ZPKDroTR7atKTepkrSdrufSqZ-KgZFknP_3zUweJXH4l2FPDiBIO9X-6-fPvGV9Y1b5-ehpXh2DXfHkH5ntda36YtU/s1600/IMG_1769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyfPM4lsD3tdZ8_EUXwMfb7KTJQsO2FC5tg5vYBIJTHF_Otvk7ZPKDroTR7atKTepkrSdrufSqZ-KgZFknP_3zUweJXH4l2FPDiBIO9X-6-fPvGV9Y1b5-ehpXh2DXfHkH5ntda36YtU/s640/IMG_1769.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hachiman city bridge.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Other people though don't have an issue with instances like this but if you're like me then at least you have a heads up now, something I would have liked for myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But I absolutely had a lot of fun on the class trip and think everyone else did too!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQPX1xa9D-Qm4WKte9ApKm6HUa0QahsH6bEVtUN5B81TYN9GXO-mZ3z5P-oGW4xCyL4oIXD1lNc22BRZiO71Tq7cpMuBA6lDvU7j-lGJ1BsfgeKFkSQcN6kEtcYipc5PQlCcey2Tkcio/s1600/IMG_1820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQPX1xa9D-Qm4WKte9ApKm6HUa0QahsH6bEVtUN5B81TYN9GXO-mZ3z5P-oGW4xCyL4oIXD1lNc22BRZiO71Tq7cpMuBA6lDvU7j-lGJ1BsfgeKFkSQcN6kEtcYipc5PQlCcey2Tkcio/s640/IMG_1820.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the bus on the way home between Shiga and Nara prefectures.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After we toured parts of the town we were all pretty worn out and headed back for our hour and a half (or more) bus ride back to the school full of memories.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY45x-DL3vcYprAWSaH5r4-anO3qAZNAj5W99H47lntI2vuaizB5CmIOzfRqxAI5nCb2D70KKKUy7OW2it_Ggpje45Zy8Rf83D8UDGVtbkyLtqWrAoH68ZsH8JDGQjilLc8ZsjVg3P2cY/s1600/IMG_1807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY45x-DL3vcYprAWSaH5r4-anO3qAZNAj5W99H47lntI2vuaizB5CmIOzfRqxAI5nCb2D70KKKUy7OW2it_Ggpje45Zy8Rf83D8UDGVtbkyLtqWrAoH68ZsH8JDGQjilLc8ZsjVg3P2cY/s400/IMG_1807.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks to Bogisan, I have a photo in the middle of talking.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRRB04Sz5lLQFC3cLAxkZnNoAKmqLbgI9WGvlF_CM3rhMHQjrMrPH7EmO2v5AIk27lka-MwwfyLdm0s6VmutQq_mw4VbTwTEjHZY8d0n2T15QDrN0EsXMe5qIwkv0BR5HVVZ0dT4cq7M/s1600/IMG_1812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRRB04Sz5lLQFC3cLAxkZnNoAKmqLbgI9WGvlF_CM3rhMHQjrMrPH7EmO2v5AIk27lka-MwwfyLdm0s6VmutQq_mw4VbTwTEjHZY8d0n2T15QDrN0EsXMe5qIwkv0BR5HVVZ0dT4cq7M/s400/IMG_1812.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting building as we left Omihachiman.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-16100058972228174492013-11-05T01:41:00.003-08:002013-11-05T02:15:03.115-08:00Busy weekend holiday update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Holidays in Japan</b></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPS2TVLOvodMcw0vu-iRyp1SKlYXMs3kIoxW-wxrKnaptE7Pc3KWJ2y-PCsq-nUZy880BQmDSqkI5zZz5GOE8G3ZgMwllKCnRR9IC-SEyi4vJ_1e8iXNxXqhOZd3mnbA_vO2s8UUUvwU/s1600/IMG_1441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPS2TVLOvodMcw0vu-iRyp1SKlYXMs3kIoxW-wxrKnaptE7Pc3KWJ2y-PCsq-nUZy880BQmDSqkI5zZz5GOE8G3ZgMwllKCnRR9IC-SEyi4vJ_1e8iXNxXqhOZd3mnbA_vO2s8UUUvwU/s640/IMG_1441.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nara University's 4 day-long festival</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">For the students planning to study in Japan, just so that you know the holidays here are a little different than what we are used to in America.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-aBep0c60z_AV1O7S6KRaAIEAX27F-c8bHeJrQtrNhuao-OvfbaL2ngandE0otMFN9SqZkC-dbn2XWI6nGagGvZROTCS2rhxo5nvD6O4WAtjoimgONyD2xzM9jf2gswX2HrcMKobL6w/s1600/IMG_1447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-aBep0c60z_AV1O7S6KRaAIEAX27F-c8bHeJrQtrNhuao-OvfbaL2ngandE0otMFN9SqZkC-dbn2XWI6nGagGvZROTCS2rhxo5nvD6O4WAtjoimgONyD2xzM9jf2gswX2HrcMKobL6w/s400/IMG_1447.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Usually in America we have holidays and then we have Holidays, and we differentiate between the big ones and small ones whether you get days off from school or work. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKsQFUCIFwr6YONHG8pBXNLpjf7QhXP6dLzrccjujBfFBHygpAzhVZF4Fy1f_jadVJ0tGQm249ghFehPkIjH9LlsoX3KLoTR36PefkldLGDPabjl65pLS0kVJTCfDmX-YmxTduPJppFQ/s1600/IMG_1458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKsQFUCIFwr6YONHG8pBXNLpjf7QhXP6dLzrccjujBfFBHygpAzhVZF4Fy1f_jadVJ0tGQm249ghFehPkIjH9LlsoX3KLoTR36PefkldLGDPabjl65pLS0kVJTCfDmX-YmxTduPJppFQ/s320/IMG_1458.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cute Halloween gift from a friend since I hadn't seen any pumpkins.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So if it's a big holiday like Thanksgiving you get a few days off, but when its a small holiday like Groundhog day you don't get a day off typically. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Just to let you know if the calendar says it's a holiday in Japan, you get the day off. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course double check with professors and such but I have been told by advisors that this is the way things are done, so if your calendar says its a Japanese holiday (and there are a lot) then you get the day off.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgR5z-1xAAzkZfAI_uMotno0EO80zL4jiPDIdpnR38KAJ5GeILKMcONpQs44wNyp6FuBkPXiHswfh5geTGXmZ6RZm62yq2r5C20pqH4TzI8AYl0HKHTum0e89IbD5lTMMYWW9XGySqyo/s1600/IMG_1461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgR5z-1xAAzkZfAI_uMotno0EO80zL4jiPDIdpnR38KAJ5GeILKMcONpQs44wNyp6FuBkPXiHswfh5geTGXmZ6RZm62yq2r5C20pqH4TzI8AYl0HKHTum0e89IbD5lTMMYWW9XGySqyo/s640/IMG_1461.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The school's festival in action</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But Halloween sadly is not a holiday here and it doesn't seem like it will be for a long time if at all. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsTzIg0bn-BUX1npSe6dRbVVgX4VHIXvkH17ItrSlogUOxqoOQDLrCblPQtRsAiYFB4wHfgq2atuBL-IYWxrJnQXyJlWSu6aXHjJGkJ9c0XOzCy4CtLGwNoSmF_SP_RDTPTPHY88Iat8/s1600/IMG_1464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsTzIg0bn-BUX1npSe6dRbVVgX4VHIXvkH17ItrSlogUOxqoOQDLrCblPQtRsAiYFB4wHfgq2atuBL-IYWxrJnQXyJlWSu6aXHjJGkJ9c0XOzCy4CtLGwNoSmF_SP_RDTPTPHY88Iat8/s640/IMG_1464.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School festival time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Before coming here I was told by many that it was starting to catch on among younger adults, but it seems like its really a big city thing and it's really not the same feeling as the Halloween I know and love so it was a little sad since it's my favorite holiday back home.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre6yrTjBVWB13bN2JZX3B17zq1XuZ4zk2tSspNUP8nNuYMPQ7WBijnxP3M6-tj1ORaU1KIDoSK_DEYZK7sk_Liy2DFGs9AVr_DWDc3Jcb1WU22JjWdnu6nI8-kCncE1-5zo4NUUQN9NY/s1600/IMG_1485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhre6yrTjBVWB13bN2JZX3B17zq1XuZ4zk2tSspNUP8nNuYMPQ7WBijnxP3M6-tj1ORaU1KIDoSK_DEYZK7sk_Liy2DFGs9AVr_DWDc3Jcb1WU22JjWdnu6nI8-kCncE1-5zo4NUUQN9NY/s640/IMG_1485.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flea Market part of the Festival.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nara University has a four day festival in which there are no classes and everything is closed, so don't think you can go do homework at the library.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeV1VqziTYJKUjr8uMadPj448U9AL7RRVB-bTS58BXxgtXN7Ve2yCiHi8LlMYX7LL9-GYXADsiXrY4fGPnZuO5KsMnn9mZpOfQheZUwsemcyMWs1uLNE7rs4QfW-AxFTQ1EehRv_rASg/s1600/IMG_1523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeV1VqziTYJKUjr8uMadPj448U9AL7RRVB-bTS58BXxgtXN7Ve2yCiHi8LlMYX7LL9-GYXADsiXrY4fGPnZuO5KsMnn9mZpOfQheZUwsemcyMWs1uLNE7rs4QfW-AxFTQ1EehRv_rASg/s640/IMG_1523.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the festival, walls are decorated and outside is a music performance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> But there are concerts, a flea market, hip hop dance exhibitions, foods, games and the whole school participates.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpqV-wzBbnYkOSa1q7VI4e58AR1zzFN17CXyzGoHlFm2lPKgjEucV40KivTIDabBPhkXFrLsi0H65JKjAS93hMGi2s5SyGrkQE_cSTxJhQtSwr6sOwUMP1Ryx32H_05gPCeQc6OKrgs4/s1600/IMG_1525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpqV-wzBbnYkOSa1q7VI4e58AR1zzFN17CXyzGoHlFm2lPKgjEucV40KivTIDabBPhkXFrLsi0H65JKjAS93hMGi2s5SyGrkQE_cSTxJhQtSwr6sOwUMP1Ryx32H_05gPCeQc6OKrgs4/s640/IMG_1525.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students made this duck to advertise their event in room 201.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On that first day off (Friday) International students also are able to enter the Nara National Museum for free which is usually around $7, so I went to the exhibit that showed old items of Emperors past. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2WHyNqLQ9ZzDTACpCvVFqliPNekqIqGDuBE_wO7VE5a9Fp4L509qt1SjMtJEunjHQryI2eFT_tRyhhhZzPlXpupQbQNE-YIyj4XqvaunWH3lEjKa9uspi3UAwzPB4PlqC7RNItphcNQ/s1600/IMG_1528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2WHyNqLQ9ZzDTACpCvVFqliPNekqIqGDuBE_wO7VE5a9Fp4L509qt1SjMtJEunjHQryI2eFT_tRyhhhZzPlXpupQbQNE-YIyj4XqvaunWH3lEjKa9uspi3UAwzPB4PlqC7RNItphcNQ/s640/IMG_1528.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Scrolls and furniture and so many other items. I especially liked the archery bows that used marbles instead of arrows.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGyCi4YmZYylqtAtFbshkqHGGjVCazuMgjz0u-SDIuJQWTw6DPcs4L1lGHqQIjQnojbHiMr0i9stoTqrJjk8AghYo-yOGzGudXISw-2UV-4zPbNFYU_rGecZjN7GKcV3Ev5aBIWECpzI/s1600/IMG_1529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGyCi4YmZYylqtAtFbshkqHGGjVCazuMgjz0u-SDIuJQWTw6DPcs4L1lGHqQIjQnojbHiMr0i9stoTqrJjk8AghYo-yOGzGudXISw-2UV-4zPbNFYU_rGecZjN7GKcV3Ev5aBIWECpzI/s640/IMG_1529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clubs advertise their events at the festival such as the calligraphy club. (Often Nara events use the city's mascot deer as seen here)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then Saturday I went to the school festival found some neat handmade things at the flea market and watched some hip hop dancing.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvQBs-18EJI7AFfuiV_pM44BkroONDH_g1g3rEuYatI9gH6onVbinwFMHhagzabomKdQmWb-FjCSV2RbzCLojtqDZw39hyoZi_C2IQ_7uCxXKmoiUekOClxIjYmwpV9ouehLuH4sWTZ8/s1600/IMG_1488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvQBs-18EJI7AFfuiV_pM44BkroONDH_g1g3rEuYatI9gH6onVbinwFMHhagzabomKdQmWb-FjCSV2RbzCLojtqDZw39hyoZi_C2IQ_7uCxXKmoiUekOClxIjYmwpV9ouehLuH4sWTZ8/s640/IMG_1488.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Hip hop dance performance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sunday I went to Osaka and let me just say that is not going to happen again except to go to an art exhibit I have been waiting to go to for a long time.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRxRf0_11qDeCRR9wFJQDmoFbUfGOIohUmBndzm9i5pTc6WUp8fM8cgC40xl2H5ucd7XEHyfN6udtjwh-zXjylWTKnk_Ds9xRavL6JjdBoyziJrqZ-X_6SMvJSGmUKrCzJrTRNvVvV5g/s1600/IMG_1505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRxRf0_11qDeCRR9wFJQDmoFbUfGOIohUmBndzm9i5pTc6WUp8fM8cgC40xl2H5ucd7XEHyfN6udtjwh-zXjylWTKnk_Ds9xRavL6JjdBoyziJrqZ-X_6SMvJSGmUKrCzJrTRNvVvV5g/s640/IMG_1505.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Osaka I had a hamburger that was much better than any I had had in American restaurants.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I've been staring at my art exhibit poster for about a month now for Kudo Tetsumi (and also <a href="http://www.seigensha.com/books/978-4-86152-383-0">Yamato Jikara</a>). So I will be going to that.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Many students do actually like to go to Osaka. They, however, have different tastes than I. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77VF8n20kOh6eo2VoT7OGzFfWbLR6QRzLRroIQoiO-Kc6CaXrPJcuIZIy-IrQRbTMr0qKZkRm50OuBcDf7MyS5o6SJ9DEeVHuXZ3c-aTZJ0krYNSywxvlo2EK8Y3xzy1esQCm25wQIr4/s1600/IMG_1516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77VF8n20kOh6eo2VoT7OGzFfWbLR6QRzLRroIQoiO-Kc6CaXrPJcuIZIy-IrQRbTMr0qKZkRm50OuBcDf7MyS5o6SJ9DEeVHuXZ3c-aTZJ0krYNSywxvlo2EK8Y3xzy1esQCm25wQIr4/s320/IMG_1516.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just the title sounded so odd.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmVpX2OUbEODtc7KGHIYKxDpUaqfVw4wQ71gx__AqrPCgLOPa06BxTiYcn84LPGUQtHNSjCexCYXYGBXi0q0NHH3LJv0R8rQBaJZ9B64P5Rf9euA2Jt-e_6h2iC_WrUlDogB5HANn6Pw/s1600/IMG_1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmVpX2OUbEODtc7KGHIYKxDpUaqfVw4wQ71gx__AqrPCgLOPa06BxTiYcn84LPGUQtHNSjCexCYXYGBXi0q0NHH3LJv0R8rQBaJZ9B64P5Rf9euA2Jt-e_6h2iC_WrUlDogB5HANn6Pw/s320/IMG_1513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Personally I don't like to be squashed up against hundreds of other people just so I can walk across the street, or walk in the shopping district.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But I'm not really into shopping or night life much so to me the area I went to (Osaka Namba) really isn't the type of place to top my list of places I want to go.</span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhlbWyAI4oGdksSQktnrU2kFyccZG6DnyW95aBHJKcvOCNZ4cV7jvES7LS9x6D2VIcP9AQMoL9CvXFEJnWoNkvk9moHEqe-C8zI7wL2rEpn2s_y0D1L3vGcC2QK1M11JMcZ_duYySZA8/s1600/IMG_1517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhlbWyAI4oGdksSQktnrU2kFyccZG6DnyW95aBHJKcvOCNZ4cV7jvES7LS9x6D2VIcP9AQMoL9CvXFEJnWoNkvk9moHEqe-C8zI7wL2rEpn2s_y0D1L3vGcC2QK1M11JMcZ_duYySZA8/s640/IMG_1517.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the crowd in Osaka. Maybe it's better on a weekday.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is more to Osaka than just the super crowded night-life and shopping district and every city and place has it's own personality- so for some its a great place. </span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvWKT1897uM-CTMtxcVdqWeV88hKU3k-lrBOp8b2Fl8Z9JpPQo1qAViWH_6aN-sO6jqzTi3wsQVvnKexaCbBI__p3MPWf1vuFpG5XPOVH5oMyM0AI_MBC-x0FkFpvE7ReVzNfL_PMb-8/s1600/IMG_1518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvWKT1897uM-CTMtxcVdqWeV88hKU3k-lrBOp8b2Fl8Z9JpPQo1qAViWH_6aN-sO6jqzTi3wsQVvnKexaCbBI__p3MPWf1vuFpG5XPOVH5oMyM0AI_MBC-x0FkFpvE7ReVzNfL_PMb-8/s640/IMG_1518.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obligatory photo with the Glica running man.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Even in Tokyo which is also huge and has lots of people, it depends on where you go and the images we frequently see like Shibuya crossing crammed with people and such are not the whole story or personality of Tokyo.</span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bAu4mc7CWUw1-8OBOVrgwxnevPhae1ci8ZjRB0ybXiynkDV5IyH9xDb3_YoDMYKeMqkBbYuJRDQmNW_pkkXfBnCn_hZ1HTg062INlQkjlKijm5M4oyVOzbtg1yncixvtrgxy23rIy9M/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bAu4mc7CWUw1-8OBOVrgwxnevPhae1ci8ZjRB0ybXiynkDV5IyH9xDb3_YoDMYKeMqkBbYuJRDQmNW_pkkXfBnCn_hZ1HTg062INlQkjlKijm5M4oyVOzbtg1yncixvtrgxy23rIy9M/s640/IMG_1521.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These people are smoking inside, since many places still allow smoking in public places and businesses in Japan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">For me- places like that wear me out and I have no real reason to go. Possibly when I go to the different part of town next time I can discover something more to my taste.</span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKzT-vP0yP6MGm6Q7S2oWTre5IPbuET416QB85pax5DUHWFdUQAm1z6Slg4-wCp-YI1q3Gl3JUC-2S_-0GJu6AUHOz8rOAsze-IQgm3BT56PdmXivN2ZXjd-pTlqbJT3JV-IgROCAiVA/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKzT-vP0yP6MGm6Q7S2oWTre5IPbuET416QB85pax5DUHWFdUQAm1z6Slg4-wCp-YI1q3Gl3JUC-2S_-0GJu6AUHOz8rOAsze-IQgm3BT56PdmXivN2ZXjd-pTlqbJT3JV-IgROCAiVA/s640/IMG_1522.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osaka crowd crossing the street.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was nice to go around and spend time with friends though, and I got to meet a new place.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJ1rOnrW0PzX4UZ_haDw4KsTL0FSNi3ENoomJ4X_qD1j4TM7XB9nFq8pXL1no8aiYbPGHxC6fqLXn4hdwWw84uKvshjtWvLYQVFYdvygKSgAHlow3ECZFUuQXcJGzJ9KurGh6bxyockI/s1600/IMG_1545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJ1rOnrW0PzX4UZ_haDw4KsTL0FSNi3ENoomJ4X_qD1j4TM7XB9nFq8pXL1no8aiYbPGHxC6fqLXn4hdwWw84uKvshjtWvLYQVFYdvygKSgAHlow3ECZFUuQXcJGzJ9KurGh6bxyockI/s640/IMG_1545.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also found this kitty when i was wandering in Kyoto.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then Monday since the festival was still going on I decided to go to Kyoto since I was disappointed by Osaka's personality and originally I wanted to go to Kyoto first anyway.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyAzoCtkqJkY9iyUftWlcbZpSp7qMkOehJ_fqdGPADJCGV4u24mX-OhgfOKVgPBbFjd1_TJBJP055_7VQ8wxqbxDDi8aAPRQwlziN6XxDsucQUAiL6PFCAKW3k4btAJ5Oech7TgVE1lQ/s1600/IMG_1543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyAzoCtkqJkY9iyUftWlcbZpSp7qMkOehJ_fqdGPADJCGV4u24mX-OhgfOKVgPBbFjd1_TJBJP055_7VQ8wxqbxDDi8aAPRQwlziN6XxDsucQUAiL6PFCAKW3k4btAJ5Oech7TgVE1lQ/s640/IMG_1543.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this in some off the track area while I was wandering around Kyoto.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So I just up and took a train and went to Kyoto to explore on my own and I liked it a lot. Kyoto's personality is much more in line with my interests.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7EMFxl2vZEyJXtKqG_Rj02XzC3EUH_Ij9HFgPwws9ojHdpZJu7eXny-JSNGPwxvB4uKaSONNC1wMnAsCITDZE9I2ZxTisw-v_kH6pwTsNKcoiHeSafhbw6u9Ai9lRZFjV02WeXk54Yw/s1600/IMG_1532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7EMFxl2vZEyJXtKqG_Rj02XzC3EUH_Ij9HFgPwws9ojHdpZJu7eXny-JSNGPwxvB4uKaSONNC1wMnAsCITDZE9I2ZxTisw-v_kH6pwTsNKcoiHeSafhbw6u9Ai9lRZFjV02WeXk54Yw/s640/IMG_1532.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside Kyoto station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAghSkW6t1pHqH0eb98oblJpmftiyKO96sGi-8t71dBeEkk-ozMzIuOgL7z1_qjY6qXDcCVxNbVU5juKo68mO53VCCAqKxy1uXHLPz5ccmcWViONqbonCA0HWhZvRfIXDjG1ZxDl8cBnY/s1600/IMG_1531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAghSkW6t1pHqH0eb98oblJpmftiyKO96sGi-8t71dBeEkk-ozMzIuOgL7z1_qjY6qXDcCVxNbVU5juKo68mO53VCCAqKxy1uXHLPz5ccmcWViONqbonCA0HWhZvRfIXDjG1ZxDl8cBnY/s640/IMG_1531.JPG" width="480" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Plus it was great to explore alone after so much time squashed next to other people in a truly metropolitan feeling place it was such a relief.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDNObhAS4KWpGrDnaZLX3Kl_bVP6RYY_YF3BGcO9asfu2X6T0h8um42zeawXwsD4yQbD1e7PPvLBXnRYTi8agLJKdQBVRE9AWbcIMBHAoCiNZSvgjcPeh2DW05_vxjqZxe5GYU6kUtKo/s1600/IMG_1572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDNObhAS4KWpGrDnaZLX3Kl_bVP6RYY_YF3BGcO9asfu2X6T0h8um42zeawXwsD4yQbD1e7PPvLBXnRYTi8agLJKdQBVRE9AWbcIMBHAoCiNZSvgjcPeh2DW05_vxjqZxe5GYU6kUtKo/s640/IMG_1572.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down by the river in Kyoto.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MM80Gcq8LnGXvX6fm0rMsjAZA_nCmNP-GYrYGf7jvOTutmmbaqUKiIwRl9Vmtnx_bLBjpQocsQvM55dyVOYt6iiC2lZCwUrw_dVCWOiYX3qCgjzCDEssa4ehOHbmx96uTgUA95P1VU4/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MM80Gcq8LnGXvX6fm0rMsjAZA_nCmNP-GYrYGf7jvOTutmmbaqUKiIwRl9Vmtnx_bLBjpQocsQvM55dyVOYt6iiC2lZCwUrw_dVCWOiYX3qCgjzCDEssa4ehOHbmx96uTgUA95P1VU4/s640/IMG_1575.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the bridge and river east of Kyoto station and south of Gion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-IN7z3iTrwhHb_IYr4feLspqlLVhBA0VHhn79t5qYUMtef4q8zpjfILG1qc6iGpYBPyCMDG6Td1A7tHQOzTvmdoN83Zh58bhH5eVRcf86eB-qrMDWySdNKLTrIYYUoQiP6qybslW62g/s1600/IMG_1630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-IN7z3iTrwhHb_IYr4feLspqlLVhBA0VHhn79t5qYUMtef4q8zpjfILG1qc6iGpYBPyCMDG6Td1A7tHQOzTvmdoN83Zh58bhH5eVRcf86eB-qrMDWySdNKLTrIYYUoQiP6qybslW62g/s640/IMG_1630.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I went to Kyoto Tower and compared to Tokyo Tower it isn't much but it was neat to go up there and see the city at night.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhbr9DkYnQ6UvcwWA6E45do080_Fmz4dOOflQbrG_IMOo3mPOlWEBodw5LAGPimtoi0KC0Vr5DMT5xS0NuJc-kanOcLPjKAipArbDe52hVdTkZ5R6HcVhAq7g9kVsI3sQeeSGGnlN5Dw/s1600/IMG_1628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhbr9DkYnQ6UvcwWA6E45do080_Fmz4dOOflQbrG_IMOo3mPOlWEBodw5LAGPimtoi0KC0Vr5DMT5xS0NuJc-kanOcLPjKAipArbDe52hVdTkZ5R6HcVhAq7g9kVsI3sQeeSGGnlN5Dw/s640/IMG_1628.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this wandering around Kyoto and loved the texture, and the layered look.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEFCkTiUFFmmrIWfi9tnsuBMW2xbjMv5ZS9ZvzqY-zSB8gLe8vHt-TVH0GRt6wO8EzOnjE76X1twleDwlOmc6kdW1DtzLNLFULL0w6EGZ7kstxpk5qxHlIJF1uRokMFoXGer6YnU53oY/s1600/IMG_1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEFCkTiUFFmmrIWfi9tnsuBMW2xbjMv5ZS9ZvzqY-zSB8gLe8vHt-TVH0GRt6wO8EzOnjE76X1twleDwlOmc6kdW1DtzLNLFULL0w6EGZ7kstxpk5qxHlIJF1uRokMFoXGer6YnU53oY/s400/IMG_1631.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxH07GchrdJc5IYUrSOeIzylGJuH9P7aeVf1Y05uQTaBvYVIsgoXOawwLpxRFOwS8ScvvgQ3jsjqOyckjRPjxT5d2C91alPhNqDt4ynAHXYZ8Aphm7jG_GO8_vSJmulwJsLb-DGgxR_0/s1600/IMG_1623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxH07GchrdJc5IYUrSOeIzylGJuH9P7aeVf1Y05uQTaBvYVIsgoXOawwLpxRFOwS8ScvvgQ3jsjqOyckjRPjxT5d2C91alPhNqDt4ynAHXYZ8Aphm7jG_GO8_vSJmulwJsLb-DGgxR_0/s640/IMG_1623.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this walking around Kyoto and loved the glaze and colors they used.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUC11MiBdm73kJ2Aw5YmcGYYgJzsmDDkKk4lE4hgaSjq8G3IThlIKNaDvlbYdB32UyWKFiH4BzpG_gC16VlrTwYlzrvCInIFAgPlG4habzi09V2Hp6lXEe_qso6Tb4sLNh_RQygN6nZU/s1600/IMG_1624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUC11MiBdm73kJ2Aw5YmcGYYgJzsmDDkKk4lE4hgaSjq8G3IThlIKNaDvlbYdB32UyWKFiH4BzpG_gC16VlrTwYlzrvCInIFAgPlG4habzi09V2Hp6lXEe_qso6Tb4sLNh_RQygN6nZU/s320/IMG_1624.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I will be returning to Kyoto next week and plan to go to the traditional district of Gion where </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">people can see Mayukosan and Geisha and traditional building styles.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPsqu-PCGgOrpdbXNJpilwFMxDaPQnLgFW7gxLZOKPBgP1E3MpGqGINUmfuj8fIS_Egs3GBMHODNlRzPy0eBb9_CLXB5MvY74zn4N8_rZRM5vsqmqJl-uxFheY-IzECJdkLHUsPgFDwI/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPsqu-PCGgOrpdbXNJpilwFMxDaPQnLgFW7gxLZOKPBgP1E3MpGqGINUmfuj8fIS_Egs3GBMHODNlRzPy0eBb9_CLXB5MvY74zn4N8_rZRM5vsqmqJl-uxFheY-IzECJdkLHUsPgFDwI/s640/IMG_1533.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unique trees outside of Kyoto station</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love how even in the big city areas of Kyoto there are trees, and plants it was such a relief from Osaka's huge concrete-ness to see the trees even in the middle of the city.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZZ_9ND5b5mtW93CnPLxiATrvvZMGbLOiA3Ag5mcaJo9R_BnDbqidJfCifX6rw9-1Dsk99TRK3kl2zr-awfxlA9V8X_LTknPKW-ibe3Yp-Pjn0YPGBc0GjQMoATiP929yIlef91qcrQo/s1600/IMG_1594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZZ_9ND5b5mtW93CnPLxiATrvvZMGbLOiA3Ag5mcaJo9R_BnDbqidJfCifX6rw9-1Dsk99TRK3kl2zr-awfxlA9V8X_LTknPKW-ibe3Yp-Pjn0YPGBc0GjQMoATiP929yIlef91qcrQo/s640/IMG_1594.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1pVUzueUwuLBr_iZ7YKlZ-oUCYSgKvHdsrOq-Flty5jp7-AHYOJck1EfSnjXLjwJnTWE3YflqTNKqgopoTIQ52BORPsx0buSSrAHpmOZqnKp4veHe8-h1ewvMdJdobgoPuReCHTILxU/s1600/IMG_1614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1pVUzueUwuLBr_iZ7YKlZ-oUCYSgKvHdsrOq-Flty5jp7-AHYOJck1EfSnjXLjwJnTWE3YflqTNKqgopoTIQ52BORPsx0buSSrAHpmOZqnKp4veHe8-h1ewvMdJdobgoPuReCHTILxU/s640/IMG_1614.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kyoto at night near Kyoto Tower</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx4wg_3nsZOFtQkS1wAMb-IH_SSsJuzJe4Yn4t_aWlXym3lEJwuILsH5O-ziSVRtkz6A4-I82q3YO9iKX5n9Yz4xr67qotpxTdd_CoH-EbmLhEbF1x3UGOI0nT0ayfYwAkpW4N0x8ggs/s1600/IMG_1616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx4wg_3nsZOFtQkS1wAMb-IH_SSsJuzJe4Yn4t_aWlXym3lEJwuILsH5O-ziSVRtkz6A4-I82q3YO9iKX5n9Yz4xr67qotpxTdd_CoH-EbmLhEbF1x3UGOI0nT0ayfYwAkpW4N0x8ggs/s640/IMG_1616.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting building style in Kyoto.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVbSV-uiiO8a7lIdPfr6MKNT3oVeAmPfz66cJ4WGTO29P-IS-ayWYqxQoFRCWAdS7awi8OXgELBunAs21Ot2N2tbxlk9Uz3kt7NNnzKl3rFwvHqMZYogoAIo_Hw4tmfYSEfNztY8NiI4/s1600/IMG_1618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVbSV-uiiO8a7lIdPfr6MKNT3oVeAmPfz66cJ4WGTO29P-IS-ayWYqxQoFRCWAdS7awi8OXgELBunAs21Ot2N2tbxlk9Uz3kt7NNnzKl3rFwvHqMZYogoAIo_Hw4tmfYSEfNztY8NiI4/s640/IMG_1618.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A borderline creepy photo but it was interesting how she looked in silhouette reading in the dark area.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So if you like lively and I mean very lively concentrated places, that emphasize fashion, and can tolerate lots of people being in your space then </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5FxwSKzArftOUT6npSjfnSm8FZQnf8khDNHQzcWZBtbRuLt5afiyxjZ3Vp7LyZLJykqjuA1hk3P13Q5sfvj4DLK6mA355ubSj_Jh7HA_z6y-G9uS1c6cer1KjQE3pOsDvi2iNbFcMZU/s1600/IMG_1607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5FxwSKzArftOUT6npSjfnSm8FZQnf8khDNHQzcWZBtbRuLt5afiyxjZ3Vp7LyZLJykqjuA1hk3P13Q5sfvj4DLK6mA355ubSj_Jh7HA_z6y-G9uS1c6cer1KjQE3pOsDvi2iNbFcMZU/s640/IMG_1607.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought this was a nice example of some neat architecture in Kyoto.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">you may want to give Osaka a try, if not it might not be for you but that's ok because there are tons of other places that will suit your taste.</span></div>
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Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-52144181037533369412013-10-25T00:55:00.001-07:002013-10-29T23:34:33.653-07:00Yamazoe Home Stay<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpWajaFixMefpxHPBIIXCmON2kofYUdl4nJaq1MFX-LwD18MxLvNoOXRgyQmvZa4elwtqLnPZQBxKtkUbQGlfkGB8QUGpwoPrgxDt2e602sIYARSB9zP00Fi3W9YgL-lopZuzStNaY7o/s1600/IMG_1053%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpWajaFixMefpxHPBIIXCmON2kofYUdl4nJaq1MFX-LwD18MxLvNoOXRgyQmvZa4elwtqLnPZQBxKtkUbQGlfkGB8QUGpwoPrgxDt2e602sIYARSB9zP00Fi3W9YgL-lopZuzStNaY7o/s640/IMG_1053%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of the amazing black rocks that go on and on with an unseen river below. NOT human-made.</td></tr>
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One thing I did before I came to Nara that I am proud of and satisfied
with is my preparations. One preparation being communication o various
interests and goals.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbtlvvsNj_58TKVrOCNw_whcWZYJTFJ_pO_vPcDtJ9_X9rY5Y1BZXxNTopCqr4puF7mUQ4JVJmCy5e4og69HKfrf1qQ_hOW-keKyv_SGkBmXEgmbBdylw2k8GiMjZ6djfMIcXOr26Fe4/s1600/IMG_1208%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbtlvvsNj_58TKVrOCNw_whcWZYJTFJ_pO_vPcDtJ9_X9rY5Y1BZXxNTopCqr4puF7mUQ4JVJmCy5e4og69HKfrf1qQ_hOW-keKyv_SGkBmXEgmbBdylw2k8GiMjZ6djfMIcXOr26Fe4/s400/IMG_1208%5B1%5D.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where I slept, in a tatami room with a wood table.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPL-rXWRvaF0g_TmZqqh2G8LkMC0JqpOZo5axXtjS7tSrXA5iUk98PJtON9JbA7Z36MaYahq7Yq9iN_ZqwCgCna15-me3GWWYPENyNKV5fQo4L7f_zNG1P5iGyBwtavGCazUAnIujv8Y/s1600/IMG_1166%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPL-rXWRvaF0g_TmZqqh2G8LkMC0JqpOZo5axXtjS7tSrXA5iUk98PJtON9JbA7Z36MaYahq7Yq9iN_ZqwCgCna15-me3GWWYPENyNKV5fQo4L7f_zNG1P5iGyBwtavGCazUAnIujv8Y/s400/IMG_1166%5B1%5D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a tour of the local tea factory.</td></tr>
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Since I did this in advance it gave faculty and advisors time to help me make my goals a reality. One such goal was to experience life outside of the normal college scene. So getting to know non-college students was a must for me.<br />
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This past Monday and Tuesday I had a homestay in Yamazoe village which is quite different from Nara city though it`s only about 40 minutes away by car.<br />
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The size of the place, the scenery, products produced and the personality of the area were a great relaxing time. I especially liked the sheep raising culture that exists in Yamazoe.<br />
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The lifestyle seems less fast paced and definitely not a huge tourist draw, which is a relief from Nara Citiy`s large tourist base.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of recently cut tea fields in Yamazoe.</td></tr>
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Don`t leave Yamazoe without some sheep meat, or tea though or you will definitely be missing out.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under the Kaki (Persimmon) tree near a local shrine.</td></tr>
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I visited a tea factory, tea fields and farmers, and also learned about the local recycling program and recycling efforts among other experiences.<br />
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I would highly encourage others planning to study abroad to supplement their studies with outside NON-college student teacher relationships as well as it was such a rich experience and also<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of a large tea field while it is being cut.</td></tr>
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pretty intensive in the Japanese language since people outside of the college scene often don`t speak any or much English so you are forced to constantly speak strictly Japanese as compared to at the dorms or at school where you can either speak a mix or straight English at times.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH2Ug7hVdXnBcRSTeBI196h8s0INOD_jLHEoMW5cV8IP2yDEgrVpvat46qtqiSpy-KmILqqo2Tr0SiDIhS8dv0i3eK4K7HOzNuXXlgQCgpTOBzVRw6MikEZUBWYRYKDhhgDPz0ZKnXPk/s1600/IMG_1215%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH2Ug7hVdXnBcRSTeBI196h8s0INOD_jLHEoMW5cV8IP2yDEgrVpvat46qtqiSpy-KmILqqo2Tr0SiDIhS8dv0i3eK4K7HOzNuXXlgQCgpTOBzVRw6MikEZUBWYRYKDhhgDPz0ZKnXPk/s640/IMG_1215%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of my homestay family`s house.</td></tr>
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It can get stressful only speaking Japanese but if you coordinate a short homestay, you can gain proficiency and not be too overwhelmed at the same time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamboo forest near the local shrine.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawH18sjwD_gif_ZNrwLO3i1rdlN04wF2aHj-aCu-rDCEYGxt71XdkVKYvkxyjBqCvG0gfVqbxloKVhTOvuTzNl2XYD1tEaTLsDriPJGEWyTyTYB2ViLSa5yBg7MO2NXrt35MnBoLLB8U/s1600/IMG_1065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawH18sjwD_gif_ZNrwLO3i1rdlN04wF2aHj-aCu-rDCEYGxt71XdkVKYvkxyjBqCvG0gfVqbxloKVhTOvuTzNl2XYD1tEaTLsDriPJGEWyTyTYB2ViLSa5yBg7MO2NXrt35MnBoLLB8U/s640/IMG_1065.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behind me is the amazing mountain scenery of Yamazoe area.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Fi5-cDnqrkiJnE_tT9P5cyIWCkWCMAYtdo8sySCDqFrBz5RQX2aQu-VRip0M_eVuiWez0ea-QFR9-jgO28vuOlYIJ0qGq6TpuF3p9rt8RiabhhAcjNTbvBU-39a-xbDWjdp2ZFH0YfY/s1600/IMG_1068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Fi5-cDnqrkiJnE_tT9P5cyIWCkWCMAYtdo8sySCDqFrBz5RQX2aQu-VRip0M_eVuiWez0ea-QFR9-jgO28vuOlYIJ0qGq6TpuF3p9rt8RiabhhAcjNTbvBU-39a-xbDWjdp2ZFH0YfY/s320/IMG_1068.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making mochi a traditional rice flour sweet.</td></tr>
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I know when I came back to classes after my homestay I actually was much more proficient. </div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-10024951345763929602013-10-25T00:03:00.003-07:002013-10-25T00:08:42.155-07:00Toushi Jima (Part 2 photos)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy Photo Akikosan.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Non poisonous but large, spiders found on Toushi Jima.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The symbol for 8, and the bamboo planters were all over Toushi Jima.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boats in the harbor. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The delicious senbei crackers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the main road on the Island.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjy4gxvETlebYa6d4T2aU8ULdFEqNC28qJlZJh8hlmqjecMXI1Ta0UvQhWDNyYuXk5e0h2eQoavfDyHhS-6uDUoPzl7bEJhhD12dLDsCLGK0imG2WCruOVFSYc81XPqEt00xQQnxnPTo/s1600/IMG_0844%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjy4gxvETlebYa6d4T2aU8ULdFEqNC28qJlZJh8hlmqjecMXI1Ta0UvQhWDNyYuXk5e0h2eQoavfDyHhS-6uDUoPzl7bEJhhD12dLDsCLGK0imG2WCruOVFSYc81XPqEt00xQQnxnPTo/s640/IMG_0844%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Innovative use of bamboo as a planter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GedwvzJMSj_sb4OkNNw6YulZvifdUCSsybPunajm7jqJvViz4tvZBJqcdqVKFAF__7ohnCAi3PkwbeOMKaF6t3QMlXQDidg9SbC9LmIoUObVQ7zXQGvzfwz0TX8H2xSkBdNYaw65oqI/s1600/IMG_1034%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GedwvzJMSj_sb4OkNNw6YulZvifdUCSsybPunajm7jqJvViz4tvZBJqcdqVKFAF__7ohnCAi3PkwbeOMKaF6t3QMlXQDidg9SbC9LmIoUObVQ7zXQGvzfwz0TX8H2xSkBdNYaw65oqI/s640/IMG_1034%5B1%5D.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For tourists of Mie Prefecture, you can be a Ninja too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnd6b76gtmdZibMVqkxurcI5dkiJDAluJQa85baiBYyAdyMyKodSPzTsL_jen2SisuB8QZj13gDPfF2X_kStg4jcKFgeiDSshve3xnHVNdhtCf73_F1mOqH46Dp-Vwy5lc8WAwCH7lP8I/s1600/IMG_0989%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnd6b76gtmdZibMVqkxurcI5dkiJDAluJQa85baiBYyAdyMyKodSPzTsL_jen2SisuB8QZj13gDPfF2X_kStg4jcKFgeiDSshve3xnHVNdhtCf73_F1mOqH46Dp-Vwy5lc8WAwCH7lP8I/s640/IMG_0989%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the Pacific ocean from the top of the hill mountain Onsen</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-11355846603394734312013-10-22T01:28:00.000-07:002013-10-22T01:58:28.824-07:00Toushi Jima The weekend trip to Toushi Island (Part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzRbrDi6IASBYX7vNly3wKP8oedmBVED7sKMZqJmoAtwEwW82IgAk5m979MGALcG24lXuldw6KRuDm7aNjZq97qqiFHsaAwTk31Gydn2lv0TMu4o5Lsc9sfP46n06jyuPym7CnjWFL2Q/s1600/IMG_0979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzRbrDi6IASBYX7vNly3wKP8oedmBVED7sKMZqJmoAtwEwW82IgAk5m979MGALcG24lXuldw6KRuDm7aNjZq97qqiFHsaAwTk31Gydn2lv0TMu4o5Lsc9sfP46n06jyuPym7CnjWFL2Q/s640/IMG_0979.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">At the Toushi Jima Guest house</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">hat a difference a change of scenery
can make in one's own mindset, even if that scenery comes with
torrential rain.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGpPpk_IDrbmGjQ7TkzDVDL7NEd910ZECjBUpD195dI_lSJ3clV6qZpiipX8_8u3JIVD2i0kE2PFpfg7dDrn2OaRlAvTZQlRaAClEER7x5sQ7q0_bltNCYpuyoZSNWZTBBGqgEWgodtg/s1600/IMG_0806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGpPpk_IDrbmGjQ7TkzDVDL7NEd910ZECjBUpD195dI_lSJ3clV6qZpiipX8_8u3JIVD2i0kE2PFpfg7dDrn2OaRlAvTZQlRaAClEER7x5sQ7q0_bltNCYpuyoZSNWZTBBGqgEWgodtg/s400/IMG_0806.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This weekend I went with a group of
school faculty to Toushi Island in Mie Prefecture just South East of
Nara Prefecture. To sum it up it was amazing.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPxvXb7NBLnGjZBk9E0wB8iMqZ1rzLKwiN22-xk8XXg1nOFftTblyu-iPvqUfWC0elByv4UQPFq7rPcIITQ7JCqPcss5IsjYVCnWLTrf_XvQNVvbyZS4Yc3IqSwEHg9a6hulsNLLcnEI/s1600/IMG_0805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPxvXb7NBLnGjZBk9E0wB8iMqZ1rzLKwiN22-xk8XXg1nOFftTblyu-iPvqUfWC0elByv4UQPFq7rPcIITQ7JCqPcss5IsjYVCnWLTrf_XvQNVvbyZS4Yc3IqSwEHg9a6hulsNLLcnEI/s400/IMG_0805.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">That, is a ninja, in Mie prefecture.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I had been feeling a little down and it
was just what I needed. It was raining off and on (mostly on)
Saturday when we left early in the morning, driving through a little
ways South of Nara City.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Watching, the scenery through the car
window and in the rain in no way tainted my feeling. I was
mesmerized. The faculty made polite and interesting conversation but
the scenery really held my attention.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinS1qneUuh6jKNW7VJEFWRtOjRswLmrjwAb00BF1Gfg9IP0py_f-0-KEdOM6qhCAx5sQtOOCR4_SpVSlGnEYm70msQqxpasmd79tbRN_XzX1dxbsaFo2G1SryvXKBTIPqlDhE3HTrfBI0/s1600/IMG_1031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinS1qneUuh6jKNW7VJEFWRtOjRswLmrjwAb00BF1Gfg9IP0py_f-0-KEdOM6qhCAx5sQtOOCR4_SpVSlGnEYm70msQqxpasmd79tbRN_XzX1dxbsaFo2G1SryvXKBTIPqlDhE3HTrfBI0/s640/IMG_1031.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ninja Omiyage and rest stop in Mie Prefecture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mountains, and mountains and more smoky
mountains with mist rising after the rain in the peaks. Covered with
trees to make them look almost unreal. It was something to remind me
of Appalachia but it had its own special flavor.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSEJz6iVv3jn14oGXpYKdXs1jSejFqTdiZ_VLNo7QI-SO-5y_tDal706JPCk2JXmzpxjpegX5L8JwZAMOxgcwvJwM4HAqI5g8WOojemF3mj8C0mrdCywIXERweuvDypW58GOJmHSHEKI/s1600/IMG_0824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSEJz6iVv3jn14oGXpYKdXs1jSejFqTdiZ_VLNo7QI-SO-5y_tDal706JPCk2JXmzpxjpegX5L8JwZAMOxgcwvJwM4HAqI5g8WOojemF3mj8C0mrdCywIXERweuvDypW58GOJmHSHEKI/s400/IMG_0824.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">Driving by tea farms, rice terraces,
cityscapes that had hills, cityscapes that were flat, and then
finally the seaside city of Toba where we left the car and took a
ferry to Toushi Jima (Island). Tucked into the Pacific Ocean the trip
was mostly in the bay area but I still was really at the Pacific
Ocean.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqWNn_w_bhvrFOnjlrlkjJI7CrrNVdtYRlxRRqSfGtHLDs0QXIOL15j-NRFrmbPmEMLy2eCN-WP4JDejLv_6Sgjtr0S7vKgwViJm9h86C2BdA9D12pMVIAzORVdvGLX4VKgknvCWbiIA/s1600/IMG_2535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqWNn_w_bhvrFOnjlrlkjJI7CrrNVdtYRlxRRqSfGtHLDs0QXIOL15j-NRFrmbPmEMLy2eCN-WP4JDejLv_6Sgjtr0S7vKgwViJm9h86C2BdA9D12pMVIAzORVdvGLX4VKgknvCWbiIA/s640/IMG_2535.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hosonosan courtesy photo: Arielle as an Amachan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On the trip there we could really feel
the difference when we crossed from the bay to the Pacific coast area
and the boat rocked in a way that was safe, but made a trip to Cedar
Point unnecessary.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After we arrived we got our fishing
poles and went for fishing! I caught maybe 3-4 puffer fish that were
so cute looked like little frogs and sounded like squeaky toads when
you poked them.
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zt54ieK1XdscpuM0RjVu6ovFbexpbNmAjyaff-kRsH1wRDwbOi3-qfuOGTUJ10nv9gnyodV7ss-Z1egfEe50HAG80TAajZQLrcMxzlwSi1iJBpYggSlNPrgYWBji38Mup_HHG_HDQBA/s1600/IMG_2543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zt54ieK1XdscpuM0RjVu6ovFbexpbNmAjyaff-kRsH1wRDwbOi3-qfuOGTUJ10nv9gnyodV7ss-Z1egfEe50HAG80TAajZQLrcMxzlwSi1iJBpYggSlNPrgYWBji38Mup_HHG_HDQBA/s640/IMG_2543.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy Photo from Hosonosan: Puffer fish first catch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then I caught a pretty Damsel looking
fish with bright yellow and black stripes and a Cowfish that has a
horn you have to be careful around. They went for about $20 for a
smaller one than I caught in the nearby restaurant- so I'm pretty
impressed with my catch.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFcIiiUF6W5xSHZVJlfXYAboQekcO0rKJ8dgULqpCeD3qLTToaXWN4MROlwuATLWiax2X9amov150dDqb0f2lPV2oFKq4mnMYbHFC9zsjtqYrKl0AXeV4XFiUS0k8TRUtNn3bx-IB6mM/s1600/IMG_0830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFcIiiUF6W5xSHZVJlfXYAboQekcO0rKJ8dgULqpCeD3qLTToaXWN4MROlwuATLWiax2X9amov150dDqb0f2lPV2oFKq4mnMYbHFC9zsjtqYrKl0AXeV4XFiUS0k8TRUtNn3bx-IB6mM/s400/IMG_0830.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We went to our rooms at the Guest house
with tatami mat floors and that prepared your catch of the day for
you along with a nice Ryokan style dinner.
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uDFS3PJfefQcKFckkQLG4US1CMXQLKbJTNumhwUkVShVwdenEvcLKPjQQ6V2RB9gbJOGxjlUB9hNGOjhvbX4jt8PTF_rM9uM9BA7btCWhrlUwk5hsCbc6dZ4ccEQ6x-1RptFBiww6BQ/s1600/IMG_0832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uDFS3PJfefQcKFckkQLG4US1CMXQLKbJTNumhwUkVShVwdenEvcLKPjQQ6V2RB9gbJOGxjlUB9hNGOjhvbX4jt8PTF_rM9uM9BA7btCWhrlUwk5hsCbc6dZ4ccEQ6x-1RptFBiww6BQ/s400/IMG_0832.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As a result of Saturday and Sunday I
ate so healthy I am craving a dough-nut which is something
unprecedented. Lots of seaweed, shrimp, various types of fish, other
types of seaweed, and the area's huge crab sized shrimp called Ise
Ebi, and more seaweed.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjao6GrvdYmvIgXAQTtnlI21igv1AEzA5cUwAeAQEzZukPZDEw94eySNnFdqxiE9P2-PabM3bk_OHVB9saQXNG4awQEJkHwLv76WZUpP52V0lzANjeThOnGUbtV3g9cgDblZ-UFyjhpOvk/s1600/IMG_0834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjao6GrvdYmvIgXAQTtnlI21igv1AEzA5cUwAeAQEzZukPZDEw94eySNnFdqxiE9P2-PabM3bk_OHVB9saQXNG4awQEJkHwLv76WZUpP52V0lzANjeThOnGUbtV3g9cgDblZ-UFyjhpOvk/s400/IMG_0834.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I shared a room with the other woman
and we slept on the futons on the tatami floor which was so much more
comfortable than my bed I am a little envious right now just typing
this.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7k1plWwM6EfZUNagakO7n8Bz6TAQ4FJ1z2pEfAEDFCLAEQyDr_BLNoP_2eytp4DPE52FZ_nuLuQlYkn5hQO0xwXjrARVOaaT0ygWSqMNixehWSF8tv4_YF4pvGKd-MvMI8S5dZeqxCo/s1600/IMG_0965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7k1plWwM6EfZUNagakO7n8Bz6TAQ4FJ1z2pEfAEDFCLAEQyDr_BLNoP_2eytp4DPE52FZ_nuLuQlYkn5hQO0xwXjrARVOaaT0ygWSqMNixehWSF8tv4_YF4pvGKd-MvMI8S5dZeqxCo/s400/IMG_0965.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then Sunday morning we had an amazingly
delicious breakfast with seaweed and Ise Ebi soup (with half the huge
shrimp still in it), rice, grilled fish, ham, egg, and freshly made
hot soy milk. It has to be the breakfast of champions.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaCm79A0bCR-S2eE3-sjw3n7_9SXqNt__6Kwk74oqQg20dOY4MO8lryjGrC1Z7kPxXLfd4GvXRa5HRNiYwIksgx-xf6I8xooP__EaPD8_o2T_Ak93jUnIKV5ffLZhtGTR080TMoRmrsA/s1600/IMG_0967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaCm79A0bCR-S2eE3-sjw3n7_9SXqNt__6Kwk74oqQg20dOY4MO8lryjGrC1Z7kPxXLfd4GvXRa5HRNiYwIksgx-xf6I8xooP__EaPD8_o2T_Ak93jUnIKV5ffLZhtGTR080TMoRmrsA/s400/IMG_0967.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjwDt55MRAWB9XfEn8-WGmSO23NqndClM_QdSgXLNpqAgcZZlkht4HfuXmTmSV4Nf1N0Si5I6o3JkQKfqRjXHqlmK9sqUg0obHaYJ8Wgi7hHYilzk3nZbZc4ZH2vnPnlnRkVgSJyLNww/s1600/IMG_0964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjwDt55MRAWB9XfEn8-WGmSO23NqndClM_QdSgXLNpqAgcZZlkht4HfuXmTmSV4Nf1N0Si5I6o3JkQKfqRjXHqlmK9sqUg0obHaYJ8Wgi7hHYilzk3nZbZc4ZH2vnPnlnRkVgSJyLNww/s640/IMG_0964.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The soup inside the shell was delicious!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We got to meet one of the Amachans- the
lady divers who are famous and even had a television show about them
for a while, which of course brings tourists to the island.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XQCiJEhMdaXMgqzON7YpH_BRzLkccj1iylel9h6a_zR1npt-02JfOsqT-XRHTpKRcl-z2o8J85C-BN_fIyY73zZx-_mtFijws5aFmfYeLmkR1ZqhUpM2vwc-0tf-pt7rYUnElhDMEEM/s1600/IMG_0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XQCiJEhMdaXMgqzON7YpH_BRzLkccj1iylel9h6a_zR1npt-02JfOsqT-XRHTpKRcl-z2o8J85C-BN_fIyY73zZx-_mtFijws5aFmfYeLmkR1ZqhUpM2vwc-0tf-pt7rYUnElhDMEEM/s400/IMG_0840.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The torrential rain was pretty intense
and we didn't go fishing again, but were content to go to the onsen
(hot springs) which was so cool. I was really impressed with myself
because in Japanese hot springs everyone gets naked- to soak in the
waters, no swimsuits.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbtyyDfr3nBqg98pRvMepW7ud3s3DYyCuUdOXm8ALQz3JEtzw9CyHtKhPe1BdnzfklnY9dq9tDbehi8k6kfazsHgrBROXDEnRNx7jcGA2kj9Assljtx9PjQOOg2_lbzKvlOP36PPH-Dg/s1600/IMG_1000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbtyyDfr3nBqg98pRvMepW7ud3s3DYyCuUdOXm8ALQz3JEtzw9CyHtKhPe1BdnzfklnY9dq9tDbehi8k6kfazsHgrBROXDEnRNx7jcGA2kj9Assljtx9PjQOOg2_lbzKvlOP36PPH-Dg/s640/IMG_1000.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the onsen. Hot water comes out of the rock pile in the corner.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt82oG1-WJYCvO3uIFboXsTSxcnNw1-M9CDv22fGB1PoAcRDDFpsIXfZjymD9-wzXqNzeW5z2QWwWKzO-julQgsIziEgnysUxAt7Y2r-2ZAJlNSE2VU4okgasF0mqpMxjceKApWj2GrE/s1600/IMG_0998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBt82oG1-WJYCvO3uIFboXsTSxcnNw1-M9CDv22fGB1PoAcRDDFpsIXfZjymD9-wzXqNzeW5z2QWwWKzO-julQgsIziEgnysUxAt7Y2r-2ZAJlNSE2VU4okgasF0mqpMxjceKApWj2GrE/s400/IMG_0998.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside portion of the onsen with a view of the sea.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was pretty cool, but it made it
easier because the other woman was just as blind as me without her
glasses so you really can't see much and she was really polite so it
all worked out to be a really fun, and interesting experience that
left my muscles feeling much better.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFN7dNtAQ-d9j6j9ws1QcgmSN8hkl0NBKGWWZIhugUHNg1FFO0po4MXzFHwsu1MhpPNVJm1uTTmUDNTh8J7mHCg1oGDfXHPSjnUuNyCX2UOc1Y9zkjY2Gt7voM1yq56K_bxEtMk3YqwE/s1600/IMG_0855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFN7dNtAQ-d9j6j9ws1QcgmSN8hkl0NBKGWWZIhugUHNg1FFO0po4MXzFHwsu1MhpPNVJm1uTTmUDNTh8J7mHCg1oGDfXHPSjnUuNyCX2UOc1Y9zkjY2Gt7voM1yq56K_bxEtMk3YqwE/s640/IMG_0855.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The tiny streets on Toushi Island barely fit a car through.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-BWC9TtUtUyf6kSSXZZu9c1r_8rLnBex-7fXTpYmKMKfMJ0bG2P1R7RjC0lRw8dCHsSxx8daJBP6m4hWSSDtwnJeRwNAx9eVzPgC-vkNWkysC_KTjbSF5kJifvw7H1lgDUGLNQD6bwE/s1600/IMG_0859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-BWC9TtUtUyf6kSSXZZu9c1r_8rLnBex-7fXTpYmKMKfMJ0bG2P1R7RjC0lRw8dCHsSxx8daJBP6m4hWSSDtwnJeRwNAx9eVzPgC-vkNWkysC_KTjbSF5kJifvw7H1lgDUGLNQD6bwE/s640/IMG_0859.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narrow alley example.<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhng2iJTvUuKFltsF9vGH9JjUbPhMWOS7GcT95GO0eOyR1Ng1IL8foK3D7_ZTfc0UW2dxbntMRFiuTeE55Y5EQ3wvjNF_0-NX2enZ15bz-uxLlfJCu2JyHplcSKqed4sjdVviEiKBw7p94/s1600/IMG_0892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhng2iJTvUuKFltsF9vGH9JjUbPhMWOS7GcT95GO0eOyR1Ng1IL8foK3D7_ZTfc0UW2dxbntMRFiuTeE55Y5EQ3wvjNF_0-NX2enZ15bz-uxLlfJCu2JyHplcSKqed4sjdVviEiKBw7p94/s640/IMG_0892.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then we went to the local restaurant
and had nigiri sushi and went back to wait for the boat back to the
mainland and then drive back to Nara.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsP0R6lp7wgR1nH2Skc-Hg65O7efKt7s-dg-cdA9VqB87QnIaqY0JYGDhB369GcVlPifhNvZiMXgaiHtbF23ztDeXKBLTRgzb5HJCARHu4RrrOMMMVzIk4W2XcPw7OzaqkkN4na3QZEQM/s1600/IMG_0942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsP0R6lp7wgR1nH2Skc-Hg65O7efKt7s-dg-cdA9VqB87QnIaqY0JYGDhB369GcVlPifhNvZiMXgaiHtbF23ztDeXKBLTRgzb5HJCARHu4RrrOMMMVzIk4W2XcPw7OzaqkkN4na3QZEQM/s400/IMG_0942.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> It was a long weekend but since
I have Mondays off as well, I had a homestay planned as well for
Monday and part of Tuesday at a tea farm in Yamazoe, (south of Nara
city).</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwmWhyphenhyphenfUAF0btC53NbxROdglCMzkldwCPmnc4FOoz53LaRKrOMbwO0YIWdACvU9p7tT0E7_ehXJdrjD4T1i0a0HFy1CkvBFe0bmkVOSQ4HJvYdnV7Rjm4At3x9suLHtzk-r-4fjny8aI/s1600/IMG_0937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwmWhyphenhyphenfUAF0btC53NbxROdglCMzkldwCPmnc4FOoz53LaRKrOMbwO0YIWdACvU9p7tT0E7_ehXJdrjD4T1i0a0HFy1CkvBFe0bmkVOSQ4HJvYdnV7Rjm4At3x9suLHtzk-r-4fjny8aI/s640/IMG_0937.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Boats at the Toushi Harbor, a bird visitor as well.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Next time I will update on my Yamazoe home stay experience.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQ6Wf9JAq-U2Xnn7jamaJGCDpw7hsfo01qbRipXdrG0eaVHUmFINTQu7AL3T1YWbKr6uaJmGBxpQe8MG1SaENrnRtJauqQ9ktakAi4bbaxtsEivjP0jh4Mn-Zs_qSgLfuiYNCRffIaPI/s1600/IMG_0973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQ6Wf9JAq-U2Xnn7jamaJGCDpw7hsfo01qbRipXdrG0eaVHUmFINTQu7AL3T1YWbKr6uaJmGBxpQe8MG1SaENrnRtJauqQ9ktakAi4bbaxtsEivjP0jh4Mn-Zs_qSgLfuiYNCRffIaPI/s640/IMG_0973.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the rooftops from 3rd floor at the guest house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXOTkfyept2IhMH0s1p828-kqIDVVoc734Qx_D6eV3uNt42u6ifEr8sOBQUuYZTfcV-mrJtj-ogQdzQxzYG7ArfUvSMlRkb_gWiardvQZe0hvw7GlVdsusklYYqoZc7GDC89RQeiztQI/s1600/IMG_0894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXOTkfyept2IhMH0s1p828-kqIDVVoc734Qx_D6eV3uNt42u6ifEr8sOBQUuYZTfcV-mrJtj-ogQdzQxzYG7ArfUvSMlRkb_gWiardvQZe0hvw7GlVdsusklYYqoZc7GDC89RQeiztQI/s640/IMG_0894.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Possibly the oldest Pink Panther toy in existence.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KdrB8gM9UzilfcuA9rqFXpzDh1-BB-l3w08wO1S3TL0QkImot-z9k_C5ZtQq69S2ky2y3icCYl78WyKofkPdlLJRhwiw8C0mntxrR25MC4uDgG-qJ9Ti3-g2BekhdRXL9Uv4KNGHNWI/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KdrB8gM9UzilfcuA9rqFXpzDh1-BB-l3w08wO1S3TL0QkImot-z9k_C5ZtQq69S2ky2y3icCYl78WyKofkPdlLJRhwiw8C0mntxrR25MC4uDgG-qJ9Ti3-g2BekhdRXL9Uv4KNGHNWI/s640/IMG_0891.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Toushi jima business or house</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyqzb0Zk84rKzJYITdKsGWQ2FX-RggVprq8OCgezhKqoX59QIuAYGcP98Xaa4sc8pqmm_Q_3-LMuk6aIlBoafYqPr-6m0p5Mp02CILW-8wS1jcSW9YgqXSzvrDqBvId5HTLhIzd_Xm8A/s1600/IMG_0958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyqzb0Zk84rKzJYITdKsGWQ2FX-RggVprq8OCgezhKqoX59QIuAYGcP98Xaa4sc8pqmm_Q_3-LMuk6aIlBoafYqPr-6m0p5Mp02CILW-8wS1jcSW9YgqXSzvrDqBvId5HTLhIzd_Xm8A/s640/IMG_0958.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Part of our dinner</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2RNs59zmA9276buplrNjdYDGkrryND9ye2FLoGJL0HRZufiqj8gmfY5C-MnfsFPTQGp84gwNjiR6wNJGQapwfNS7ahuQd_tmME9L0DfSev-GmMWgsYy3vghq01CcYBtnM3lmil4wcY4/s1600/IMG_0961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2RNs59zmA9276buplrNjdYDGkrryND9ye2FLoGJL0HRZufiqj8gmfY5C-MnfsFPTQGp84gwNjiR6wNJGQapwfNS7ahuQd_tmME9L0DfSev-GmMWgsYy3vghq01CcYBtnM3lmil4wcY4/s640/IMG_0961.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The fish we caught.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7QBqVIPyVyu_XBdo9cZfBHKh4SxXoCu1vuNo9w00T301qYKGc4s0G0Uah4lz-Bl5zte2f5ZjAO4M1AOEk6lp8mLQiFIfYEamDJgBn0eqWrP2KU3BvZKPfDQkvX885LXVixuhGaKfJLc/s1600/IMG_0927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7QBqVIPyVyu_XBdo9cZfBHKh4SxXoCu1vuNo9w00T301qYKGc4s0G0Uah4lz-Bl5zte2f5ZjAO4M1AOEk6lp8mLQiFIfYEamDJgBn0eqWrP2KU3BvZKPfDQkvX885LXVixuhGaKfJLc/s640/IMG_0927.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ise Ebi</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-38696882034680386782013-10-15T02:28:00.002-07:002014-02-24T09:15:15.262-08:00On Difficulties, updates, and some photos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Difficulties</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes people forget, or just don't talk about the little things that can be really frustrating, just little difficulties while studying abroad, or in Japan.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZugTslCw1jHpcvGEjcLaF0Z6_x2ZbbzA5Qk54vIMXzcD17625sXqBXQizdAhbxmQ8Mm_ml_WUOewiPMdwZ2VlGbTF5ExJaILIBT011AY5r2NAo4KhaGiDXUPj_XMVBoXy0Taj1rcWBQ/s1600/IMG_0792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZugTslCw1jHpcvGEjcLaF0Z6_x2ZbbzA5Qk54vIMXzcD17625sXqBXQizdAhbxmQ8Mm_ml_WUOewiPMdwZ2VlGbTF5ExJaILIBT011AY5r2NAo4KhaGiDXUPj_XMVBoXy0Taj1rcWBQ/s320/IMG_0792.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of kanji on a Kaki ha Zushi package</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the biggest frustrations for me is the inability to read the daily newspaper. Since I rarely am online, I still want to be informed and it is really difficult to understand the vast amounts of kanji in the average newspaper. Some say you have to know around 2,000-2,200 to be able to comprehend it.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAIJqWnkqgzyxMN1dMplOHX1mRoT_1lT5R1u8KIcRle_k_fM7lksnlLJpsEX_mNs-tW79y-BIa7kC_AgaAdSdcMvObQniEvFirx3v31PsUCy6ltnHZwWnQmmAmyycrVp9AIoOreAv6rA/s1600/IMG_0793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAIJqWnkqgzyxMN1dMplOHX1mRoT_1lT5R1u8KIcRle_k_fM7lksnlLJpsEX_mNs-tW79y-BIa7kC_AgaAdSdcMvObQniEvFirx3v31PsUCy6ltnHZwWnQmmAmyycrVp9AIoOreAv6rA/s640/IMG_0793.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Kaki ha Zushi a really traditional form of sushi made in Nara and was eaten in ancient times. Preserved sushi.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For many students this isn't an issue for them but the vast amount of kanji does come into play in many aspects of our lives as international students. One big example; mail.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-WJwZ4YQ1jIr830jJf7quMFxBHSqRBTXOb0zz0Zg6tRc_82iej_G6guAOjmdT5RkTN9kFZl5WJpVQL4RILyrVxdulciXZnb6IxE32oQrHuO4RyuH85kHCxo5AIJHgNTZvZUXWHMicIc/s1600/IMG_0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-WJwZ4YQ1jIr830jJf7quMFxBHSqRBTXOb0zz0Zg6tRc_82iej_G6guAOjmdT5RkTN9kFZl5WJpVQL4RILyrVxdulciXZnb6IxE32oQrHuO4RyuH85kHCxo5AIJHgNTZvZUXWHMicIc/s640/IMG_0187.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People walk by on the campus of Nara Kyo Iku Daigaku.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We often get mail which we have no idea about. Official looking and intimidating I often simply ask other students what the mail is about and then try to figure things out from there.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One word of advice ask more than one person. Seriously. I know of students who didn't take such things seriously and they missed the deadline for health insurance bills for example. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt2039zmNmQxB_geM78XEbf2DryK1o5fzANlo_CmNsJSZntTWFn8aZvANOu71PbGzUEOneh5aF_eWgA5fz897QT67pfoQDJjZP06m0gIYIdVTDC3IcBtuqxl48mO3XnzO2WfQaRKdptY/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt2039zmNmQxB_geM78XEbf2DryK1o5fzANlo_CmNsJSZntTWFn8aZvANOu71PbGzUEOneh5aF_eWgA5fz897QT67pfoQDJjZP06m0gIYIdVTDC3IcBtuqxl48mO3XnzO2WfQaRKdptY/s400/IMG_0233.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn leaves finally have started to pile up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't be afraid to ask, or too proud to ask for help with kanji.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Getting cellphones, internet service, and using your required Japanese bank account can be difficult but the same advice goes for nearly everything; ask for assistance. But in the meantime research what you can prior to coming.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"</b><span style="color: #4e5665;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;">I
suppose it`s all a matter of </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4e5665;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #4e5665;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;">attitude. You could let a lot of </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4e5665;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br />things
bother you if you </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #4e5665;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;">wanted
to-the rules, the idiots who </span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4e5665;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br />think
they`re hot shit, the room-mates doing radio calisthenics</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4e5665;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #4e5665;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"> </span></span><span style="color: #4e5665;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;">at
6.30 in the morning. But it`s pretty much the same </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4e5665;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br />anywhere
you go, you can manage.</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #4e5665;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background: #fafbfb;">" </span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br />~Haruki
Murakami's Norwegian Wood.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #4e5665;"><span style="font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br /></span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;">And
these words wouldn't have nearly as much meaning and </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br />impact
for me had I read them about Japan, in Japan, and </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br />about
similar experiences.It has a deeper impact that makes </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br />you
sit up and take notice.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: #fafbfb;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdcNBc03LPTXcmQewEDX8EsUQUUiuzYouDzMQobLKg-0HGS9xirzx7AmpnLNLZuL9nwF-sdvd227-8j8X97knELZ7E4s6oaDL-8lMnTwjFaKU_b6spTa5UCar0Ug5anC0uCoKMM2xPi8/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsdcNBc03LPTXcmQewEDX8EsUQUUiuzYouDzMQobLKg-0HGS9xirzx7AmpnLNLZuL9nwF-sdvd227-8j8X97knELZ7E4s6oaDL-8lMnTwjFaKU_b6spTa5UCar0Ug5anC0uCoKMM2xPi8/s640/IMG_0308.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional area in Koriyama near Nara City. (Pictured is Asahi Daily Newspaper dist. center)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafbfb;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br />Perhaps
another benefit of my semester </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br />stay
here as opposed to a year stay, is that I am more </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br />aware
of how much time I have and how much I hope</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;"><br /></span></span><span style="background: #fafbfb;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: #fafbfb;">to
get out of this experience.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.15in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMX9IbzmuV_51ZGCWGsBiTp95n68VtuOabdA8lsbda9XKgIqlB9Y99QZUdqfrZCvlrVHtZ-T7Ff4Xk4NuLcIXJ_jhZeJTHNLtbqqFp98faQKbXGVsAihqt1AqsbQ20OUQLJ538_vY16k/s1600/IMG_0321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMX9IbzmuV_51ZGCWGsBiTp95n68VtuOabdA8lsbda9XKgIqlB9Y99QZUdqfrZCvlrVHtZ-T7Ff4Xk4NuLcIXJ_jhZeJTHNLtbqqFp98faQKbXGVsAihqt1AqsbQ20OUQLJ538_vY16k/s640/IMG_0321.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Koriyama fall festival booth I volunteered at.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: #fafbfb;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Updates</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This weekend I went to Koriyama, a town near Nara city but still in Nara Prefecture on Friday. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfHDcc180F0lBhY7shmvbGGTzDrZWu9gNNCcorJvrHepW2qmFEvdxSsfcrgxx2GMndyy9qbz8m2dQr5hofATBwIb3LNTv8cHxJqPyLnz6C105WGm1c0PLDxX9zDc5Boy2HD1egHLhrtE/s1600/IMG_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfHDcc180F0lBhY7shmvbGGTzDrZWu9gNNCcorJvrHepW2qmFEvdxSsfcrgxx2GMndyy9qbz8m2dQr5hofATBwIb3LNTv8cHxJqPyLnz6C105WGm1c0PLDxX9zDc5Boy2HD1egHLhrtE/s640/IMG_0319.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A girl runs by the goldfish catching booth at Koriyama festival.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There I got to visit a neat hippy avante garde styled art gallery and the Asahi Daily Newspaper distribution center for the town, and then I volunteered at the Koriyama fall festival at a booth selling fried chicken and stuffed tofu.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMA8UgWFKh_Y_8yajvwe9qTEQVNqX_tY01gXGBATPakd9BOeHU26xxoNcrw8NqkcZ7RbAY11ZcVB1WyYBX0kLz7Yu45ae1sT3UeL2rh0nDvpkA3G5lYUIwNbNmLP3jtHn_JzoVmfUX1ss/s1600/IMG_0328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMA8UgWFKh_Y_8yajvwe9qTEQVNqX_tY01gXGBATPakd9BOeHU26xxoNcrw8NqkcZ7RbAY11ZcVB1WyYBX0kLz7Yu45ae1sT3UeL2rh0nDvpkA3G5lYUIwNbNmLP3jtHn_JzoVmfUX1ss/s400/IMG_0328.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple in Koriyama where festival was held.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Koriyama is also well known for it's goldfish which Samurai used to raise as a part time job and so many people like to do the game where you catch the goldfish in tissue paper nets. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I caught 10 this time, an improvement from my previous 8 at the moon viewing festival in Nara city.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFLgR_Q7PL9TcWZIZIWxvdMUS6c1PbjHYzCvniBfKrMtJwt1xKdm9IBBd21KNuWdj4gQH7LEUVZ4oZM11RqMuzpIeHKNKw-slbKB78tkhZtrDRQH7Nsx-CF5yZufxk6FlCDr_BKT6-gI/s1600/IMG_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFLgR_Q7PL9TcWZIZIWxvdMUS6c1PbjHYzCvniBfKrMtJwt1xKdm9IBBd21KNuWdj4gQH7LEUVZ4oZM11RqMuzpIeHKNKw-slbKB78tkhZtrDRQH7Nsx-CF5yZufxk6FlCDr_BKT6-gI/s640/IMG_0345.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children sit silently in representation at the Temple.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then on Saturday I went to a rice farm in Tawaramoto, and helped to harvest rice in a traditional and modern way. First I helped with the combine machine style, picking up bags of rice grain that the machine had harvested. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1qAv0gL0RYyIZhGlv4fX5GAtolcJFLd-wdsWQ9amJjAnHkIQ4EcWIJ5qySk9VZLPKeXc6XVs5XYnJgwijfh_wCTMwkzmRgMN04cHZFX3CGEa1mw0-6ByyaMEpCEeFXvhI-WZf3Y3S_c/s1600/IMG_0353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1qAv0gL0RYyIZhGlv4fX5GAtolcJFLd-wdsWQ9amJjAnHkIQ4EcWIJ5qySk9VZLPKeXc6XVs5XYnJgwijfh_wCTMwkzmRgMN04cHZFX3CGEa1mw0-6ByyaMEpCEeFXvhI-WZf3Y3S_c/s640/IMG_0353.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another example of the Engrish displays on Japanese people's clothing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then I cut rice with a hand scythe called a kama, and then I got to drive the combine for a little ways. The farmer said I was the first foreigner they had had on their farm ever. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qQBcJseYfNy70zl0v8Z0VT2vex3_1gSnYVM1wpuytGcFj-5fXezXgu9U1V1qflwWfSGVIHi7zMx9uqupcIeAAVIECWAq-_dMYcidBrWuG-Ot6ugwwKrZ42uTrW5Xr16lD4FFA6lNRUs/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qQBcJseYfNy70zl0v8Z0VT2vex3_1gSnYVM1wpuytGcFj-5fXezXgu9U1V1qflwWfSGVIHi7zMx9uqupcIeAAVIECWAq-_dMYcidBrWuG-Ot6ugwwKrZ42uTrW5Xr16lD4FFA6lNRUs/s400/IMG_0361.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I try a sweet senbei cracker , earlier I tried a savory version with mayo and sauce.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolVnOHJWiaRHMF3FTqHQ4S8VNqjPhmUOjkIcg5nDfYGUanlQwIUUCRN3j4zZWyr8eRil_ivJAVJqs7TJ0B5z9Hptm8qFdyY4E-qRVVKKMAtzBf1IqAgnXfcWK4Qcah7HB5NEYxyKNuiw/s1600/IMG_0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolVnOHJWiaRHMF3FTqHQ4S8VNqjPhmUOjkIcg5nDfYGUanlQwIUUCRN3j4zZWyr8eRil_ivJAVJqs7TJ0B5z9Hptm8qFdyY4E-qRVVKKMAtzBf1IqAgnXfcWK4Qcah7HB5NEYxyKNuiw/s640/IMG_0348.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At temples people write their wishes or hopes on 'Ema' and also tie fortune slips to racks.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next month or early December they said I will have some of the rice we harvested, and I tried some of the foods they made with it. It was amazing, the best rice ever, it was so flavorful and the texture was perfect.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJ5iXeVQkxAQz2yjZLK3GI1QanrxTRdqVADPf_nzAdKZ42SzRuHLqFb-EnVxaMcwI10Lq1saURo3TDG5IhjLf8_oYXj6xPmZx5Ykpd_8BkjDdOM1SQ_dk9VsJdiKBL2S6R8Cs7YLHj4g/s1600/IMG_0545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJ5iXeVQkxAQz2yjZLK3GI1QanrxTRdqVADPf_nzAdKZ42SzRuHLqFb-EnVxaMcwI10Lq1saURo3TDG5IhjLf8_oYXj6xPmZx5Ykpd_8BkjDdOM1SQ_dk9VsJdiKBL2S6R8Cs7YLHj4g/s640/IMG_0545.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the farmers looks on at the field of rice.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This coming weekend I will be going on a fishing trip to Toushi Jima in Mie prefecture next to Nara on the Eastern coast. There I will also be exploring the town and staying in a Ryokan type atmosphere with hot springs. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPQNu3pe-XwyHzrgGpauGakruQo2KUU0rwLqRIqrcF9MUheBpM2_jgLV0q5gv-4U5T3_-gg0ZiW0U9sLR05RqOWwCrti-BZ7OTf0h6Tf3kbT5PnoInlu724oT3MFPVU0kExm8Q9mlFWk/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPQNu3pe-XwyHzrgGpauGakruQo2KUU0rwLqRIqrcF9MUheBpM2_jgLV0q5gv-4U5T3_-gg0ZiW0U9sLR05RqOWwCrti-BZ7OTf0h6Tf3kbT5PnoInlu724oT3MFPVU0kExm8Q9mlFWk/s640/IMG_0563.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am cutting rice by hand.</td></tr>
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Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-20464866605006206202013-10-08T22:53:00.001-07:002013-10-08T23:41:43.292-07:00Photo update. Here are a few photos until the next blog post.A<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YddN5QXwCKc36h-Qweumja7Dlxg_IQO3Tfdlk9_x3JFFNcwHM-unsojWPRJ_OenmHdF-oveO5Zs9eK1pYFuns1jBX12TbG7r6_NTB8qpp-dZuUTVIVHSs4l0c7_RHS34b23qEN4s8yU/s1600/IMG_0140%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YddN5QXwCKc36h-Qweumja7Dlxg_IQO3Tfdlk9_x3JFFNcwHM-unsojWPRJ_OenmHdF-oveO5Zs9eK1pYFuns1jBX12TbG7r6_NTB8qpp-dZuUTVIVHSs4l0c7_RHS34b23qEN4s8yU/s640/IMG_0140%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the North Women`s Dorm entrance </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqj2K_G1p-NzAOHnF-ignDjxPKPjyrXxQd4WZXehrwOP-ci79LgWHSoy6R6ihaEO2YpwrtyDYENr6Q6tXpLIuzBiybSM0IzegTSooRffV0zEUXvUuXoe-bnJ1mF7RJOUFFF7T8NJ_mg4/s1600/IMG_0088%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqj2K_G1p-NzAOHnF-ignDjxPKPjyrXxQd4WZXehrwOP-ci79LgWHSoy6R6ihaEO2YpwrtyDYENr6Q6tXpLIuzBiybSM0IzegTSooRffV0zEUXvUuXoe-bnJ1mF7RJOUFFF7T8NJ_mg4/s640/IMG_0088%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A frequent scene outside my balcony. My buddies come to visit me and ask for food. You aren`t supposed to feed them.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8w29898trTfJ9yKkYz75QKANLBDRmq1WhwJJKTcdQxo7HevdlbFQ8nH4GQ8xV2TpZ94_OwS2lf2xoOsR_bZ8FYa6N5AVf6adEbcyH0WuU-yZPfGkimgDei_vSJDsCvXTWstgm2bB78P8/s1600/IMG_0073%5B2%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dsa="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8w29898trTfJ9yKkYz75QKANLBDRmq1WhwJJKTcdQxo7HevdlbFQ8nH4GQ8xV2TpZ94_OwS2lf2xoOsR_bZ8FYa6N5AVf6adEbcyH0WuU-yZPfGkimgDei_vSJDsCvXTWstgm2bB78P8/s640/IMG_0073%5B2%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A frequent scene outside of my balcony.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQe6vLTNatUdLveHZZJgYYstI-OHB6Dk0pmqYZt7mrmAUqkndOTWB0CobrrAzgOfpYKj39k16BojgRQ2dtULN1PhPcAyFKyaP7GK7Vohu30bDElemfJnWcFqvmijdOEGIZ32HJUyn5v4/s1600/IMG_9825%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQe6vLTNatUdLveHZZJgYYstI-OHB6Dk0pmqYZt7mrmAUqkndOTWB0CobrrAzgOfpYKj39k16BojgRQ2dtULN1PhPcAyFKyaP7GK7Vohu30bDElemfJnWcFqvmijdOEGIZ32HJUyn5v4/s640/IMG_9825%5B1%5D.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Wakakusayama Mountain resting stop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBkdZOs5TOMgUvbusIgY6TXHCZ2HodXNIqI-lmhZlCDEqDAMpNgg2QtweSd5yVJ7rGBY1tmcbJy8hSyKGjt5N0PmOsyPWAPNX01uTrTBXOc2ZTR97E2F-c3l_EdMXT7ePULrC6Fa5Kyk/s1600/IMG_9833%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBkdZOs5TOMgUvbusIgY6TXHCZ2HodXNIqI-lmhZlCDEqDAMpNgg2QtweSd5yVJ7rGBY1tmcbJy8hSyKGjt5N0PmOsyPWAPNX01uTrTBXOc2ZTR97E2F-c3l_EdMXT7ePULrC6Fa5Kyk/s640/IMG_9833%5B1%5D.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Wakakusayama Mountain resting stop </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way down from Wakakusayama.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sssLF3j0cp0zJgLXz80Qi9axN6HpTbvCm-NBtBAosI4MN41n3MMH0Tpa04bMikdYWCyjrrHxbF6jOGQudISUuVTTq7_nj50HZQm8DbdsR5WEfyKWamM_iov1W836jQHCdEFJ54rZjo0/s1600/IMG_0131%5B2%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dsa="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sssLF3j0cp0zJgLXz80Qi9axN6HpTbvCm-NBtBAosI4MN41n3MMH0Tpa04bMikdYWCyjrrHxbF6jOGQudISUuVTTq7_nj50HZQm8DbdsR5WEfyKWamM_iov1W836jQHCdEFJ54rZjo0/s640/IMG_0131%5B2%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At NUE near my class.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgez6VHeQsOaBdwr1Fch6nJgF_b_6Rrw4vptiL1ocm-VKMFgWLDwJhjUoa2F-OT2-clEOVvP3nRwni3cf1zmfFWQ1j2rsmzU84PtkBJV6BJXy-vZklFX5aEmY5-XVf_3RNtofZ_zzIDHFY/s1600/IMG_0133%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgez6VHeQsOaBdwr1Fch6nJgF_b_6Rrw4vptiL1ocm-VKMFgWLDwJhjUoa2F-OT2-clEOVvP3nRwni3cf1zmfFWQ1j2rsmzU84PtkBJV6BJXy-vZklFX5aEmY5-XVf_3RNtofZ_zzIDHFY/s640/IMG_0133%255B1%255D.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside of the cafe on the road to the dorms.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pastry/sweet shop cafe on the road of the dorms.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To me this is beautiful and representative of Japanese people. The bag, book, waterbottle, thermos, hand cloth...it all works together and are daily necessities here.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Todaiji Gate, often crammed with tourists and student field trip groups.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fGmRVyyYSywai-JgUN3Ut5rkwLt3BagKdTw8ibczetG8eaJRKPO8N0q4XHETc-PiUClmmuUQmTPZvtVnWwSyUQ0vt-fcWYNc4iauylRSDmN8SIGNXYe1x55nSypmEKpghICpK-BgCyg/s1600/IMG_0030%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fGmRVyyYSywai-JgUN3Ut5rkwLt3BagKdTw8ibczetG8eaJRKPO8N0q4XHETc-PiUClmmuUQmTPZvtVnWwSyUQ0vt-fcWYNc4iauylRSDmN8SIGNXYe1x55nSypmEKpghICpK-BgCyg/s400/IMG_0030%5B1%5D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Covered shopping district street; Higashi Muki.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk7wI05MRvQ8jRNeohtEGFfQM8Dem41uk-jBumaVUzaW6AA0Oc-XKhpxuA1KE_9K3UVmKWlBj841jOXF235fPI7iDbTr93K0L1UyN-8rDzH-GMy9COqZLEDO4KAhJoHdnWN1vbXBZTU8/s1600/IMG_0152%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dsa="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk7wI05MRvQ8jRNeohtEGFfQM8Dem41uk-jBumaVUzaW6AA0Oc-XKhpxuA1KE_9K3UVmKWlBj841jOXF235fPI7iDbTr93K0L1UyN-8rDzH-GMy9COqZLEDO4KAhJoHdnWN1vbXBZTU8/s640/IMG_0152%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The detail on this wood was beautiful. Near the culverts in front of North Women`s Dorms.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk7wI05MRvQ8jRNeohtEGFfQM8Dem41uk-jBumaVUzaW6AA0Oc-XKhpxuA1KE_9K3UVmKWlBj841jOXF235fPI7iDbTr93K0L1UyN-8rDzH-GMy9COqZLEDO4KAhJoHdnWN1vbXBZTU8/s1600/IMG_0152%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dsa="true" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtk7wI05MRvQ8jRNeohtEGFfQM8Dem41uk-jBumaVUzaW6AA0Oc-XKhpxuA1KE_9K3UVmKWlBj841jOXF235fPI7iDbTr93K0L1UyN-8rDzH-GMy9COqZLEDO4KAhJoHdnWN1vbXBZTU8/s640/IMG_0152%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The detail on this wood was beautiful. Near the culverts in front of North Women`s Dorms.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YrM3w2dTBdnvN23RLQHETol0gGEnhPN90UMZZjz3FoeURLxflU9Cs0gj62DSL7iFFlwZAU4_UMAewFvfq2xnqkR6wVOTwMToGjmB10wX_Qs9GC4NgefiXX70i8avcEfjqtNWPRg0gnQ/s1600/IMG_0136%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YrM3w2dTBdnvN23RLQHETol0gGEnhPN90UMZZjz3FoeURLxflU9Cs0gj62DSL7iFFlwZAU4_UMAewFvfq2xnqkR6wVOTwMToGjmB10wX_Qs9GC4NgefiXX70i8avcEfjqtNWPRg0gnQ/s640/IMG_0136%5B1%5D.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Courtyard area at North Women`s Dorms</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTj2ARXF-rbC3DpQ51A6zccRMHFFp7iytoBegh3nc3hFlVN-MYZ9qAXA92SNXicjJtLFmB-8WYGIfRFgd8yS-Hd0JobQDvpcevBHUIw6ijfIQuAtA2_73jI6bV07nhXhH2s-DqKHMIexA/s1600/IMG_0163%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTj2ARXF-rbC3DpQ51A6zccRMHFFp7iytoBegh3nc3hFlVN-MYZ9qAXA92SNXicjJtLFmB-8WYGIfRFgd8yS-Hd0JobQDvpcevBHUIw6ijfIQuAtA2_73jI6bV07nhXhH2s-DqKHMIexA/s640/IMG_0163%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art has been something of a necessity since I came to Japan. It helps me deal with stresses and it soothes me. This was homework for my Communications class, it will be put up on display for Japanese students wishing to meet foreigners, but I really just enjoyed painting it.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-60867391828332296742013-10-07T00:16:00.003-07:002013-10-08T21:46:18.292-07:00Updates, and advice to future NUE students<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Updates</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last week was the first week of our classes with the other international students. To be fair I only have one class together with the advanced students (some of whom have studied Japanese between 4-6 years-in class).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-no3NiqH5haUs1H22z1HjFzvO5EcQ6TykizpZNQ_6UXeIiE8Dzr8N92KZGYEmlkyTw7qEIupgxzxQJvuHiKOmxT-flPv7_f1xfZlC_i0cmngSCnrTh_-CygEx2vkP2askztFTIIosPI/s1600/IMG_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-no3NiqH5haUs1H22z1HjFzvO5EcQ6TykizpZNQ_6UXeIiE8Dzr8N92KZGYEmlkyTw7qEIupgxzxQJvuHiKOmxT-flPv7_f1xfZlC_i0cmngSCnrTh_-CygEx2vkP2askztFTIIosPI/s400/IMG_0109.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Farmer's stand near Kintetsu station selling Fall foods like chesnuts.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">It wasn't as impossible as I thought it was going to be. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I was so intimidated at first but the class is great, the professor (whom I am well acquainted with as I have her for 2 other classes) and the other students are so helpful and encouraging.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"> I realized there is no way I am going to understand everything (like I would like to) but I do get a good basic understanding, then any new words I hear I write down and either look up, ask other students, or ask the professor afterwards.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">So it is really doable and I just try my best.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Farmed Foods</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhbhOMi2frWu66I83V6jpjQhKoAMkXv8EqdKDl0nvRJND3wcR2G939Bq4idGDshIXCXwSHPdAwzLgZoE1PdY31e-ALiwqG11PUQwrDRJniYRVH0lnGRZ1Si1IVy2RI3J8Kxg0drHfS7I/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhbhOMi2frWu66I83V6jpjQhKoAMkXv8EqdKDl0nvRJND3wcR2G939Bq4idGDshIXCXwSHPdAwzLgZoE1PdY31e-ALiwqG11PUQwrDRJniYRVH0lnGRZ1Si1IVy2RI3J8Kxg0drHfS7I/s320/IMG_0110.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I have finally found a farmers stand, though the big Farmer's market/flea market actually is only on the last Sunday of the month, and this month I will be on a 2 day fishing trip in Toushi Island at the same time, so I am thinking of just giving some money to a friend and asking them to pick up some seasonal foods for me since I can't go.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">This weekend I went to the farm stand near Kintetsu station and got seasonal mushrooms, chestnuts, daikon radish tops, some kind of greens, dried mushrooms, and the Kabocha squash that I made into a delicious soup.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpBS7ZKZb2ZKkwox36IqvdsgrUzOtpts9BNhN0S9VwaxnngxPgK71OAdmkBoIhCnTszdaPrEYEpmj2swzL3rL2ev7DVRfEAyh1S5WLQZ_4e5Z9unzBrGFZq5dmSuo2MlbVS2G2DLzpOQ/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpBS7ZKZb2ZKkwox36IqvdsgrUzOtpts9BNhN0S9VwaxnngxPgK71OAdmkBoIhCnTszdaPrEYEpmj2swzL3rL2ev7DVRfEAyh1S5WLQZ_4e5Z9unzBrGFZq5dmSuo2MlbVS2G2DLzpOQ/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stained Glass place in Nara Machi</td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I was so happy to finally have found farmed foods, but am very disappointed that they still come in plastic packaging. I think it may be nearly impossible to find foods not in plastic packaging unless you grow it yourself. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExXWD8Se_53mOzqMrI5Tw5k7vm_9dAwHGSq5EXWPP7CH-7nHkdHTbw7i1KecKB09K8V30a_hk2Mfd4UIQtzQM5DtiALxvd6Gz5EZdUe6MtLsUwolqpGOnQA091D4A7lUb7N37hYa8zU8/s1600/IMG_0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExXWD8Se_53mOzqMrI5Tw5k7vm_9dAwHGSq5EXWPP7CH-7nHkdHTbw7i1KecKB09K8V30a_hk2Mfd4UIQtzQM5DtiALxvd6Gz5EZdUe6MtLsUwolqpGOnQA091D4A7lUb7N37hYa8zU8/s320/IMG_0117.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stained Glass place in Nara Machi</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">It makes sense as much of the culture revolves around physical and metaphorical wrapping of items as seen in gift giving and the like. I think, however, that I had an image that the farm stands would be different somehow, more Bazaar-like. I will see when I go to the actual farmer's market in November if it is still open.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzVYmyFOI-7DB9doxPy3RhorDhXk4HeiiGywcm_i-4cbtFxke5kd2ZdtGElR9FV2dBGfU2sh3YsC470t5sNwiaoUkUmtU5rClhyphenhyphenghW-D0fG6SHd249CPa9wXWJyPLbgkUW9qMewZ8f3U/s1600/IMG_0115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzVYmyFOI-7DB9doxPy3RhorDhXk4HeiiGywcm_i-4cbtFxke5kd2ZdtGElR9FV2dBGfU2sh3YsC470t5sNwiaoUkUmtU5rClhyphenhyphenghW-D0fG6SHd249CPa9wXWJyPLbgkUW9qMewZ8f3U/s320/IMG_0115.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stained Glass place in Nara Machi</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Ultimate Engrish Hoodie</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-size: large;">I bought a nice hoodie that is super comfortable but a little warm for the temperature right now, but I refuse to buy a coat and didn't bring one so I have my warm hoodie for winter. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">People here say it gets cold in winter but honestly I don't believe it will get as cold as I am used to in Michigan so I am pretty sure my thick hoodie is going to be just fine for me, especially since I leave December 29th. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The funny thing though is that I hardly ever see clothing especially shirts that don't have some kind of English writing on them. I personally seriously dislike clothing with writing on it, but its even more distracting here because most of the time the English writing doesn't even make sense.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">It's often funny sayings that are basically a jumble of English words, but my hoodie's just too funny to pass up on. It's trying to be all hardcore punk rock, but it is too weirdly funny.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">"SHIT OUT Evil spirit Glistens" and "I AM HARD AS STEEL Life is full of surprises time proven IT' S ENEMY" are just too crazy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQBcgndmhHhNK2zdF1kMZ2wcqFr5Ymluh-glTYBjx9vxSHQKw8XOfqVenv7brHqpei_KaKPmlZnZG1o7WpfxSrMEM1efp4qK3RkQgo2U3HPt6Xxj6Zm-g8NiIF6RgnaWqfkgk240JQZI/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQBcgndmhHhNK2zdF1kMZ2wcqFr5Ymluh-glTYBjx9vxSHQKw8XOfqVenv7brHqpei_KaKPmlZnZG1o7WpfxSrMEM1efp4qK3RkQgo2U3HPt6Xxj6Zm-g8NiIF6RgnaWqfkgk240JQZI/s640/IMG_0126.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: xx-large;">Advice for future Nara University of Education Students (NUES)</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-size: large;">Often, I run into other students who for whatever reason either lose patience or are downright rude to the professors here when their Japanese is corrected especially.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmnelMzKFIXm0jPRoHSzAt10NgPTO-MNSg48za52nMYQaziB5Is6PjuitIzwE_mNCVHlYkTDcsRhG5xwV04ULN1HbGu8G4mB8YOpmdr4Ijxv1wTInqL5LFMSHEWMU3NXZ4FZ-xietIN4/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmnelMzKFIXm0jPRoHSzAt10NgPTO-MNSg48za52nMYQaziB5Is6PjuitIzwE_mNCVHlYkTDcsRhG5xwV04ULN1HbGu8G4mB8YOpmdr4Ijxv1wTInqL5LFMSHEWMU3NXZ4FZ-xietIN4/s320/IMG_0118.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manners are also important at restaraunts.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I have heard of students sighing loudly, rolling their eyes, and interrupting our professors here.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I am so embarrassed when these students act like that and seriously want to call them out. They are representative not only of foreigners, but Americans as well and it's frustrating and embarrassing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Quite frankly it upsets me and I think I will say something to at least one of the students since perhaps they don't know they are being rude in this way.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">However showing up late frequently, too, is a rudeness that I am sure the offending people are aware of and it reflects poorly on them.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_pv9UufCwId831cjCG_YGn2mqc-KxwZa9HYTL0hHoLMW7eCVSr2lCCiI10GkkQYsLDyea9de1CnWPNcZgtgVj9tWgK0zOLzCGAVlurtUHHEC_ZYZPzqbM36lXoVAYfR8BP279LjqtOw/s1600/IMG_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_pv9UufCwId831cjCG_YGn2mqc-KxwZa9HYTL0hHoLMW7eCVSr2lCCiI10GkkQYsLDyea9de1CnWPNcZgtgVj9tWgK0zOLzCGAVlurtUHHEC_ZYZPzqbM36lXoVAYfR8BP279LjqtOw/s320/IMG_0120.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detroit Tigers were on at the Tempura Pub.</td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Please, if you are going to come to Nara, take constructive criticism and corrections from your professors with dignity, and learn from your mistakes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Don't get frustrated outwardly when they correct your Japanese sentence structure, it's just immature.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Don't show up late for your classes, it makes you look bad and it's rude.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Come prepared with your required readings and homework finished.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">It is really frustrating in a classroom with only a few people when only one or two people remember their homework and you have to review your answers in class. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7EGCyKubz9Yc-qmlsmYa6qYeJ9ruIypkjwCYq9cCbUCOX-_ezDtIPgg1WdmeD3QrEqnTy954Ud6HUz0NOSO8K_Cgv2w4x6Z8MzX2BHq4GmtLU4nLmAmcO-LGCMS0N_F9zV2qCtkXqRg/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7EGCyKubz9Yc-qmlsmYa6qYeJ9ruIypkjwCYq9cCbUCOX-_ezDtIPgg1WdmeD3QrEqnTy954Ud6HUz0NOSO8K_Cgv2w4x6Z8MzX2BHq4GmtLU4nLmAmcO-LGCMS0N_F9zV2qCtkXqRg/s320/IMG_0123.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Everyone makes mistakes and forgets occasionally but please don't make it a habit.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Timeliness, patience and dedication are habits that are valued in Japan and America, but here in our small classrooms it is made especially obvious so please try to do your best to not become lazy or frustrated.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Aside from manners at school, manners are important in public places such as on the street, at pubs and restaurants and the like. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">After I went to a local pub with delicious and inexpensive food and drink, and other internationals are making a fool of themselves and standing on the seats, kissing over tables, and all other manner of craziness, I decided I would not go out in public with them ever again.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">While I typically prefer to go exploring places alone, sometimes I like to go places with others. But after that horrible experience I especially want to not go anywhere in public with internationals who can't behave.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">So please, be aware of where you are, your noise level, and manners if not for yourself, then for the sake of others who wish to enjoy their experience abroad.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-49959062808959549092013-10-01T01:25:00.000-07:002013-10-01T01:25:22.701-07:00Fall is coming<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qc0OTUoHLA9B3ubdULAhzrsAPDZ8kRMjeX4ierSJYb34ysFgFvE5Jspaq0DtgCQFdv33gfLFsfDNnOBJ9lmverYua1tbtK-VnLehq3-fjG6UHMR4g-22s9Ngq0AhMuyDsAXi1zFQnm8/s1600/IMG_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qc0OTUoHLA9B3ubdULAhzrsAPDZ8kRMjeX4ierSJYb34ysFgFvE5Jspaq0DtgCQFdv33gfLFsfDNnOBJ9lmverYua1tbtK-VnLehq3-fjG6UHMR4g-22s9Ngq0AhMuyDsAXi1zFQnm8/s320/IMG_0104.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Fall</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">is finally making itself known, even though there are still hot days, they seem to lack the mugginess of the summer days that have come before. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The leaves are now turning and some are falling. We are having more cooler days with breezes and wind (this means days where the temperature actually gets below 80 F and are usually in the low to mid 70's.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXKSDPLAzqeNRoBAPRiTuYRyH6eWhiHBviXkd6Sw5TPFFelpMMlEbTs777kVADwCpQmIhPg32fI1oedMpb2RKPwR_z_B-RpjDpoI1umgcwgyeAKAiirVgqwdPrUOvdEeDGliKFdBi1fA/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXKSDPLAzqeNRoBAPRiTuYRyH6eWhiHBviXkd6Sw5TPFFelpMMlEbTs777kVADwCpQmIhPg32fI1oedMpb2RKPwR_z_B-RpjDpoI1umgcwgyeAKAiirVgqwdPrUOvdEeDGliKFdBi1fA/s400/IMG_0103.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bike on campus, you can see the leaves on the ground.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is another Typhoon set to come visit us on Saturday or Sunday. The last Typhoon was really strong and dropped so much rain I had a full bucket on my balcony for my plants to use later.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Many people come to the Kyoto area near Nara to go 'Maple Hunting' and they look for autumn colors in the scenery.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntm3vh0Ac7pmTlMFArcEW-XeyZwNC1Q8lRVE4cOYrk-YyODdacp-v32ud_ERoPgZkbjhz2bQsqRUF0LVVEKqcuv1j0YS_2-dyfHG-rojEkXIwN_uEnqOjgnyWuqfuPDdgEWv_r9BrVYQ/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntm3vh0Ac7pmTlMFArcEW-XeyZwNC1Q8lRVE4cOYrk-YyODdacp-v32ud_ERoPgZkbjhz2bQsqRUF0LVVEKqcuv1j0YS_2-dyfHG-rojEkXIwN_uEnqOjgnyWuqfuPDdgEWv_r9BrVYQ/s400/IMG_0094.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praying Mantids look for places to lay their eggs on my balcony.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One great thing about Japan in the fall is the abundance of seasonal foods like persimmon, mushrooms, fish, chesnuts, rice and more.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have definite plans of eating these! I will be fishing in Toushi Island in 2 weeks, so I need to catch a fish!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS431vxHbQeV2j-rTGYOJ_JvlSmOYma4kOaWFfAJHTzhTGyZxW7JPok-dGZUpXyRzN6M3ylpxa9csqiV-NxXDw3zcniL0c_h4RgkofMCLXl2tdDdrdr141yj_CNRQ6HqtM4m-DFWd8pC0/s1600/IMG_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS431vxHbQeV2j-rTGYOJ_JvlSmOYma4kOaWFfAJHTzhTGyZxW7JPok-dGZUpXyRzN6M3ylpxa9csqiV-NxXDw3zcniL0c_h4RgkofMCLXl2tdDdrdr141yj_CNRQ6HqtM4m-DFWd8pC0/s640/IMG_0099.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perhaps it was my flowering plant that drew her in?</td></tr>
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</span></div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-67253141683397760882013-09-30T20:33:00.001-07:002013-10-01T01:57:16.013-07:00School structure and eating habits<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>School structure</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This topic may be of interest to students coming to Nara in the same or similar situation as I.</span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWHb_wxZFKIIXIATS0MOKBCwHctWuItZ9NoWW7lMxhQN7gVwVuY49VAKxkLEu-FPEyiqHClu9H2RtT3IffLSvKngD-K3H1N2lzXIjgALEzs61EibBeODG1XWRR2o9xiGzTziNg3tHSn4/s1600/IMG_9408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWHb_wxZFKIIXIATS0MOKBCwHctWuItZ9NoWW7lMxhQN7gVwVuY49VAKxkLEu-FPEyiqHClu9H2RtT3IffLSvKngD-K3H1N2lzXIjgALEzs61EibBeODG1XWRR2o9xiGzTziNg3tHSn4/s400/IMG_9408.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School restroom sinks remind me of Hogwarts a little.</td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The American students (usually a small handfull from CMU and Lockhaven in Pennsylvania) come at the end of August. Then our classes start the first week of September.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv68FOyo2ckKtysSnHp5g9zfmgqYa3lL1npS3MpIRVxtncKhGMqWBEwKh0PIrGUjN-3MYSKa5bKVqm3mUnz5Wx6zmGRryvFSqrCpzsEm4v8ZygZHz-gybJP7AIkGr7eCTUGxp0EGPLUUI/s1600/IMG_9936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv68FOyo2ckKtysSnHp5g9zfmgqYa3lL1npS3MpIRVxtncKhGMqWBEwKh0PIrGUjN-3MYSKa5bKVqm3mUnz5Wx6zmGRryvFSqrCpzsEm4v8ZygZHz-gybJP7AIkGr7eCTUGxp0EGPLUUI/s320/IMG_9936.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I highly recommend looking in the school library.</td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">However everyone else including the Japanese students doesn't start until October. </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzYBev6TZyl4LE2NHN6WC6KPGX6h7Q3o7Fv9AD9q7BC73afBNGivv7h0GQbSQyvUMn3bcbdEmZC7A6xSP0oJwERJPCSCsaRJbp_mCRtNF_UoZJobsb7KPxvpO3VmqcDfV41gGJEH_tiA/s1600/IMG_9937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzYBev6TZyl4LE2NHN6WC6KPGX6h7Q3o7Fv9AD9q7BC73afBNGivv7h0GQbSQyvUMn3bcbdEmZC7A6xSP0oJwERJPCSCsaRJbp_mCRtNF_UoZJobsb7KPxvpO3VmqcDfV41gGJEH_tiA/s640/IMG_9937.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nara Uni library has many interesting books that are in English.</td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So it does give us time to get adjusted and improve our language skills since the (mainly) eastern European and other international students will come at the end of September, and their skills are typically more advanced than ours. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our classes at first were separated between the CMU and Lockhaven students since the CMU students had taken between a year or two of Japanese language classes, and Lockhaven doesn't have Japanese classes.</span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAcKux6I25GloRstu-nHb2_gBaLwVtgGw6QZvkQMIF5MM9hutTqeGZfopChJeWLjsRQ9sWnoUuVpC5fpB9qMC6ea8HcZz_s8LwWVvbSH6PFGachP5zKiFfD5grlsyE-gdKjoLipR4-Yg/s1600/IMG_9409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAcKux6I25GloRstu-nHb2_gBaLwVtgGw6QZvkQMIF5MM9hutTqeGZfopChJeWLjsRQ9sWnoUuVpC5fpB9qMC6ea8HcZz_s8LwWVvbSH6PFGachP5zKiFfD5grlsyE-gdKjoLipR4-Yg/s400/IMG_9409.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes you have to use the Washiki traditional Japanese toilets</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Americans have one class where we are all together which is taught in English and it is on Japanese history and is really interesting and detailed.</span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsBdB65nQLX0CV4LfTE4ND0bYQkR4JxUjAQdkVCQyBS1Mm9Lzzrd4AIZ9Qg6LREOtChdXDW_0UAv8zK7qgzHcGD6mU7ujVWP1BFUwI2YL5MPAF3QNaH8mRXcSDNx-SMpoi2ltZONaXxE/s1600/IMG_9410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsBdB65nQLX0CV4LfTE4ND0bYQkR4JxUjAQdkVCQyBS1Mm9Lzzrd4AIZ9Qg6LREOtChdXDW_0UAv8zK7qgzHcGD6mU7ujVWP1BFUwI2YL5MPAF3QNaH8mRXcSDNx-SMpoi2ltZONaXxE/s320/IMG_9410.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They usually also have a Western style toilet too.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When the classes start in October the CMU students will have the first class with the more advanced international students, but after that our professor will decide if it is too difficult for us and then if we need to have a separate class.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am sort of worried, but at the same time 'it is what it is' and I will try my best and be put where I need to be- like the Japanese sorting hat I suppose. </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NLLAp3DTRvsntEqiEeHDQDmV0YNft8op3ms8-N-kE_u36EJfCZ7KskdkB3XwNkC0nrEUPcNh_YlwFWsiuoTILuUNlhR9EDca4c9zRFiEIkIfK5aRp9agFFM7ADW2-YH1iDvLmIkXNUs/s1600/IMG_9413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NLLAp3DTRvsntEqiEeHDQDmV0YNft8op3ms8-N-kE_u36EJfCZ7KskdkB3XwNkC0nrEUPcNh_YlwFWsiuoTILuUNlhR9EDca4c9zRFiEIkIfK5aRp9agFFM7ADW2-YH1iDvLmIkXNUs/s320/IMG_9413.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the hallway at Nara University of Education.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Either way I will keep trying my best to improve and enjoy my short stay (compared to the 99% who stay a year or more) in Nara.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am really happy to have the option of going for a semester, though, since it really fits well with my plans quite perfectly.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow is our ceremony where we are welcomed and we basically bow and nod for an hour and listen to the school's top leaders talk to us about the school.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABAWaOVK7nmZhAFHKLpdzjlpcj9EC5-2UZUnsCW7-88bp1Oc_CpejZv4Oms-NmKGo-zfeRkkP35HHZyiAVFPsQ8mhpflkJCRSS3RVcE7AlZLM8GVRbeQBnFGb4mO01g37gZ3mCSl1Lug/s1600/IMG_9411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABAWaOVK7nmZhAFHKLpdzjlpcj9EC5-2UZUnsCW7-88bp1Oc_CpejZv4Oms-NmKGo-zfeRkkP35HHZyiAVFPsQ8mhpflkJCRSS3RVcE7AlZLM8GVRbeQBnFGb4mO01g37gZ3mCSl1Lug/s320/IMG_9411.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Hallway near my classes at NUE.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Typically the welcome or initiation ceremonies are held in April for Universities and large companies but we are arriving in September and October so ours is done later.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Eating Habits</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Like anywhere, eating habits are what you make them. Sometimes it is actually easier to eat healthy foods here in Nara, since there are many traditional foods to choose from.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Often I eat mushrooms with miso udon soup that I make myself because it is so easy, cheap and healthy. Sometimes I eat Onigiri rice balls with tuna in the middle.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">However it is also easy to eat unhealthy and expensive if you want to. For example I know people that eat fried foods, sweet foods, and artificial foods often. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">It is a little difficult to eat the same foods as I do in America such as whole wheat or pumpernickel breads, I haven't seen or eaten cereal in ages, and milk is good but not as amazing as the farm fresh kind I like.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">You can easily find many types of vegetables especially at the stores, or you can get the sweets and fried foods at the konbini's too if you like. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNODRoqWH6ZrUroUF6twJEBdDS4yGuFt2jUUUag_QAut7W-4-2qK0aNMQa26xyOcE_ivU5FzANpZkbkajmcf954d9Sd1J39Y76vSdxuQR105Q5ALia8bitN3gD8qzp2qodzTX7JC6Lwcw/s1600/IMG_9947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNODRoqWH6ZrUroUF6twJEBdDS4yGuFt2jUUUag_QAut7W-4-2qK0aNMQa26xyOcE_ivU5FzANpZkbkajmcf954d9Sd1J39Y76vSdxuQR105Q5ALia8bitN3gD8qzp2qodzTX7JC6Lwcw/s640/IMG_9947.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional foods like soup and rice often accompany even non-traditional foods. Dining out, foods are often pretty filling.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">It's really up to you, but for me it has been easier than in America to eat healthily in that I can easily find a variety of mushrooms especially. However since I can hardly read the vast amount of Kanji writing on the labels, I often cannot read the ingredients listings like I usually like to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">So if you think its expensive to feed yourself here, it really depends on your choices, just like in your home country. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">If you want fruits, (like apples) many of them are going to be more expensive than in say Michigan. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Qv2FbJaz3_MX_x0T3SjObSphjPO5V4LFBLvbRnoRI40CKnjhyEyUWjitgdRltcIkkk9Aj_5JLVY81mvyCbJYEni7mbQlcDFp3e1N5epGhYzo8lwAU4eA8nnf-I2EJmLluAwi5y6rF5c/s1600/IMG_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Qv2FbJaz3_MX_x0T3SjObSphjPO5V4LFBLvbRnoRI40CKnjhyEyUWjitgdRltcIkkk9Aj_5JLVY81mvyCbJYEni7mbQlcDFp3e1N5epGhYzo8lwAU4eA8nnf-I2EJmLluAwi5y6rF5c/s400/IMG_0087.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">But the mushrooms are cheap and great! So it's a trade off on different items and if you change your eating habits to fit in like the locals you should be able to save some money.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">If you plan to eat like an American, you may have to pay more depending on what you typically eat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Personally I wish I could eat the deer that roam everywhere here, but it's not going to happen.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG230QWOxUNjJqgAMizKEhMGpRhvzRNbqARNw3Vf4wMqdnkAty-kosD3o86IHsSHya8LdGsYfhZti2PCKfbBG8HVuETrKErcKTqMwCV1twCrH5GjFXA5psiH2ci6CEkVpbQ2mGY-1uFRQ/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG230QWOxUNjJqgAMizKEhMGpRhvzRNbqARNw3Vf4wMqdnkAty-kosD3o86IHsSHya8LdGsYfhZti2PCKfbBG8HVuETrKErcKTqMwCV1twCrH5GjFXA5psiH2ci6CEkVpbQ2mGY-1uFRQ/s640/IMG_0077.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view outside my balcony.</td></tr>
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Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-58884920004311091162013-09-23T23:19:00.001-07:002013-09-23T23:19:03.652-07:00Uneme Moon viewing festival Photos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6KtTg4XRNv6qBeLgOxqO4PihnR4Xq5REDALsA_KZ4jbKguqxTaT6QkRUUAto_tT0btOaLdylTdskkpB5JRicHHGeasRUU6x9iq-yxD9M0vm4qgZwFS-oLVAEW7wEOq7eSnph5GIgSFs/s1600/IMG_9894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6KtTg4XRNv6qBeLgOxqO4PihnR4Xq5REDALsA_KZ4jbKguqxTaT6QkRUUAto_tT0btOaLdylTdskkpB5JRicHHGeasRUU6x9iq-yxD9M0vm4qgZwFS-oLVAEW7wEOq7eSnph5GIgSFs/s640/IMG_9894.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWCZrq4BT5D6ifhbBK1-FaGLW8fRb93P2LzGuVdBScos63kbrft7vQScaZmvQsO0aWqNJXVvd70EFXdOgR6oW9UuC0hekW3Vgog8LLchYh5Zg_3CpbO-QsxgAy3uvNpQVru4s_Q7MQsU/s1600/IMG_9923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWCZrq4BT5D6ifhbBK1-FaGLW8fRb93P2LzGuVdBScos63kbrft7vQScaZmvQsO0aWqNJXVvd70EFXdOgR6oW9UuC0hekW3Vgog8LLchYh5Zg_3CpbO-QsxgAy3uvNpQVru4s_Q7MQsU/s640/IMG_9923.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the dragon boat they took around where lanterns line the pond.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lpskcHgWcDMvng-qkF9vFvMszeyluSRNDLV4LtyFK9Pxi36CvZzhmU1EEulRtP9d1D8cMc4VqhfkohMt0CSmnsxyGSim7PKHprzGQvA5qY4g6ongjEyAawAb-RexWjH-Jrt8cNT-XuA/s1600/IMG_9912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lpskcHgWcDMvng-qkF9vFvMszeyluSRNDLV4LtyFK9Pxi36CvZzhmU1EEulRtP9d1D8cMc4VqhfkohMt0CSmnsxyGSim7PKHprzGQvA5qY4g6ongjEyAawAb-RexWjH-Jrt8cNT-XuA/s640/IMG_9912.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could be a professional goldfish catcher, here is the game where usually kids try to catch goldfish with tissue paper nets. I caught 8! Here I'm so happy I just squint at the flash as a friend takes my picture!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRqnTPUjfB3RaHlCRgb2GNdBWq2jxcY_U4dZXml4h6bHS16WDZywLRYu6StDCvocCr2Dvsqwpu7m2AUbAEPmPlSD0SgC6B98T9aO8-Im-7qLawiEIM1dEkkK1HoQThIAWIWVQP9nMv80/s1600/IMG_9889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRqnTPUjfB3RaHlCRgb2GNdBWq2jxcY_U4dZXml4h6bHS16WDZywLRYu6StDCvocCr2Dvsqwpu7m2AUbAEPmPlSD0SgC6B98T9aO8-Im-7qLawiEIM1dEkkK1HoQThIAWIWVQP9nMv80/s640/IMG_9889.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entire pond was lined with people coming to celebrate the festival, it only happens once a year I believe.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibA6zYxAGujSomreoED6hujiZ7MFGuWY8fAEDDauvek-wPu4a9Fjf1SpA5N44MBrE2_8iqFRoZb9IXTRDNVTtx2Dg2fKPFw2O7bRhiH2ziB-o8esfR0u2qJnlJ2h55574E1NAyfc0-ht4/s1600/IMG_9874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibA6zYxAGujSomreoED6hujiZ7MFGuWY8fAEDDauvek-wPu4a9Fjf1SpA5N44MBrE2_8iqFRoZb9IXTRDNVTtx2Dg2fKPFw2O7bRhiH2ziB-o8esfR0u2qJnlJ2h55574E1NAyfc0-ht4/s640/IMG_9874.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food stands with festival foods line the pond.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhvdRwVDxQ3olZkbcnBpjK3nNAPu6kGjM4YPz6d_CD5o30sBdCMfsCIShcFL4xxuTgcbBT3TI-sCTY4YqSXn6qRzJmjQS7aq95-1T0VFv1xVVk_m0Do1jB_vzKsJX6jr8o9pQfKJp24k/s1600/IMG_9869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhvdRwVDxQ3olZkbcnBpjK3nNAPu6kGjM4YPz6d_CD5o30sBdCMfsCIShcFL4xxuTgcbBT3TI-sCTY4YqSXn6qRzJmjQS7aq95-1T0VFv1xVVk_m0Do1jB_vzKsJX6jr8o9pQfKJp24k/s640/IMG_9869.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moon viewing festival near Kofukuji (5 story Pagoda)<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKNdAf0I1OBTWGyL_GzVQ0IbpoElAAi6eDYLttN_xyPt4p7kZs_BL2gfJq0y43ddFZHAi-RoSxpby0uq_PDd7m_fMJ7ZPJ11VgV1MCq5AAMmb1jIKrVvX94n9pTVo2swnUNfmlfGFEmU/s1600/IMG_9882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKNdAf0I1OBTWGyL_GzVQ0IbpoElAAi6eDYLttN_xyPt4p7kZs_BL2gfJq0y43ddFZHAi-RoSxpby0uq_PDd7m_fMJ7ZPJ11VgV1MCq5AAMmb1jIKrVvX94n9pTVo2swnUNfmlfGFEmU/s640/IMG_9882.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many mini boats floating as the priests ready the Dragon boat<br /><br /></td></tr>
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Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-27701274537005275252013-09-18T21:10:00.003-07:002013-10-01T02:23:51.906-07:00On festivals, and climbing mountains<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_v4jn7ELF45mOdBpCyF9b7fjDjP6Jg7wyxykwz2Mow5-xc9Da7MnqlOOgBxS5gd3HWxya8EbZVBts2JCPsZGE7SY0iIlqFGZ0Ni37cRvFl53m_n-QeiaCFd1bf21fr0QQV7PcVob9Ns/s1600/IMG_9636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_v4jn7ELF45mOdBpCyF9b7fjDjP6Jg7wyxykwz2Mow5-xc9Da7MnqlOOgBxS5gd3HWxya8EbZVBts2JCPsZGE7SY0iIlqFGZ0Ni37cRvFl53m_n-QeiaCFd1bf21fr0QQV7PcVob9Ns/s400/IMG_9636.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wearing a Happi, in a non traditional print.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Festivals </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The other day I went to a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUQyRPw6rMM">Bon odori</a> celebration, and got to wear a Happi a traditional shirt vest that looks similar to something Aladdin would wear.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBK97O6nbXVVJvw-EV2FlIzO-ffTFfbivOf32JMUqwHYZu9X8VA1l7hRsG08dc00dj3C8_QtvfbaeGtaawPxb7r-FV-X8N_W5vznV504fQrN_GCHHt86dmTHuenbGqtPY_DdwBJV34-E/s1600/IMG_9615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBK97O6nbXVVJvw-EV2FlIzO-ffTFfbivOf32JMUqwHYZu9X8VA1l7hRsG08dc00dj3C8_QtvfbaeGtaawPxb7r-FV-X8N_W5vznV504fQrN_GCHHt86dmTHuenbGqtPY_DdwBJV34-E/s400/IMG_9615.JPG" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bon Odori is usually a festival done in the summer where people dance traditional dances and wear yukatas (explained as a cotton kimono).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBsn2hTiM3ivx7cuJtc1MZ2qRD1Zhn46wNqgLJUDIX7Q2h2x662dcoUAszoPPICa5mByS84mTXuNbETofltu6W8Dz-6YdLK6VA6zrr_DoLIcuMHbFY7oS_Sy5texwuWJ3-8_0KgyMrXs/s1600/IMG_9631.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBsn2hTiM3ivx7cuJtc1MZ2qRD1Zhn46wNqgLJUDIX7Q2h2x662dcoUAszoPPICa5mByS84mTXuNbETofltu6W8Dz-6YdLK6VA6zrr_DoLIcuMHbFY7oS_Sy5texwuWJ3-8_0KgyMrXs/s1600/IMG_9631.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue near Ni Gatsu Hall</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, near the famous Todaiji temple here, at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bbSKyka5uY&feature=youtu.be">Ni Gatsu Hall</a> they celebrate it a little later. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqdDTsBe1TFqahDH3u2cVt8Yc8a-IQiixO7irLVk_2qNk-yByfi7Zm8OpfKVkB-DdyQYY7EnuxJVLKrwhYeUjH5JWL8lsigT0KvUPxGij4sP5YuDU_DCn8utjldQ8PKH7oJBdf7mwQgs/s1600/IMG_9603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqdDTsBe1TFqahDH3u2cVt8Yc8a-IQiixO7irLVk_2qNk-yByfi7Zm8OpfKVkB-DdyQYY7EnuxJVLKrwhYeUjH5JWL8lsigT0KvUPxGij4sP5YuDU_DCn8utjldQ8PKH7oJBdf7mwQgs/s400/IMG_9603.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A perfect view of Nara from the top of the stairs.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This makes perfect sense to me since if you are going to be dancing why not do it when it's cooler out?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BG6P6IlfS_ES50GgMzFdKWeMvTYYYvnBq59CpV28A2BCEhXWBlKZq44QVibO09RbD-jyCoqPPlQRgjIu7sR5ZOAeYqQcunzN0mu7IxDYNPL3ev6fDO9NO6iTmIO0gbdcp3xdhZEsAbI/s1600/IMG_9644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BG6P6IlfS_ES50GgMzFdKWeMvTYYYvnBq59CpV28A2BCEhXWBlKZq44QVibO09RbD-jyCoqPPlQRgjIu7sR5ZOAeYqQcunzN0mu7IxDYNPL3ev6fDO9NO6iTmIO0gbdcp3xdhZEsAbI/s400/IMG_9644.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The thing that was sort of shocking to us (the 4 Americans) was how the Japanese people would take our photos, and sometimes jump right in front of us with their large lenses quite close to us and take photos of us doing everything and nothing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had read and heard stories of this being a frequent thing, but had not experienced it before, perhaps the celebration which had everyone taking pictures and videos made it more acceptable to do this.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2B22y6xw0a6KhhQgnh-x153l89UxGpcd5TcDh9DQUcEbGoNjcCNFESuO2cH_IXFD0DjPZdj4XuSuGgkqFuwvowYe6cxFMA5jebPL8y1pyfBc2VF0UWZJL02Qw6mk5cBy-lIVquM-GtM/s1600/IMG_9653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2B22y6xw0a6KhhQgnh-x153l89UxGpcd5TcDh9DQUcEbGoNjcCNFESuO2cH_IXFD0DjPZdj4XuSuGgkqFuwvowYe6cxFMA5jebPL8y1pyfBc2VF0UWZJL02Qw6mk5cBy-lIVquM-GtM/s1600/IMG_9653.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Video:<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGwJcWTUSKo&feature=youtu.be"> Lanterns.</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not sure about it. It seems that because where we live and shop and go to school there tend to be a concentrated amount</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWvgL6RfsLuW9Eg1qqzRXc9Tdgqr6_OBZsFo1LRWh-ZboHdT-qrfc9DLvvt5MT-_77jCCDeHnZrp0Vmk9dOPZifD71J8Xu8x_7e2HqFwXxa0f5VQS_Dcpe1tgUfqjHpbNc7ffOCjRiLM/s1600/IMG_9705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWvgL6RfsLuW9Eg1qqzRXc9Tdgqr6_OBZsFo1LRWh-ZboHdT-qrfc9DLvvt5MT-_77jCCDeHnZrp0Vmk9dOPZifD71J8Xu8x_7e2HqFwXxa0f5VQS_Dcpe1tgUfqjHpbNc7ffOCjRiLM/s400/IMG_9705.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> of tourists so people don't stare as much as they did to me when I was in Tokyo, which got a lot of tourists but they were more spread out and not in the areas I was in so much.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday I climbed or rather hiked up Wakakusa Mountain which is 342 Meters tall and gives a great view of Nara city, part of Kyoto, and possibly Mie Prefecture.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7cvg1jryjV_PK1YS66OfqOvWsY5LQN8ZMTHIWR6-2jtFybuNQBcbvRgHg5zwhE0PwBRodzqVf8WpbwEjljrL2dFDkOnZIWFbg0guRAlexRSughD-wDc0qfBmrIyBDv0khwr1imXX01M/s1600/IMG_9701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7cvg1jryjV_PK1YS66OfqOvWsY5LQN8ZMTHIWR6-2jtFybuNQBcbvRgHg5zwhE0PwBRodzqVf8WpbwEjljrL2dFDkOnZIWFbg0guRAlexRSughD-wDc0qfBmrIyBDv0khwr1imXX01M/s1600/IMG_9701.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today I will be going to a Moon viewing festival near Kofukuji temple (5 story pagoda) and they will have a dragon boat too!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Mountains</b></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4fLtsu_k7X1t5qYy7VmBclOR8hyphenhyphenB5WSkJFHotq3RqXprp2XXf-nm3PFefgyPbWhTRvvpG6yZ4fiPw1lt4J2tcRx6Kwctj9P5EBOkVVmRXuuvryaDDxjB53OFo5HBChpPsCW2yDrG2Tk/s1600/IMG_9835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4fLtsu_k7X1t5qYy7VmBclOR8hyphenhyphenB5WSkJFHotq3RqXprp2XXf-nm3PFefgyPbWhTRvvpG6yZ4fiPw1lt4J2tcRx6Kwctj9P5EBOkVVmRXuuvryaDDxjB53OFo5HBChpPsCW2yDrG2Tk/s640/IMG_9835.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view at Wakakusayama as you reach the top.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVvEOkSP0dbq3gVx3ka_lXyam43p5bF_D8wxDLmWibdZVQ-7X4b7H9V5dQjKmNXuCYo9TqnQWSWOzMnkpRiFiEDw23UbQD7iGREfeMtnUoMRNP9xLaa_9lnuf5CFZcvmo59SVvRLbClY/s1600/IMG_9838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVvEOkSP0dbq3gVx3ka_lXyam43p5bF_D8wxDLmWibdZVQ-7X4b7H9V5dQjKmNXuCYo9TqnQWSWOzMnkpRiFiEDw23UbQD7iGREfeMtnUoMRNP9xLaa_9lnuf5CFZcvmo59SVvRLbClY/s640/IMG_9838.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top of Wakakusayama.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkaYy1Zrn82k4JFp5gvwLP2rdXNRmfAC-BJclg26PWnLwAYNV_-W5KE5UKlh_6oQYLJ-Z77cFEza7M4SWqJYF8HlR7qHFzPF4l98RG23ebgua5yJwfouGdxJNWxBzC_8UUOOz7GSdtMg/s1600/IMG_9844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkaYy1Zrn82k4JFp5gvwLP2rdXNRmfAC-BJclg26PWnLwAYNV_-W5KE5UKlh_6oQYLJ-Z77cFEza7M4SWqJYF8HlR7qHFzPF4l98RG23ebgua5yJwfouGdxJNWxBzC_8UUOOz7GSdtMg/s640/IMG_9844.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwleRMO4HDSZLe_RWV_LF7lxWav8lboIgeREX1KvX68iN0q7_VLXE7Iy0lQDBztvlkRAdhHweQFY8YdJI_0B2B4h6u_bUU9OHcXm4eOpPuzichJ7exzUeJ6YIFQjWHf5exxa5SMzsFzV4/s1600/IMG_9850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwleRMO4HDSZLe_RWV_LF7lxWav8lboIgeREX1KvX68iN0q7_VLXE7Iy0lQDBztvlkRAdhHweQFY8YdJI_0B2B4h6u_bUU9OHcXm4eOpPuzichJ7exzUeJ6YIFQjWHf5exxa5SMzsFzV4/s640/IMG_9850.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJ3kmcL73ZGKYCTQOAnbOx08QEHV_z6i7mQnCB6eVZvGNAnHSo6x1N1m8UyXn6GokBTAEfNsHFA2E-pm40BLKRadp2FZ2DCOx-TBt49YR7RmZ6TkgNErFXdZJqbYHi3SZJP8CnHvlGQE/s1600/IMG_9855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJ3kmcL73ZGKYCTQOAnbOx08QEHV_z6i7mQnCB6eVZvGNAnHSo6x1N1m8UyXn6GokBTAEfNsHFA2E-pm40BLKRadp2FZ2DCOx-TBt49YR7RmZ6TkgNErFXdZJqbYHi3SZJP8CnHvlGQE/s640/IMG_9855.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7qGzILFBTO9pF3xMZIiTJ0eGjZXz32OINWoi53QIz7MKwDoxEnvACHllVo9N2kAu3w_cGCleZZrWR9zOuJaBAOGs6zmu7Zr933mPGEwIFtm18FZc8Q-pZOQL5mC8KQJRYoGOPO2Haig/s1600/IMG_9859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7qGzILFBTO9pF3xMZIiTJ0eGjZXz32OINWoi53QIz7MKwDoxEnvACHllVo9N2kAu3w_cGCleZZrWR9zOuJaBAOGs6zmu7Zr933mPGEwIFtm18FZc8Q-pZOQL5mC8KQJRYoGOPO2Haig/s640/IMG_9859.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-70544637209979356312013-09-16T22:07:00.001-07:002013-09-16T22:35:08.889-07:00The Community Effect, Temples, and Phones<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPpcSucZUFfbMYGZMUnYaFGW2It2AlKyDcGjBQ9TwfGWjHYAgJmOyjvQnusQEXjZRfmlvDHD0NzizZh6fORF32Lsi9expJ-6IyJk16dF9BqCeF3kCbyBYNJ2lLV0PIIdeoKyfIkiJAjU/s1600/IMG_9602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPpcSucZUFfbMYGZMUnYaFGW2It2AlKyDcGjBQ9TwfGWjHYAgJmOyjvQnusQEXjZRfmlvDHD0NzizZh6fORF32Lsi9expJ-6IyJk16dF9BqCeF3kCbyBYNJ2lLV0PIIdeoKyfIkiJAjU/s400/IMG_9602.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Community Effect</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwuP1mLJNDgWOb3OoQ2W7KwiKKx0uGGo-gPX41FDYQLSDQ88_s9pDg2xqKyZvxV9aKB8Uzh9NrBknwbFx9M5DuZpXWl3wJxZ7eO9Nr5e4TsEDpAHxFwwBgIBy_MOzX9I7NzFdif4skpU/s1600/IMG_9435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwuP1mLJNDgWOb3OoQ2W7KwiKKx0uGGo-gPX41FDYQLSDQ88_s9pDg2xqKyZvxV9aKB8Uzh9NrBknwbFx9M5DuZpXWl3wJxZ7eO9Nr5e4TsEDpAHxFwwBgIBy_MOzX9I7NzFdif4skpU/s400/IMG_9435.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The male looks like he was one of the 4 deer each year that have their antlers cut for ceremony.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When students have
been here nearly a year they give away their things to newcomers,
useful items like bikes and phones. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43hEcKnhZJEZfIq8Hvv8ZgdM1kwIKNwg78h5QHbowphwuXC68ghqw4c2ik8YYFk3le1YGJ6kHDGH7-nuA9wFh7Wj-K3pSLZYNT3JfmNiXPiEJKZ8fDINx3zneuYEieLrlkx36IFo_Qbs/s1600/IMG_9443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43hEcKnhZJEZfIq8Hvv8ZgdM1kwIKNwg78h5QHbowphwuXC68ghqw4c2ik8YYFk3le1YGJ6kHDGH7-nuA9wFh7Wj-K3pSLZYNT3JfmNiXPiEJKZ8fDINx3zneuYEieLrlkx36IFo_Qbs/s320/IMG_9443.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old architecture of Nara.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">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.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MvvfcyMi8w&feature=youtu.be">kitchen area</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lSX2PEjiSA&feature=youtu.be">shower area </a>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.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1e9J8AZFyWHOtmnJS6jImOmdL0w4hXzcbnmtADPf9MEmmguMaPTpUU0I0Yg5jGz4CEvJJAM09S9aaxXJSNXYAOq8zWrQihrHuA3S1aafzLpSlZa2mZ61W0ADAzNrS02agZ7PXIrqNbPE/s1600/IMG_9458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1e9J8AZFyWHOtmnJS6jImOmdL0w4hXzcbnmtADPf9MEmmguMaPTpUU0I0Yg5jGz4CEvJJAM09S9aaxXJSNXYAOq8zWrQihrHuA3S1aafzLpSlZa2mZ61W0ADAzNrS02agZ7PXIrqNbPE/s320/IMG_9458.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to shrine in the primeval forest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Shrines, Temples, Heritage Sites,
and Festivals</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DGdLNhdwBcGBLefK1ylX3I24_PBs_V17dxY-KSwlzV6Z3WKPEjt9f91cQd2NCdE1xXIko81WeQUkTS9wkFWOOcq8l0k_YZ1Pk37oban4iaY6MgPCdu7HM7OYoxZyLXZSaiv9weHse_A/s1600/IMG_9491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DGdLNhdwBcGBLefK1ylX3I24_PBs_V17dxY-KSwlzV6Z3WKPEjt9f91cQd2NCdE1xXIko81WeQUkTS9wkFWOOcq8l0k_YZ1Pk37oban4iaY6MgPCdu7HM7OYoxZyLXZSaiv9weHse_A/s400/IMG_9491.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shrine in Kasuga forest way up in the mountain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> 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.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY13eYhQtXMNtpYT9mHtrF-N_0sqIuW6g8OQG3o384WrB6AG56pmhlo7CBspnKZRoIJSYVsZOBMMOnevCXONWTlO2vQENe2A6Ep57yAzS_Adf0sk_mXe5DwuEmvj8kla1AIus5Qu8l8-A/s1600/IMG_9497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY13eYhQtXMNtpYT9mHtrF-N_0sqIuW6g8OQG3o384WrB6AG56pmhlo7CBspnKZRoIJSYVsZOBMMOnevCXONWTlO2vQENe2A6Ep57yAzS_Adf0sk_mXe5DwuEmvj8kla1AIus5Qu8l8-A/s320/IMG_9497.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really worn out and sweaty but happy on the mountain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oJkRZS2qTDgJk8YXeZ-rpEMCMgozwIlf3qYR9uC-EH_6QXwbv1RkPaM8QPLov7HDsA7r6ML1tejN1FXlSQ4zYddYRrp9GEfyGRDyM6CgWT3Cg2qegEVeedGFRy_gLSkP48k6nUN7y1U/s1600/IMG_9504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oJkRZS2qTDgJk8YXeZ-rpEMCMgozwIlf3qYR9uC-EH_6QXwbv1RkPaM8QPLov7HDsA7r6ML1tejN1FXlSQ4zYddYRrp9GEfyGRDyM6CgWT3Cg2qegEVeedGFRy_gLSkP48k6nUN7y1U/s320/IMG_9504.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Takabatake road, near where Atsukosan's shop is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CaUL73uwPLPQAkmckWqHhSZtVUztMtFkbN3Ywn0Sb1kTRQxalqDAsK7T6dydBqW-5Kv4JoGy-kv5HSSj4GAv4ki1sT-A3HMNdhtcIvXs6CrJvbgFmB-NtF_DjZRq1gmvLfIQggJSqyI/s1600/IMG_9502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CaUL73uwPLPQAkmckWqHhSZtVUztMtFkbN3Ywn0Sb1kTRQxalqDAsK7T6dydBqW-5Kv4JoGy-kv5HSSj4GAv4ki1sT-A3HMNdhtcIvXs6CrJvbgFmB-NtF_DjZRq1gmvLfIQggJSqyI/s320/IMG_9502.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cafe break time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">On Internet, and phones here</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I now actually
have a phone, but with no plans for buying the internet. Let me
explain.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I did not foresee
that internet providers (like many services here) require a 1-2 year
contract. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRs66UO71Qf68JR9FNV0xUw2CBRCTVGxVvRp54Az5hEPGnjoJzk6Sshk4CawQ1CTaZMVMSyxubyoCFHBvo96tov0zGnVp2PKmsGoDO-uSeVh39KHzMXZzftooJpA1QGoP0-tuk4lDpnR8/s1600/IMG_9506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRs66UO71Qf68JR9FNV0xUw2CBRCTVGxVvRp54Az5hEPGnjoJzk6Sshk4CawQ1CTaZMVMSyxubyoCFHBvo96tov0zGnVp2PKmsGoDO-uSeVh39KHzMXZzftooJpA1QGoP0-tuk4lDpnR8/s400/IMG_9506.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Nara Park where deer and tourists gather</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSRdgHAIdE8K6auWlYfeaOfk2Y-xAGLxs6lu1Pz47qNE6tHFrU0TRxeG1_Te_x61nuvVQBO2c_g3zSs-hZzogadBvR4orRl1MSuyQHucz-h5dj4mAd31lx_qkzriUkxVlslc3z5RDXRM/s1600/IMG_9509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSRdgHAIdE8K6auWlYfeaOfk2Y-xAGLxs6lu1Pz47qNE6tHFrU0TRxeG1_Te_x61nuvVQBO2c_g3zSs-hZzogadBvR4orRl1MSuyQHucz-h5dj4mAd31lx_qkzriUkxVlslc3z5RDXRM/s400/IMG_9509.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AZUjFBu3YTEO9OdCi2FxOiUhdJ21qPb96MSahnT-o66ISE667jxieC6Syq3zort_M1ta71guvmfJA6xi-1geCbkAG49uCxJ6BVh0iguiG0_muozWYamuv2lYI0gk8EGChSIlIHO4nM4/s1600/IMG_9527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AZUjFBu3YTEO9OdCi2FxOiUhdJ21qPb96MSahnT-o66ISE667jxieC6Syq3zort_M1ta71guvmfJA6xi-1geCbkAG49uCxJ6BVh0iguiG0_muozWYamuv2lYI0gk8EGChSIlIHO4nM4/s400/IMG_9527.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kasuga Taisha entrance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Add that up and
thats more money than I and others want to pay for the luxury of
having internet access away from school.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPtiFhHIfNf9wMteXhV82aNFRAnmORfppG_t_GOXYepWFfZAa9rbnKKSQ2uNTgPaDoEahFOY1HiBcQQ3MAIVPm5q7mxIct3Q05ASCEPB6btlmxxc68CJACoDmiHVzGX8huhPCBbNgc2o/s1600/IMG_9533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPtiFhHIfNf9wMteXhV82aNFRAnmORfppG_t_GOXYepWFfZAa9rbnKKSQ2uNTgPaDoEahFOY1HiBcQQ3MAIVPm5q7mxIct3Q05ASCEPB6btlmxxc68CJACoDmiHVzGX8huhPCBbNgc2o/s320/IMG_9533.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kasuga Taisha is full of lanes of stone lanturns.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then I found out 2
things about phones here. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83LRF_D8yPbfTjsYcqIOeyivcRTCR4F7zGoHoXRuG9caIiwIRRUbiay2bpsPUA6MrmygzaTD-KC2IAkoGyEe8cC_rrO027VOrvERK0ohN7BwCp9_H37JZOC5ezmdsXTSSCprhODfifig/s1600/IMG_9536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83LRF_D8yPbfTjsYcqIOeyivcRTCR4F7zGoHoXRuG9caIiwIRRUbiay2bpsPUA6MrmygzaTD-KC2IAkoGyEe8cC_rrO027VOrvERK0ohN7BwCp9_H37JZOC5ezmdsXTSSCprhODfifig/s400/IMG_9536.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer themed area where guests cleanse hands and mouth.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyumwMlL2kDJxwC4fQcu34ByKJ5qo02rylfT93kXKReEtDVAG95OGcQf4qdfJ8fFVbCWlD2TXAAU9luRbx7IDYa6AeVyfrKpZwZADJBTpiytOGU7w3xbhXiOYX7jJtiPkBMAgvLhCb-fE/s1600/IMG_9560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyumwMlL2kDJxwC4fQcu34ByKJ5qo02rylfT93kXKReEtDVAG95OGcQf4qdfJ8fFVbCWlD2TXAAU9luRbx7IDYa6AeVyfrKpZwZADJBTpiytOGU7w3xbhXiOYX7jJtiPkBMAgvLhCb-fE/s400/IMG_9560.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the moon, and deer at Nara Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> The second thing
however was a game changer for me. Prepaid cellphones. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xur0MRyPxF_OI_NKAlMVnJUuWZCVa_3NzyGAKtjUv_Yp4oaLFkukpkCYHxz7A5hPBkdzLhxIc6sWuh7qf11sHIXSFsmmzzMhnBsvIdIgvlr1sLMo8_OMpywsnp6wLOAROzc53XNqt6M/s1600/IMG_9589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xur0MRyPxF_OI_NKAlMVnJUuWZCVa_3NzyGAKtjUv_Yp4oaLFkukpkCYHxz7A5hPBkdzLhxIc6sWuh7qf11sHIXSFsmmzzMhnBsvIdIgvlr1sLMo8_OMpywsnp6wLOAROzc53XNqt6M/s400/IMG_9589.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wisened looking tree in Nara park.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbom9MjdFK5R-uUl2zQl38JcTJfPiFow-p2UzFReeTM8egxO-YmB207ha57CkBtT_tPUrCs3_I0rTSPTbh2cReCyizM0hyI0a2dzMHlF2TFFgGxMuKupQZP5Ddh0eGOmKfKjbWM3u5QU8/s1600/IMG_9547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbom9MjdFK5R-uUl2zQl38JcTJfPiFow-p2UzFReeTM8egxO-YmB207ha57CkBtT_tPUrCs3_I0rTSPTbh2cReCyizM0hyI0a2dzMHlF2TFFgGxMuKupQZP5Ddh0eGOmKfKjbWM3u5QU8/s400/IMG_9547.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kasuga Taisha</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm8pqm1P1651fFGfWP6Pls3E4SYs22GAcTQtMl1WeQ8tmO1ZihPg2Re6k8JHTVMPGVmLlw25Vp9GSCx90UKngSpD7E4P6NK-SXCP2PhMTZnJaOKz4ZfWboBpl0RuXD4Ine6hztZotiUw/s1600/IMG_9595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm8pqm1P1651fFGfWP6Pls3E4SYs22GAcTQtMl1WeQ8tmO1ZihPg2Re6k8JHTVMPGVmLlw25Vp9GSCx90UKngSpD7E4P6NK-SXCP2PhMTZnJaOKz4ZfWboBpl0RuXD4Ine6hztZotiUw/s640/IMG_9595.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ukimido Hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-30772632117174386642013-09-12T20:04:00.002-07:002013-09-12T20:24:15.925-07:00Feeling More Adjusted<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcCzZ_o8oi1A3BSx_bUoetZsoHMaRx3O8gYX_Uv7ohr-x-2UTR7vcL82TXgpinn5dwDz6SYVsqp5UHmW4ayoeR469tPMOoDNolfz0ruypFnFL42qXtijoM3KJFxaB-ZfqO-SbMnvz_bU/s1600/IMG_9384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcCzZ_o8oi1A3BSx_bUoetZsoHMaRx3O8gYX_Uv7ohr-x-2UTR7vcL82TXgpinn5dwDz6SYVsqp5UHmW4ayoeR469tPMOoDNolfz0ruypFnFL42qXtijoM3KJFxaB-ZfqO-SbMnvz_bU/s400/IMG_9384.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working in the schools fields. We picked eggplant, peppers and watermelons.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am starting to feel more at home in
Nara now, more able to deal with group time, and better settled into
my classes and such.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QezxoaUUljcrzGkgJxWEZQupJFyLYOBhI3IiKRBzWD5Boj4t8yUtb3hyphenhyphenGUR20__idETtGDlfLh2VDynhdk2EW4zL61fljzjqUwflR1K2Br7XtiUkBPZTW1U2wTG8EhJoN27rKbc41Ro/s1600/IMG_9390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QezxoaUUljcrzGkgJxWEZQupJFyLYOBhI3IiKRBzWD5Boj4t8yUtb3hyphenhyphenGUR20__idETtGDlfLh2VDynhdk2EW4zL61fljzjqUwflR1K2Br7XtiUkBPZTW1U2wTG8EhJoN27rKbc41Ro/s400/IMG_9390.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The first week had me grumpy, and missing
familiarity. I also had the strong sense of missing specific people
especially. That's not to say I don't miss them now, but now I can
deal with it easier and it's less intense.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZFdrfwnWJcPUaLpql2L1T3zx-LDlKx8_tLCJ_5jHCYDJKpfezCO8EO51KnKNojjeB8OidoERuB5g5q4VZMCBKlZlSLeXZQvK5NOKtew6CyHt75ev-g4Ol1ryevplDbniTyy6oiXfHxM/s1600/IMG_9361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZFdrfwnWJcPUaLpql2L1T3zx-LDlKx8_tLCJ_5jHCYDJKpfezCO8EO51KnKNojjeB8OidoERuB5g5q4VZMCBKlZlSLeXZQvK5NOKtew6CyHt75ev-g4Ol1ryevplDbniTyy6oiXfHxM/s400/IMG_9361.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from a large hill near Kasuga Yama</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHd0m_7SBq50fvSoHSNJFPcluamcSatDaadhgqQGEeiICW5NwbiC5A1r1d0cN8FrJRty6GHrmJbFRXZsUM6wVNoArAWhverfhNPOtBp1YVeJquBLI9vAm3_QEwRjItA3Kdab2lGY2AZ4/s1600/IMG_9371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHd0m_7SBq50fvSoHSNJFPcluamcSatDaadhgqQGEeiICW5NwbiC5A1r1d0cN8FrJRty6GHrmJbFRXZsUM6wVNoArAWhverfhNPOtBp1YVeJquBLI9vAm3_QEwRjItA3Kdab2lGY2AZ4/s400/IMG_9371.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Kasuga Yama forest shrine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHd0m_7SBq50fvSoHSNJFPcluamcSatDaadhgqQGEeiICW5NwbiC5A1r1d0cN8FrJRty6GHrmJbFRXZsUM6wVNoArAWhverfhNPOtBp1YVeJquBLI9vAm3_QEwRjItA3Kdab2lGY2AZ4/s1600/IMG_9371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHd0m_7SBq50fvSoHSNJFPcluamcSatDaadhgqQGEeiICW5NwbiC5A1r1d0cN8FrJRty6GHrmJbFRXZsUM6wVNoArAWhverfhNPOtBp1YVeJquBLI9vAm3_QEwRjItA3Kdab2lGY2AZ4/s400/IMG_9371.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Kasuga Yama forest shrine<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I really underestimated the comforts of
art, even if it just means drawing a picture for my homework or
working on DIY postcards. Art has been a big comfort for my brain. So
has my bike, it is really comforting to know I don't have to walk
30-40 minutes to the grocery store and lug it all back, since I have
my bike I can get there in like 10-15 minutes and put my goods in my
basket :)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Lots of personal quiet time, or
individual exploration time too have been helpful for me, since a lot
of our time we are around other American students at school and other
international students when we are at the dorms. Quiet time in the
Library here is as close to meditation as I have gotten so far.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwVMiag_ebYjwWo4hIj6UasHHfnCSpsP1aqYjEAWJlBcxscxhyphenhyphenybSYnGfl3f0I2j8sCoG42BnfQ-kLFNHaafgBIP5XT7J5Z6mRs5UHTPEnH2LxU5Yd71GCTkoNyV1KaQ1l60R65AxR4o/s1600/IMG_9368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwVMiag_ebYjwWo4hIj6UasHHfnCSpsP1aqYjEAWJlBcxscxhyphenhyphenybSYnGfl3f0I2j8sCoG42BnfQ-kLFNHaafgBIP5XT7J5Z6mRs5UHTPEnH2LxU5Yd71GCTkoNyV1KaQ1l60R65AxR4o/s400/IMG_9368.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Kasuga Yama area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Also I have had time in the school's
agriculture fields where they grow rice, and vegetables, but the area
which is so close is a healing natural place that I really enjoyed. I
even saw some huge red crayfish near the rice fields in the deep
culvert ravine things that line most of the roadways here.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">They are to prevent flooding of the
roads since we are at the base of a few mountains, so when the rain
comes down hard and fast it goes into the culverts and not the roads,
but many of these are uncovered and I wonder about people who don't
pay attention to where they are going, since it would be really easy
to fall in the 3 foot deep trenches.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3euBgNTR2Pqv3tcNPlG_asI5PGqxwGaKNu7xBv_eBrtAjohz6pZPwBaLvRiHghJTi8deFCGWdQN2veQJbm1sdTA_aIRhnO4uqGfwEFfNPsI3Ck5S7qWji5_Ry1gqYmn5fajcCRYzeSqc/s1600/IMG_9402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3euBgNTR2Pqv3tcNPlG_asI5PGqxwGaKNu7xBv_eBrtAjohz6pZPwBaLvRiHghJTi8deFCGWdQN2veQJbm1sdTA_aIRhnO4uqGfwEFfNPsI3Ck5S7qWji5_Ry1gqYmn5fajcCRYzeSqc/s400/IMG_9402.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the school's rice field, the mountain and one culvert.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmwIErEtS8IwgdN6wSZz5QeUBWECHa_7IUac9QqZ02P9vvRxCbN0CpMBRHx6oV98EoPjVVQ4x2pVaEX3I6RnjAD0AoF1Y5bNxKRFz4ZcD-Zat_XAWZTSR-iGa1eeBhe-4MIp9Le5w3fE/s1600/IMG_9406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmwIErEtS8IwgdN6wSZz5QeUBWECHa_7IUac9QqZ02P9vvRxCbN0CpMBRHx6oV98EoPjVVQ4x2pVaEX3I6RnjAD0AoF1Y5bNxKRFz4ZcD-Zat_XAWZTSR-iGa1eeBhe-4MIp9Le5w3fE/s400/IMG_9406.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a quick sketch of the culverts that line the roads.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Classes at first were a different
style, and learning not only what the professors are saying but also
what they are looking for was a challenge and still can be, but now
it is easier for me to cope. The style of teaching while varying
among professors also is slightly different than what I had
experienced in Michigan.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It is amazing though to be learning
about Japanese history since in America we typically never learn
other countries' history, and our country is so young in comparison
it just seems so much richer than I thought it would be. I guess I
never really thought I was missing out on learning other cultures
histories, but now I keep thinking what about all the other countries
and their rich backgrounds? Why haven't we learned more about them?
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUJhFgKdBpGs_kbsJ6UXIIWpi9p54nXaqgKkr6wBlJ-xAiw0bcHJ1NtVzIILsN0bNLPk8Q1xuFwbUVivbx7PBSFSHJQoeW9I-e7dYRUPDIRgqAAPQWnpJ4ehb9LHC4S4H6a_cAahfWxM/s1600/IMG_9403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUJhFgKdBpGs_kbsJ6UXIIWpi9p54nXaqgKkr6wBlJ-xAiw0bcHJ1NtVzIILsN0bNLPk8Q1xuFwbUVivbx7PBSFSHJQoeW9I-e7dYRUPDIRgqAAPQWnpJ4ehb9LHC4S4H6a_cAahfWxM/s400/IMG_9403.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The school's rice field.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHd0m_7SBq50fvSoHSNJFPcluamcSatDaadhgqQGEeiICW5NwbiC5A1r1d0cN8FrJRty6GHrmJbFRXZsUM6wVNoArAWhverfhNPOtBp1YVeJquBLI9vAm3_QEwRjItA3Kdab2lGY2AZ4/s1600/IMG_9371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHd0m_7SBq50fvSoHSNJFPcluamcSatDaadhgqQGEeiICW5NwbiC5A1r1d0cN8FrJRty6GHrmJbFRXZsUM6wVNoArAWhverfhNPOtBp1YVeJquBLI9vAm3_QEwRjItA3Kdab2lGY2AZ4/s400/IMG_9371.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kasuga Yama forest shrine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Do we perhaps spend too much time
focusing on inane details of our own history and end up leaving out
key facts about what others were doing before during or after us? I
know it is a problem with news in America, that we lack international
coverage and yet we somehow know intimate details about celebrity
love lives.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkbbqMLpkcPSv6AjZ7e0TtZPOdajeuEVCW59slLcZBrlQcPrq8DeW7L_ch3iIc-VjCMtvDDq9JhtI5GAd7vsiHOAG5-L2HUVW7aMjSJGsu0YZ6-10JrFyDvNCbdJdUJm6uePv4kYaVIE/s1600/IMG_9376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkbbqMLpkcPSv6AjZ7e0TtZPOdajeuEVCW59slLcZBrlQcPrq8DeW7L_ch3iIc-VjCMtvDDq9JhtI5GAd7vsiHOAG5-L2HUVW7aMjSJGsu0YZ6-10JrFyDvNCbdJdUJm6uePv4kYaVIE/s400/IMG_9376.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On another note am also glad for the
abundance of foods like mushrooms, natto (fermented soy beans), my
home made nabe one pot stews (with veggies, mushrooms etc.) and the
like that are not only healthy, but also relatively cheap in
comparison to buying easy to go foods from the konbini.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Now that I am more settled, I am able
to better enjoy the old architecture styles from around our area.
There is a festival that started today, that maybe goes on this
weekend I want to see with dragon boats and the area has vendor
stalls with all kinds of cool stuff going on.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Next week I will be volunteering at a
traditional festival called Bon Odori which is celebrated at various
times around Japan in each area. Nara celebrates it later than many
other cities that tend to celebrate it in August.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9D0ct84CfqjkiFjmfNQgtEq1xcTppvUxzo9eQOTvNyMkcd07Q_89NNxRncA89eeve0S3t6KR_aDfYATUugwIHp1eVGzNYHb2pAusN6fQwMclDOTSJxPdc8LDvXf8GpfNWOSiIBqygUfY/s1600/IMG_9380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9D0ct84CfqjkiFjmfNQgtEq1xcTppvUxzo9eQOTvNyMkcd07Q_89NNxRncA89eeve0S3t6KR_aDfYATUugwIHp1eVGzNYHb2pAusN6fQwMclDOTSJxPdc8LDvXf8GpfNWOSiIBqygUfY/s400/IMG_9380.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the forest through a hole in the tree roots</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I will be wearing a traditional yukata,
which some people call a cotton kimono, and I will be manning the
popcorn or cotton candy stand. If I have a say in which, I will take
the popcorn stand gladly, but either way I am stoked to be
participating!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0bJSn6dkoDEMLxloHnYTicxRCN_e395z5PpUWLV55fsZbepAWUGZCiq5Uvy_gv7ulBbyZpS4pcJD3UH-TPjR1tku1dZ-gNKmMVVL2FlIazKcdr1Pwfs0r9aF7Mu3P8H-k3AcwC2C2mk/s1600/IMG_9383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0bJSn6dkoDEMLxloHnYTicxRCN_e395z5PpUWLV55fsZbepAWUGZCiq5Uvy_gv7ulBbyZpS4pcJD3UH-TPjR1tku1dZ-gNKmMVVL2FlIazKcdr1Pwfs0r9aF7Mu3P8H-k3AcwC2C2mk/s400/IMG_9383.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kasuga Yama forest</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am also planning a 2-day trip to
Toushi Island (either in mid October or November) with a group led by
our advisor here. We will be staying at a family owned guest house
Ryokan- or traditional hotel bed and breakfast style, which may have
hot springs.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There we will enjoy the traditional
seasonal foods, tour the town, and meet the clam ladies as I call
them who are famous for clam diving in their white suits. We will
also be going fishing off of the boat there and I hope to catch some
fish for breakfast! I need to catch at least one fish to be satisfied
with the experience.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Last week seemed to drag on slowly as I
tried to cope with the changes and adapt to my new surroundings, now
this week seemed to go by faster and I seem to be coping with all the
differences in a much more graceful way.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">From this I learned how powerful time,
art, nature, alone time, and other comforts can be in dealing with
such a large adjustment.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5547836008015111124.post-73930589379009221562013-09-08T21:22:00.002-07:002013-09-08T22:02:30.074-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ4RcC3w5pAWY7bTg64LSzTdY6AZkWnDkupdOxtf5Pd723i3pj0VzsjHBFbeJHDARnXKdlS9BuujPfFC9jETioTonQa18qgT_m6FEFxYAnZiAQyolct6SsxVjdVlhf8Fm8D0KHEhIKLg/s1600/IMG_9297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ4RcC3w5pAWY7bTg64LSzTdY6AZkWnDkupdOxtf5Pd723i3pj0VzsjHBFbeJHDARnXKdlS9BuujPfFC9jETioTonQa18qgT_m6FEFxYAnZiAQyolct6SsxVjdVlhf8Fm8D0KHEhIKLg/s400/IMG_9297.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;" type="I">
</ol>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I. Dorm Life</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have never
lived in a dorm situation before so this is still something I am
learning more about. In Nara we have 3 areas where international
students live, but it used to be only 2 places, North and South
dorms.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Originally there
was the north and south and at least part of it was co-ed. Everyone
has their own room to themselves, so no roommates, but people lived
under the same roof and shared the kitchen and lobby areas. Then the
university put in a wall and isolated half of the north for females
and half for males only.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2PoA-vemRkNxPWBa3rXS-z399ESU9gD17AEjbTK0rArcKEWCQqpIiCC2NINlyHiFMoeVxlec8_N5_zgGXLFU2CvVqq6For7fk-wja1xXiACPljb47ri7Wa3oNoQhNoGEU366ZgCa31k/s1600/IMG_9291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2PoA-vemRkNxPWBa3rXS-z399ESU9gD17AEjbTK0rArcKEWCQqpIiCC2NINlyHiFMoeVxlec8_N5_zgGXLFU2CvVqq6For7fk-wja1xXiACPljb47ri7Wa3oNoQhNoGEU366ZgCa31k/s400/IMG_9291.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Apparently
according to the students who were here before it happened, there
were several incidents that led to the wall being put in and the men
and women being separated. So now the women can visit the guys but
they can't get in to visit us.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">There are many
rules, at least in our building, rules about drinking, smoking, where
you can gather and for noise after 10pm.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnyeCytR9hyphenhyphen0ROD2Lxydif7wjrMY9V6BTf2FR29_g6LXTly61baBGB0NDJ_sVMYWwCfISvUwjE57x3LZ5IP-HcTMxkkPv44BI7WIR0kBvF9PXh7ilYGpFEoJkxXPPrwbl8cfG-sYdwP0/s1600/IMG_9292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnyeCytR9hyphenhyphen0ROD2Lxydif7wjrMY9V6BTf2FR29_g6LXTly61baBGB0NDJ_sVMYWwCfISvUwjE57x3LZ5IP-HcTMxkkPv44BI7WIR0kBvF9PXh7ilYGpFEoJkxXPPrwbl8cfG-sYdwP0/s400/IMG_9292.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We have monthly
required meetings where we all clean the building together, you can
only have 2 unexcused absences, and then the other residents hold a
vote to decide whether you can stay in the dorms anymore.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-64VT8DmY60nUSVjCzEUuJRBBg9ZHyG7ZpUqvDs2LmqqO0aMKWN7sp9yswmbAKxO4r821Mklpa6IFSWu07PstVNHsS6K_6yNPNhYOKGdv8YjCQw_yJsj1TTwra-39nedvmcvxVQdTUHo/s1600/IMG_9295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-64VT8DmY60nUSVjCzEUuJRBBg9ZHyG7ZpUqvDs2LmqqO0aMKWN7sp9yswmbAKxO4r821Mklpa6IFSWu07PstVNHsS6K_6yNPNhYOKGdv8YjCQw_yJsj1TTwra-39nedvmcvxVQdTUHo/s320/IMG_9295.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The kitchen,
showers and laundry are shared areas, meaning you don't pay for
electricity, but in our own rooms we pay electric once a month. You
take the bill up to the konbini (convenience store) to pay it.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinThjVJmUEAhTX1LE7Q88SZ5t6hk7EuKlHBekqJ31TvaUUtdbV2tbhtXP6DlZCz9swHrqfC2VHCr-ncGpQWe9MO-0LJtix94vFEeEXhswLDaQNwXL4TYB8SEfY_MSJ-7y2iOKWbmfN1sM/s1600/IMG_9300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinThjVJmUEAhTX1LE7Q88SZ5t6hk7EuKlHBekqJ31TvaUUtdbV2tbhtXP6DlZCz9swHrqfC2VHCr-ncGpQWe9MO-0LJtix94vFEeEXhswLDaQNwXL4TYB8SEfY_MSJ-7y2iOKWbmfN1sM/s320/IMG_9300.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So far it has been
an adjustment to live in the dorms, as I am used to having my own
place where I clean up after myself or not, but it's only my mess,
not a collaborative mess from others living in the same building.</span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmt4cePNcuLPo1wJmXfP7DHgyQZrDXwBq2QgCg3ahtOWEFF4Cw3repNJxZwcV0DVrvX9m0-80__3BZYVc_1pMwXXqYeO2X5vYpqR9JYXCoD-IHFCr_atpi7xH-nHXD5l2ZRl0n2e7ZT-o/s1600/IMG_9311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmt4cePNcuLPo1wJmXfP7DHgyQZrDXwBq2QgCg3ahtOWEFF4Cw3repNJxZwcV0DVrvX9m0-80__3BZYVc_1pMwXXqYeO2X5vYpqR9JYXCoD-IHFCr_atpi7xH-nHXD5l2ZRl0n2e7ZT-o/s320/IMG_9311.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A huge bonus
though is that I have my own room, and don't have a roommate. It
gives me personal quiet time and a place to retreat after a long day
of walking, biking, school and exploring.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="font-size: xx-large;">II. On homesickness</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't think
homesickness is often explained properly, or if it is, I wasn't
listening properly. For me I didn't think it was going to be an
issue, and had this image that it would be mainly something younger
college students felt because they missed their parents or something
similar.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZovmplImevCtnIEaccn8oUNiWkBxzctI6Hiulx28Dbnwhx2t4A-MfZERnpRqPF1L8nObxdk06wcBoaE2o0VhfXkQJkcR0KeIPnr7fqlAZomNVwVF-0U3afJNbMUqE98tmPxCbYycnoY/s1600/IMG_9314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZovmplImevCtnIEaccn8oUNiWkBxzctI6Hiulx28Dbnwhx2t4A-MfZERnpRqPF1L8nObxdk06wcBoaE2o0VhfXkQJkcR0KeIPnr7fqlAZomNVwVF-0U3afJNbMUqE98tmPxCbYycnoY/s400/IMG_9314.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cafe next to our dorms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For me it isn't
like that, it's more a longing for the familiar. Since at times it
can be hard to get out and face the foreign language and culture of
Japan that surrounds us, at first it can be overwhelming, and make
people feel inadequate in some ways such as doubting their language
abilities and the like.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My biggest problem here is that an American student from another university constantly wants to do things together for the entire day all the time. I really am not that type of person and explained to them how I really need a lot of me-time to enjoy new places and experiences by myself. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdH5JiuLCfEp8AfV7F0-eGE1Lu5QRp87umgAr4mEhcRdkRJ7VF3f6cc3xIgPw2B78fNLggJUh0DTYZfwZ8E3564_U1CLUfguV2_JoOUivvA8AYqBMaPOaT68IIsqxNXenPm8WPCEmg4w/s1600/IMG_9315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdH5JiuLCfEp8AfV7F0-eGE1Lu5QRp87umgAr4mEhcRdkRJ7VF3f6cc3xIgPw2B78fNLggJUh0DTYZfwZ8E3564_U1CLUfguV2_JoOUivvA8AYqBMaPOaT68IIsqxNXenPm8WPCEmg4w/s400/IMG_9315.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of Takabatake street where our dorms are.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Their Japanese skills are very beginner and they want someone to go with them everywhere for companionship and also for translation. After our classes started it got better for me since they are in a separate level so we only have one class together, and on the weekends I just try and leave the dorms as soon as I wake up so I can have lots of quiet time.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I also found some DIY postcards I can decorate myself and have been making those for friends and family, the artwork really helped me feel better and less moody today.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHJzupDozC_2x_RDViBohvWhsVjpGMEFIKYU3MM-W9NaOkqNYSjtv_k_prg6_PZXytU96G-xJrqn9oKsprxijtOTZB9sFb1pzie7NKhcX88I-RNUSpJ9jLIAf5A4nL53chbdfienPyQo/s1600/IMG_9317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHJzupDozC_2x_RDViBohvWhsVjpGMEFIKYU3MM-W9NaOkqNYSjtv_k_prg6_PZXytU96G-xJrqn9oKsprxijtOTZB9sFb1pzie7NKhcX88I-RNUSpJ9jLIAf5A4nL53chbdfienPyQo/s320/IMG_9317.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Other things that helped were listening to odd American music that I typically don't listen to, lots of away time from the dorms out exploring Nara , and tons of unaccompanied time really have helped me.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKSDMjgyLV5qwPCKI_y8muflKq712RtfveAT_V5JSRpP1KSBJ6VB2KgoVA9srHI9x3SsbtDqgteaV-VH2cwbKF5Sjkxc4liBzr-kyo8r5E4tQ8C9wF3DuhgW6QTx_LTDMDeatPBSIUiM/s1600/IMG_9322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKSDMjgyLV5qwPCKI_y8muflKq712RtfveAT_V5JSRpP1KSBJ6VB2KgoVA9srHI9x3SsbtDqgteaV-VH2cwbKF5Sjkxc4liBzr-kyo8r5E4tQ8C9wF3DuhgW6QTx_LTDMDeatPBSIUiM/s320/IMG_9322.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to Nara University of Edu., you can see the mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There are so many
differences between Nara and Michigan (and similarities as well, though they take looking for),
such as the night time animal sounds like cicadas, deer calls, and in
the morning and day; crows that it really helps to reinforce a
feeling of foreign-ness.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSsjUwOFsbbnFS13Fb73YaD3GyyHma0U5dgoD_nH-WAKxUhhIDdQUtcwps5GPKZqBcwK2SB_sXUskSyfO7he9k4LV8gFebnezaHK9Gb-2xPNipx8QyikuKgFIo60QcscO6FOrefuRElg/s1600/IMG_9326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSsjUwOFsbbnFS13Fb73YaD3GyyHma0U5dgoD_nH-WAKxUhhIDdQUtcwps5GPKZqBcwK2SB_sXUskSyfO7he9k4LV8gFebnezaHK9Gb-2xPNipx8QyikuKgFIo60QcscO6FOrefuRElg/s320/IMG_9326.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I see signs in English, they often make me laugh like this one.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Things I never
would have thought would be different for me often are. Purchasing
internet or a phone often require 2 year contracts and auto withdraw
from your bank account. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaILQHbnNyFgaHu_D3kMJubxlgPAYuh64AN_iA6tOUEYFH7WpRXsKdBisv7bZ0QWK2AqowEe27TJyovUoQRmH-9VwXJQsWXP4U43qbywojfr7hh71MiMQ63G13QH0zpo5apfvx5w9pX4/s1600/IMG_9327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIaILQHbnNyFgaHu_D3kMJubxlgPAYuh64AN_iA6tOUEYFH7WpRXsKdBisv7bZ0QWK2AqowEe27TJyovUoQRmH-9VwXJQsWXP4U43qbywojfr7hh71MiMQ63G13QH0zpo5apfvx5w9pX4/s400/IMG_9327.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creeping over the neighbors fence.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">So my habits of Google map searching new
places are limited to when I am in the international room at school
or the library where I have internet access during the week. So if I
want to go somewhere specific I have to look it up in advance or have
someone who knows where it is draw a map. I think it should get
easier as I get more and more familiar with the area.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJBJ_7eKDWde1UGHevkwvy0P-YFa3-ImmuUGTpi_4EaHOqH8zmLH3KEQ-7dd2lixkzBe4orR8msy4ODXiXrLCknBvcYGr1BThkr4CugVuIQ3-O3EXcolLuLelVHUt2FsCTIeCBWalcqc/s1600/IMG_9351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJBJ_7eKDWde1UGHevkwvy0P-YFa3-ImmuUGTpi_4EaHOqH8zmLH3KEQ-7dd2lixkzBe4orR8msy4ODXiXrLCknBvcYGr1BThkr4CugVuIQ3-O3EXcolLuLelVHUt2FsCTIeCBWalcqc/s400/IMG_9351.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of part of Nara park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Personally, I have
found familiarity or comfort in my music, renting books in English
from the school library, and little things like my balcony plants
since I miss my garden.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaSxBqa4lMAq5DZffgt9r5GLK4X5KZj3oGVJOV5moIZrzTy_oVLZDB2s1EecWSkF-8UuK1NCbvc5Rxs7gQfRiCjHmDAhWHx3dkJWGhtLid8Hb42i-0bS5EFMb_cF9MdY6cTzJ9Ti3mpI/s1600/IMG_9353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaSxBqa4lMAq5DZffgt9r5GLK4X5KZj3oGVJOV5moIZrzTy_oVLZDB2s1EecWSkF-8UuK1NCbvc5Rxs7gQfRiCjHmDAhWHx3dkJWGhtLid8Hb42i-0bS5EFMb_cF9MdY6cTzJ9Ti3mpI/s400/IMG_9353.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nara park area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Many students in
our dorm have given up Japanese foods after about 6 months, and just
started eating and cooking foods from their home countries. Some guys
I know started as early as the second or third day we were here, and
now frequent McDonalds and KFC.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio672eM5A3p3uMhXj3uhjk2Br_d7166wOn31sEtLEPskAyYnX4cztHkBdOuyFY74etNrMe5lM45-eG_s_-SHj3gWo33Z94HkUuEAHnLJYxewUjGjfvmZGwTtsSdpvRTDXrffESTWdzF6A/s1600/IMG_9356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio672eM5A3p3uMhXj3uhjk2Br_d7166wOn31sEtLEPskAyYnX4cztHkBdOuyFY74etNrMe5lM45-eG_s_-SHj3gWo33Z94HkUuEAHnLJYxewUjGjfvmZGwTtsSdpvRTDXrffESTWdzF6A/s400/IMG_9356.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamboo and forest near Nara park area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">III. On Nara </span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nara is not a
place all foreigners seem to like after an extended stay. Many of the exchange students I
have talked with much prefer places with lots of nightlife and
entertainment and this may be why.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Nara has a lot of
things that personally appeal to me though. I love the area of our
dorms, which is very close to two mountains and a primeval forest
that even has a small waterfall, with trees that haven't been cut
since 841.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Deer wander
wherever they like, there are tons of national treasures dating to
when Nara was the original capitol city, and it's not a concrete
jungle. These things all speak to me about Nara's personality and
really help me to adjust.</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin98anPlXAvZ2_4OMLzGEvG2jTdEIQL39OJfTjLZwxLh5RBAdTB60avTz1eJd1r5_RtEprnr5nlHMr6F2qk63YWuYqi6GCBnOFZVKTZVKIuIQaMNRza2b1BaRLo-bnm-tP7Se7D13OMKM/s1600/IMG_9255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin98anPlXAvZ2_4OMLzGEvG2jTdEIQL39OJfTjLZwxLh5RBAdTB60avTz1eJd1r5_RtEprnr5nlHMr6F2qk63YWuYqi6GCBnOFZVKTZVKIuIQaMNRza2b1BaRLo-bnm-tP7Se7D13OMKM/s400/IMG_9255.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kasuga Yama Priveval forest</td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">The deep ties with
nature and tradition can be seen in the traditional food choices that
are available in abundance here, especially since this is a
historical city and prefecture. The buildings too are well known to
be old and are a tourist attraction alongside of Nara park and the
many temples and shrines.</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilRDipr59V28LFj8NqurG4VV1wIzcd8-R58Criej9HyX8qM31T98QpoeBdHW30bf5JbvzdU6gymevFU4U-qPjrO3MYdgoyqvs-yIPjfRoEbTm7FU5eyaLxnpjjV5LNZb9HgJXQ0TsCFs/s1600/IMG_9221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilRDipr59V28LFj8NqurG4VV1wIzcd8-R58Criej9HyX8qM31T98QpoeBdHW30bf5JbvzdU6gymevFU4U-qPjrO3MYdgoyqvs-yIPjfRoEbTm7FU5eyaLxnpjjV5LNZb9HgJXQ0TsCFs/s400/IMG_9221.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natto, the fermented soybean food that has brought many Westerner to vomiting. My fav!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nara may not be
the best match for some students who crave the super fashion and hot
nightlife entertainment of places like Osaka and Tokyo, but it suits
me well and I am excited to become better acquainted.</span></div>
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Ariellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08469302143757662585noreply@blogger.com0