Kyoto: Imperial Palace & Nijo-jo

Last Tuesday was Kansai Gaidai's Foundation Day. Therefore, students got the day off. I wish Elon would adopt this idea.
Anyways, four of us went to the Ancient Kyoto Imperial Palace on the only day that we could get the English speaking tour without having to skip school. Turns out, they closed the Palace in order to clean that particular Tuesday afternoon. We still enjoyed walking around the grounds and I ate some yummy Japanese hot cakes.
Afterwards, we took the train to Nijo Castle. The castle burned to the ground in 1791, but the Ninomaru Palace for the shoguns still remains. We took off our shoes and walked through the palace. While walking, the floor squeaked like chirping birds. They're known as the 'Nightingale Floors". It was said that the way the floor was designed made it so no one was able to sneak into the palace. The chirping noise makes it tolerable. Pretty neat, eh?!

Oh my, Onsen

Well, I just got back from my first Onsen today. If you don't know... it's a natural burning spring that the Japanese go to take a bath with everybody else in the nude. I was told the nude part was optional and some underwear was allowed. Not the case however, but I had already taken a 2.5 hour subway ride into the mountains and was not going to pass on this cultural experience. (Plus, today we got school off because it's a national holiday --Cultural Day!)
We first ate a full Japanese buffet, which was oishii (delicious) and then headed to the onsen where we paid $5.20 to get naked and enter the hot spring bathing area. The water was interesting. Since it was a natural hot spring, the color of the water was gleaming a golden color. Very helpful to cover up little bits you don't want showing! The Japanese girl we went with was all about going nude, but the rest of us worked out a system to cover our eyes while we got in and out of the Onsen. I didn't mind the other ladies staring at me (which, ohhhh they did!) due to the fact that I'll never see them again! After lasting in the 42 C water for about seven minutes, I was so light-headed that I got out to rinse off in the "shower room." The shower room was in the same room with the pool area, and just as naked. However, by that time I was getting used to the nakedness. We then dried off, put our clothes back on, and sat in the lobby for about thirty minutes just to get our faces to stop looking like fire trucks.

Oosaka

After technically living in a part of Osaka, I finally saw Osaka! Nine of us went to stay in a hostel for two nights and see the city. We saw the castle, several museums, and a couple views of the skyline from various heights. 

While at the castle, a man put a parrot on our shoulders and we held sunflower seeds in our teeth and the parrot would grab it and munch away. The Japanese tourists would grab their cameras to take pictures of the gaijin (foreigners). 

I'm a little more than halfway through my semester in Japan. Like most trips there have been some ups and downs. The down would be how opinionated the majority of international students seem to be and the ups would be the Japanese people and how different Japan is from the States. I'm enjoying the different aspects between the two countries and the customs that I'm getting used to.  

Nara Deer

The past two weekends have been fantastic. The weeks have been bogged down with schooling, so that makes my escape into Japan all the more better. I traveled to Kyoto for the fourth time last weekend and saw Kinkakuji and Kiyomizu, both famous temples.
This weekend was spent in Nara, home of the wild deer. Three of us arrived in Nara and walked down the street and entered the city park. Immediately we saw deer just walking around trying to be cute enough to win some deer cookies that tourists are able to buy for 150 yen ($1.50). A wise investment if you want to get swarmed and bitten. In Nara we took our time because the park has a couple places to visit nearby and for once we didn't have to worry about figuring out busing! We walked/shopped along the road, with the deer trailing, to Todai-ji, home of the giant Buddha and his "nostril" that anybody small enough would be able to fit through for good luck. I had nobody willing to pull me out if I got stuck, therefore I didn't attempt!
After our main location visited, we walked around and saw the area, pet some deer, and bought a sweet potato from a roadside vendor. The deer don't only like deer cookies we found out. Holly was knocked off her feet due to some headbutt's from Bambi's dad for not sharing her potato. I quickly put a bench between me and evil.
I did a countdown and found out that I'm only a few days from halfway through my time in Japan. My days have gone quickly and enjoyable, but I'll be glad to go home and have some of Mom's cooking.
Coming up next: Three days in Osaka with ten people visiting fifteen sites.

Address in Japan

Catherine Parsons c/o Center for International Education

Kansai Gaidai University

16-1 Nakamiyahigashinco-cho, Hirakata City

Osaka, 573-1001 

JAPAN

MY ADDRESS FOR ALL POSTCARDS/PACKAGES/PRESENTS/LOVE!

First Bath

I spent last weekend in Kobe with my Home Visit Family. The almost two hour trip was almost uneventful with the exception that I got on the local train instead of the limited express train so stopping at every station slowed me down considerably and left Maki waiting. I finally made it to Sannomiya Station and Maki and I climbed a large hill to visit Kitano-Cho, an area with famous houses from around the world. This block to the Japanese is touristy, but for me it was basically lots of grand houses. Still very pretty to walk around and we there was a lovely view of Kobe. 

We saw a street performer there, and I made Maki sit down and watch it with me. He did the normal juggling while simultaneously eating an apple, and impressively ate a very long balloon and ended up pulling out a long rainbow string. It was interesting watching him and not being able to understand anything he was saying. Maki was very good at keeping me informed when she felt it was needed.

Afterwards, we walked through Chinatown and then down to Habortown. It was still too early to go back to her house because her mom teaches piano lessons so we sat and waited for the sunset. Once it was dark we walked to the City Hall and went up on the 24th floor to see the night skyline of Kobe. Then we bought sashimi, raw fish, and got on a 40 minute bus ride to the other side of the mountain. 

Once at her house, her okaasan (mom) and otoosan (dad) warmly welcomed me into their lives and we sat down to eat REAL sushi!! It was oishiiiiii (delicious). Dinner lasted around two hours with me smiling a lot and occasionally hearing, "ehhhh, psychologyyy?? ohhhhh, northu carolinaaaa." The thinking noises the Japanese make are different than in the States. We say "yeah" and "uh-huh" whereas the Japanese nod and say "un" consistently to let you know they're listening while you're still talking. I've picked up the "un" and use it on a daily basis when talking with friends. 

I was then offered the first hot bath. Bathtubs in Japan are amazing. The water reaches your shoulders. After taking my bath I drained the tub. Which was the wrong mistake to make. Luckily, Maki and okaasan just laughed at me and apologized because they didn't tell me. We're supposed to shower first, then soak in the tub, then the next person does the same thing with the same water. It is a good system to save water, though I'm not so sure about how sanitary it would be. Next time, I'll know!

We went to bed on futons and woke up the next morning to a full cooked Japanese breakfast! Rice, raw fish, sardines, pickled vegetables, ham, salad, miso soup, and barley tea. If only I could wake up with that waiting for me everyday. I'm really enjoying the Japanese food when it's prepared for me. 

After breakfast okaasan, Maki and I went to the Sake Museum and got lost for an hour in the rain. I was forewarned by both of them that they always got lost so I was prepared to walk for awhile! We found the museum and I received my free sake, which was the purpose of going. I just wanted to try it since it is a pure Japanese custom. Sake is about as good as drinking soap.

I've been invited back each month and I've very glad I got such a fantastic family. 

Showers

The showers in Japan are based on the 12 second rule. At least this holds true with my dorm. After 12 seconds the water stops unless you keep pressing this little level! Its supposed to help conserve water, but I think the water pressure is too fabulous to really be helping.

Being green is now a huge deal to Japan. I know I've already mentioned the sorting of the trash and now I can add to it that there are islands surrounding Japan that are basically piles of trash turned into islands. The island that the Kansai Airport stands on is a trash heap! No, it doesn't smell bad.

The other day I saw one of my High School friends in Japan! He's teaching English to Japanese high school students. We walked around Hirakata-shi eki (the train station nearest me) and he told me about why there are so many parks in Japan. Since earthquakes are so frequent, there has to be locations without any buildings nearby. We have a park across the street from the dorms! Speaking of earthquakes... we had our first one this morning. I was walking to school and didn't even know until I heard a friend talk about water in her glass sloshing.

This weekend I'm going to spend the night at my Home Visit Family's house in Kobe. I am sureeee ready for a home cooked meal! I'll let you know all about that next week!