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| In the last two months, I've visited Nara and Osaka (my fifth, sixth time?) and Tokyo (fifth time?) but never had the chance to post pictures. NARA was beautiful and there were so many things to do--walk around the forest, feed deer, explore countless temples and UNESCO sites.  
 
 
Daibutsu-den  
Huge Buddha  
OSAKA Aquarium  
On the left, an octopus curled up in the corner; on the right, some big spider crabs!  
The most famous sea creature at the aquarium, this huge shark!  
 
 
HELLO KITTY in Osaka 
HANSHIN TIGERS vs TOKYO YAKULT SWALLOWS baseball game at Koshien Stadium--crazy!!! Japanese baseball games are 10x more exciting because all the fans get dressed up in gear (shirts, towels, hats, the works!), sing chants for each individual player, and cheer like mad while beating together plastic baseball bats in a wild frenzy!  
 
Everyone releasing their balloons after the 7th inning 
Last week we had the CLOSING CEREMONY at school. I had to make a goodbye speech, and afterward, some girls were crying! It was bittersweet and I was definitely flattered that they were moved enough to cry. Then two of my favorite third years, Chihiro and Manami, came up to present me with a bouquet of flowers and read a speech to me. The students are now off for summer vacation (but all of them still show up for club activities every single day).  
 
 
On the right is Yamamoto sensei with a picture I drew of him (doesn't it look like him!?). He's one of the teachers I interacted with most (other than my JTEs) because he's traveled a lot and speaks some English.  
Then on Saturday (my second to last weekend here), we had a LAST JET GET-TOGETHER in Okayama City. I think over twenty JETs, both staying and leaving, showed up for dinner at Moby Dick's (where I bumped into my dance teacher, Ce-Bo!!) I don't have any pictures from the dinner, but here's Jon, Dennis, Marisa, and I posing with a giant Snoopy before we met up with the others. 
After dinner, Lauren, Marshall, Tibor, Reed, and I strayed to Joypolis instead of karaoke where everyone else was. We played House of the Dead 4 (my favorite! I got a blister as usual though), Mario Kart, air hockey, and basketball. I was exhausted by the end! Here's Marshall and I posing as JR conductors.  
And most recently, the teachers at my school threw a GOODBYE PARTY/ENKAI for me on Tuesday night in Tsuyama. They surprised me by taking me to a yukata store and getting me dressed up in one, complete with geta, (several other female teachers got dressed in yukatas too) and I found out later that it was a goodbye present from all the teachers! It was my favorite color--red--with a stylish modern obi. We ate at this amazing Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant, Cielo, where they served up dishes like sweet honeydew wrapped in prosciutto, raw fish with arugula drizzled in olive oil, sea urchin and tomato pasta, etc. I had to make another speech thanking the teachers and again was presented with flowers. It was a lot of fun, though karaoke afterward dragged on. The principal pulled me to the stage to dance (seku-hara!  ) and some male teachers were totally drunk and out of it. A last crazy enkai to remember...  
 
 
From the side, from the back!  
Now my life is about cleaning, packing, shipping, cancelling accounts, taking care of last bills. It is the hugest hassle to move, especially from one country to another. I have to throw so many things away and pack up what remains of my life here into suitcases and boxes. Looking through all these old receipts, admission tickets to shrines, travel pamphlets, little notes and trinkets buried in the drawers and underneath papers has reminded me of the trillions of experiences and memories I made this year. I'm going to miss 久米南町 so much! | | |
| Whoopee! I got published in Kansai Time Out and my article is the cover story! 
You can't read it on the website but at least you can see my name there: http://www.japanfile.com/modules/news/
Flashback to Naoshima trip with Lou & Marshall-- Naoshima is an island in the Seto Inland Sea that belongs to Shikoku, even though it's far closer to Honshu. It's famous for contemporary art and architecture. Many of the public institutions and buildings were designed by the same guy. Tadao Ando, a renowned Japanese architect, designed several important buildings on the island too, including the Chichu Art Museum and the Benesse House Art Museum. Here we are visiting the Benesse Art House.  
 
"100 Live and Die" by Bruce Nauman, which I wasn't supposed to take a picture of. 
The first pumpkin! 
The one on the left is by Andy Warhol.  
 
The view from Benesse Art House [it was super windy that day!]  
 
Exploring the works of art outside 
My favorite pumpkin by the sea!  
The Benesse Art House also built hotel rooms so visitors could stay overnight. Though we couldn't get in, we managed to get a glimpse of the outside. 
Gorgeous photo opportunities like this were all over Naoshima!  
But my favorite one of all was definitely the pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama, created in 1994. 
Post-hip hop class!! 
This was also a while ago--visiting Okayama-jo (Crow Castle) and Korakuen, one of Japan's top three landscape gardens which just happens to be in Okayama City, with Marshall and his friend Chris! In the garden with Okayama-jo in the distance...  
 
 
 
 
Awww with Momotaro! 
And finally, the long-awaited castle.  
That night was the overnight sayonara party at Jibutei Samurai House (a real samurai house!) in Kumenan! That's right, all these JETs had to trek to my town for the party. The lovely Jon & Marisa 
The samurai house!  
I had to steal several pictures of the party because I didn't take many. On the right is Bob, Ludo, and Jon dancing to Outkast's "Hey Ya"!  
Watch this great video of their dance!! It's fantastic!!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video HostingWith the new Fuzzy Peach editor, Richard! And then with the old editor Bob and neighbor Maricar.  
 
The next morning, Marshall, his friend Chris, Dimple, and Bob started off from the samurai house at 6am to get to the Yuge train station in time for the 6:59am train. Marshall, Chris, and I had plans to hit up Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day so we had to get an early start. I didn't think they were going to make it but just as the train was about to leave, they rushed through the station!! Anyway, when they were walking down from the samurai house (it took one hour down the mountain), Marshall got some beautiful pictures of Kumenan at dawn.  
 
First we went to Hiroshima. Here we are at the ruins of the A-Bomb dome.  
Thousands of strings of paper cranes!  
The eternal flame.  
After we had explored the museum and eaten Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, we went to nearby Miyajima, where I had a great time with all the deer roaming the island!  
They were so adorable!  
...and also very aggressive! Marshall was eating corn and one deer started to attack him. Then some other deer knocked food out of people's hands and there was a huge mess.  
The famous floating torii  
 
 
More updates later! :] | | |
| Saying goodbye is proving to be far more difficult than I thought!
Today was the last day of English class for the first year students, before summer vacation begins next Thursday, July 19. But by the time classes start again, I won't be here, so I asked Miss Ishiyama if we could take class photos. After we finished doing 1-on-1 interview tests and the students had settled back into their seats, Miss Ishiyama asked me to explain what I wanted.
"Today's your last day of class until summer vacation," I began. "And I want to take some pictures with you guys."
As Miss Ishiyama translated this into Japanese, the students bobbed their heads in understanding, murmuring "Shasshin! Pictures!"
Then Miss Ishiyama carefully explained the reason why I wanted to take class photos was because I was leaving Kumenan and a new ALT would come to replace me in August. There was a huge, collective gasp and a loud "Ehhhhhhhhh???" from all 25 students. They were completely stunned (even though most of the teachers and staff knew about my decision not to re-contract since March, none of the students were informed), shocked, and in disbelief. All the kids started talking loudly, yelling, "Why? Nani? Nani?", and looking at me with these sad, forlorn little faces. Then Miss Ishiyama said, "So is it okay to take pictures?" and all the students (many of whom dislike taking photographs) shouted, "HAI!!!"
My eyes actually watered as the students rushed up to me, held my hand, hugged me tight, clamored around me, asked me why I was leaving. We went outside to take pictures, group by group, and ended with a class photo at the end. The suddenness of the news really hit them and it touched me so much to see the first years (mostly the girls) stare at me with big, sad eyes and stroke my hair and talk in rapid Japanese about how much they'd miss me and implore me not to go.
The routine happened twice (for both first year classes, 1A and 1B) and I honestly had to struggle to maintain my composure. The students were so obliging about taking pictures, so affectionate. I have four more sets of classes to break the news to, then a goodbye speech (in Japanese!) at the closing ceremony next week, so it's not going to be easy.
 
 
 
They drew a picture of me!!
 
 
Sayonara...!
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| .Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, and Okayama.
So I went to Tokyo...once again! This time I had an interview at the Major League Baseball company in Tokyo with their managing director, Jim Small. If I got the job, I'd basically be a day-to-day liaison between MLB and sponsors in China and Taiwan, which is why the position calls for strong Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and English fluency. I also met my visiting sister in Tokyo!!
 
Devil Hello Kitty
Nakamise-dori in Asakusa
Senso-ji
 
Dinner in Shibuya with Ayaka and Tetsu
 
A quick train ride to Yokohama with Tetsu as our escort, and we ended up at our beautiful Intercontinental Hotel Yokohama. Look at the view from our room! It was incredible.
 
Fortunately, Tetsu was our nightlife guide in Yokohama and since he is DJ Tets, he has contacts everywhere! Here we are at Bridge in Minato Mirai with Sanno-chan, Izumi-san, and of course Tetsutaro.
 
Dim sum at Hei Chin Rou was delicious, of course!
 
Sami & Mamoru with our desserts
Je visited my school in Kumenan! The students loved her.
 
Cleaning period & with the squealing little first year girls!
 
After lunch period
After a sweaty and particularly fun hip hop class with Marshall
 
Kyoto (second time)
 
Kiyomizu-dera
Cobblestone streets with charming, quaint architecture
 
Smooch!
Yasaka-jinja, one of my favorites
 
I mean, how could you not love the sight of all those beautiful lanterns?
Dinner in Gion, where we glimpsed a couple maiko hurrying along the street.
A dressed-up cat in front of Kyoto station, where I also "bumped into" Ishiyama sensei!
 
Hozu-gawa River Trip
...which conveniently deposited us at Arashiyama!
Fushimi Inari Shrine...gorgeous! I loved the endless rows of red torii gates!
 
It's a must-see if you ever visit Kyoto!
My sister visiting SSC : ] With my boss Taka, and several of my students.
 
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| A Weekend in Kyoto (6.2-6.3)
The futuristic-looking JR Kyoto Station, which I thought was gorgeous!
First stop, Miss Ishiyama's old apartment when she used to attend Kyoto Women's University. Then we checked out the neighborhood Hokoku-jinja (or Toyokuni Shrine).
 
One of Kyoto's most famous sights: Kiyomizu-dera! We were basically racing the sun, so we walked really quickly all the way uphill to Kiyomizu. We were rewarded with awesome light and some time to roam around the sprawling complex of Buddhist temples and shrines.
 
Otowa-no-taki is under the main hall of Kiyomizu-dera, where three channels of water drop into a pond and tourists line up to catch the water in metal cups and drink for their health, success, etc.
As we walked away from Kiyomizu-dera, we ate fish sticks and observed all the pretty restaurants and souvenir boutiques lining the streets.
We walked through the narrow streets of Higashiyama district towards
Yasaka Shrine (aka Gion Shrine), which was beautiful because of the
illuminated lanterns decorating the stage.
 
Afterwards, we walked straight into the Gion district and I was lucky enough to spot two maiko and two geisha (I later discovered it's really rare to spot them)!! I felt a little bad for one geisha who was hurrying to work and pursued by 5-7 people, snapping pictures and chasing after her!
 
The main street is full of super expensive restaurants, while the small alleys around the back are smaller shops or even the homes of maiko. You can tell because their names are written at the entrance door.
 
Despite the outrageous prices of some of Gion restaurants, we decided to eat at one slightly affordable place for dinner. The food was some of the very best I've ever eaten in Japan. Delicate dish after dish of exquisite and unusual Japanese food was served to us, and ended with strong matcha and mochi--my favorite!
 
I wanted to try one of these ice cream sundaes (azuki, green tea ice cream, condensed milk, ice, chewy mochi), but I was way too full from our elaborate dinner!! Next time :]
Then we headed to Kawaramachi, which was packed with restaurants, nightclubs, and boutiques. I saw one club that should have been mine: Club Ling (my awesome middle name)! And then there was Club Laid. Very subtle.
 
We hung out for a while with Jon and his visiting friend Lindsay at Ing, a small, loud, smoky bar. Jon and his friend just happened to be visiting Kyoto at the same time! What a coincidence!
The next morning, we woke up at 6:30AM to beat the tourist crowds. After a quick bath (communal, since we stayed at a traditional Japanese ryokan) and a Starbucks breakfast (green tea latte...mmm), we hopped onto the bus for another of Kyoto's famous spots, Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion). Even though we arrived before 9AM (the place opened at 9), the front courtyard was packed full with Japanese tourists, foreigners, backpackers, and hordes of students on their school trips!! What great timing. When they let us through, it was swarming with people and noisy.
But it didn't detract too much from the beauty of the Golden Pavilion!
 
We got fortunes. I got an excellent one :) But Miss Ishiyama wasn't so lucky, so she folded and tied hers (so it wouldn't come true).
 
The serene rock garden (well, its peaceful atmosphere was compromised by the presence of chattering school kids) and the lush expanses of intensely green verdure were some of my favorite parts of Kinkaku-ji.
 
 
Definitely a great highlight of Kyoto was Arashiyama, a district known for its bamboo groves. Even the Saga-Arashiyama station was really unique, done up to look like the ceiling and pillars were made of bamboo.
Of course the station paled in comparison to the real thing. Unfortunately we were caught unprepared in the rain as we started to walk around, so we waited it out under some trees. Though there were several tourists in the area, the tall bamboo trees created a quiet, cool, shaded atmosphere.
 
Almost forgot! We enjoyed tofu soft ice cream...it's a lot more delicious than it sounds, really! The owner of the shop insisted we take a picture holding our ice creams upside down...they don't fall out, it's magic!
As we were finding our way out of Arashiyama, we came upon this beautiful field of flowers.
My nose was replaced by a piece of scrumptious katsu filet!
One of our last stops in Kyoto--Heian Shrine.
 
 
Goodbye Kyoto!
 
News: I bought my return ticket home last week! I leave Japan from Osaka on July 31 (Tuesday) and fly to Hong Kong. I'll be in HK for 6 days and leave HK--> LAX on August 6 (Monday). Exciting!
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