I am at school. I slept, I showered, I ate breakfast.
Getting off the plane in my sweater and cargo pants was like entering a SAUNA. And from that point on the sweat didn't stop regardless of how many layers I took off. Inside my room, once I got shown around, the temperature was 30C!!! Inside! I was absolutely starving by that point (it being around 2pm and I hadn't eaten since 8am). But luckily there is a nicely air conditioned Denny's not to far from here. I know, I know, Denny's, of all places. But it wasn't like the Denny's from back home, in fact it was far from it. I ordered cold ramen noodles in a teryaki sauce that came with cucumbers and tomatoes, oh, and a fresh kiwi juice (try finding that on the menu back there). After feeding myself I went out to buy groceries and just get the essentials. I still can't walk that much because my foot is still swollen. I think I stretched a ligament in my foot or something when I was doing that 3 hour dance-a-thon. For the first part of it I was dancing in my sandals and I had to switch to my shoes because it hurt so bad (during the dance), so injury, sucky. Specially since the school is a 15 minute walk in the blistering heat (from the dorm). Oh, and there are 2 computers between like 50 people here so if my emails are sporadic or non-existent, that is why. As far as my room, well, it is very shoebox like. I can probably lie on my bed and touch each wall with my hands and feet (width wise). And the "bed" that I sleep on, is most like a table with a futon on it...well, come to think of it, that is exactly what it is. Creative. Anyway, so I am here and trying to figure out the routine and all that jazz. From what it seems all the Asian woman requested private rooms and all the other folk are in shared. Hmmmmm.... So my neighbours are all Chans, Chungs, some other ones I can't remember. Anyway. All good.
I am trying to decide if I should go to Nara on Friday night or Saturday morning. Greg has agreed to put my up and give me a tour of his home digs. In case you didn't know, Nara used to be the capital of Japan before the Shogun era. After the Shogun's got in there, there was a power struggle and apparently there were too many powerful Buddhist monks in Nara and so they moved it to Kyoto (which of course later got moved to Tokyo). But the high influence of Buddhism still remains, and so I am super psyched to see a bunch of temples, pray, walk in zen gardens. Ah yes, the pretty stuff.
Oh, another cool thing. Okazaki has a garden of remains and it has evidence of human remains from 5000 years ago. How crazy is that?
Oh right, and I officially paid for and am signed up for the tour of Kyoto on the 16th. The most exciting part about that (not that it is Kyoto cause I have been there before), but it is during the Gion festival. Geishas baby!!! Well, and of course parades and fireworks and probably some drinking. But it is a party in the old red light district of Japan, can't get any better than that. Check out some tea houses, check out some entertaining activities. Oh, and the next morning we are going on a temple tour, and going to go see the walk of philosophy, AND one of the most important zen temples here in Japan. So basically I am super excited.
Right, so now, if only my foot would heal I would be loving it. Despite the heat stroke and what not. Eh, what can you do really. Alright, love to you all. Remember send letters!
Another day begins...
Getting off the plane in my sweater and cargo pants was like entering a SAUNA. And from that point on the sweat didn't stop regardless of how many layers I took off. Inside my room, once I got shown around, the temperature was 30C!!! Inside! I was absolutely starving by that point (it being around 2pm and I hadn't eaten since 8am). But luckily there is a nicely air conditioned Denny's not to far from here. I know, I know, Denny's, of all places. But it wasn't like the Denny's from back home, in fact it was far from it. I ordered cold ramen noodles in a teryaki sauce that came with cucumbers and tomatoes, oh, and a fresh kiwi juice (try finding that on the menu back there). After feeding myself I went out to buy groceries and just get the essentials. I still can't walk that much because my foot is still swollen. I think I stretched a ligament in my foot or something when I was doing that 3 hour dance-a-thon. For the first part of it I was dancing in my sandals and I had to switch to my shoes because it hurt so bad (during the dance), so injury, sucky. Specially since the school is a 15 minute walk in the blistering heat (from the dorm). Oh, and there are 2 computers between like 50 people here so if my emails are sporadic or non-existent, that is why. As far as my room, well, it is very shoebox like. I can probably lie on my bed and touch each wall with my hands and feet (width wise). And the "bed" that I sleep on, is most like a table with a futon on it...well, come to think of it, that is exactly what it is. Creative. Anyway, so I am here and trying to figure out the routine and all that jazz. From what it seems all the Asian woman requested private rooms and all the other folk are in shared. Hmmmmm.... So my neighbours are all Chans, Chungs, some other ones I can't remember. Anyway. All good.
I am trying to decide if I should go to Nara on Friday night or Saturday morning. Greg has agreed to put my up and give me a tour of his home digs. In case you didn't know, Nara used to be the capital of Japan before the Shogun era. After the Shogun's got in there, there was a power struggle and apparently there were too many powerful Buddhist monks in Nara and so they moved it to Kyoto (which of course later got moved to Tokyo). But the high influence of Buddhism still remains, and so I am super psyched to see a bunch of temples, pray, walk in zen gardens. Ah yes, the pretty stuff.
Oh, another cool thing. Okazaki has a garden of remains and it has evidence of human remains from 5000 years ago. How crazy is that?
Oh right, and I officially paid for and am signed up for the tour of Kyoto on the 16th. The most exciting part about that (not that it is Kyoto cause I have been there before), but it is during the Gion festival. Geishas baby!!! Well, and of course parades and fireworks and probably some drinking. But it is a party in the old red light district of Japan, can't get any better than that. Check out some tea houses, check out some entertaining activities. Oh, and the next morning we are going on a temple tour, and going to go see the walk of philosophy, AND one of the most important zen temples here in Japan. So basically I am super excited.
Right, so now, if only my foot would heal I would be loving it. Despite the heat stroke and what not. Eh, what can you do really. Alright, love to you all. Remember send letters!
Another day begins...
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