旅行
I realized that, in all of my entries about my emotional journey throughout the study abroad experience, I've neglected entirely to describe any of the tourist attractions that I've visited thus far in Japan! I'm not terribly worried about forgetting; all experiences are heavily documented, what with the infinite memory digital cameras wielded by every ryuugakusei at Kansai, but in the interest of maintaining clarity, I'll try to separate my sightseeing trips here:
Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera
January 30th
A brilliant first taste of Kyoto delivered to us by three Japanese students acting as tour guides. We had a fantastic time running about the temple in the rain, trying rather comically to properly complete all of the worship activities along the way (lifting giant iron staffs, throwing coins into grates, washing hands, ringing bells), and later bonded over a delicious and thrilling nabe dinner. Megu and I are still friends!
Nara: Nara Kouen
February 14th
I consider encountering Alec from Globalization class during a typical walk home from school a turning point/gift of fate, as since I have practically tripled my social circle and allied myself with year-long students who already know what's going on and can explain in English with ease. Nara Park is the exhilarating reality of my romanticized vision of Japan; beautiful traditional-style ryokan (Japanese hotel) are set in the pale green, hilly landscape of twisting trees, smooth lakes, and perfect stones. Deer appear in droves, tottering and tramping and trouncing all about the bright meadows amongst dreams and fairies and rapture and glory. It's simply awe inspiring . . . I just wanted to lay on the ground and absorb as much as I could all day. We wandered and were bit by a few spoiled deer, ate lunch and dinner and Mister Donut in Nara, took purikura, and bonded far more harmoniously than I could have expected. Perfect day!
Kyoto: Fushimi-Inari
February 21st
Field trip with a class that wasn't mine that the person who invited me missed the train for! Awkward . . . but it actually wasn't at all, because I thankfully immediately joined Fawn and Caleb and enjoyed traipsing through rows and rows of bright orange torii in the midst of the forest within a city. There are countless shrines and gods worshiped on this single mountain, and absurd and interesting statuettes are placed everywhere, laden with red baby bibs, strings of a thousand origami cranes, money, dolls, and mail . . . little paper wishes tied on strings and tree-branches . . . it was such a fascinating melting pot of all the gorgeous traditions of Japanese religious belief. I can't wait until I feel Japanese enough to tie a wish on a tree. Afterward we went to a flea market outside another temple, where we scoured Japanese fair foods (taiyaki for me), recycled clothing (including old kimonos), wood and yarn crafts, bonsai trees, and all of the antique and faux antique relics you expect to find at such an event. I bought a dress and pin and felt satisfied- another day in Japan started early and spent to its last!
Of course, I've been other places too . . . the giant outdoor-ish mall near Sanjo station, Sweets Paradise by Gion-Shijo, Pokemon Stadium in Osaka, clothes shopping in Umeda . . . but these are the touristy events, and all of the places that I just mentioned I am quite sure that I will visit again and again!
Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera
January 30th
A brilliant first taste of Kyoto delivered to us by three Japanese students acting as tour guides. We had a fantastic time running about the temple in the rain, trying rather comically to properly complete all of the worship activities along the way (lifting giant iron staffs, throwing coins into grates, washing hands, ringing bells), and later bonded over a delicious and thrilling nabe dinner. Megu and I are still friends!
Nara: Nara Kouen
February 14th
I consider encountering Alec from Globalization class during a typical walk home from school a turning point/gift of fate, as since I have practically tripled my social circle and allied myself with year-long students who already know what's going on and can explain in English with ease. Nara Park is the exhilarating reality of my romanticized vision of Japan; beautiful traditional-style ryokan (Japanese hotel) are set in the pale green, hilly landscape of twisting trees, smooth lakes, and perfect stones. Deer appear in droves, tottering and tramping and trouncing all about the bright meadows amongst dreams and fairies and rapture and glory. It's simply awe inspiring . . . I just wanted to lay on the ground and absorb as much as I could all day. We wandered and were bit by a few spoiled deer, ate lunch and dinner and Mister Donut in Nara, took purikura, and bonded far more harmoniously than I could have expected. Perfect day!
Kyoto: Fushimi-Inari
February 21st
Field trip with a class that wasn't mine that the person who invited me missed the train for! Awkward . . . but it actually wasn't at all, because I thankfully immediately joined Fawn and Caleb and enjoyed traipsing through rows and rows of bright orange torii in the midst of the forest within a city. There are countless shrines and gods worshiped on this single mountain, and absurd and interesting statuettes are placed everywhere, laden with red baby bibs, strings of a thousand origami cranes, money, dolls, and mail . . . little paper wishes tied on strings and tree-branches . . . it was such a fascinating melting pot of all the gorgeous traditions of Japanese religious belief. I can't wait until I feel Japanese enough to tie a wish on a tree. Afterward we went to a flea market outside another temple, where we scoured Japanese fair foods (taiyaki for me), recycled clothing (including old kimonos), wood and yarn crafts, bonsai trees, and all of the antique and faux antique relics you expect to find at such an event. I bought a dress and pin and felt satisfied- another day in Japan started early and spent to its last!
Of course, I've been other places too . . . the giant outdoor-ish mall near Sanjo station, Sweets Paradise by Gion-Shijo, Pokemon Stadium in Osaka, clothes shopping in Umeda . . . but these are the touristy events, and all of the places that I just mentioned I am quite sure that I will visit again and again!