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Published: February 27th 2006
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Kitano Tenmangu Market
Craziness! Beyond the people and the booths you can barely see the shrine in the background... Hi everyone. So, this week looks like:
Monday - Japanese R&W Quiz
Tuesday - Japanese Speaking Quiz
Wednesday - International Finance Exam
Thursday - Japanese R&W Exam
And guess what I did this weekend... if you said the typical 'lexi' answer, you were way wrong... I think I studied for about 1.5 hours max. Hehe, oh well, at least I had a really really really fun weekend!
Friday - Kobe/Sannomiya I was supposed to dedicate Friday to studying, but ended up meeting up with Dawn (friend from UOP going to KanGaku - Kwansei Gakuin), her friend from KanGaku (Shan) and a nihonjin exchange student who went to UOP for a semester (Kaori). We met in Sannomiya, which is generally Kobe area. I left Hirakata-shi right after class and it took about 1.25 hours to get there... I had to take three different trains!!
But anyway, Kaori is volunteering as a Japanese to English translator for Yokoso Japan. We (the foreigners) and Kaori volunteered ourselves to walk around Kobe to test out a new handheld information system for tourists. Very interesting. Kinda difficult to explain, but basically you walk around and there are sensors that the machine will pick up
Me and the Ox
Okay, so perhaps it is a cow... but I had to get a picture with it!! I'm year of the ox! and an updated map and information on what you see around you will show up on the handheld device. So, we did that, then Kaori, Dawn and I walked around and did some window shopping... then I went home - that took even longer, not only because everyone else was trying to get home, but because I couldn't take the express train back to my station! Poop!
Saturday - Kyoto Yes, Kyoto, AGAIN! But I could probably go a dozen times and still never see the same things. So this time, I went to Kitano Tenmangu Market - it's a once a month market (always on the 25th) in Kyoto. If you can imagine booths of food, used kimonos, new kimonos, kimono accessories, candies, herbal stuffies, trinkets, Japanese fabrics, fresh produce, antiques, tea, and so much more! It was so crazy! My friend and I got to Kyoto around 9 so that we could attend a tea ceremony at the Tenmangu Shrine. The tea ceremony wasn't quite what was expected... think of tea ceremony in mass quantities. About thirty people at a time were able to watch and experience the tea ceremony with about a dozen geisha and maiko
My Favorite Maiko
Her kimono and obi (sash) was beautiful... (apprentice geisha). So yes! I got to see my FIRST (or several) geisha and maiko!! I was really impressed with their movements, kimono, presence and just the whole package! I have a few pics, but my friend took much better pictures and I should be getting them in the next few days... so I'll post again later this week with more geisha pics and details on the ceremony! Tenmangu shrine is also known for its plum blossoms, but this winter has been so cold and so long that the plum blossoms are still a bit shy. There were a few trees blooming - the ones getting tons of sunshine, but most were still buds. After the tea ceremony and walking through the market, we went to Kyoto Imperial Palace. Unfortunately we couldn't figure out how to get in, so we just cruised around the park (extremely huge) and people and dog watched.
Sunday - Osaka - USJ Universal Studios Japan. It rained. But it was fun! My host family got free tickets so, my host brother, sister, and their aunty took me to USJ! Basically, it was extremely nostalgic for me... mostly things were the same as the one
Differences
Here you can see one of the differences between a geisha and maiko... hair ornaments and hair style is much fancier for a maiko. in Cali, but there were fewer rides and EVERYTHING WAS IN JAPANESE! So, unless you don't want to understand what is being said on the rides, I wouldn't suggest a foreigner going. It was really good practice for me, and I usually got things translated for me by my companions. =)
Overall, I had a really enjoyable and really unproductive weekend. But hey, that's what I'm here for right? =) Anyway, I think I owe you guys a top ten...
1. Discovering that going to Thailand for spring break is a possibility - total cost of airfare + hotel would be less than $500 for one week!!
2. Mochi (I know it was on my top 10 last time, but I still love it!)
3. Purchasing a kimono - okay, so it's not silk, but who can pass up a gorgeous but simple ivory and purple kimono for under $5?
4. Finally learning what shopkeepers and broadcasted announcements are saying - they're speaking a humble/extra-modest Japanese called "keigo"
5. Taking quick naps on the train without missing my stop (yet)
6. Nearly getting lost in Korien (where my host family lives) taking the back roads
7. Learning that
Tokyo Disneyland isn't owned by Disney... (okay, so maybe not MY experience, but I thought that was a cool fact - they're actually owned by Oriental Land with whom Disney has a licensing agreement)
8. Buying my first beer (I had to put it in my top ten!)
9. Playing a Japanese stock market trading game for international finance - I already made a 15% return on my portfolio!
10. Saving the best for last... being crazy and waking up at 6:00 last Friday morning to watch women's figure skating... I'm glad I woke up for something because Japan finally got a medal - GOLD! So, congrats to Japan and to Shizuka Arakawa, she did a beautiful and amazing performance... and I think I must have watched it at least twenty times by now because they keep playing it on various news and tv programs... but she made waking up that early worth it... And yes, I was nihonjin for one day... I was cheering (in my head) when the American and Russian fell down.
Anyway, I'll write post those pics in a few days!! Hope you enjoy what pictures I have! =)
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Miaka975
Dawn Mayumi Yara
woooow...usj looks like fun *O* i've never been to the cali one so i have no idea what its like....come to think of it..i haven't been to the florida one either >_> oh and kyoto *O* ..i'm jealous...i kinda wanted to see that too and i'm jealous that u actually have a bro and sis to talk to >__> thats all they show...i actually want to know what happened to melo...the last time i saw her on tv she was hurt pretty badly and.....then we had to turn off the tv cuz natsu wasn't eating dinner and watching tv instead >_<