Let the semester abroad begin!!!!
Yesterday I left Osaka and joined my group in Nara. My travel guide book said that it would only be a 35 minute train ride. However, it took one hour in actuality, and I never would have gotten here if it wasn't for all of the japanese people ushering my on and off trains at stations where, apparently, I was supposed to transfer. I doubt that i will EVER understand the train system here, but I'm willing to live with that, as long as there are friendly people to help me along.
When I arrived, I met everyone that I'll be spending the next 2 months with. Some of them I really really like a lot!!! others, well, I like ok, but they can still work themselves up the friendship ladder. It's only the 1st week of the program after all. There are a couple of people that I don't really click with, but I'm easy going and we shouldn't have any problems, HOPEFULLY!!!
Today we all woke up super early and went to a temple (which is the LARGEST WOODEN BUILDING IN THE WORLD, by the way!) It was quite impressive!!! Inside, there was a ginormous bronze buddha, I took so many pictures!!! behind the statue, in the very back section of the temple was a wooden pillar with a hole cut out of it that is the same size as one of the Buddha's nostrils. Legend says that anyone who can pass through the hole is garanteed salvation, and I did it!!! So, I guess I've been saved by Buddha. Pretty awesome, huh?!?!
After the temple, we took a train out in to the country side and visited the farm of a japanese man that prof. Holman has known for 25 years. He talked to us about agriculture in Japan, and allowed us to pick strawberries out of his green houses (the best strawberries in my life!!!) Then we went to a neighboring farm and saw how rice is planted. It was a very educational day. Now I'm ready to spend the evening relaxing and exploring the city a bit, and then it's back to being educated first thing in the morning!
see you later, all of you people who have NOT been saved by Buddha!!! hahaha! I know you're SO jealous!!!
3 Comments:
Hi Sarah,
It's Grandma again! I have a friend who has 18 renditions of the song, "Ring of Fire" which is an old Johnny Cash tune. She would like to have a copy of the song in Japanese. Thought maybe you or your friends could find a copy of it and bring it home with you or send it to me. She will gladly pay you for the cost and shipping.
Love you bunches! Tell your friends hello for us! Hugs, G'ma
2:33 AM
Sarah,
Hello hun, it's Kalee....and we haven't talked in forever.....I have talked to your mom like 10 million times more. Anyways, my point is that my major here is at Northwest is Poli Sci, but I was thinking of adding on a French minor and was looking at transferring and finishing up at MU. So I guess I was wondering if at any point you have some time if you could tell me a bit about both the poli Sci and the French programs there. I know you are mucho busy, but anything would help!!! Can't wait to hear about your trip. I am way jealous.
---Kalee
8:28 AM
i had completely forgotten that you're in Japan!!! omg
and i'm also living in osaka lol!!!
i'm only here for 6 weeks, and this week will be the last one for me.
i regret that i didnt contact you before you started your trip, cuz we could've planned on meeting up!!
if you're still around this area, let me know =)
miki xoxoxo
10:57 AM
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