What An Idiot

Haha. 

I didn't do anything that I said I would do about blogging about Japan. Which was the point of this blog in the first place. I guess the #1 issue for me in Japan was that I actually didn't have enough time to actually sit down and write. People might say that I am over exaggerating but I'm not. 

If you didn't know I went to Japan in order to study Japanese, which meant that I had classes that was accompanied by homework and quizzes. And another reason was that I was having too much fun and coming home late every night. 

Bad Sydney.

But I am back from Japan and I guess I could give an overall synopsis of the trip with a few pictures in a series of blog posts. 

So, I will start the day I arrived, which was in the beginning of July. 

Osaka

After arriving to Osaka after a lay-over in Tokyo, I couldn't think. What I mean is that I was over excited about everything and everything and this was definitely reflected in my first few pictures. The above picture was my view from the car window as I was traveling to Kyoto. I just thought that it was beautiful and totally different from where I lived, which wasn't near the coast.  

Beep-Beep

The other thing that excited me were these itty-bitty baby cars. And it wasn't just this one, every car in Japan, basically, seemed tiny to the cars compared to the ones in America. Also, of course in Japan they drive on the opposite side than they do in America so I obviously being the person that I am freaked out every time we turned onto a highway and I though we were on the wrong side of the road. I honestly thought that I was going to die a couple of times before I realized where I was.

 Fast forward! IN KYOTO!
This is the view from my apartment, isn't it beautiful! I mean seriously, I am in love with views like this. I hate the city view so this is perfect for me. Its home-y but fuckin huge. You really can't see it because there are clouds but, Kyoto is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges that reminded me of my home-town. Being here, not in a city, I think helped me with my culture-shock. Since I was somewhere that was similar to my home town.

Amazing

 This is the neighborhood that I was in; I guess you could consider it an outside mall of sorts. There were little shops that sold home-made things, grocery stores, etc. It was really... it was what I had in my mind of how Japan was, if that makes sense? I don't/didn't see Japan only as this super modern society but what I liked, and wished to experience, was the more rural Japan. Which I did!

Vending Machine of Amazing-ness

Ramen Shop outside of my apartment

Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki and Taiyaki Store down the Street

おひさしぶりだね！

Long time no see...
I know. Its been about three weeks since I have been in Japan. And it is just as amazing as I thought it would be. The reason that I haven't been updating is because I was very tired the first two weeks and this last week I have been really busy with school. And since its 1:30AM over here I am probably going to sleep soon. But tomorrow I will update you about my feelings and what I have been doing over here the past three weeks!

Kimonos

But here is a picture of everyone dressing up in kimono's. 

They were tight!

Haha~

Roommates

Moved in today. I am staying in Kyoto, but is a little far from Ritsumeikan University; about 50 minutes if you walk by foot. Which I might do once I figure out where it is exactly. I met my two roommates; they are both Taiwanese, which is a disadvantage to me. I mean I came here to meet friends but, they seem already close. So, it will be hard for me to break that wall. It will be hard for me, so hopefully I will be able to. But I will try my hardest. But I wrote down a list of things that I was surprised about when I was leaving from the US and to Japan.

Compact cities

Water everywhere

Tiny Cars

Driving on the opposite side

Cars that looked like boxes

Little leg room

Bridges

Jack Sparrow

Nice people

Happiness

Shock

A lot more English and Kanji than I thought

Hard slap in the face about my Japanese level

Face masks

Good food is good

Mountains

Colorful signs

Fun toilets

Clean

Staring

Tokyo

Finally made it to Tokyo.

I'm physically drained...

And I need a shower...

Haha...

But foreal.

Plane...

I'm getting ready to get on my first plane to Japan!
In about 30 minutes.
I'm somewhat scared. Haha.

Weight Loss

Besides studying Japanese.
Learning about the Japanese culture.

I want to see if I lose any weight while I am in Japan.

Thank you Ron

My thought is that I will be walking a lot more, eating less, eating healthier things, etc. I mean I'm not going to  try to lose weight exactly but I still want to see if I do. Is it stupid?

I don't care what you think.

But I mean that I am not going to put it on here.
But its an idea. I think that it is a good one.

BUT!!

If I gain weight...
Ugh...

Surreal

Being able to travel to Japan has been my dream for years. And I can't express how thankful and blessed I am to be able to get to go.

Its honestly amazing.

That's all I really have to say.