Gray day. Everything is gray. I watch. But nothing moves today.

People walk through the Bamboo Grove on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

Me at a park near the Bamboo Grove.

 Saturday marked my being in Japan for three whole months! It is also the two week mark before I leave Japan. Due to this ever pressing deadline, even the rain could not keep me and my roommate from going to Kyoto on Saturday. We visited Arashiyama and the Bamboo Grove, which is one of the sites I knew I wanted to go to before I even arrived to Japan. While I wish it hadn't been raining it was still a cool site to see. Also beautiful is the fall colors, or kouyou, in Kyoto.

Friday night we celebrated Thanksgiving here at JCMU. It was only a week late not too bad. It was amazing. The office staff cooked four turkeys and lots of the stuffing and mashed potatoes. Some of the students even helped make apple pie. It was a fun night where just about all the students and staff got together to enjoy a delicious meal.

Togetsukyo, or Moon Crossing, Bridge in Arashiyama

How did it get so late so soon?

Competitors tie their obi's and get dressed on stage at the Kimono Festival in Hikone.

My roommate all dressed up.

Robert Shelton all dressed up.

The best (and probably most obvious) thing I love about Japan is doing things I'd never get to go at home, like go to a Kimono festival. Sunday, my roommate and seven other JCMU students participated in it. Most just went and got all dressed up by professionals. They all looked beautiful and handsome. Two actually competed. While there are different categories to the competition the basics is the people are on stage, the clock starts, and they are judged on how fast and well they can tie their obi and dress them selves up. I'm so proud of friends who went up on stage and did it in front the crowd. 

This week also begins my less-than-a-month countdown til I'm back in America (25 days to be exact). I have very mixed feelings about this. On the one hand I miss home. I miss my friends, both at school and from Chicago. I miss my family. I miss driving. I miss my cats and dogs. I miss American food. Like a lot. I already told my roommate from Central that we're going to hit up a Mexican food restaurant when I see her, and I'm really hoping my mom picks me up from the airport with a Lou Malnati's deep dish sausage pizza (hint, hint). 

Even though I miss all those things I know when I get back to America there are going to be so many things I miss about Japan. I love the train system here. I travel to a new place just about every weekend here. I actually like not having a cell phone. I love learning a new language. It has been hard but that has just made it that much more rewarding. I'm going to miss the bejesus out of my roommate and all the other great friends I've made here. 

Until then, I'm going to enjoy the time I have left and make the most of it.

When the drops stop dropping then the storm starts stopping.

The main walkway leading into the mountain.

Me standing next to a torii gate.

 Usually Friday mornings consists of a weekly test on my Japanese language skills followed by a "Friday Project" which ranges from koto lessons to calligraphy. This Friday the test was moved up a day so JCMU students could have more time at the elementary school we were visiting. I was not excited. It was the morning, I was tired, the idea of screaming first and second graders everywhere did not sound like a good time.

I was mistaken.

Visiting the school has been my favorite Friday project thus far. All the JCMU students got split up between ten or so different elementary schools in the area. I, along with three other JCMU students, visited 156 first and second graders at Takamiya elementary school. We waited in the principals office until a group of four second graders came, with their teacher, where they took each us by the hand and lead us into the gym where 70 or so children were waiting for us and started applauding as we entered. We were than sat down in front of all these children and they sang for us. This was followed by a game of dodgeball. It took me till I was in jail to figure how they play, but it was still a lot of fun. The children would just drag me to where ever I needed to go. The first graders second hour was pretty much a repeat except we made paper airplanes instead of dodgeball, which I'm pretty sure turned into gaijin target practice, but again still fun. Sorry there are no photos I was having too much fun.

Afterwards, my roommate and I spent the afternoon in Kyoto. We wanted to go to both Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine and Arashiyama, but the shrine was a bit more than we anticipated so we didn't make it to Arashiyama. The shrine is famous for the torii gates all lined up. It was massive and very impressive. Most of the pictures I've seen of the place are of the main walk way, which is flat. We come find out however it's actually built into the side of a mountain. It was a beautiful but exhausting climb.

There are thousands of torii gates located along the pathways.

One of the many miniature shrines located along the pathways.

I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues.

Tyler Castner and I practicing with the Seisen University students, Misa Ariyama, Kotono Ootsuki, and Yuta Onishi before our live radio show.

Kotono Ootsuku, Misa Ariyama, and Tyler Castner after the show.

Two months ago I knew zero Japanese. Sunday I did an interview with Seisen University students on a live internet show, in Japanese. Was my Japanese any good? Probably not. Most likely it sounded like two year old repeating the only words he or she knows over and over again. None the less I was proud of myself. Tyler and I had been with working with the university students for over a month figuring out what we were going to talk about.

Aside from my horrible Japanese the show was actually a lot of fun. We talked about JCMU, our favorite Japanese food, anime and other aspects about our lives here in Japan. We broadcasted the show from the second floor of a cafe in Hikone. It was a really cool place that use to be post office. After we finished the show we all went downstairs and enjoyed coffee and cake.

ASAP. Whatever that means. It must mean, 'Act swiftly awesome pacyderm!'

JCMU students take their picture with one of the 70 children that attended JCMU's Halloween Party.

My roommate and I as Minnie Mouse and Katniss.

Last week JCMU held a Halloween party for Japanese children to come and experience a little bit of American Halloween. Halloween in Japan, up until recently, has been entirely non-existent. Even now it is not the same as in America. There is no door to door trick-or-treating, no season stores that pop up in the month leading up to it, no haunted houses, and no pumpkins being carved. In fact it was quite difficult to find any Halloween costumes, most students made their own. All Halloween really is here is some cutesy decorations at some stores and restaurants and the occasional party.

With so many Americans in one place, JCMU offers a unique experience for Japanese children. After our weekly test on Friday, JCMU students set to decorating the building. We set up games, put up streamers, and transformed the library into haunted library. Around 70 children and their families showed the evening. They got to get their faces painted, play musical chairs, bean bag toss and walk through the haunted library. After all that they got to experience trick-or-treating by going to some rooms in the dormitory. It was a lot of fun for both the children and us students. After the kids party some students from local universities came for food and costume contest.

Taylor King helps with paints a girls face. Face painting was one the more popular activities at the party.

Teeth are always in style.

The obi of a kimono tied into a bow.

Melville sensei helps Kayla Vaillancourt tie her obi.

A couple of weeks ago I tagged along with my friends as they bought kimonos. While they are beautiful I opted on the side of practicality and didn't buy one because: one they are expensive and two I have no idea where I would ever wear one back in the States. Today I had the opportunity to learn how to put one on.

I never wanted to take it off.

I felt a little like Mulan and my inner child relished in it (she's my favorite Disney princess). Even though it was slightly like being strapped into a corset and my feet couldn't move farther than five inches apart I was in love. Melville sensei just laughed as she tied it tighter and said this is why old people here don't have back problems. It was no easy task putting one on. You have to lift the fabric here and fold this way and tie one strap here and another there and then you wrap the obi around you and tie it all up. Eventually we all got it and we looked great.

The ladies try and figure out how to tie their obi's after Meliville sensei demonstrated it.

Robert Shelton and Peter Marheine figure out how to put on the obi.

My beautiful roommate Kendra Snelson models the final product.

All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone is something you'll be quite a lot!

A shrine that is less than a five minute walk from my school.

Really steep stairs.

This week was a bit of a struggle bus. I had an almost melt down mid-week because I was getting frustrated with my language class and a little homesick. In case you were wondering Japanese is kind of hard to learn. At least for me it is. However, the week did end on a high note with my professor telling me she was impressed with how much my Japanese has improved.

Friday was also fun because we got to do interviews with Japanese people from Hikone or near by towns. I was nervous going into it because I was afraid they wouldn't understand my questions or I wouldn't be able to comprehend their answers, but thankfully it went well. The first hour I practice my Japanese and the second hour they practice their English. It was difficult and there was quite a few times I had to turn to my partner to confirm or ask what it was they said, but I overall it was fun. I was surprise by how many people came out for it and the age range. There were some younger people but most of people were housewives with ages ranging from 40 to 70. My favorite was talking to man who is now retired. We talk about our love of travel and beer. He has been all over the world.

Saturday I spent the day by myself which was pretty much a first since I've been in Japan. I don't mean I just went to the shrine by myself but there was no else there. It was a really cool place and I enjoyed wandering through the hillside. There were a couple different pathways you could go explore. It was fun though my legs were tired by the end. Japan never seems to have a lack of stairs.

If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.

A beach near my school.

This week marks my being in Japan for over a month! I've gotten use to the way most things are done. While there are some things that annoy me, I find a lot of things make sense.

Showers: The bathrooms here are tiny, at least in the dorm. Thankfully I'm short. I'm pretty sure anyone over 5'8" has to crouch to get their hair wet. In order to get hot water in the shower or the sink you have to press an on bottom and select what temperature you want (It looks like a thermostat). This makes sense to me. Water only gets heated when you need it to be hot. Fun fact though, the controls that are by sink also control the one in the shower. So, for example, when your in the shower in the morning and your roommate is done using the hot water for the sink and she turns it off, the hot water goes off in the shower too. And it gets cold. Fast.

Waves breaking against the shore.

Shoes: Different shoes are needed for indoors and outdoors. When coming in from outside you have to take off your shoes and put on your indoor shoes. This is true for our dorm. When we walk in the building we have to take off our shoes and put on other one, and then we we get to our room we take off the indoor shoes as well. Japan is all about cleanliness. It is actually a good way to keep dirt out. Though it is mildly annoying when your hands are full of groceries and there are other people trying their shoes from the same place as yours.

Transportation: I love the trains here. Even though they get crowded as you move toward, they are clean, timely, and, aside from the bullet trains, relatively cheap.  It cost me less to go to Nagahama and back than it does for me to take the Metra into Chicago.  I also love riding my bike everywhere.  Does it suck when you want to buy out all of the grocery store and are limited to what you can fit in a basket and backpack? Yes, but I instead of making trips to the grocery store every two weeks like I would at home I now go once or twice a week. Not the end of the world.

People: I have yet to meet an unkind person. Sometimes you just get stared at for being the only foreigner in 50 miles. Some people want to just test their English and get a photo with gaijin. I love riding my bike down the road saying “Konichiwa!” to everyone I think will say it back, most say it first.  Everyone my friends and I ever have ever asked for help has given us some. They are also very forgiving when I have no idea what they’re trying to say to me.

Classes:  Studying abroad would be really great if it weren’t for the whole studying part. My culture and society class is great. It’s in English, we take field trips, and I enjoy the subject. My language class is hard. They weren’t kidding when they said intensive. I get frustrated because majority (and by majority I mean everyone except for one other guy and myself) has taken at least some Japanese and most times I just do my best to not look like a complete fool when my sensei calls on me. Though to give the program credit I sure do know a lot more Japanese than when I first started. I’m also extremely grateful to Melville sensei for being patient and working with me.

On the same note, even though I do get frustrated when I can’t understand people or read a sign, common sense has gotten me pretty far. A good sense of direction helps too.

It all began with a shoe on the wall. A shoe on the wall shouldn't be there at all.

The view of the garden from the tatami room at JCMU.

The teachers show us how a tea ceremony works.

Friday I got to see and participate in a tea ceremony. The ceremony involves one person making matcha (a powdered form of tea) and presenting it to others. The tea is also accompanied with some sort of sweet. The process is very structure. There is a place for every item and a certain way to use each item. First we got to watch how it was done. One woman would sit there while the other made and brought her tea.

After watching them perform the ceremony, we got to be the guests and were given sweets and tea to drink. The sweets get passed down the line. After you finish the sweets you are able to drink the tea (but until you finish the sweet). After picking up the cup, you have to hold it in your left hand and turn it clockwise two times so that the Shomen (the design on the cup) faces outward. When finished drinking you must always wipe the rim. During the entire ceremony you are suppose sit proper on your knees. I'll admit my legs cramped up; I couldn't sit like that the entire time. One student asked the women if their legs hurt to which she replied they always hurt. She also gave a warning to us as we got up to watch out.

When receiving your tea you must bow to the host serving you.

Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.

Members of the Shorinji Kempo group at one of the local universities display their fighting skills for JCMU students Friday morning. Kempo is a fighting style that focuses on 3 categories: goho (hard techniques: kicks and punches),  juho (soft techniques: drawing out and throwing) and seiho.

The sensei demonstrates a move.

Despite every starting out every Friday with a Japanese language test, they are pretty great days. After the test members from a local universities' Shorinji Kempo group came to JCMU to show and teach us some moves. While we only learned the some basics, like throwing a punch and breaking someones grip, it was fun to move around and learn them. It was also very impressive to see them demonstrate more moves. The sensei has been practicing since the end of World War II.

After showing off my amazing fighting skills I got to show off my skills in the kitchen. A Japanese student, Yuco, came and taught my roommate, another student, and I how to cook curry. Not only did she teach us how to cook it but she also taught us some origami. I made crane. Yuco upstaged us all by making a crane, a box, and a two different bunnies. The curry tasted amazing and we have some lovely table decorations.

My cooking skills were put to the test even further that night when me and another student made vegetable tempura. It took us a few tries to get the batter right but we got there. Three kitchens were used that night to make enough food for over 20 of us. A good time was had by all.

Brad and Yuco making little origami bunnies.

Yuco making an origami game.

The finished products.

Things may happen and often do to people as brainy and footsy as you

A teacher performs a song on a koto.

A koto with the music sheet and picks.

 After the test Friday morning, we (my fellow JCMU students and myself) had the option to go to a koto lesson. A koto is a 13 string instrument much like a guitar and played somewhat similarly. You use picks on your thumb, index and middle finger to pluck the strings. The teacher that played for us has been playing for over 12 years. After she played for us and taught us the basics we were able to try in out for ourselves.
It was also my first time being in a tatami room. The room if what most people imagine when they think of old school Japan: woven mats covering the floor, sliding doors with the off white thin paper covering the openings, and they look out over a traditional Japanese garden. 

Deanna learns to play a song on the koto

Deanna plays a song on the koto.

The koto teacher explains to Ashley how to follow the music score and play the koto.

Koto Lessons from Kaitlin Thoresen on Vimeo.

You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.

Hikone Castle

For class today we got to visit Hikone Castle. The castle is 400 years old, three stories tall, and surrounded by a double moat.  The castle was never intended to be lived in, (there is a house outside the castle proper for that) but it was meant as a place to defend should there ever be an attack. Though the castle was never attacked I could see how it could be easily defended.

The best part about the visit was the samurai drama being filmed there: Onna Nobunaga.
 Actors decked out in samurai gear were all over the place and even posed for some pictures.

Kelsey is clearly excited that one of the actors let her hold his sword.

Even samurai need water breaks.

 After our eventful trip to Hikone-jo we came back to JCMU to learn some fire safety. The fire department came and showed us how to use fire extinguishers (which we got to try out) and go over what to do in the event of a fire.

If you let me be, I will try them. You will see.

Hiroko-san teaches us how to cook eggs in a really thin later. The eggs were later cut up into strips and put on top of our rice dish. Hiroko-san along with 13 other housewives game to JCMU to show students out how to cook.

Hiroko-san helps Taigo finish preparing the rice.

The finished product.

Some type of fish that we cut up and arranged this way.

Today I learned how to cook a traditional Japanese meal. I helped prepare tofu, a rice dish, and a soup. Hiroko-san came to JCMU along with other housewives from nearby towns to teach students how to cook. She was very kind and extremely patient with me and my roommate when we struggled with out Japanese (aka my roommate understood most of it and I just nodded along). The food was amazing and we all had fun cooking it.

In other news, I actually understood most of my Japanese language class. Who would have thought studying payed off? This evening we had a little welcome party and Japanese students from nearby universities came. It was fun getting to know people.

Oh the places you will go...

Houses and boats along side a river that flows from Lake Biwa. It was named this because it is in the shape of an upside down biwa. It is also one of the worlds oldest lakes going back almost 4 million years.

After being awake and traveling for more than 24 hours I finally arrived at JCMU Monday night. The traveling was pretty uneventful just a lot of waiting. The fun part was when I had to go through customs. Out of the group of six of us I was the only three of us had to get our bags search but I was the lucky one that had to get pulled away from everyone into a room and have the entirety of my bag pulled out and searched through. It was slightly traumatizing seeing as I don't know any Japanese, but I made it.  

I am staying in a rural town called Hikone (He-cone-ay) located in the Shiga prefecture. I'm right in the middle of the main island Honshu on the largest lake in Japan, Lake Biwa. The whole area is surrounded by mountains. It's very beautiful, but also extremely humid. I don't think I've gone a day without sweating profusely.

After two days of orientation, I have started classes. I'm taking an intensive language course which meets for three hours, five days a week and a culture and society course. The language class was slightly overwhelming but I'm hoping it will get better as I become more accustomed to the language.

My backyard.

My favorite part so far has been riding around Hikone. Everyone gets a bike at JCMU and it's how we get around. The town is an interesting mesh of old and new. It has a a large shopping area with big billboards, but it is also home to one of only four castles in Japan.

It has not been impossible to get by without knowing Japanese. Most of the important places I've had to visit (airport/city hall) has always had someone who could speak English and at restaurants I just point on the menu to the food I want.  I have no idea what I'm getting but so far its all been good. I am extremely grateful for the friends I've made though. Most of them are proficient enough to help me out when I am completely lost.

Deanna takes a photo of Kristen during out exploration of Hikone. We look like giant tourists, the helmets and picture taking don't help.