Why Hello There

Let me just say, I think my hair has expanded to at least double its original size.

Also. Anyone who thinks eating a cherry tomato with a fork has CLEARLY never tried eating a hardboiled egg with chopsticks. While it's moving around in soup broth. Impossible.

I think I've been here for about three weeks or so and all in all I'm having an amazing time! Especially as it is now cooling off.

Writing everything takes too much energy. So I give pictures instead! :D

Plane ride over! We were not so happy at the end of the 11 hours flight. Mostly just tired and gross looking.

New AKP friends! We actually think this was a house...We got some weird looks for going in.

The first morning I accidentally ordered green tea ice cream and Special K. The second morning I ended up with Spaghetti...

Kyoto from the top of Kyoto Tower. SO BIG!!! I'm often lost.

As I said. Lost. We were trying to find Nijo Castle. Instead found ourselves in a shopping center.

But we met some girls who go to the same University!

AKP has a mandatory Disaster Prevention Center trip. This is the earthquake simulator.

It went up to level 8.

We also got to put out fires, experience typhoon winds, a mudslide, fire escape, and a 3D eathquake movie!

Food! My family took my to a yakiniku restaurant. Order what you want and grill it yourself!

Went to an all-you-can-eat. Since it was our first time, we had to wear these.

 I went to Kinkakuji (the golden Pavilion) and Nijo Castle together with some of the other Whitman girls. I can't say I enjoy the crowds, but they were both amazing places!

The photo that everyone who comes to Japan takes.

The better version.

This is kakigori. An upgraded version of hawaiian shave ice.

Tie vending machine. Just in case...?

Nijo Castle!

 We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the castle, but here's one on the outside.  The castle was enormous and beautiful! I included some pictures of the garden. Despite being "compact" as my host mom says (conpakuto), the Japanese are quite good at creating amazingly beautiful gardens to reflect their surrounding nature on a smaller scale.

I was really fond of this rock for some reason. It's kind of sphyinx-like.

 Went to the botanical gardens and art gallery this weekend! The art gallery was more or less a large open space with gian sized replicas of famous works of art.

Found Jesus.

Biko (center guy) became Jesus.

Found the "devil's cave"

A giant gourd.

Lots of gian gourds.

...jungle?

This is my host family. I've got my parents and an older sister and they are all wonderful! My host mom cooks amazing food for dinner! Always accompanied by a bowl of rice and Miso soup. I've got my own room in the house which has Tatami floors and a futon.  The bath I'm slowly getting used to. I'll explain that issue in more detail later.

So. I actually need to go write an essay for Japanese.