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2007年9月29日

Only in Japan...
...would there be the most technologically advanced porcelain toilet and the most historically forgotten porcelain hole within the same bathroom.

...would a construction worker be hauling steel beams in a hard hat and soft sandals.

...would a girl in gothic-doll garb and a woman in village kimono be standing in the same line.

...would your exact theatre seat be reserved but all the transportation systems a battle of the thinnest and quickest.

...will the cashier heat your food, remove tags from your new shoes, individualy wrap your comic books...and not accept credit cards.

...can you buy a box of cookies only to discover it contains only nine (again) individually wrapped morsels.

Those are just a few things I find peculiar, outright funny, or simply in contrast to my life in the US. I'll write more now and then, when I think of them and feel like it. What started this was someone commenting on the forwards/backwards technology of Japanese public bathrooms, and then walking home today I observed a construction worker wearing a hard hat but thin sandals with tabi socks...Apparently Japanese don't care about the safety of their toes?

Tip for Foreigners in Japan:
Try to be informed of where you're wandering into before you wander into it...


So, I found another temple after ceramics class today. It was very beautiful, especially the entrance. Once inside the main area, the appeal dropped because they were doing a lot of construction. I was also very perplexed as to why half the buildings were extremely modern looking, complete with lit signs (that reminded me of the JR station), multiple floors, and elevators. Now, I know Japan has a habit of mixing old and new, but it doesn't usually go to the extent of modernizing temples (that's the point of why people go to temples! History!). I walked around for awhile, watched some people pray at an incense altar, and then I noticed the next peculiarity. A large group of people were wearing only black, so I wondered if maybe someone was having a funeral nearby, or someone important died today.
Then, I wondered into the modern half and followed a few people into this room that had rows and rows of brown gilded boxes. They were beautiful, but the room was very quiet and I was starting to get a sinking feeling the kanji on each box was a person's name. My first thought was "Oh my goodness, are there bodies in here? No no that's silly. Maybe they are like fancy safety deposit boxes?" But the akward feeling wouldn't go away, and I definately felt like I didn't belong in there. I walked all the way down to discover there was no exit. I passed a small family opening one of the boxes, so I thought maybe they really were safety deposit boxes of some sort. On my way out, I was too perplexed to have really enjoyed the visit so I didn't look around much more. Right as I was leaving, I noticed there was one pamphlet about the temple actually translated into English, so I picked it up thinking maybe some of my confusion could be answered.

The top of the page read: "Welcome to Otani Mausoleum"

I almost started laughing. "Oh my gosh," I said aloud, "I'm in a mausoleum!?" Yeah, that taught me then and there to be a little more informed before freely walking into places. Luckily, I was actually wearing a black shirt today, so I didn't feel so embarrassed. Other than looking foreign, I don't think anyone realized my ignorance as much as if I had walked in in a cheerful dress.
The room I was in, by the way (see picture above) is "a mausoleum for the ashes of Shin Buddhists from throughout the country and abroad. They house more than 20,000 small altars." Actually, I thought this paper I picked up was extremely fascinating, so I decided to type it up here so that all of you may read about Otani as well. There are more pictures in the photo gallery.

2007年9月24日　Kyoto Station

Yesterday I asked my friend Margaret to take me to Kyoto Station. This is basically the hub of all Japanese railways in Kyoto, and I hadn't learned how to get there, yet. We walked down to Hanazono Station and got onto a JR train to get there. Now let me tell you...Kyoto Station is huge!! Within it are about three massive shopping malls, including entire floors devoted to food in such a manner that I was reminded of a fish market. I was too swept away by all there was to look at that I didn't take many pictures this time around, but here is one I couldn't pass up...

You see that stage down there, with the red cylindrical thing? That's the halfway point. Yes, that's halfway back down to the main floor of Kyoto Station. That pit of blackness is where, if you could, you would see the bottom floor.

I had a fantastic time looking at all there was to purchase in Kyoto station, but much to my chagrin, the clothing prices were absolutely ridiculous. By the time Margaret and I left, I was feeling very downhearted about picking up a few Japanese styles during my stay here.
We proceeded north via the subway to Karasuma-Oike station, then walked about 5 minutes east to the City Hall. There they were having a flea market, but we arrived too late. So, instead, we turned around and shopped through a covered mall.

It was in this mall that we discovered a Giordano clothing store, with several very attractive t-shirts being sold for only ￥480 apiece!! Inside, I went a little crazy with delight at finding several attractive sets of clothing that were not too expensive, and the whole store was having a 20% off sale. Now, I don't feel so hopeless about getting to do a little shopping this year. ♪♪ｖ(⌒ｏ⌒)ｖ♪♪イエーイ

Finally, it was time to turn back and head for the dorm to make it in time for our welcoming party. We picked up our bags and...CRASH!! Rain poured onto the covered tarp of the mall, and Margaret and I looked at each other. I didn't have my umbrella, and all she had was a travel one that barely even kept her dry. Well, we had no time to lose, so we situated our bags, popped the umbrella open, and made a run for it!
Oh it took about thirty seconds before we were howling in laughter, already half soaked, and still several minutes away from the subway station. We finally made it, ran downstairs, and made the discovery we were one station short. Back into the rain! By the time we made it to the right subway station, my jeans were so wet it was hard to walk, and there were small puddles of water inside my shopping bags. Still, the whole situation made for a great laugh.

Margaret has told me several times about entering a shop or train and having packs of high school boys snicker and talk about her. I hadn't experienced this, until the JR train ride back to Hanazono. As I was turning my head, I noticed three high school boys standing nearby, right as the middle one pointed semi-discreetly at me and said to his left ”彼女、かわいい？”　("Do you think she's cute?") The boy to his left glanced at me right as I was looking at him and immediately became embarrassed. He shook his hand dismissingly and quickly said ”いいえいえいえ。” ("No no, not at all.") Amused on the inside, I kept turning my head without missing a beat, as if I didn't understand what had been said.

We made it to the dorm on time, thankfully, and had a great time at the welcome party. Of all the party games they could choose, I was happy to participate in Telephone and Charades, especially with a Japanese language twist. It was a rewarding night, and I fell asleep absolutely exhausted.

2007年9月23日

My purty red bike! I bought it Friday, and it has proven essential. Since then I also got a red net (the color was coincidence) for the basket too, to prevent thieving. God has really blessed me...even though I am totally out of shape, and I can't ride it too long before my legs starting to cramp up, I have yet to get painfully sore. I might wake up a little stiff, but I haven't experienced any pain since I got here. That's really odd, since I know I am pushing my body farther than it's used to. But, it's a good oddity!

Also, I've noticed a trend...

It seems like a lot of the new things I'm buying here are the same orange color...I never used to like orange. Do color-buds change like taste-buds? XD
And by the way, that chopstick case and chopsticks are so precious. They say "はにかみブー", which can roughly be translated as "Blushing Oink~". Can you see? The cute little pig is blushing ^^.

New Video uploaded from our Health and Safety seminar. Check that out, too!

2007年9月21日

My breakfast this morning...That bread is like one gigantic delicious cinammon roll. Man, am I glad I bought it yesterday! I walked at least a total of two miles to get that and bring it back, but this morning it was definately worth it. In hindsight, I found out there was another bakery much closer down the other direction...but it looked smaller with less selection of goodies, so I don't mind.

2007年9月19日

Arrival...

Okay! Here I am! In Kyoto, Japan!! 結局来ましたよ！
Wow, where do I begin?

Okay, so the flights to Japan on the 17th/18th were moderately stressful but as a whole what anyone would expect. Somehow, I didn't remember it being quite so agonizingly long...Thankfully, our San Fran -> Japan flight had miniature TV's behind every seat, so Josh and I could pick the movies we wanted to watch and kill time.

Once arriving at Kansai International, I discovered that the customs agents weren't as scary as I remembered, either. I don't think this is due to a faulty memory, though. I distinctively remember glares that could make you confess to any crime (that you had never committed). This time, though, my customs Inquisitor didn't take a single glance at my baggage, smiled, and asked me light questions like "What college?" (in response to my statement of being a study abroad student) with a casual nature. Maybe he liked it that I responded to him in basic Japanese?

The currency exchange booth was right outside customs, so we stopped by there to get some yen. I saw the MK Shuttle man holding my namecard only a few feet away, but chose to ignore him thinking he would want to leave immediately as soon as I presented myself. By the time I finished changing some of my money, I turned around and said with mild shock, "Where did my taxi guy go?" Josh turned around, too, and we made the unfortunate observation that he had gone completely missing. Fortunately, though, it ended up being a simple manner of walking down to the MK booth and presenting my reservation number. At least 6 or 8 MK shuttle drivers were milling around to get their next assignments, and within 5 minutes they were calling my name to board. I gave Josh a quick, sweaty hug (Too quick, but better to part casually than to get too worked up about it. We'll visit each other...eventually), and darted off, tugging my extremely heavy suitcase.

Oh, about that suitcase. There is a weight limit of 50 lbs, or you will incur a 50 dollar fee. I tried extremely hard, therefore, to get it unde 50 lbs, even though the first time I weighed it it was 65. Come Monday morning, my suitcase was 48 and Josh's was 51. We switched some of his soap (I think that's what it is...I still haven't actually examined the container) into my suitcase to even it out. I was so frazzled about missing the MK man that I forgot to return it to him...But to continue about the suitcase, as soon as I started walking around the short hallway of the airport looking for Mister MK, my arm began to KILL me. I was suddenly extremely glad for the airport's 'encouragement' to pack lightly, because it still didn't feel all that light.

I got into the MK shuttle in the very far, back seat. This is the second time I have observed that Japanese people like to equip vehicles with seat belts but not actually use them. If you ever get into a car with a Japanese driver, they also like to drive fast and pretend pedestrians/bikes don't even exist. I'm joking, but only a little. Somehow they have gotten pumping out the max speed in short distances and maneuvering around bikes, people, and small animals on a two-way street designed for one vehicle down to an art. More power to them...I just close my eyes and use it as a chance to put more faith in God.
But before you all (meaning my mother ~.^) start freaking out, this time the driver was more my style, and very rarely was I made to notice his speed. It took about 2 hours to get to Kyoto, by highway. I spent the time reading all the katakana signs, including the various names on gaudy love hotels. Apparently, right off the highway is a popular location to build love hotels.
Finally, we got off the highway and into more of Kyoto city. We let off several passengers, including an American man with his Japanese wife. When I got into the shuttle originally, he waved genially at me because it was obvious of my nationality. It's odd being such a minority. For one, everyone stares at you (sometimes discreetly, sometimes not), but the comical reverse of that is I stare at every gaikokujin (foreigner) too! I just keep staring, fascinated that someone non-Japanese lives here, and wondering desperately why they live here. When you're a minority, finding a 'familiar' face almost automatically makes you friends, so drastically different from how I interact with other caucasians back home.

At last, I arrived at Ritsumeikan International House I sometime around 7:30 or 8:00. What followed was a whirlwind of new rules, people, and a fly-by tour of the dorm. At long last I was able to crash in bed, which I did immediately, after fussing with the AC trying to get it to stay on consistently. I fell asleep with no troubles whatsoever...

Orientation Day One...

I set my alarm for 7:00 am, but woke up at 6:00. The sun was streaming through my large window beautifully, and the air conditioning was still on. I chatted with mom a little, then got ready. I discovered that of all things I packed properly, I forgot my toothbrush!! Thankfully, I somehow still remembered my spare, so all was well. I was down in front of the dorm by 8:30, dazzled by all the international students. Anything that you call "international" in the US has never held a candle to the feeling I felt with all of our dorm's occupants. When else do you have the chance to stand in a small group representing France, USA, Sweden, Norway, Australia, and Germany? This day has been a language-lover's haven.

Since I had only just arrived, obviously I couldn't take a bike to campus with the other bike owners. Instead, I followed a group to the train. The fare was a reasonable ￥200 per adult.
** I'll write more on my train and Kyoto impressions later, but as it is I am very tired and want to finish this entry soon.

Suffice to say, the day was long and very busy. By the time I took an intensive placement exam around 11, the heat and lack of food since the airplane was really taking a toll on me. Through God's help, I made it through the test with some concentration still in tact. I befriended a young German lady named Anastasia, and regretted not remembering more German. Once I had lunch, I felt immensely better and was more able to appreciate the rest of the orientation. However, by the time they took us on a campus tour around 5:00 PM, heat (or rather, extreme humidity) and jet lag had set in enough that I really, really, just wanted to come back to the dorm and sleep.
**I will write more on my impression of the Rits campus later. Suffice to say, I think it is beautiful, and it is nothing like I tried to imagine it before coming here.

Afterwards, I walked back to the train with a new set of international friends, including Margaret from Pennsylvania. I also had the amusing event of being informed from a Swede what "freedom fries" were, while walking and talking with a young man I later discovered to be French. I am a bad American, aren't I? *laugh*

Once back, I rested for a little bit and determined to get dinner so that a faint spell wouldn't happen again tomorrow. Using my restaurant map from the managers, I picked out an Okonomiyaki shop not too far from the dorm. Once again I set out, around 6:30 pm, and made my way to where I thought it was. Surprisingly, I made almost no wrong turns, and found the tiny little shop sandwiched between several houses. Entering cautiously, I found an older Japanese man sitting and reading the newspaper. He jumped up and welcomed me in. We had wonderful conversation, and he helped teach me the details of how to eat Okonomiyaki. It was a fantastic feeling to have carried on conversation with a native Japanese man that actually contained some substance, even if it wasn't complicated. Better yet, there was no option to give up and slip into English, but we succeeded. So there I was, a random American girl in a tiny little shop with a nice Japanese man, and not a soul around. It didn't look like he received much business. But anyway, I got a good meal for ￥750 and even a box full of what I didn't finish. It was a rewarding way to end my first day here.

Once I got back, I gathered up my stuff and tackled the public bath for the first time. I was apprehensive at first, but the refreshing feel of a shower surpassed any akwardness. Besides, I was also the only one using it at the time until the very end. I even soaked in the tub for a little bit. It was a wonderful time to send a short prayer up to God with joy and thanks.

Since then, I've been up here holding my eyes open with toothpicks while I force myself to write this journal. I would push it off until tomorrow, but tomorrow will bring new memories to overwrite the vividness of the old ones.

Sorry I don't have any pictures to share yet; that will happen when my entire day isn't taken up by sweaty orientation sessions, and when I can successfully unpack my suitcase and tidy my room.

Until then, ☆~~ヾ^-^) マタネッ♪

2007年8月29日

Alright! First entry up and running! The countdown so far is １９ days until I depart for my year in Japan! August is almost completely gone, and I am wondering if it's bad that I haven't started packing... I have, however, made the beginnings of a packing list, at least! And, of course, with a new beginning in a new country comes a new snazzy website. At least, I flatter myself to say that it's snazzy.

This will be my blog for my time in Japan. Yes, I know it's not a literal blog, but that's because I don't want to hassle with how to set one up and code one properly. See "How to Comment" for ways you can still comment on my entries.

Joshua taught me some of the most basic Photoshop knowledge for editing photos, ever, but since I've only ever used Photoshop for amateur artwork, somehow I didn't realize a lot of what he told me. I mean, I knew the options like "Levels" and "Color Balance" were there, but I had never really played with them to realize their value. Consequently, I am now still thrilled that I can make my average snapshots of Japan look a little better than average (see banner above). So, every week or month or so, I will be blissfully changing the 'theme' of this site to more of my best shots!
Here's an icon of an image I'm tweaking and hoping to make into a fun banner as well:

Anyway, enjoy the new site and give me lots of love and feedback, especially when I'm actually in Japan, hehe!

Bye-Bye!!'゜☆。.:*:゜★゜'*ヽ(⌒ー⌒)ノ:*'゜★゜':*.::'゜☆。 マタネッ