Went to the Flea Market at Kitanotenmanguu on April 25th with some other people from the I-House. It was enjoyable but very crowded. I’m not sure if it was because it was on a Sunday or if it was typical for the location, but it seemed to be oriented more towards the kids than the Flea Market at Toji was. The only thing I wound up buying here was Candied Ginger (and some food at stalls) but enjoyed the walk around. Cows seem to play a part in the temple customs and there were two cow statues in particular that people were rubbing. I was told it was to do well in my studies so I joined in.

From Arashiyama

After awhile at the flea market, a few of us hopped a bus and went to the Arashiyama area. It is a large touristy area on the west side of Kyoto with lots of shops to spend your money in. Crossing a long bridge across the river, you can head to the area where they rent row boats or keep walking up the trail beside the river. I walked up the trail enjoying the relative quiet while the others went out on the water. After a bit, I heard a flute from across the river and saw a train on the other side as well. The trail leads up to a temple (I think) that was billed as the best view in Kyoto on the signs along the trail. I tried to make it up the mountain but the climb was too steep and the steps too chaotic. I had a worse time with footing coming down than going up. All in all, I enjoyed myself and got to see more of the nature around Kyoto I have come to love.

Monday through Wednesday and Friday I had classes while Thursday 4/29 was the first in a series of holidays that make up Golden Week. I didn’t do anything special on Thursday except get caught up on homework so I wouldn’t have to worry about anything during the upcoming long weekend.

From Ginkakuji

Today (5/1) a group of people from the I-House and I headed for Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion). I was happy to be out seeing temples with some of my fellow students and enjoyed myself immensely. I had heard about the “stamps” from temples and shrines before and had wanted to start collecting them myself. When I found the books for sale at Ginkakuji, I had to buy one and get my fist “stamp” that is shown above. They are different for each place and even has the date in there. (Bottom right: 平成二十二年五月一日 – Heisei 22 year, 5th month, 1st day) I’m still working on reading the rest…

From Kiyomizudera

After Ginkakuji, Kiyomizudera (Pure Water Temple) was next. One of the more famous sights in Kyoto, this is the temple that has the large overhanging balconies as shown on the ticket stub in the picture above. It seems that is the view that everybody manages to get a picture of from here and who am I to break with that tradition? ;P I had heard that before the practice was banned, people would jump off of the balconies as surviving the 13m drop was supposed to bring you good luck. This is where the phrase “to take the plunge” is supposed to have come from. Being the Pure Water Temple, there water coming from a spring that is guided as three streams to a pond where people can take a drink from the falling streams. If I remember correctly, one is for health, next for wisdom, and the last is for longevity. It is believed that to drink from all three is greedy and invites misfortune upon yourself but two is OK. The lines were too long when I was there and reminded me of the wait for Space Mountain at Disneyland.

It seems like it’s been a very busy week packed into two days of sightseeing…

From Week #4

Up above is the link to a few pictures I took this week. Shown is a picture of a drink machine near the bus stop closest to the I-House where I caught a bus Wednesday to go to the Flea Market at Toji

Temple (website info in english). I also rode the subway for the first time in Japan that day. There were plenty of antiques and new craft items available at the Flea Market and lots of things I would have loved to bought but prices were typical for antiques (high) and then I would have to figure out how to get them home. I did buy two furoshiki that caught my eye. Much cheaper than examples I’ve seen for sale on the web, even after factoring in bus and train fares. There is another Flea Market at Kitanotenmangu tomorrow and I’ll be going with some other exchange students. I went to Toji by myself and consider it an adventure of sorts.

Classes were the same old song and dance this week. Classes all week with lots of homework. I still enjoy it though so that’s a plus.

Yesterday I went with my tutor to the Kita ward office to register for my foreigner’s (alien) card. It’s weird, but I never really thought of myself as an alien here, but that’s the correct definition. I’m glad I took my tutor with me because there was a lot of translation taking place to fill in the forms. I couldn’t have done it without him.

After registering (I pick up my card in three weeks) my tutor and I went to the nearest Softbank store. Softbank is one of the cellular providers here in Japan and their commercials feature a family that has a white Hokkaido dog as the father. (Quentin Tarantino has appeared as an uncle and Brad Pitt was in a different commercial) Anyway, I was pretty sure I could get through the semester without a cell phone but after much urging from the Japanese students I agreed to check it out. Thinking about it I had decided a cell phone would be a good way to keep in contact with other students around here and solve the problem of not being in contact with everybody because I live on a different floor and am out of the loop with the goings-on in the I-House. So, when I found out I could get a pre-paid phone for less than $80 with two months of service, I figured it was cheap enough and bought one. I got a Samsung 730SC in black and since I bought the phone, I’ll either have to figure out how to sell it to somebody else when I get ready to leave or have a souvenir to take back home. One $30 card will get me through the last two months I’ll be here. It’s the calling to other providers and internationally that cost a lot, to other Softbank phones is free and unlimited emailing is like $3 a month which comes off the pre-paid card. I’m now connected, in Japan.

That’s my week this week. Hopefully I will get in the habit of posting as things happen instead of making weekly updates, but I should be able to do the weekly posts at the very least. Having fun but missing everybody back home.

From Kamigamo Shrine

After the trip to Nijo Castle last week, I decided to hop on a bus down to Kamigamo Shrine on Sunday. I wish I had known before I went that

there would be a special event taking place, I would have paid to participate. I knew something was going on that was requiring payment but couldn’t figure out how to ask the right questions. I did manage to take some pictures of the tail-end of the event. Lots of pictures at the album linked above. The website for the shrine has lots of interesting historical information and tells it better than I can. I know that there are at least three matsuri (festival) events that take place while I will be here. The Aoi Matsuri is one of the three biggest imperial festivals in Japan and I will be sure to attend since the shrine is a short bus ride from the I-House.

I am getting settled into the routine of classes here. Lots of homework keeping me busy and I seem to be constantly trying to memorize the vocabulary we are studying in my Japanese classes but I am enjoying it. I’m still trying to get used to the Japanese students asking me for email or facebook information. I’m not quite sure if they are trying hard to make sure I enjoy my time here or looking for a way to practice english, but either way I see it as an opportunity to practice my Japanese language skills.

Classes started on Wednesday and my first impression is that I will enjoy school here. Everybody I have met so far has been so nice, it’s a big difference from back home.

When I first arrived, my language ability had been really bad. I could still construct sentences, I just couldn’t remember the all important vocabulary to say what I wanted. It is slowly coming back to me though and I believe hearing the language on a daily basis is helping.

Deciding that food from the conbini was too expensive and hearing that there was a grocery store across the river from Kamigamo Shrine, I hopped a shuttle bus yesterday morning that takes students from the school to Kamigamo for free. After getting off the shuttle bus, I followed the crowd of people out from the parking lot and across the river. From there I just headed west and found the aforementioned grocery store and stocked up. I have to balance carrying everything home with getting enough to last awhile but I should be able to do this often enough to be worthwhile. I also found another conbini and pachinko parlor near the grocery store. I think they grow like weeds here.

From Nijo Castle

I went to the Night Hanami at Nijo Castle with a few of the other exchange students yesterday evening. Tomorrow is last night for it so I thought I should go while I could. Besides, I hadn’t ridden a bus yet and this was a chance to learn what all I have to do.  It’s not quite the same as back home where you just hop on and pay when you get off. There are specific doors for the entrance/exit, you take a ticket when you get on, and you pay when you get off based on what the fare board says you owe for the number on your ticket. Rides aren’t cheap (220 yen or less) but it is little cheaper than riding the train.

The picture above is of the entrance to Nijo Castle. We got there right about sunset. The link below the picture goes to the photo album I posted with the best of the pictures I took that night. Unfortunately, I was still getting used to taking low light pictures with my camera and holding it steady for the necessary time was not always accomplished. I took quite a few pictures of the flowers on the trees, but I also took pictures of the architecture. I will have to go back one day and get better pictures of the buildings and things during the daytime. I had fun and after Nijo, we went to a restaurant and got something to eat. (Gyoza for me.) Sitting shoeless on the floor with a low table is novel at first, but it took some time for me to unfold my legs when we were ready to go. I did enjoy having dinner with all of the other exchange students there. On the whole, a fun, but tiring excursion.

It seems as though I haven’t had much time to do much of anything the week I have been here at the I-House except get settled in. Classes haven’t even started yet.

I arrived in Osaka on Saturday, March 27th and mostly slept both days with occasional trips out to find food. I think I was making up for lost time on the flight over as I got almost no sleep for the 24 hours I was in transit. I may have gotten a couple of short catnaps but no more than that. After a long rest and waking up hungry, I went out in search

of food. I found a Big Boy Restaurant complete with the chubby kid in overalls statue out front so I was expecting something like a Shoney’s back home. To my surprise, this was a steak house. Quickly flipping past the expensive stuff in the front of the menu, I found a reasonably priced chicken and steak combo near the back of the menu. I hadn’t eaten in almost 24 hours and my hunger vetoed the cheap side of me and decided to spring for the ~$10 meal. It turned out to be the best steak I remember ever having. It was cooked a bit more than rare and included a hot stone to cook the meat more if desired. Juicy and tender, very delicious. The chicken breast was a generous portion and seasoned well. Overall, well worth the money and I may have to stop by on my way back home. I had also tried a Melon Fanta (the Coke syrup was out) and it was nothing like I expected. I thought it would be flavored like cantaloupe (I don’t like) but was quite delicious and hard to describe. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen that flavor of Fanta since. I also found two close convenience stores (Lawson’s Station and Circle K) and got food and drink for the other meals I had while in Osaka.

On Monday the 29th, I checked out of the hotel and caught the hotel shuttle back to the airport to meet up with my Shuttle to the I-House. For anybody coming to Japan for the first time, I highly recommend using a shuttle instead of trying to save money and using the trains, especially if you have more than one bag to keep track of. I was able to relax and watch the scenery go by (and snap a few pictures) without worrying about where my bags are, is my stop coming up, where’s that connection I need, etc. Besides, it allows you to experience road traffic in Japan without the danger of driving in it yourself. I finally got to the I-House, filled out some paperwork, got introduced to some other students already there, and shown to my room. It took me some time to figure out how to make up the bed (sheets on a futon, aaaaugghgh!) and started unpacking. It actually took me two days to unpack the stuff I have unpacked, some of it is still in the suitcases. My room (and I understand the others are the same) is big with a kitchenette and full bath. I know some schools have shared shower facilities for their exchange students. The only downside I see is that the other students are all on different floors from me (harder to socialize) and I will have to climb to the fourth floor when I need to do laundry. Other than that, I have no complaints yet.

On Wednesday, I took a walk down to the main campus to see how long it would take me. The “sidewalks” in Japan can be scary when there isn’t a clear delineation between the road and the sidewalk but I’m slowly getting used to it. I know it sounds like the old “in my day” joke, but I actually have to walk uphill to and from school. Thankfully the downhill parts make it bearable. I’m still trying to get used to cars driving on the left, especially when crossing at intersections, but I’m sure it’ll be really weird once I get back home too. I wasn’t too sure how I’d handle the fact that the school is built on the side of a mountain (terraced) but the escalators they have installed make it doable for me.

Thursday and Friday were orientation and “registration” respectively. Long days with information overload. There wasn’t really a registration so much as letting us know what classes were available and how to sign up for them. (You show up and get the instructor to sign a sheet.) It was during one of these days that I finally got the information to log onto the internet. At least I can keep in touch with life back home now.

Most of meals are from the local convenience stores (conbini) and are pretty reasonable and taste very good. There is usually a decent selection to choose from and you can get everything from sushi to whole meals. There are chicken, pork, and fish based meals with rice being the common item. There are noodle dishes, salads, lots of fried things, and what appear to be fresh ramen (noodles aren’t dry). I will have to figure out how to get around on the buses and find a grocery store. I hear it’s cheaper if you cook your own food. We’ll see.

So far I’m still adjusting to life in Japan and at times it seems like I’m in a different city back home but I think I will figure things out in due time and enjoy myself.

From almost there

I finally got my Yen in hand today after they lost they order the first time… $542.34 for ￥46,000 plus a $10 fee plus I was required to open an account. This was a nearby BB&T that did the conversion for me. When I had initially ordered the money, I was quoted a conversion rate of 88.something yen to the dollar on March 11th. That wasn’t too far off of the 90.5 rate for that day so I went ahead and ordered it. It turns out the rate I wound up with was more like 84.8176 yen to the dollar or $0.01179 to the yen. I feel I should go back on Monday and ask them what happened to the other rate since there has been little fluctuation in the last two weeks, nowhere near enough to account for this.

I know I’m forgetting something in my preparations and with less than a week to go until I leave I’m afraid I’m going to remember it when it’s too late. All the important things are taken care of though so I’ll just have to make the next few days count.

The flight is reserved as is a hotel for my first two days in Japan. I have most everything I will need to take with me bought and just need to try packing everything up to see how it’s going to fit. The only snag right now is the currency I ordered. I put in the order last Thursday (03/11) and was told to expect a call in two to three business days. Today was the fourth business day without hearing anything so I went to check on it. Apparently, the order got lost somewhere and now I should get it this Friday.

Booking a flight.
Based on research I did last fall, and what I had been told and read, 6-8 weeks before your date of departure is supposed to be the best time to make your reservations to fly. In my case, at 8 or 9 weeks before, the price of airfare almost doubled from the ~$1200 I had been looking at. With 6-7 weeks to go, most of the airfare costs had tripled. I made the mistake of waiting for my Certificate of Eligibility to arrive before trying to book a flight. Thankfully, I was able to get the last seat to Itami Airport leaving on March 26th for ~$1300 through JTB USA. The downside (maybe?) is that I will be in Osaka on March 27th which is a full two days before I can check into the I-House. I am looking into checking into a hotel in Osaka for two days and maybe having my bigger bags shipped to the I-House so I don’t have to worry about them while I am going to Kyoto that Monday. I understand that there are shipping services at the airports that will take your bags and deliver them where and when you need them for reasonable rates. I’ll have to do some more research but that may be the best option, just keeping my carry-on bags with me.
For some reason, I am finding no rooms available in Kyoto that weekend except for some very overpriced “hotels and ryoken” that should be called hostels if you go by the reviews I’ve found. In fact, the nicer, reasonably priced accomodations are fully booked from the week before through two weeks after. The only thing I can think of happening then is hanami (花見), flower viewing. I knew I would be arriving right in the midst of cherry blossom season but I had no idea it was THAT big of a deal, assuming I am right about why the hotels are booked up. I don’t know what else it could be that would be going on for weeks. Kyoto being booked up vs. Osaka having rooms left is a bit weird.