It's been a while! I'm sorry I haven't written in about 2 months; things became a bit busier. Life moved on, classes became more difficult...
Since there is so much that I haven't posted about, I unfortunately won't be posting many (or any) pics this time around. Let's see, then. Classes moved on, and even if I didn't make large improvements in speaking, but I'm definitely accustomed to listening to Japanese now.
In the beginning of November (a week before my birthday), there was a free trip to Kyoto and a Halloween party at the Kyoto Women's University. Before the party (which was a lot of fun), some of them took us to Sanjusangendo, another temple. As with all temples, it was beautiful. Oh, also, before going to the temple, we hung out by a river.
Since there is so much that I haven't posted about, I unfortunately won't be posting many (or any) pics this time around. Let's see, then. Classes moved on, and even if I didn't make large improvements in speaking, but I'm definitely accustomed to listening to Japanese now.
In the beginning of November (a week before my birthday), there was a free trip to Kyoto and a Halloween party at the Kyoto Women's University. Before the party (which was a lot of fun), some of them took us to Sanjusangendo, another temple. As with all temples, it was beautiful. Oh, also, before going to the temple, we hung out by a river.
On my birthday (on a Saturday), a friend and I spent the day in Osaka. I'd really like to go back, but it's about $40 round trip, which really isn't bad, all things considered. We basically wandered around for a while, became a bit lost, and finally found a large shopping district thing that we didn't have a ton of time to explore (a couple places nearby, and actually not too far from the station, called Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi).
Osaka otherwise generally looks like this.
A day or so later, we had another field trip for the religions class (if I haven't already said it, I highly recommend taking this class; you go on tons of field trips, the professor is amazing, and you get to meet lots of Japanese students) in Samegai, which is a small town famous for making butsudan (Buddhist home altars). It's only a little ways north of Hikone, maybe a 15-20 minute train ride or less. I would love to live in a small town like this here in Japan.
Not only do they make butsudan, but they also do a lot of hand-carving in general. After seeing the butsudan--of which I regretfully have no pics--they took us to a tree house they made, and the view was spectacular. Afterwards they took us to the home of the men who do the wood carvings for the butsudan, I believe it was, at which point I ended up being able to take home a simple wooden flute as a souvenir! We were then taken to what's basically a town hall type of building, where we were given tea and some small snacks as we waited for the bus, and they showed us the large painting (the second from last pic) and told stories from it.
Not only do they make butsudan, but they also do a lot of hand-carving in general. After seeing the butsudan--of which I regretfully have no pics--they took us to a tree house they made, and the view was spectacular. Afterwards they took us to the home of the men who do the wood carvings for the butsudan, I believe it was, at which point I ended up being able to take home a simple wooden flute as a souvenir! We were then taken to what's basically a town hall type of building, where we were given tea and some small snacks as we waited for the bus, and they showed us the large painting (the second from last pic) and told stories from it.
Later in November, one of my friends invited me along with her host family to go to Nagoya. Her host family has two young children and they were going to take them to a live kid's show later that day. So first we went to Nagoya Castle and watched a little skit, of which I didn't understand much, but it was still entertaining. After that, while her host family went to the show, we wandered around some very expensive shops. Actually, it was really depressing how expensive it all was, but still interesting. Oh, that was after the two of us had lunch at a place called "Fresh Burger", I think it was...It was good, though.
Also, about the skit: they danced. -_- And at the end, instead of taking pictures with people who wanted to, everyone just got in a line to shake their hands, so we did, too.
Also, about the skit: they danced. -_- And at the end, instead of taking pictures with people who wanted to, everyone just got in a line to shake their hands, so we did, too.
Towards the very end of November, we had one last field trip for the religions class, to two different temples in Hikone: Saimyouji and Kongourinji. They were absolutely beautiful, especially with the fall leaves. There's not much to say about this trip otherwise; I can only show pictures. Oh, but I can say that I didn't realize we'd be walking so much (and up some fairly steep steps), so I unfortunately had heels on...but I survived! Going up was a lot easier than coming back down in those.
Sometime in the beginning of December, a friend and I went to Nagahama for the day. Aside from wandering the same shopping area, we also found a little flea market area, where we both bought these cute little hand-made owl strap things (to be put on phones or bags or my purse).
Then we had finals, which actually weren't too bad. I think I ended up with a B+ overall, and then the religions class only had a paper or two due. The closing ceremony wasn't as big of a deal as the opening ceremony, either.
Then, the same night of the closing ceremony on Friday, my host parents took me out for a fairly expensive and delicious dinner, as a last hurrah, because then on Saturday evening, my host mom took me back to the dorms. Though, before leaving, she invited me (and a friend who was helping me carry all of my tons of things to my room) to dinner at the udon place we went to before--a place that's both cheap and delicious. Before that, though, she had an errand to run at her workplace, so we met her boss for a minute (whom she's said before is really nice) and got to see where she works. It was sad to leave them, and since then, life has been rather uneventful. However, I'll talk about Christmas and New Year's in the next post, if only for the sake of keeping this blog almost organized.
Then, the same night of the closing ceremony on Friday, my host parents took me out for a fairly expensive and delicious dinner, as a last hurrah, because then on Saturday evening, my host mom took me back to the dorms. Though, before leaving, she invited me (and a friend who was helping me carry all of my tons of things to my room) to dinner at the udon place we went to before--a place that's both cheap and delicious. Before that, though, she had an errand to run at her workplace, so we met her boss for a minute (whom she's said before is really nice) and got to see where she works. It was sad to leave them, and since then, life has been rather uneventful. However, I'll talk about Christmas and New Year's in the next post, if only for the sake of keeping this blog almost organized.