Mountain hiking

Today I was told we were going to the Iiyama temple for a little sightseeing, which was great to hear b/c I was at loss of any ideas of what we should do today. There's a lot I want to see, but much of it, I can't do with my homestay parents, and there is this frustrating refusal to allow me to venture out on my own. It's not safe, they say (although I learned recently, the reason to Otou-san's saying that. He claims Atsugi is home to some mafia families. Yakuzas. Tokyo's been removing Yakuzas from the city, so many have moved to the local towns, like Atsugi. So I guess if you saw the place, you wouldn't believe it (and you wouldn't know who was a Yakusa anyways. They dress like businessmen), but that's what he says). Places like Harajuku, Shinjuku, Asakusa, and Shibuya are supposedly "young people" districts and my homestay parents don't know much about them.

So I was glad to hear we were going to a temple.

So Iiyama is a mountain. And a tourist region. It's essentially a park and with the Sakura Festival coming up soon, decorations are going up to celebrate. Sakura Festival is 7 days long, so I promise I won't miss out.

Walking up Iiyama, there were a lot of sakuras blossoming. Next week should be the festival, so they should all be in bloom then too. This place was a very beautiful touristy park. I wish I could remember the entire name.

White sakura blossoms and paper lanterns. These were everywhere, lining the path all the way up to the temple.

The Iiyama temple. The process was interesting. Halfway up, you stopped at this fountain to wash your hands. Then you approached that big urn there in the center to buy a small stick of incense, light it, and stick it in the ash. Where you then began to waft the incense smoke in your direction to cleanse your spirit. Then you approached the shrine, throw money in, and I guess, pray for something you want.

To the left of the temple was this. You bought a little piece of paper for 100 yen, read your fortune, then tied it to these ropes or the trees next to it (if it's like in Taiwan, I think you're supposed to tie it to the tree, but being there's a large number of visitors, they probably put this up to save the trees).
My fortune said I'd fail in relationships, but be successful in studies, in case you were curious.

The pathway up Shiroyama, the mountain next to Iiyama and probably the tallest in the region.
At first, the pathway was fenced along the edges like this.

But then, the higher you went up, the more the more, I guess, wild, the pathway got. Here, the steps were entirely made out of tree roots and the wearing down of the ground from many walkers.
Also, if you're afraid of heights, I would not recommend going. There were definitely times I was walking on 1-1 1/2 ft wide dirt with a cliff drop to my side.

We also found kikurage... which is a type of mushroom I guess. Anyways, that was dinner. That and tofu in miso soup.

And finally, the view from the top. You can see the whole of Atsugi, and in the distance to the left is Tokyo. And to the right is Kamakura and Yokohama... although my camera can't pick up detail like my old one could.

TPU vs. CMU

Ah, these last couple of days have been slow. Ah well... interesting stuff does happen, but it's more spaced out I guess. Maybe I'm getting used to doing everything right away?

Yesterday I walked with my homestay parents to a neighbor's house to pray for his mother who died while they had been in Italy (my homestay parents were in Italy up until the day before I arrived in Tokyo). The guy also happens to be the neighborhood egg farmer. As in, he has lots and lots of chickens. I did mention I'm living in a farming village, right (I've also seen cows, btw!)?

Ah anyways, I got to see a sort of funeral (a shrine to the departed one, I guess would be more accurate). And see a very traditional house. Sliding paper and glass doors everywhere. You enter through the garden to a raised step, take off your shoes and put on slippers only to walk maybe 10 more steps before you take those off to enter a tatami room where there are cushions on the floor you kneel on. I prayed like everyone else, lighting the insense and all. I think it would be rude not to, even if it isn't my culture to do so. But omg my legs hurt soooo much! I don't know how Japanese women do it, sitting on their legs like that. 5 minutes and my legs were already falling asleep. Eventually, I had to sort of crouch up b/c they were hurting. Otou-san also had to get up, but okaa-san was okay. I don't know how they do it.

They threw salt on me too. I must have had the dumbest look on my face because they laughed right after. Apparently it's a cleansing ritual. To remove the dead's spirits before entering one's own home.

Today I went to pay for my apartment and to check it out. It looks like a cargo hold.... I would say it is windowless, but the back has a sliding glass door, so maybe not. The front makes me think of storage compartments though. Hehe.

My otou-san and okaa-san offered to let me stay at their place until the end of my stay in Japan. And they were serious about it. It freaked me out how they were being serious. I thought maybe I was in trouble when okaa-san came up to tell me to go downstairs because they needed to talk to me. And then they sat me down and turned off the TV. And then okaa-san started talking fast in Japanese to otou-san in a tone that sounded urgent and I guess angry. But then they asked me to stay. And I was all... "aww.....". Not really. I didn't did actually do that. But it was sweet.

And otou-san went with me to TPU to talk to Shimada-san about me staying at their place instead of moving to the apartment, but in the end, we decided I should move. It seemed best, even if I really like them and their house. I really need to get out there on my own. They are very protective people, I must admit.

So anyways, what I wanted to say was that TPU's study abroad program makes CMU's look like total crap. I think I will go into detail of just how much the staff at TPU has done for me so you guys can get a better picture:

First, my visa forms arrived in a package which included a cover letter saying welcome and another letter that told me step-by-step which numbers to fill out and what information I needed. They filled out the rest for me.

They also set up my homestay and found me an apartment in Atsugi.

And picked me up from the airport and drove the 4-5 hrs to my home.

Not bad right? Pretty normal.

In addition, they found me a scholarship to cover my housing fees and applied for it for me, only asking for a form to be filled out by my advisor in cmu.

They went with me to help me open a bank account while in Tokyo, which took a good portion of the day.

They lent me a bicycle and an electronic dictionary for getting around.

And not only did they get me an apartment, they furnished it, complete with kitchenware Tagawa-san bought herself.

I heard that last part and thought... omg these people spoil me, of course remembering how much stuff Midori had to buy when she came to America, and how much she had to throw away going back.

CMU's got nothing in comparison to TPU. Hehe.

Kimono!

For the rainy day, I got to try on my okaa-san's kimonos. Omg there are so many pieces to it. I learned that the obi is a really really really long corset. Haha. Here are some pics. Granted, I think I look awful.... but oh well. Pretty kimonos.

Fuyu no Kimono (winter kimono)
It's pretty.... ^_^

Natsu no Kimono (summer kimono).
I am much more comfortable in this one. And I think it shows.

Rainy Day

Rain! Rain! Go away! Come again another day!

Hehe.

I forgot a photo from yesterday:

He was just standing there waving to people in the park. It was so funny!

Ueno

5 days. Has it only been 5 days? It feels like it's been much longer.

Okaasan and I went to Ueno today to the art gallery and the garden. Saw a lot and my head was hurting after awhile from my eyes darting in every direction. This trip was also my first glimpse of other gaijin (foreigners) as well. I'd say it took about an hour by train to get from Atsugi to Ueno. Ueno is part of the circle that makes inner Tokyo, along with Shibuya and Shinjuku.

We also went to the gardens and look! Sakuras! Some of the trees were blooming. And underneath already were some earlier partiers. Apparently, hanami (sakura viewing) is just another excuse to get together and get mad drunk. Except this time you're outdoors in a shower of petals.

Altogether, about we spent about 8 hours walking around. I'm exhausted.

Anyways, pictures!

The beginnings of the sakura blossoms!
In Japan, igebana (flower arranging) is an artform. And rightfully so. These were really beautiful.
And look! A girl in a kimono!
There were a several people wearing traditional Japanese clothes arount Tokyo. Not so much in Atsugi but around the train stations and within Ueno, there were several.

The city becomes alive at night so I found out (and probably should have known already) when we were coming back from our gallery tours late. Atsugi in particularly, the gaijin all come out at night. I was thinking I was the only one there since Atsugi is mostly farmland. Apparently the town is an attraction.

The Neighborhood

My homestay parents and I took a walk around the neighborhood today. Kind of a hike, considering we went off-road a bit. They won't let me go wander on my own. Otou-san says that there's a lot of bad men on the roads, so I shouldn't go walking alone. Funny... I thought the area was rather safe. Quiet farm town, you know?

It might also be b/c of my relative helplessness in a foreign country.

But I took some photos! Take a look! Photos can be downloaded at full size, if u want them.

These are my homestay parents and their dog, Junior. They are so wonderful!

A view of the mountains from our hike.

Peach blossoms. These are everywhere! It isn't time yet for sakura blossoms, but the sakura trees are budding so it will be soon.

Some of the rice fields, although it isn't planting season yet. There were monkeys in there yesterday, but I didn't see any today.

2nd day!

Aw man.... so so soooo tiring trying to communicate. It's a mix of English and Japanese and desperately wishing I had one of those electronic dictionaries. I must sound stupid, looking Japanese but absolutely not acting like one. So glad they are so patient with me.

I also need money. Yen. I have USD, but not Yen.

So the 1st official day was interesting. Not exciting or anything, but definitely worthwhile. Mrs. Yokota, my homestay "mother", took me around Atsugi macchi (Atsugi town) to shop. I didn't buy anything, except my bus ticket. I don't really have much Yen on me. I'm sure the tour of the town was to teach me how to get around... but honestly, w/ me still trying to translate everything spoken to me, I don't think I'll be exploring anywhere just yet. All I know is that bus stop #7 is to TPU, and bus stop #11 is to their home. After walking an additional 15 minutes.

And the place is called.... I forget. Some long Japanese word.

See me struggle? Hehe.

But she showed me the clothing stores, mostly in passing to the shoe and purse stores (I think I know her interests... lol). But we took a walk into the movie store and book store. OMG there are so many comics and anime. Anyone disturbed by the fact the porn section is smack in the middle of the anime section in the movie store?

But I found out... despite Japanese-imported manga in America being mostly Naruto, DBZ, or some form of cheesy high school romance, most comics here are targeted towards adult businessmen. Hence the porn. And the hentai comics. Whereas from what I notice, while I like manga, finding one worth reading in America is not very easy. Target audiences, ya know?

Strange not to need to feel silly when admitting to an interest in what we find to be children's stuff.

Oh! Had the most awesome sushi too! I really like Outoro. I'm not sure what that translates into. A type of fish.

Today, I'm heading off to TPU to meet the staff. Yesterday was a holiday.... the changing seasons from Winter to Spring. Thought that might be interesting.

Bye!

I`m here!

I made it! After the long and very interesting flights involving mad dashes to the next gate and doctors being called for in flight, and meeting the most interesting ppl that liked talking the entire way, I am here.

Did you know it takes 4 hours to cross the entire of Tokyo by car?

My homestay family is wonderful and I am so glad they are patient with me and my lack of knowledge of both culture and language. Trust me, communicating is quite a show. But we`re both learning. English and Japanese. My Japanese is so awful... I should have stayed in Pittsburgh and at least audited half of Japanese II at CMU.

But anyways, first adventures of food involved cuttlefish cooked w/ dicon and cod eggs mixed in rice. Oh and miso soup.

It was surprisingly very good! I usually hate fish eggs.

Well, today is a holiday here. So no school, but Mrs. Yokota is taking me to TPU to sightsee. Good thing it`s not so cold here. The night is, but there`s space heaters and hot plates everywhere. Even the toilet seat is heated. ^_^

The house is traditional too. Pretty cool. That bath is an interesting difference.

Oh the toilets are all the ones that wash you instead of using toilet paper. That is the weirdest feeling ever. Haha.

Okay, bye!

The night before the trip

Hi everyone! I decided to do the popular thing and start up a blog for my trip to Japan. Figured this would be the easiest way to keep everyone up to date on my trip. And an easy way for me to share photos ^_^.

Well... right now, it is 12:28AM. I leave for the airport at 11:00AM. That's about 11 hours. 11 hours before the long flights begin. I will first land in Chicago O'Hare airport. Yay! Except I have 1 hr before my next flight takes off, so no shopping. Boo....

I think that also means I get 1/2 an hour to cut across the entire O'Hare airport to even make it to my next flight. Hope there aren't additional security checks there. Last time, Phil and I arrived in O'Hare coming from Thailand (well, technically, from the Nagoya airport in Japan), we were stopped by a security check long enough to miss our flight home. We were in the airport for quite a few hours afterwards stressing out at the customer service desk.

But yay! I'm all packed. Camera is ready too. Wish me luck on the hard and painful flights. At least there's only 2 this time.