Japan 5

So, this one is shocking at the updates. It's impossible trying to write about things that happened weeks ago.

Life is Japan is simply awesome (I use this word way too much, if you have any good, easy descriptive words, please tell me). Life in Kyoto continues to live up to expectations and I'm making the most of my last few weeks here (note no updates, been having way too much fun). A couple of weeks ago, the 10 week course students left, and I have to say that it was a bucket of cold water for what it's going to be like. But right now, am just enjoying every minute of Kyoto with my friends here.

I have 3 weeks left here in Kyoto before I'm up and off up to Ishinomaki city just north of Sendai! The volunteer work that I'm going to be doing is quite literally anything that they need me to do! But I'm quite sure it's going to be lots of visiting and talking to people, ie mostly people orientated rather than physical work orientated. Personally I would prefer to get stuck into hard physical work, but this is going to be a very good time of showing people that someone cares. It's going to be interesting to see how my thoughts, ambitions, and attitude changes over this time. At the end of it all, people are the reason for helping.

Language wise, it's getting easier. Putting less pressure on myself, just enjoying learning. Am loving learning the kanji (Chinese writing in written Japanese), and through this, it'll get easier to read and write. It's like being allowed to draw pictures instead of writing, which is fully whiz bang! Also learning a bit of swedish from friends here too, though some helpful, some you wouldn't repeat to your mother. Goes without saying that the latter are always the ones you remember.

The iPad is hanging in there, though is slowly disintegrating. Doesn't help that a piece of glass on the ipaddy came loose, and on removing it, I didn't notice that there was wire glued to it. So no more wifi capability. Roaming Internet is about $150 for 1 gig, nasty! But serves me right lol.

The last month here it still up in the air. But it'll likely be, money depending, 1 week in hokkaido on a farm (top island of Japan) , one week in tokyo, one week traveling a bit, then one week in Kyoto for last goodbyes. Some of us are talking about going to Hiroshima for the weekend mid sept, which I've been told by many is a must, so I think I'll go regardless if no one else does (probably good to do it alone as I've been fore warned to take a box of tissues).

This coming weekend is the Gion Festival, one of the big festivals here in Kyoto, which I'm looking forward to very much. Myself and a lot of the others have bought traditional Japanese clothing to wear. So I'll make sure there are good photos for you all. (am right now learning to walk in Geta, which are the wood japanese jandles. Think Samurai Champloo for those who have seen it). I have gone for a more causal style (wish I still had my shaggy hair, it would do the look perfect), but some of the people are going more formal and are going to look seriously flash hot.

Talk Soon Yoll!!



Asher

Location:Kyoto