Daniel

After a lot of traveling, via Shinkansen and buses, today we arrived at K's House.  Just before we made it in, we met up with me brother Ben.  After a quick moment of catching up and exchanging my birthday present, we left to Arashiyama.  Sadly, we missed our intended train, so we had to skip out on our temple premier.  Since we are going to temples all of tomorrow, we decided to go to see the monkeys instead.  It was a long climb up the mountain, but when we gotta the top, there were monkeys roaming freely.  Ben and I bought some apples and fed them. They were very cute.  Afterwards, we walked through a bamboo park, it was very beautiful and I got several photos.  Finally, we got traditional Kyoryori, food from Kyoto.  The food was very interesting.  The textures were the most difficult to handle.  I ate most of what was presented to me.  After bidding farewell to Ben, we returned to the hostel to sleep.

Temples, temples, temples.  We walked all over Kyoto today to see many temples.  We began at Enkouji, which was my favorite of all of them so far.  There was almost no one there, which might have been the deciding factor.  The zen garden in the openings had a dragon made of stone, which was very beautiful.  At Enkouji, I bought this tiny book where I can collect stamps and calligraphy that is unique to each temple.  After a long walk, we ended up at Ginkakuji, a temple and world heritage sight.  With a title like that it is understandable that there were many tourists there.  Because of how  many people there were, it was my least favorite.  It was definitely very beautiful, but it was very loud, which deterred me a little bit.  We were set free on the mini shopping district for lunch where I got some tea flavored so a noodles with fried tofu.  It was very delicious.  After that, we walked to Eikando, a very large, castle like, temple.  We didn't have much time to look around, so I don't have much to say, but it was being used for s ceremony just before I left.  Afterwards, we walked to a tea ceremony presentation.  There, we learned what many of the movements I. Tea ceremonies are ,want for and how a tea ceremony is to be performed as well as the etiquette.  We were only allowed half of us at a time, so while we waited, we visited two more temples.  They were much smaller, so we where able to get a decent run through of them.  The aftermath of our first temple experiences were not very fortunate.  After failing to reach an expected dinner time, we searched high and low for a place to eat, however I was not disappointed. We had several fish dishes which were all very delicious.  Our final excursion was our visit to the light up of Koudaiji.  There were a lot of lights shining to make a spectacular scene.  If it was less busy, I would have been much happier.  There seems to be s running theme here.

Today was an early wake up to make a train to Kyushu.  Not much happened this morning other than a nap on the train.  We got to Kumamoto after lunch and we dropped our stuff off to make a quick walk to Kumamoto Castle.  We pretty much stayed at the castle the whole afternoon, yet it was big enough to do so.  I have so many pictures, but due to the lack of ability to upload them, it will be tough to explain what I did.  My favorite part was the rebuilt inner palace. There were many beautiful paintings and tatami and it was simply breathtaking.  We later went to the samurai house that was a part of Kumamoto.  It was like a temple but there were many differences.  There was still a  zen garden, there were pagodas, but it was just like a traditional house.  Dinner tonight was udon.  I had gyuudon with karamiso and it was scrumptious. The karamiso was very spicy, even for me, but I still finished it all.  I was so full, that it was very difficult to return to the hotel.  After a nice long relaxing soak in the hotel's sento with the other boys, I have returned to the hotel lobby, where there is wifi, to put up this blog post.

Today we went to Dazaifu.  Our first stop was the national museum, where we only had time to visit one exhibit.  This exhibit was about ancient Japan and China and their influences on each other.  There were many artifacts and paintings that showed their similarities.  

After the museum, we had lunch and a bit of time to shop.  I had a few fried things off the street food shops.  For a bit of desert, I got some matcha ice cream and a red bean bun thing.  They were both tasty.  

We only had some time to get food, so we met sensei outside of Dazaifu shrine.  There were many children dressed up for s celebration, to pray for good luck in school.  It was very well kept and colorful.  The main part was  not very big, but there was a nice nature path around it where I spent most of the time.

After the Dazaifu shrine we went to a smaller temple.  I forget the name, but it was not very memorable.  We were only allowed into one room, which was a let down.  The colors were very pretty, with some nice oranges, greens, and in betweens.

Finally, we were given hour to shop around.  We went into several stores, however, I was only able to get a few things, totaling under $15.  My favorite shop waste samurai shop, where we were allowed to take pictures inside, check other blogs to see if they're up.

Finally we had dinner in a curry shop.  I ordered the 2.5 size with the medium spice. I felt like not needing to work for my food.  It wad the best curry I've had pretty much ever.  Outside, there were a handful of games that almost all of us ended up playing.  It was a pretty good day.

Today, I thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Nagasaki.  Our first stop off of the Shinkansen was the atomic bomb museum.  Even before I saw what we were going to do in Japan, I wanted to visit one of the bomb museums in Japan.  This museum was very interesting, and as I continued through the exhibit, everything made me more and more sad.  It kind of just built up.  First we learned about some of the buildings that were destroyed.  Each sign had a distance, saying something like "2 kilometers from the center."  After the buildings, it showed some of artifacts left over, such as clothes and lunch boxes.  Rather than talking about the bomb, what was more devastating was the effects afterwards.  There were a few displays on the effects of radiation and burns.  Everything was very serious and I didn't quite realize what had happened to Nagasaki after fat man.

After the museum, we went to peace park, a memorial for the atomic bomb.  What I thought was very sweet were the statues donated from other countries.  My favorite part, however, was the two little shrine things around the main statue, which is cool In itself, that had strings of one thousand cranes draped in them.  I though that was very sweet, considering the story that is associated with the thousand cranes.

Our next stop in Nagasaki was Dejima, a reconstruction of an old artificial island port.  We did not spend much time there to sight see, but we did all dress up in traditional Japanese robes.  I got some sweet action photos.  If you want to see them, look at other blogs or ask me in person when I return.

Our last two stops were the Oura Catholic Church and Glover garden.  If you know me on vacations, I'm talking about you two, mom and dad, you know I don't really like visiting old churches (if you ask me, you seen one, you've pretty much seen them all).  I did however love Glover garden, the garden surrounding old houses of famous Christians during the Japanese ban on Christianity.  The garden was beautiful, especially when it got dark and they turned the lights that were in the trees on.  I kind of just wandered around on my own for an hour or so. It was very peaceful.

For dinner, we ate at an iconic Japanese fast food chain, Moss Burger.  I had a chicken sandwich with fries and melon soda.  All of it was very good for a fast food joint. Definitely better than american chains.

Squeaky clean day.  We went to Kurokawa today to visit onsen, Japanese hot springs.  We took a long bus ride there, then we began.  We all got these bath passes allowing us into three baths of our choice in the town.  

We all then broke off into groups to go bathe.  Van and I went together, alone.  Our fist bath was a small one not far from where we got the passes.  It was quite sulfuric.  We probably spent the most time there because we are both onsen lightweights.  It was quite pleasant though.  The outside air was nice and crisp, while the water was very warm.  

Afterwards, we went looking for some lunch.  On our lap around the town, we met up with Mr. Vankrey and Junko.  They suggested a curry place very near our first meeting place, so we went there to complete our lap around the town.  At this restaurant, I had chicken curry which was very delicious.  While we waited, there was a free to use famicom, aka nes.  Van and I then played some Mario bros until we finished.  Before we finished, Alex G., Spiro, Mitchell, and Grant walked in.  We exchanged bath suggestions then parted.  

Van and I took a short walk to our next bath, just a bit east of where we were.  This next bath was not as small but just as empty when we entered.  We stayed for pretty much the same length of time then got out due to dehydration and because of how hot the bath was.

We then took our last lap around the town, just browsing some stores and taking a break to recoup.  There weren't many good stores for us, but we then found a shop where bought some kumamon socks and some snacks.  During our snack break, we tried to figure out where we were going to bathe next.  

We decided on the bath Mitchell, Alex, Spiro, and Grant suggested.  This one was very hot, and due to my non calloused body and lack of hydration, we spent maybe ten minutes there.  It wasn't that bad though, it was almost meeting time, so we got some ice cream at the honey shop you may have heard of, then left kurokawa.

We returned to Kumamoto for dinner.  We were given 10000 yen per group of six to go do with as we choose, for food.  We had seven people, but it was alright.  Atul, Mitchell E., Alex G., Van, Nathan, Rodrigo, and I went to a small fast-ish food place.  I ordered the mixed cuts meal.  It was quite good, and it had some interesting mayonnaise sauce accompanied by barbecue sauce.  'Twas good.

Finally, we all got some notes on our presentations from the adults.  I for one am very proud of John Henry, and I look forward to presenting it.

Today was just hella trains, so I'll skip to the good part.  After arriving at Urasa station around 4:40, just before KJ releases from clubs, I finally met up with Keita, the KJ student who stayed with me this year's spring.  We left Urasa station with his dad giving us a ride.  We made a short stop at a 7-11 then we got home.  On the outside, their house looks very old an very eastern, however the inside is very modern looking.  Keita gave me a quick tour of the house and showed me my room.  My room is a washitsu, a traditional Japanese room.  The floors are tatami, there are no chairs, tables built for seiza, and a small shrine in the corner.  It is beautiful.  Keita and I then talked about what I had done in Japan so far and what I'm going to do.  I showed him my many photos.  Dinner was shortly after.  It was some bean soup with vegetables, some tofu thing with stuff on top that tasted kind of like bacon, and rice with vegetables.  Everyone was there for dinner.  His mother, father, grandmother, younger sister, and younger brother.  They are all very nice and understanding about my Japanese.  After dinner, I wrapped my gifts and presented them.  Everyone was very thankful, even though these gifts were very small.  

The night was long.  I returned to my room and just relaxed for the rest of the night, since I have yet to get a full night's sleep all trip.

Today I woke up just before 6:30 for breakfast.  It was miso, rice, pickled things (つけもの), and the custard thing that I've had a few times before.  We left at 7:00 to the train station where we took a train to Urasa.  Them we took a bus to KJ.  It is a very nice looking school.  Us Americans convened in the meeting room then left for our opening ceremony.  My first thought was that our welcome is so much less formal.  We were on a stage and there were a few speeches given.  We all got some sweet KJ mugs there.

After the ceremony, we left for our classes.  My first class was traditional Japanese.  They were studying folk tales, specifically Kaguya Hime.  I tried to follow along, but it was very difficult, especially when people talk as fast as they did while I'm trying to read s foreign language.  Even though it was very difficult, I think it was my favorite class today.

Next was math, trigonometry I believe.  It wasn't as difficult as the other classes were, but it was very difficult to follow along because I don't remember anything from trig.

After math, we went to physics.  We didn't do work (lol), but we had a demo.  The teacher had was demonstrating momentum with a hover board and bike wheel.  He showed everyone inertia, I think.

Next was lunch.  My host mother packed me an obento filled with lots of rice, some noodles and a salad, a Japanese style omelette, and some chicken.  All of this and some green tea to wash it down.  Keita and I ate with Rodrigo and his host.

The final class I attended was PE.  It was judo.  Alex G. and I participated in the warm ups, which were tough to follow.  After sitting out for some drills afterwards, Alex decided to jump and participate in the throwing exercise.  He got floored pretty loudly.

For the last bit of the day, we met where we were in the morning to prepare for our presentations after school.  We had an hour and a half, which was pretty good.  After school ended, we presented.  This went very smoothly.  Especially the folk stories that my group did, sleepy hallows and John Henry.

On the way home, our train got delayed, which is impossible since Japanese trains are always on time.  Because we were late, everyone was already eating dinner, Japanese curry, which was very, very good.  After dinner finished, I had a nice long conversation with my host mother about my life back home.  It was very sweet, and I'm surprised how smoothly it went.   Dinner and my conversation finished, and now I'm here, writing my blog, about to go to sleep.  After I take a bath of course,

Today we went to Tokyo.  Well, part of it.  We only had to time to be in Odaiba, an artificial island (I think) similar to Navy Pier.  The train ride was pretty long, so we got there just before lunch and got in the big Ferris wheel.  I got some good pictures, but do to the planar nature of a Ferris wheel, I didn't get many different pictures.  

Afterwards, sensei set us free with our day passes for the Odaiba trains.  My first stop, with many other trippers was the arcade adjacent to the wheel.  I took a video of me walking around looking at all the games.  At first, I couldn't find the Street Fighter cabinet and almost had a panic attack.  Then I found it, and guess what I played first.  I played SF 4 for a while, on one credit, then I joined everyone at the rhythm games.  I played some reflect beat and taiko no tatsujin, then moving on to the Mario kart game.

Even though I loved it so much in the arcade, it was a trap.  We had limited time and so much to potentially see.  Alex and I left to go find some lunch, so we stopped in a fast food place, Lotteria.  It was pretty good, but on our way out, we found Spiro's bag unaccompanied.  

We then spent our time walking through the mall area, browsing stores and hoping to come across Spiro.  We did, and then we realized we didn't have much time left till our meeting time.  Alex and I leisurely walked to the station and headed to our meeting place.  

On the way back, I picked up an omiyage for my family, Tokyo Banana.  Yokota sensei says that they're very popular.  

I got home at around 5:50 and practiced my violin for an hour or so.  I guess they heard me, since they asked me to play for them after dinner, which I did.  They thoroughly enjoyed it.

Afterwards, it was about time to write this, take a bath and go to bed.

Today was very fun, yet lacking in "Gerstiness" as many people have been saying.  This morning, Alex hit his head on the way out, pretty badly.  He ended up staying at KJ all day.  He's alright though.

We went all around Urasa today.  First we made our lunch.  We went to make some soba noodles.  They were very tasty.  Logan, Max , and I made a batch and shared it. During our lunch, Mitchell E. and I had a very nice conversation with Hasegawa sensei. We talked about american cultural differences and our time in Japan.

Then we went to a traditional hotel where we had tea, dressed up in kimonos and took pictures.  There isn't much to say about that, it's exactly what it sounds like.

Afterwards, we visited a shopping mall, only for about an hour.  Mitchell E., Grant, Spiro, Van, and I ended up spending most our time in the big department store.  While there, I picked up some gundam figure things and some more toe socks.  

After shopping.  We returned to Urasa station to wait for our hosts.  They came to get us, then Rodrigo, Shuhei, Yuka, Alex, Keita, and I met Takuya at the Minami Uonuma linrary.  We killed time by doing some origami.  We all went to dinner together, which was monjayaki.  Pretty much assorted things in some batter which you cook in the pan in your table.  It was my favorite meal this entire trip, we all had so much fun.  We returned late, so I relaxed, took a bath, and am about to bathe.

Today is bowling day.  After breakfast, I did some homework and a bit more sleeping.  We had lunch around 11:30, which was udon, which was super good.  We then left, taking a train and a bus to get to the alley.  Which were as punctual as expected in Japan.

We were arranged at the alley by birthday.  My lane was with Keita, Shuhei, and Kanoko.  I did surprisingly well considering my most recent scores.  What I think was the funniest thing about bowling were the old Japanese men next to us just having the best time ever.  They looked real happy.

After two games and one of my scores breaking 100, some of us decided to play pool. Rodrigo and I started a game, but soon after two KJ students joined in.  We were allowed an hour on the tables, which we used.  I then played assorted games around the alley, specifically taiko no tatsujin, the best game ever.  

We left around 5, giving Shuhei and Rodrigo a ride home.  We got home and soon left for dinner, which was sushi.  It was fantastic.  We went to a sushi bar with the conveyor belt and everything.  It was so delicious.  A bit odd, some of the rolls, but delicious nonetheless.

Today was just a normal school day.  Beginning with English class, they were just working on vocabulary stuff.  It was nice actually understanding the class for once on this trip.  It was relieving.  It was also so surprising how good everyone's English was.  I know they have been studying longer than I have for Japanese, but still.  

Second was math.  They had a test, so Melody, Rodrigo, Alex, and I left to the meeting room and hung out.

After that, we had chemistry, which was more difficult to understand than expected.  Being super tired does not help.  I nearly fell asleep, which sucked.

Before lunch was health, which was super boring.  It's not language thing, at first I was curious to see what the kanji were, but I just could not bring myself to pay attention well enough.

After lunch we had geography.  It was alright.  They were going over geographical features of the US.  It was alright to follow.

Next was Classical Japanese, in which we talked about a card game.  The cards have people on them with poems too.  Keita and I spent the entire period trying to translate one into English, which was damn near impossible.

Our last class was English, but this time it was only grammar.  I was given a print out of the page they were working on, and finished it quickly of course.  During the class, we got to help out the teacher a little bit.  Since he was s Japanese man, his English wasn't as natural as us.

School ended and everyone gathered in the meeting room.  Soon after, we went to the tea ceremony club, where we had tea and sweets.  I feel terrible though, since I couldn't stop laughing.  I tried to control myself, but Mitchell W. ripped his pants in gym today and Max kept making references to a classic SpongeBob episode.

The evening was just food and studying.  After dinner, I hung around to watch some tv, which was very odd.  There was s game shoe, but I couldn't quite understand what was going on.

It is my last day in Niigata and in Japan.  At school today, we began with math.  They were beginning derivatives.  I didn't really pay attention, instead I did the proof for power rule and the derivative of sin(x) and Pascal's triangle to 12.  Later the math teacher saw what I did.  He was surprised.  

After that was physics.  The class spent the entire period on a beginning mechanics problem which could've finished earlier if I didn't have so much trouble translating it.  

Afterwards, I went to a first year's English class.  We made poster things of words and phrases "lost in translation." We ended up with some pretty interesting words.  I did one of the alternate meanings to dovetail.

Before lunch, Alex, Melody, and I went to judo.  Today I participated in the drills.  We went over two different throws.  One is more of a push, the other was more of a pull.  I got to work with Takuya, with whom I went to dinner with on Saturday.

After lunch,  we had special classes.  I went to calligraphy.  I had some really good ones.  Yokota sensei pictures of our firsts and said she'd post them on the blog.  Check the front page.  My favorite kanji I learned was kami, paper.  

This took up two periods, and afterwards, we had another math class.  Same lesson, just continued.  I was given a mini worksheet thing. It was just algebra, so I flew through it.  Afterwards, I tried to remember the to finding the derivatives of the inverse trig functions.  I forgot though.  

After school and after they cleaned up, we gave our home room class a small thank you speech.  Sensei recorded mine, maybe it's on the blog.  We then proceeded to the farewell party.  There were snacks and drinks.  We took a lot of pictures.  The representative from KJ to give s speech gave one in English, and them one.  Japanese before we left.  It was all very sad, saying goodbye.

Dinner was some potato thing, which was tasty.  I didn't really want to leave the table. So sat there watching the news with Keita, who was still eating.  Afterwards, we took pictures together in the room next to mine, another traditional Japanese room.  We exchanged presents afterwards.  

I just took a bath, I need to write my thank you note and pack.

I don't want to leave.