Third post : Fire and Halloween!

There are a lot of festivals in Japan in general, and in Kyoto in particular. There are three large festivals held every year that are quite famous, only one of which happens while I am here. The Jidai matsuri was in mid-October--- but I didn't go. Unfortunately, I had a test in class at the same time, and I did consider skipping, but in the end I decided not to. I wish I could have gone, though...

However, there was another festival that day, at night. The Kurama fire festival is actually just outside of Kyoto, and it seemed like a fool-proof awesome time- fire + festival + Friday night, right? Instead, there were a looooot of people trying to go there, a lot of people once we got there, and somehow, it seemed like even more people when we wanted to leave. Although, the fire we did see was pretty awesome.

Hallowe'en in Japan is very different from back home. There are some of the same decorations- chee

sy ghosts, witches and black, but none of the horror that is present back home. Maybe I just wasn't lo

oking hard enough, but I didn't see any horror movie specials, haunted houses or anything truly creepy out. Of course, there is also no trick-or-treating traditions either, which is sad if only because that means no chea

p candy to buy November 1st... (Thankfully my mom mailed me some anyways!)

The international student club/society/buddies hosted a Hallowe'en party at school for all of the exchange students and Japanese buddies. It was a lot of fun, and I'm assuming it is a success based on the number of people who came out and the variety of awesome costumes. I didn't try terribly hard on mine, but that's okay because I only spent 300 yen :D So it is to be expected.

Then, on Saturday, one of the other exchange students at my dorm organized another party in our lounge, where I learned another version of sociables- the Danish version (see above picture :D ). Since Halloween was on a Sunday, I opted not to go out that night, for which I am grateful now. I think two parties in one weekend is sufficient.

Kawaramachi, the downtown area of Kyoto

Second post, eight weeks in

It seems so sudden, but we're already more than a third of the way in to the semester. It's week seven of classes and there is fifteen total... The end seems close already. It's so strange.

As always, I'm keeping busy- I'm sorry I'm so bad at keeping in touch :(

Things I've been up to since I last updated: school, school and school. Actually, that's not everything, but school is getting more intense; I've had two midterms, and I have another next week. I'm not sure if it really is busier than school back home, I don't think so, but right now it feels pretty busy.

We were given the chance to attend a tea ceremony presented by the international students at the Urasenke centre, which is a very famous style (?) of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. It was quite beautiful and well done, and the students did well (imo, though I don't know that much so it's not saying much, I guess).

Honpoji, a temple next to the Urasenke centre.

The managers hold a birthday party once a month for everyone who has a birthday that month. In October, it was me, Misuzu (one of the Japanese buddies) and Leanne (an Australian exchange student). Everyone cooked something, and the managers arrange for the cake and drinks. It was delicious and yes, my name was spelled wrong. It didn't stop it from being delicious white chocolate :D

I took this picture in Osaka; I think it's one of my favourites so far. I was standing on the bridge by Dotombori/Shinsaibashi, in the early evening as you can tell. Miraculously there are no people in the front. Osaka is insane on the weekends, but it's a fun insane (in small doses, I suppose though). I've now been twice, at the start and end of October. It's just so easy to get to and a fun daytrip.

More later, I promise!