Fifth Post - Momiji/紅葉/Fall leaves

In Japan, there are two "seasons" that are taken very seriously here. In the spring, the entire country follows the cherry blossoms as they bloom, and there are parties galore under the cherry trees in parks everywhere (it's called (o)hanami/お花見). The other is in the fall when all of the leaves start to turn.

At Osaka castle park in early November.

So it's actually quite the industry, catering to tourists during "momiji/紅葉" in the fall months in Kyoto. Someone told me that fall is actually the busiest time for tourists in Kyoto, even busier than the spring. And I can believe that; there were so many people in the city and on the buses going to the various temples near my university, it was insane.

I'm not a very good tourist because I didn't really do much in the way of momiji hunting. But I do want to share the places I did go. It's really quite beautiful here in the fall, so I can totally understand why so many people come :)

At Toufukuji/東福寺, apparently a nationally famous shrine for momiji.

At Fushimi Inari Taisha/伏見稲荷大社

At Kitano Tenmangu/北野天満宮, the same shrine as the first picture above.

Fourth post! Nagoya!! 名古屋!!!

I've done a lot since my last post- gone to Nagoya to visit a friend, gone to Osaka a few times, wrote exams, been a tourist here in Kyoto, had family visit, etc etc...

Nagoya was so much fun! If you don't already know, I spent a year in high school (2004-05) living in Konan city, about twenty minutes outside of Nagoya, near the border with Gifu prefecture. I didn't make it to visit Konan this time, though. We spent a lot of time, the other exchange students with Rotary and I, in Nagoya on the weekends, generally shopping and going to karaoke and concerts and having fun and speaking English...

Going back after more than four years (five since I lived there; I went back for a visit in 2006) was a strange experience. It hasn't changed; everything is pretty much the same. But my memories aren't as sharp and it was almost surreal to be somewhere I knew so well but had been relegated to a fond memory.

I ended up taking the bullet train from Kyoto; it only took around 45 minutes, which was awesome. I planned to meet Allison in Sakae, so I wandered around mei-eki (Nagoya station- in Japanese, Nagoya is 名古屋. The first character, 名/"na", can also be read "mei" and station in Japanese is 駅, "eki," thus "mei-eki".) which hasn't changed but it's a lot more confusing when you haven't been there in so long!

Nana-chan, near mei-eki. Often dressed to celebrate/mark various things, such as the Dragons winning, or in this case, child abuse prevention (Orange ribbon campaign).

Meeting Allison again after so long was awesome :D We were very close when we both last lived in Japan, but we've both changed. But we still had a great weekend, just like old times! Also the first time we'd been in Nagoya for the whole weekend- it was usually just one day. Nagoya isn't really the most exciting city in Japan, but we hit up most of our old spots, like the fountain in the park, shopping in Sakae, Osu (ELL! Trying to find the curry restaurant! ) and of course karaoke :)

In front of the fountain! So many memories!

I kind of knew that I would fail at keeping a regular update... But almost two months later is a little ridiculous. I also don't know what to talk about- been there done that...?

The countdown's on. I have seven days of class left (of my bachelor's degree!) and a month and a half until I go back to Canada. I'm not ready to think about this being over, I'm really not. Everyone's starting to talk about departure dates and life back "home," wherever that is. I don't want everyone to go/stay, either way I won't see these people every day ever again...

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!

First post, four weeks in :)

It's been four weeks since I landed at the Kansai International Airport on September 15th.

So much has happened I don't know where to start.

First off, school/dorm. I'm staying at one of the international dorms at Ritsumeikan, although it's located about a half hour walk from the university. It is a little strange that the dorms aren't on campus, but now that I am here I can see why. The Ritsumeikan Kinugasa campus, where I study (the other campus is the Biwako-Kusatsu campus, about an hour away in Shiga, I think) is very small compared to UBC or UVic. All of the buildings are very close together, and there is not much open, green space (and definitely no ocean :( ). Most of the students at the dorm seem to bike to school, but I got a bus pass instead because I know that I won't want to bike when it's raining and terrible outside.

My dorm room is pretty much to be expected; it's not much different from the rooms in Marine Drive, except that the furniture doesn't move which is unfortunate. I do, however, have my own bathroom, sink, fridge and balcony, which more than make up for it :D

My dorm room, right when I arrived.

There was a week of orientation from September 21-24th, which was as to be expected as well: long, boring and not over soon enough. Not sure what else to say about that...

The weather here has been so strange. It has been so hot- anywhere from 25-30 degree when I arrive, and even now it's around 26 or 27 degrees. It's hard to handle because I am definitely not used to heat, especially humid heat... It has rained a few times (including the day I landed- it felt like I hadn't left Raincouver yet) but it doesn't get any cooler when it does. Supposedly it will start feeling like fall soon, maybe in the next week. Which is good because it's so strange to be so hot after Thanksgiving (or even for it to be hot during schoool!).

On the weekends I usually spend time with the other exchange students (mostly the ones who live in the same dorm as me) exploring the city and so on. A bunch of us went to Osaka last weekend, which was a lot of fun but all we did was shop, no sightseeing lol. Of course I enjoyed it!

I have been to Kyoto before this time, but it was only for a few days and we were rushed around to see all the sights we could in that time. Now, it feels like I have all the time in the world, so I haven't been to any temples or other sights yet. We are waiting for the leaves to turn for a lot of the major ones, because they are so beautiful that time of year. But even though it's half way through October it isn't fall yet, here! There are three major temples/shrines within a 30-40 minute walk of the dorm, which is amazing :D

At an izakaya (Japanese style pub) a couple of weeks ago.

There were so many of us SKP students that they took down the walls to make a bigger room, which we also filled up :D