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Biwa-ko
The lake (behind JCMU) at sunset. Konnichiwa!
It's been a long but wonderful few days...it seems that I escaped the evil clutches of jet lag altogether, and aside from adjusting to the sun rising at 4am and setting at 7pm, the transition was smooth.
I arrived at Kansai International Airport in Osaka on Friday evening, and from there took the Japan Rail (JR) to Hikone. The train ride was about 2 hours, and at that point I was getting pretty tired since I hadn't slept on the plane. From the station in Hikone I shared a cab ride with a few other students to the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU!). The instructors and the director of the program were waiting for us in the lobby with tea and ramen noodles. I got the key to my apartment and dumped my bags off before coming back downstairs to send off a few quick emails. Later on I met my roomate Udo, who is a student at MSU. We hit it off right away, and discovered that we both have a passion for hiking, camping, and the outdoors in general. It makes me so happy that I'll have someone to explore the area with.
The
Nagahama-jo
The castle in Nagahama. JCMU buildings are located right on the shore of Lake Biwa, which is Japan's largest lake. I didn't know this before, but the lake is the main reason Shiga prefecture has ties to Michigan--both have large lakes they want to preserve. Biwa is about 40 miles long and 14 miles across at the widest point. Udo and I have made plans to spend a weekend biking around it and camping. We're hardcore like that...
On Saturday, the JCMU staff gave us breakfast, then we went through the program orientation. For lunch, we got Subway. There was also potato chips and coke, both of which tasted different than they do in the states...the only way I can describe it is "less artificial". They probably have less sugar.
After lunch, we were all given bicycles. The bikes are old but have held together very well. They all have baskets in the front, a headlight, and a bell. Also, after biking around Hikone, I noticed not only that there are as many bikes as there are cars, but that most of the bikes are exactly alike! A few stand out as being new and shiny, but most everyone has an old bike
Roof Detail
From Nagahama castle. with a basket to transport groceries in or whatnot.
Hikone is a beautiful city. In its center there is a castle that was built in the early 17th century (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikone_Castle). I biked around it on Saturday, but I haven't gone inside yet or visited the garden...I figure there's plenty of time for that.
Yesterday (Sunday) Udo and I set out to explore Nagahama, a city about 10 miles north of here, also on the lake. Since we both woke up at around 5am, we got an early start. The bike ride was gorgeous and very pleasant. The bike path around the lake is well maintained, and took us through old neighborhoods with narrow streets and traditional wooden houses. So many people grow their own food here, and eat fish right out of the lake. Most of the houses had gardens, and some even had small rice paddies in the yard!
Once we reached Nagahama, we parked our bikes and walked around. There is a castle there as well, which we paid 400 yen (about $4) to enter and look around the museum. We also walked to the very top and stood outside overlooking the area. Miles and miles
Shrine
In Nagahama. of city sprawl, surrounded by green mountains.
After the castle, we walked to the downtown area and got ice cream. That was awesome. Then, we visited a glass blowing studio where we watched artists at work and looked at some beautiful pieces of glass in the shops.
Back in Hikone, we visited a shrine on top of the large hill (mountain?) across the street from JCMU. There is a bamboo forest on the side of the hill, which was quite amazing to see. I really had no idea that bamboo grew to be so tall. I always have pictured it to be no more than 6 or 7 feet tall. How do pandas eat it??? Maybe they just eat the younger shoots...
After exploring the shrine and doing a bit of hiking, Udo and I biked downtown to the grocery store. We got enough food to cook with for the week, and came back to the JCMU campus. We were both pretty sweaty and hot at that point, so we decided to jump in the lake. After a few seconds, we discovered that it was freezing and got out. It will be nice, however, in a few weeks when it
Street Entrance
At the front of a covered street in Nagahama. gets unbearably hot outside.
Tomorrow my classes begin, and I'm looking forward to it. It's a lovely day again today, and I think a walk might be nice. I'm so happy here, and I predict that it will be an amazing summer.
If anyone feels inclined to send me mail (mom...), here is the address:
Lynze Marzulla c/o JCMU
1435-86 Matsubara-cho
Hikone, Shiga 522-0002 JAPAN
Sayoonara!
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Mom
non-member comment
wow!
Hello Lem...I'm so impressed by everything~the beautiful photo's, your expressive descriptions~~but I'm happiest about the fact that you seem extremely content,happy,at ease,excited. Excellent!! (Well, I'm also thrilled that you are wearing a helmet while biking~it's a mother thing.) XXXXOOOO Love you, Me