tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26501971776357585282024-03-17T00:36:35.523-07:00Katie and Ben In JapanKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.comBlogger262125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-43097161453666967112016-06-23T21:24:00.001-07:002016-06-23T21:24:08.992-07:00Hey! Be sure to check out the new blog!Ben and I have been traveling quite a bit in the last few years and I am happy to share our adventures with you!<br />
Check out our adventures in<br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/san-luis-obispo/">San Luis Obispo</a>, California<br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/san-luis-obispo/">http://wabisabikatie.com/san-luis-obispo/</a><br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/spain/">Spain</a><br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/spain/">http://wabisabikatie.com/spain/</a><br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/seattle/">Seattle</a><br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/seattle/">http://wabisabikatie.com/seattle/</a><br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/colorado/">Colorado</a><br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/colorado/">http://wabisabikatie.com/colorado/</a><br />
<br />
If you are looking for more information about <a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/japan/">Japan</a> - Head right over to the <a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/japan/">Japan section</a>!<br />
All my old posts are getting major facelifts, and I will be adding new posts when we return to Japan.<br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/japan/">http://wabisabikatie.com/japan/</a>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-65033515772758972152013-04-21T21:34:00.001-07:002016-06-21T17:03:01.525-07:00SayonaraThis post has been updated on <a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/">WabiSabiKatie.com</a><br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/sayonara/">http://wabisabikatie.com/sayonara/</a><br />
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I came to Japan with a big heart, and fell deeply in love
with the country. I saw beautiful landscapes, ate beautiful food, soothed
myself in beautiful waters, and met beautiful people. I had no idea how
beautiful a foreign land could be, and was not prepared for how smitten I would
be. My heart grew away from home with each new experience. It’s a good thing, because
when I left I had to leave some of my heart behind, and there it will stay, waiting
for me to return to the land of the rising sun. </div>
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Sayonara Japan, until I see you again. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r646W8pWwaQ/UWo1jc8HP0I/AAAAAAAAE4Q/L2oD9_RMCrI/s1600/DSC_0195.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r646W8pWwaQ/UWo1jc8HP0I/AAAAAAAAE4Q/L2oD9_RMCrI/s320/DSC_0195.JPG" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last photo I took in Japan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-55406534446265441572013-04-19T21:18:00.001-07:002016-06-08T11:19:19.485-07:00Kiyomizu-dera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LDuUkG7O1mc/UWo4RFtfUeI/AAAAAAAAE4g/SpVpTGZcMus/s1600/DSC_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LDuUkG7O1mc/UWo4RFtfUeI/AAAAAAAAE4g/SpVpTGZcMus/s1600/DSC_0140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This post has been updated on <a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/">WabiSabiKatie.com</a><br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/kiyomizu-dera/">http://wabisabikatie.com/kiyomizu-dera/</a><br />
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Our hotel in Kyoto was a twenty minute walk from Kiyomizu-dera, and we couldn't resist a return in the beautiful spring air.Kiyomizu-dera boasts one of the most spectacular views of Kyoto. If all
the world is a stage, this is the artists rendering of that thought.<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-45879730189326691742013-04-15T20:17:00.000-07:002016-06-08T11:19:55.187-07:00Nara<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This post has been updated on <a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/">WabiSabiKatie.com</a><br />
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Nara is a remarkable place. The buildings there are some of the oldest in Japan. It was the capital of Japan from 710 to 785, which made is a political, and social center of Japan. <br />
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The most remarkable part of Nara for me, was the Nara deer park. The deer there have been living peacefully with humans for hundreds of years, and until the 1600 hundreds, killing one of the deer was a crime punishable by death. The deer are still protected as national treasures, though the punishiment is a little less severe. <br />
The deer have learned to live in harmony with humans, and freely roam the park interacting and accepting treats from humans. <br />
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There are several world heritage sites in Nara, Todai-ji, a temple, is the largest of them. The temple is remarkable, the ancient architecture and chipped pain take you back in time. <br />
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The temple is massive, the biggest I have ever been to. Inside of it is the biggest Buddha I have seen in Japan. It is 14 meters tall and weighs 500 tonnes. <br />
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Also in Nara Park is Kagasu-Taisha, also known as the Shrine of 1000 lanterns. Over a thousand stone lanterns lead the way to the shrine, and hundreds of lanterns hang within the shrine. <br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-67636959740121932202013-04-13T19:07:00.002-07:002016-06-08T11:20:46.581-07:00Fushimi Inari TaishaThis Post has been updated on <a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/">WabiSabiKatie.com</a><br />
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Fushimi Inari Taisha is the most spiritual place I have been to. It's beauty makes me want to be a better person. It's perfect balance with it's natural surroundings makes me want to be a better environmentalist. The fact that it is the culmination of hundreds of thousands of peoples devotion over the course of over a thousand years makes me want to give more to the world I am lucky enough to occupy.<br />
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There is an intangible force at work there that moves me, guides me, and speaks to me. I like to think that it is the voice of the millions of other people who have been here before me, echoing through time.<br />
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Here are three video's I shot of the shrine.<br />
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<a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/117516250920601417198/albums/5865811973686279617" target="_blank">And here is an album of the photo's I took.</a><br />
<span id="goog_1482936683"></span><span id="goog_1482936684"></span><br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-4616975582663038702013-04-09T06:20:00.004-07:002016-06-08T11:12:16.032-07:00Heian Jingu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</xml><![endif]-->Ben and I were so glad that the cherry blossom season wasn’t
over before we got to Kyoto.
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Heian Jingu is well known for its weeping cherry blossom
garden. We got to the garden around 4:30, which was a romantic twilight hour in
the garden (but not very good for photography). </div>
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The garden was full of sakura trees, the grounds were
littered with petals. </div>
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The weather in Kansai is perfect right night, warm days,
cool enough to wear a sweater, but not so cold you need one. The nights are
cool, and feel great when you cozy into a warm bed. </div>
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Jingu means shrine, but is reserved for places that enshrine
the souls of emperors. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Heian
Jingu, though beautiful, is easily overlooked next to its beautiful gardens,
especially during sakura season. </span>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-75228879592676339472013-04-08T08:15:00.000-07:002016-06-12T14:08:13.369-07:00Wakayama<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qQlsK5U-B1o/UWLWpWGLenI/AAAAAAAAEgA/0e-sqQpuiTU/s1600/IMG_1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qQlsK5U-B1o/UWLWpWGLenI/AAAAAAAAEgA/0e-sqQpuiTU/s1600/IMG_1098.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
This post has been updated on <a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/">WabiSabiKatie.com</a>:<br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/wakayama/">http://wabisabikatie.com/wakayama/</a><br />
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Ben and I are back in Japan for a few days before we return to America. It's just now setting in that I have to leave this beautiful country, and may not see it for way too long. It's not going to be easy to leave, and I'm glad we get a last hurrah of tourism before we go.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dv3kFxJurrM/UWLWqJTN_aI/AAAAAAAAEgI/wSnk2Ayv50E/s1600/IMG_1099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dv3kFxJurrM/UWLWqJTN_aI/AAAAAAAAEgI/wSnk2Ayv50E/s1600/IMG_1099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We're staying in a nice hotel in Wakayama, It has it's own onsen (hot
spring), which we are free to enjoy as much as we want. They also have
massages available, which is very tempting, and incredibly comfy beds. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yIo-uv1Y_rg/UWLWqBdXz_I/AAAAAAAAEgM/iYUeDr4jKtI/s1600/IMG_1103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yIo-uv1Y_rg/UWLWqBdXz_I/AAAAAAAAEgM/iYUeDr4jKtI/s1600/IMG_1103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Today
we spent the day at Wakayama Castle. The sakura are still in bloom,
and hundreds of people were eating and drinking in the park enjoying the
last days of the beautiful flowers.<br />
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I always enjoy the grounds of Japanese castles way more than I enjoy the actual castles. There is usually a beautiful garden, lake, or canal nearby with beautiful views of the castles.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3BqSkdv6ek0/UWLWty-eO0I/AAAAAAAAEgw/JfmCSAKctkg/s1600/IMG_1117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3BqSkdv6ek0/UWLWty-eO0I/AAAAAAAAEgw/JfmCSAKctkg/s1600/IMG_1117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Ben loves the castles, because he likes to tell me about how ninjas, and other warriors battled, techniques used to protect the castles, and how he would attack it. He's definitly not the only one, with these fanciful thoughts, as we came across a group of ninjas bouncing around the castle.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nr8IR8kWwOU/UWLWu66ecrI/AAAAAAAAEg4/gCUuHF_rjFw/s1600/IMG_1121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nr8IR8kWwOU/UWLWu66ecrI/AAAAAAAAEg4/gCUuHF_rjFw/s1600/IMG_1121.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
The best part of the castle for me was listening to Ben babble about everything he had ever read and watched about Japanese antient warfare. We also laughed that all the guns inside castle were called "firelocks" in English, but had very specific names in Japanese.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lnx_zl6cNP8/UWLWu03FNyI/AAAAAAAAEg8/Ue6fObYb0Ic/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lnx_zl6cNP8/UWLWu03FNyI/AAAAAAAAEg8/Ue6fObYb0Ic/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
The view from the castle was windy but spectacular, It was easy to imagine the power a Daimyo felt looking down on his domain.<br />
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Here's a video of the festivities at Wakayama yesterday.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OC4bMAQqPBQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lnx_zl6cNP8/UWLWu03FNyI/AAAAAAAAEg8/Ue6fObYb0Ic/s1600/IMG_1125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-17023997381325959752013-04-02T07:24:00.002-07:002013-04-02T07:24:41.183-07:00In ThailandCheck out our adventures in Thailand!<br />
<a href="http://katieandbenintheworld.blogspot.com/">http://katieandbenintheworld.blogspot.com</a>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-61345817166220747342013-03-31T17:24:00.000-07:002016-06-21T17:10:34.907-07:00Sakura<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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This post has been updated on <a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/">WabiSabiKatie.com</a><br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/chidorigafuchi_sakura/">http://wabisabikatie.com/chidorigafuchi_sakura/</a><br />
Ben and I got one evening of our busy week to go enjoy the
sakura (cherry blossoms) in Tokyo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We went to a spot recommended to us by our friend. I am so
glad she told us to go there because the garden was the most beautiful place
for flower viewing. We had tried to go to this garden with Ben’s parents when
they were here, but we failed, luckily this time we were armed with better
directions and we easily found this remarkable garden.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Without further ado, I present you the pictures of our day
at Chidorigafuchi.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xLL8CePvplg/UVfwfszSN_I/AAAAAAAAEbI/HzN3IH55kLM/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xLL8CePvplg/UVfwfszSN_I/AAAAAAAAEbI/HzN3IH55kLM/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only one unhappy about all the flowers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-47253117014235770292013-03-31T00:56:00.001-07:002013-03-31T00:56:43.468-07:00We Made It<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We made it through our tough week.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are bitterly exhausted, ready to collapse at any moment,
but we are in the home of gracious hosts, so we are pushing ourselves till
evening. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We got everything done, thanks to our friends in Japan. We
would have been fine on our own in all regards other than trash. We did not
plan for Japan’s intense system of separation, and missed our chance on several
items to send them out with the trash. We could have been smarter about it, and
in the end we would have been in big trouble if it hadn’t been for the kindness
of our friends in town. We missed the day to throw out electronics, and missed
the day to throw out the glass. </div>
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The bottom line is everything that needed to get done was
finished because of our amazing friends, and now we get to go spend four days
on the warm beaches of Phuket, Thailand.</div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-45289666851587840382013-03-28T09:55:00.003-07:002013-03-28T09:55:42.470-07:00Fashion Week Disapointment<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kPZjQ3q0IBs/UVRxeuodAsI/AAAAAAAAEZY/2iskU_iR364/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kPZjQ3q0IBs/UVRxeuodAsI/AAAAAAAAEZY/2iskU_iR364/s1600/DSC_0012.JPG" height="400" width="267" /></a>Last Wednesday, I went to the Tokyo fashion week hoping for a day to get wrapped up in an exciting world of people made of money, absurd clothing, that people classier than I would call fashionable, and the real live faces of the sallow skin beauties I see in fashion magazines. I was so excited, and my loving and supportive husband, dressed his very best, and listened to me babble on for hours about what I hoped to see, what I expected to see, and then, in the aftermath of it, what we did see.<br />
<br />
I had done hours of research. I looked up which artists I wanted to check out. I mapped out the best way to get from one venue to the next so that I could see the ones that looked most interesting. I had muddled my way through impossibly confusing websites all in Japanese, with weird graphics that flew accross the page, to distract me from the fact that there weren't actually any clothes photographed on their site. It was all going to be worth it because I was going to get caught up in the frenzy for a couple of hours.<br />
<br />
We saw nothing. I would have been OK with not seeing any of the shows, exhibitions, or whatever they do at fashion week, if there had been anyone at any of the shows for me to at least people watch. I had hoped to see a few eclectically dressed people, just so that I had something to share, or worse whisper about with Ben like the mean girls I see on TV do. The venues were completely empty, Ben and I waited for two shows to start, and saw almost no-one enter. We weren't allowed to enter because we didn't have a badge, which I didn't know I needed (but that's probably my fault). All we saw at fashion week were several very bored attendants, and even more bored looking attendees. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKOMJAe9Nmk/UVRypdK7nuI/AAAAAAAAEZg/tMHs4kdz1R8/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKOMJAe9Nmk/UVRypdK7nuI/AAAAAAAAEZg/tMHs4kdz1R8/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
So we ditched the whole scene, with me mumbling<i> </i>how "the fashion world is destroying itself by making it impossibly inaccessible to even those people who are interested.. stupid poop heads...I just wanted to see pretty people..." We walked from Shibuya to Yoyogi park.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Tokyo is at about the peak of hanami (flower viewing) the sakura are bursting from every corner, and the parks are full of sake drinking picnickers. Yoyogi last weekend was exciting and alive, there were dancers, bands, drum circles, and drunk guys hanging out of trees like monkeys. I'm glad fashion week sucked, because I had a charming day in the park with my gorgeous husband, and I was introduced to the awesome combination of hip hop dance and hop scotch... <i>Hip Hop Scotch?</i><br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-17723855542520908612013-03-24T23:27:00.003-07:002013-03-24T23:27:46.517-07:00旅館<div class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 12pt 0mm 6pt;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'MS 明朝','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;">おもてなしは日本人が昔から完璧に出来た。</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'MS 明朝','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;">もし日本に訪れったら、旅館に泊まることをおすすめする。旅館っては和風のホテルだ。そこで日本の文化を経験しているながら休めるし、ラックスが出来る。いつも和風の建築がある、つまりに畳や襖や玄関がある。これですごい伝統的な経験が出来ると江戸時代な感じがある。</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'MS 明朝','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;">旅館が素晴らしい経験が出来るが、調えない人が煙になくか失望落胆になるかもしれない。</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'MS 明朝','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;">下に私のヒントである。</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'MS 明朝','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;">部屋を予約している時に、値段は何人にとして、どの部屋にとしてじゃない。これを覚えて下さい。</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'MS 明朝','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;">いつも食品を予約して、レストランよりちょっと高いが、素晴らしい経験だ。日本人はよく食品はどのぐらい美味しいから旅館がどのぐらい良いが決まる。人々がその食品を食べるために部屋を予約して、家に寝る見たことがある。日本にいる時に最も夕食の一つは旅館で貰った。その食品は和風だ、つまりにたくさんの小鉢がある、ご飯とか魚とか味噌汁だ。</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'MS 明朝','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;">日本人は時間を守る、5時半にチェック・インで、夕食はよく6時半ごろにある。もし小さい旅館で泊まったら、夕食の時を教えてくれるが、大きい旅館は時々何時を選べる(6時ごろから8時ごろまで)。朝食は早いよ、旅館は寝坊する所じゃない、朝食はよく7時半ごろに食べる(私の年齢にとして早い過ぎ)、でも食べ物は美味しいほど早く起きるに取り所であるよ。</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'MS 明朝','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;">床の上に布団の上に寝るかもしれない。今は良いベッドと思うが、7月間に布団の上に寝ていた。布団に慣れる事は1月間とったが、まだ洋風のベッドが欲しい。もしエキストラの布団があったら、積む事がおすすめする。</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'MS 明朝','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;">部屋が私立けど多分そこだけが私立。トイレとかお風呂とかダイニングがシェアーする。もう他の人々の前に服物を脱ぐ事に慣れたが、もしこれが出来ないんだら、私が分かれる。日本人は全然目を凝らさないかコメントをしないが、旅館で水着はお風呂に全然ダメだ。きれいな小さいタオルを前に持って行ってもいいんである。それでお風呂に入る時に頭の上に置きて。もしタトゥ―があったら、旅館のルールをチェックして、たくさんの旅館がタトゥーがダメで、公立のお風呂に入れない。後の月日に「日本の温泉を使い方」のポストを書くつもりが、まなら、一番覚えることは風呂のきれいな水を守って。</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'MS 明朝','serif'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-hansi-font-family: Georgia;">旅館は日本の文化を本当に経験出来る所だ。洋風のホテルと全然違う。洋風のホテルの事からリセットのため1分取って。コミュニティの感じはいい事で、面白みの一部。食品は特産だ。誰でもが日本に行くぜひ旅館に泊まって下さい。</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />This is a translation of my most popular post in Japan (Ryokan) done by Ben<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Hostessing is an art, and it is an art that the Japanese have refined over many generations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><br />If you are visiting Japan I highly recommend staying at a Ryokan. A Ryokan is a Japanese style inn. Ryokan are a way to rest and relax while experiencing Japanese culture. Ryokan always have Japanese architecture, which means Tatami(straw mat) flooring, Fusuma (paper sliding doors), and a Genkan (entryway ledge) where you will leave your shoes. This will give you a traditional experience, and an asthetic that dates back to the edo period.<br /><br />Ryokan can be a remarkable experience, but westerners who are unprepared for their experience may become confused, or disappointed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><br />Here are my tips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><br />When reserving your room, please keep in mind that the price is per person not per room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><br />Take the meal options when reserving the meals, they are more expensive then the average Japanese restaurant, but they are also a much more amazing experience. Japanese people often judge the quality of the Ryokan based on the quality of the meals they provide, I have seen some people pay for the rooms, so that they could have the breakfast and dinner, but go home for the night. One of the most beautiful and delicious meals I have had in Japan was at a Ryokan. The meal will consist of many small dishes, including rice, some sort of fish, and a soup (both at breakfast and lunch).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><br />Japanese are punctual, check into your ryokan by 5:30, meals are usually at around 6:30. If you are at a small ryokan they will most likely tell you when you will take your meal, sometimes at larger one you can pick a time within a certain time frame (usually 6ish to 8ish). Breakfast will be early, ryokan are not a place to sleep in, most ryokan seem to serve breakfast at 7:30 (inhumanly early for a person of my age), but the food will be good enough to merit this sacrifice, so wake up and enjoy the labors of someone who woke up early enough to make your lovely meal.<br /><br />You will most likely sleep on a futon on the floor. I now think that they are quite comfortable, but I have been sleeping on a futon on the floor for seven months. It took me about a month to get used to them, and I still miss western beds. I recommend stacking up futons if you have extra futons in your room to get double the cushion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 11pt;"><br />You will have a private room, but that may be the only private zone for you. You will most likely have a shared toilet, shared dinning, and there is usually a communal bath. I no longer mind getting naked infront of strangers for public bathing, but I do understand if this is an impasse for some people. Japanese people wont gawk or comment, but in any quality Ryokan bathing suits will be forbidden in any community bathing area. You may however carry a <u>clean</u> hand towel which you can hang infront of your front half while walking around, and then wrap around your hair when you are in the bathing water. If you have a tattoo, check with the ryokan's policy before you go, many ryokan do not allow any tattoos, and you will not be able to go to the public bathing areas. I will do a post about how to use Japanese onsen/public bathing at a later date, the number one thing to remember is to keep the communal bath waters clean.<br /><br />Ryokan are a great place to experience Japanese culture. They are vastly different from western hotels. Take a moment to reset your mind if you enjoy the western hotel experience. The community feel is a feature, and part of the charm. The meals are a treat. A ryokan should be on the checklist of anyone making a trip to Japan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-70453477094838843662013-03-24T08:06:00.003-07:002013-03-24T08:06:33.266-07:00Down TimeBen and I have had so little down time lately the days are starting to blur into each other.<br />
We've had several goodbye parties, for ourselves, other coworkers moving onto different jobs, and goodbyes to students, who were the cutest in their inability to convey their strong thoughts and feelings clearly, but still did their best to show me with gestures.<br />
Tomorrow is our last day of work, my last round of goodbyes.<br />
Tuesday we will be trying to pawn off the contents of our house.<br />
Wednessday we will be giving back all the wonderful things that people have lent us, then we will take everything else to a recycle shop and hope they take it all.<br />
Thursday we are going to go look at cherry trees, and then clean like madmen, and say goodbye to everyone at English club.<br />
Friday we return our car, and pack.<br />
Saturday we panic... and wonder how we still have too much to do.<br />
Sunday we have our house inspection, and then leave for our next adventure with 4 suitcases two backpacks, and our (p/m)urses.<br />
There will be tears, and there will be stupid music, but hopefully everything will go as planned, and Ben and I will be sitting on beaches this time pleased with ourselves.<br />
Gambate ne? (Fight hard huh?)Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-91745302540649201892013-03-21T07:04:00.001-07:002013-03-21T07:04:33.446-07:00I'm Really Dreading Eating OutI will be home in less than a month, and I am panicking about some things. One of which is American restaurants. <br />
I go to restaurants, not because they will have better food (I'm actually a really good cook, due to a lifetime of being spoiled by my dad's cooking). I go to restaurants because, I don't have to do any work, which means I can just enjoy the evening. Unfortunatly American restaurants have destroyed the second part of that. When I go to a restaurant with Ben, I want to enjoy my dinner with Ben, make googly eyes at him, share tasty food, but when some gopher of a waiter keeps popping up saying "Is everything alright?" "Can I get you anything?" "Can I interest you in any of our..."... It detracts from my ability to enjoy my meal. In Japan (in fact most of the world) when you want something from the server, you call them over, it's not rude to wave them down.<br />
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I don't want to have to plan before eating at a restaurant. I've lost 60 lbs. and it was really hard work. I'm still working hard, but it is a slow, tedious, and unrewarding process. If I go out to Pei Wei , I have to look up how many calories the different dishes are so that I can order something that won't set me back a week of dieting (over half of their dishes are over 1000 calories), or I have to store half of it before I start eating, which will leave me hungry, and I know I'll never eat it because it wont reheat well, so I've wasted a ton of food. Restaurant food in America is so immensly unhealthy that you either have to accept weight gain, or sacrifice eating out, which is lame. In Japan, at restaurants, you can get unhealthy food, but it is usually on small dish of several all of which balance to leave you feeling healthy. Restaurants with notoriously unhealthy foods, declare the calories on the menu so that you can plan accordingly.<br />
Tipping is stupid. In Japan waiters are paid reasonable wages, and fired if they are not polite and compitant, this seems perfectly reasonable to me. It feels like a constant guilt trip that you have to value to service you received at the end of the meal, compare it to the other people at your table, and then consider that your waiter does this for a living, and if you don't tip they get paid next to nothing. <br />
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When I am at a Japanese restaurant the only time I have to wait is for my food to be prepared. Their is no tipping, so nobody is out for themselves, when an order is up somebody takes it to the table, sometimes this means Ben gets his food before me, but it's always hot, and I don't mind him starting without me. Food always comes out when it's ready, which means it is hot. Their are often buttons on the table for you to press to get the server to come to your table, or you flag them down when you're ready to order, you never have to pressure yourself to decided on the spot for fear that if you don't you'll have to wait forever for the server to come back. Water can be an issue, but it is perfecly reasonable to just ask for a water pitcher, and then serve yourself. At the end of the meal, if you didn't pay at a vending machine on the way in, you just get up and pay at the register. It is so annoying to finish your meal, wait for the check, wait for the server to run your card and return it, and then sit there calculating the tip, and leaving it on the table. Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-1580489160251260032013-03-19T04:46:00.000-07:002013-03-19T04:46:46.696-07:00Fuji-Q HighlandYesterday for John Mark's last day with us, we went to Fuji-Q Highland, a theme park at the base of Mt. Fuji. It has four world record holding roller coasters. We only went on two of the rides because it was very cold, and you paid per ride. John Mark and Ben enjoyed the Eejanaika, and I joined them on the Fujiyama.<br />
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<b>Takashiba</b>- Holds the world record for steepest roller coaster made from steel. The drop is 121 degrees. This one is frequently rated at one of the scariest in the world.<br />
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<b>Dodonpa</b>- Held the world record for fastest rollercoaster, holds the record for fastest acceleration. This one frankly did not look very fun, it shoots you out at speeds so fast that no one screams, and then you go over one very steep bump, it is rated in the top 5 scariest rollercoasters in the world, and advertises that it is imposible to breath for most of the ride.<br />
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<b>Eejanaika</b>- Holds the world record for most inverstion, and 14 flips during the ride. It is a 4th dimension rollarcoaster, which means the seats can rotate independantly of track. This one is rated in the top ten scariest rollercoasters, and one most nauseating (which is half of why I skipped it).<br />
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<b>Fujiyama</b>-Held the record for tallest complete circuit roller coaster, held the record for tallest roller coaster, held the record for tallest roller coaster drop, and held the record for world fastest roller coaster. It is consistently rated amongst the best roller coasters in the world, and I have to say, it is the most fun roller coaster I have ever been on. There are no inversions, but it really flies. I held onto my bar for dear life every time I floated out of my seat. It was incredible seeing beautiful Mt. Fuji as I flew through the skies. <br />
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If you love roller coasters, Fuji-Q Highlands should be on your bucket list. The rides are fun, the location is increadible, and you can brag about going on record breaking rides. I would not recomend coming in March or April because they frequently have to close the park early due to high winds, but they are open all year. I would say the best times to come are May, September, October, or early Novevember.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-16652378547407508042013-03-16T08:11:00.000-07:002016-06-22T21:35:49.351-07:00Walking Tokyo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This post has been updated on <a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/">WabiSabiKatie.com</a></div>
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Our Friend John Mark is still here with us in Tokyo. It's great to have him here with us. He's been adventuring during the day, and then having amazing meals with us at night.<br />
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He's been walking a lot, more than I think I could, but he doesn't show any wear. Yesterday he walked from Shinjuku to Shibuya (4 km) and saw some amazing places.<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.co.jp/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=shinjuku&daddr=shibuya&hl=en&geocode=FRClIAId_bRTCClL_bdZII0YYDHS7zLij8Zh7A%3BFaMwIAIdJKBTCCnRCDHrsowYYDF3Zls5stkc8Q&sll=35.675833,139.70319&sspn=0.031445,0.05888&dirflg=w&brcurrent=3,0x60188ccbdae96a6b:0xcddcf2def16786fa,0&mra=ltm&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=35.675845,139.703178&spn=0.048806,0.072956&z=13&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
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Today ate lunch in Shinjuku, and then went to Ueno Park. It was a perfect day, sunny and beautiful. The sakura are just starting to blossom, and the trees in Ueno Park were stunning.<br />
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We walked from Ueno park to Akihabara. We were planning on walking all the way to Tokyo Station but let ourselves get distracted by the many sights along the way. We checked out a few shops, and an arcade.<br />
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Tokyo has to be one of the most enjoyable cities to just walk. The scenery constantly changes, the people are friendly, there aren't many hills, and the city is amazingly safe. <br />
<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-10854632767608943382013-03-14T17:02:00.000-07:002013-03-14T17:02:24.869-07:00Sayounara<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0mm 0mm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Century;">Yesterday was my last day teaching at Shimada ES. The school only has 60 students, and I got to know each and every one of them. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Century;">The kids at that school aren’t as academically driven as my other schools, but they are my most creative bunch. They were as a whole terrible at memorization, but they were the most gung-ho about trying to use what they knew, and in the end their English was pretty good. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Century;">I had a few parties with the students where we played lots of games. I played volleyball with them at their recesses. It was a really fun day. I was doing fine emotionally until I to the end of my work day, the students had all been sent home at 2:30 (normal time) and I had cleaned my desk and given each teacher a thank you letter. Each of the teachers said something nice about me, and thanked me for a great year together. I was still doing fine, until I got in my car, and started to drive home. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Century;">Most of my students had come back to school; many of them had signs that said “I love Katie-Teacher”. They were all on bikes, and led a mini parade for me out of the school. It was the sweetest send off I could imagine.</span></span></div>
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Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-44456406898259002282013-03-13T06:52:00.000-07:002013-03-13T06:52:54.606-07:00TomodachiOur friend John Mark is out here in Japan this week. He came at a perfect time, Ben and I have been here long enough that our town is no longer exciting, but it's his first time to Japan and reminds us of all the things that were exciting when he first got to Japan. I think having someone to remind us why we love this country is exactly what we need.<br />
Ben and John Mark have been friends since they took Japanese together freshman year (6 years ago). John Mark was also our roommate for three years. It feels right having him stay with us here in Japan. In a lot of ways it feels like he's been here with us the whole time, it's great to have him here with us.<br />
Ben and I weren't able to take any time off, but John Mark has been having fun adventures without us. Yesterday he checked out our town's main temple and shrines, hiked Yaeyama, and covered most of the town on foot. Today he went to Kofu to check out the Daimyo Palace, and then in the evening we went to an awesome izakaya in Hachioji, and checked out the Don Quixote, and malls in the area.<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-10896159665944212752013-03-12T05:51:00.000-07:002013-03-12T05:51:46.084-07:00Hay Fever<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MNdeS78BVNQ/UT8kiL3DrBI/AAAAAAAAEXc/QneYhtQMxUk/s1600/kafunsho_2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MNdeS78BVNQ/UT8kiL3DrBI/AAAAAAAAEXc/QneYhtQMxUk/s1600/kafunsho_2.gif" height="320" width="286" /></a>It is allergy season here in Japan. Ben who has never had allergies before, is sneezing, and itchy, but compared to nearly everyone else he is doing great. I have had to give in and take allergy medications, 2-3 showers a day, and neti pots. Most locals wear surgical masks, and many people have allergy goggles.<br />
The allergen in the air is from Cryptomeria, commonly refereed to as Japanese ceder. The air is dusty with the pollen where we are, and even those not suffering from allergies, are still sneezing and wheezing.<br />
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-69649729238947360562013-03-11T08:37:00.000-07:002016-06-22T21:57:40.833-07:00Ikebukuro<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--G6JC6DbpYc/UT35NFWg7tI/AAAAAAAAEWs/A2wORC21aBw/s1600/IMG_0451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--G6JC6DbpYc/UT35NFWg7tI/AAAAAAAAEWs/A2wORC21aBw/s1600/IMG_0451.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
This post has been moved over to <a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/">WabiSabiKatie.com</a><br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/ikebukuro/">http://wabisabikatie.com/ikebukuro/</a><br />
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Over the weekend Ben and I went to Ikebukuro. Ikebukuro is the second most trafficked train station in the world, (second to Shinjuku also in Tokyo). 2.71 million passengers come through here everyday.<br />
The area around Ikebukuro is very exciting, there are many pubs, karaoke bars, and shops around the station. It is also an Otaku district, and in my opinion a better place to go shopping for anime, manga, or cutesy stuff, especially if you are a girl.<br />
Ben and I spent most of our time at Sunshine 60, a complex of sky scrappers the tallest of which is 60 stories high. We decided to go up to the observatory, to look out over the city, unfortunately a giant dust cloud hit Japan this weekend, we could barely see the bottom of the building, the cityscape was lost to us in the cloud. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e-ZaF04f2c4/UT35NECQleI/AAAAAAAAEW0/otLLWQHsa5U/s1600/IMG_0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e-ZaF04f2c4/UT35NECQleI/AAAAAAAAEW0/otLLWQHsa5U/s1600/IMG_0452.JPG" width="240" /></a>There was also an aquarium in the complex. I hate aquariums, because they scare me, but this one was really cool. I liked the jelly fish habitats, and the overhead seal pool. It was really crowded in the aquarium, and Ben and I were almost the only ones that didn't have kids with us, but this was one of the coolest aquariums I have ever been to. If you are bringing kids with you to Japan, I highly recommend the Sunshine 60 complex the aquarium is amazing, there is a planetarium, a museum, and an observatory. It's a great place for families.<br />
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Sunshine 60 complex:<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=active&client=firefox-a&q=sunshine+60&ie=UTF8&hq=sunshine+60&hnear=&radius=15000&t=m&ll=35.729534,139.718055&spn=0.006295,0.006295&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=active&client=firefox-a&q=sunshine+60&ie=UTF8&hq=sunshine+60&hnear=&radius=15000&t=m&ll=35.729534,139.718055&spn=0.006295,0.006295&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-42912413232120926732013-03-08T05:06:00.002-08:002013-03-08T05:06:27.580-08:00It's not too LateBen and I have had an amazing adventure, and I hope some of you will be sharing your own soon.<br />
For those of you who are interested, this is the perfect time to find a job in Japan. The next school year starts in April. Many people, like Ben and I, will be returning home. Others will be moving on to new careers, everyone is hiring.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japan is Awesome!</td></tr>
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Here are a few tips on what to look for when searching for a job in Japan.<br />
1. Visa sponsorship- it is nearly impossible to get a Japanese Visa without company sponsorship.<br />
2. Full time-Japan is very expensive, and if you want to travel you'll need to work full time. Many people who have lived in Japan for a while can make a lot more money signing private contracts. While this sounds appealing, Japanese proficiency is required, as well as a visa, and some hard searching.<br />
3. Transportation- Make sure the company mentions transportation prices, it is not standard for them to pay them, but companies that don't discuss costs might ask you to make long commutes on your own dime. Discuss the time and money you will be required dedicate to transportation.<br />
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Perks to not overlook<br />
1. Housing- If a company has housing they can put you in, take it, these might be furnished, and will likely be very cheap. It is next to impossible for a foreigner to rent an apartment on their own. <br />
2. Insurance- Insurance isn't expensive in Japan, but it is fairly standard for companies to pay it for you.<br />
3. Training-A good company will train you, a bad company won't care.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You could rent this...Maybe</td></tr>
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Here's somethings not to worry about<br />
1. Certifications- Many of the best companies want experience or certifications, but most companies just want you to be an English speaking college graduate.<br />
2. Location- The more flexible you are the easier time you will have finding a great job.<br />
3. Planning- Japanese school systems do things at the last minute, if a company says your hired, you'll likely have to sit tight while the hash out the details (it is smart to research your company online to see if it gets any bad reviews).Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-22718316339060476272013-03-07T06:24:00.002-08:002013-03-07T06:24:39.858-08:00Technology that Makes Traveling Easier<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Inventions that Make Traveling
Easier</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first time I went abroad was
2001, computers hadn’t yet infiltrated every facet of our lives. It was a
different time to travel. Here’s a list of inventions that make travel easier,
including a few I wish I had.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000613802463973&pid=sku6544242&adurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsclub.com%2Fsams%2Fsony-dsc-hx200v-18-2mp-digital-camera-with-30x-optical-zoom-black%2Fprod6070242.ip%3Fpid%3D_DoubleClick_Affiliates%26ci_src%3D15781033%26ci_sku%3Dsku6544242&usg=AFHzDLvVW2Lr4hLUUAck3yOpJYhkO7Q_rQ&pubid=625892" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Digital Camera</a>-You’re going on an
adventure, and you’ll want to remember it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">eBook-I came here with a kobo, but
it broke (I think it froze in our cold apartment), my mom came to the rescue
though when she came to visit, and brought me her old <a href="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000613802463918&pid=63972&adurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abt.com%2Fproduct%2F63972%2FAmazon-B0085ZFHNW.html&usg=AFHzDLu4BYH8nAdGMdq9c1xZkdazINKP9w&pubid=625892" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kindle</a>, loaded with more
books than I could read in a lifetime. Books take up a lot of space, and an
ebook won’t make you sacrifice reading for practical reasons.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000030512620&pubid=21000000000606522&lsrc=17" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Instantly watch from thousands of TV episodes & movies streaming from Netflix. Try Netflix for FREE!" border="0" src="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_impression?lid=41000000030512620&pubid=21000000000606522&lsrc=17" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Computer- Email, Facebook,
Skype/Google hangout. This is the way to keep in touch with loved ones.
Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, having ways to stream media from your home country is a
comfort especially on homesick nights. Agoda, travel reviews, a computer allows
you to find interesting places in your new country so you won’t miss anything.
A computer with an internet connection is an incredibly valuable tool.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Digital Picture Frame-This is the
invention I wish I had the most. Having pictures of your family, friends, and
home town is incredibly reassuring. Facebook helps, but I would prefer have
something permanent in my home that was always showing me the people I love. I
have an aunt who I stayed with a few summers ago, in the guest bedroom she had
dozens of pictures on her wall, most were of family, my mom and her sisters, my
sister and I growing up, and my grandma. I think having pictures on your wall
is an powerful way to think of the people you love, and invite your guests to
take a look at what you value, it would not be practical to bring dozens of
picture frames, so one changing picture is a perfect alternative.</span></div>
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<iframe bordercolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="320" hspace="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/N7433.148119.BLOGGEREN/B6631428.128627;sz=320x320;ord=[timestamp]?;lid=41000613802464048;pid=22203919;usg=AFHzDLuGA6E0CElNzSaAfx4DG5BXOQA4UA;adurl=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.officemax.com%252Ftechnology%252Fdigital-photo-frames%252Fproduct-prod2830045%253Fcm_mmc%253DPerformics-_-Technology-_-Digital%252520Photo%252520Frames-_-NULL%2526ci_src%253D14110944%2526ci_sku%253D22203919;pubid=625892;imgsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.officemax.com%2Fcatalog%2Fimages%2F397x353%2F22203919i_01.jpg;width=320;height=284" vspace="0" width="320"></iframe><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Smartphone-Map, translator, phone,
email, alarm clock, Ben and I bought smartphones when we got to Japan, It was
the right choice, we’ve had fantastic adventures, our smartphones made them so
much easier. I recommend unlocking a smartphone and bringing it with you to
your new country, it will save you a lot of money, make sure you have a USB
cable that you can connect to your phone, and then just buy a USB plug in for
the country of your choice when you get there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Credit
card-Ben and I were naïve as to how much it would cost to move to Japan. We
didn’t budget well, and our parents had to bail us out. Having a credit/debit
card connected to a bank account in your home country is a great idea. If there
was an emergency our parents would be able to send us money instantaneously.
Make sure you bank with the right people though, I never had to pay ATM fees (I
was ok as long as I stayed under 6 transactions a month), and my bank gave me
good conversion rates. Some banks will charge you just for withdrawing money
abroad, and others will rip you off on the conversation. Make sure you tell
your bank about any trips, or they might think your card has been stolen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here are some things not to pack
when you move abroad</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hair
dryer- Different countries have different outlets, and different amounts of
juice</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cooking supplies- When Ben and I
came to Japan all we brought was a pot, a pan, and two knives, we bought what
we needed here (Stove), and will sell them when we leave.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Desktop computer, monitor or TV-Big
electronics are too difficult, take up too much space, and are too fragile, buy
them used, or just use a laptop</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Items that are more useful than you
might imagine</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Straightening
Iron-Not only can you style your hair with it, you can Iron your clothes with
it, I think it is easier to use than a standard clothes iron, and although we
have a real iron now, I still use my straightening iron.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Battery
Charger-Batteries are cheaper in America then I have seen anywhere else in the
world. Buy yourself a battery charger (in your new country if the voltage is
different) and bring a good selection of rechargeable batteries.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-23656040386064650392013-03-06T04:13:00.000-08:002016-06-22T22:15:42.659-07:00Spring SmoochThis post has been moved to <a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/">WabiSabiKatie.com</a><br />
<a href="http://wabisabikatie.com/spring-smooch/">http://wabisabikatie.com/spring-smooch/</a><br />
<br />
Spring is starting here in Japan. The plum trees are blossoming and today I taught class today without my jacket. I am ecstatic.<br />
Since graduation is in just a few days, and many of the students are stressed, sad, or just emotional, some of the teachers put up little surprises around the school to give the kids a boost.<br />
These little lips were stamped all over the school.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cftyHTqBhr0/UTcxY4d2PII/AAAAAAAAEVU/hgwZ5Fa48ys/s1600/IMG_0993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cftyHTqBhr0/UTcxY4d2PII/AAAAAAAAEVU/hgwZ5Fa48ys/s1600/IMG_0993.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
When you give a little squeeze they have a secret message to tell you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o2nd9pyRV24/UTcxe31TP4I/AAAAAAAAEVc/1_3POv2oO3E/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o2nd9pyRV24/UTcxe31TP4I/AAAAAAAAEVc/1_3POv2oO3E/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Check out how to make them using this video.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-56435336577065660962013-03-05T00:45:00.003-08:002013-03-05T00:45:25.127-08:00I'm a little Japanese<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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When Ben and I were headed to
Japan, the range of reactions we were met with was fairly narrow, especially
within age ranges. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Children
below the age of six, had no concept of what we were doing. Culture, language,
and moving are difficult concepts at that age. Children were either pro
airplanes, or against airplanes, and that was as deep as it got for them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I don’t
know what people between the ages of six and twenty’s reaction to it would have
been, I had no one in that age range to talk it over with.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>People
between the ages of 20-28 were Ben and my peers. Many of our friends had either
been off on their own adventure, or were planning one. They were supportive,
and excited, but didn’t offer much advice (I think most people in that age
range who have done this sort of adventure realize how much they did the hard
way, and how unqualified they are to help even each other). The people who had
not been on their own adventure, or were not interested, were the most
confusing to me. Some of them found dozens of ways to ask why we would do it,
implying they didn’t get the point. Others were open with the fact they were
scared, but wished us luck.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>People between
the ages of 28-45 were the most helpful on this matter. They had excellent
advice, amusing stories of their own adventures, or their friends adventures,
and were very enthusiastic about the value of travel. They had many difficult
questions, like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why Japan?</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How long? </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What are you going to do when you get back?</i> I still can’t answer <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why Japan? </i>Though I think it was an
excellent choice, and will forever love this country. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What are you going to do when you get back?</i> Is the question that
keeps me up at night, Ben and I have our life planned out for the next year,
work at whatever job we can until August then move to Spain. After Spain, I
really have no clue. Some people in this age group expressed regret for not traveling
before having kids, others reminded me just how hard it is to travel with kids.
This was the age group with the least resistance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ages 45 and
up had the most trepidations. They asked legitimate questions like, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Is this a good career move?</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Will you be safe?</i>. They were also the
ones who were to most afraid of the prospect of us getting homesick. I think
this consensus was less due to age than what they were brought up with. Younger
generations had the technological advantage of internet, moving to a new
country no longer means expensive communication, or long periods between correspondences.
I can also easily keep up what’s happening back home, watch American
Television, and check what my friends have been up to on Facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people of this age group often remarked
how brave it was to move abroad. I think if they had done it at my age they
would have been remarkably brave, but in the age of technology I think it is
just adventurous. My mom tells me about going to New Zealand for six months
when she was a little younger than me, all on her own. She was only able to
make one phone call home during that time, which cost a lot of money. Her
American credit card was useless over there, so she had to work for food and
housing. She went about the country on her own. I’m not sure I could have gone
abroad in her same situation, and certainly not alone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now here’s
the thing, when you return from another country, it can be a shock to the
system. On my shorter trips abroad, I felt that I had learned and grown into a
nearly new person. I have been gone a year, to a country so different from home
it seems weird to me that I adapted. My opinions on things I had no-idea I had
opinions on have changed dramatically (living in a community driven society
will change you). When you return from abroad, people tend to care for a day or
so, even your best friends and family mostly want you to shut up after that. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When I was
15, I had the opportunity to go on a summer abroad through Rotary
International. It was an amazing opportunity. I remember at training, they told
us about the different stages of depression, and excitement associated with
going abroad for a year (nearly everyone gets homesick about 2 months in). They
told us that the emotional highs and lows don’t end with your immediate return,
the first week or two, everything will be exciting again, and people will be
excited to see you. After that, you are expected to slip back into a normal
life, expected to get back to work, expected to “Just hang out”. People never
think about what you might miss about the countries you’ve stayed abroad in,
and forget that there was another place you called home. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’m
actually really afraid the post excitement period once we get home. I like who
I am now, healthier, more active, more patient, and a hundred other things, I’m
so afraid I’ll lose these traits that I respect in myself. I have lived in
Japan, and become partially Japanese, I know that I will never be able to say
that to people at home, as I am a born and raised Caucasian American, but I
like the parts of me that have become Japanese and don’t want to let them go.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650197177635758528.post-67579185155439423042013-03-03T05:20:00.001-08:002013-03-03T05:20:48.820-08:00Return to Sensoji<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ocQ7RQPJ6po/UTNMlDtqbmI/AAAAAAAAET8/U1Bh5qx72Do/s1600/DSC_0112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ocQ7RQPJ6po/UTNMlDtqbmI/AAAAAAAAET8/U1Bh5qx72Do/s1600/DSC_0112.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a>Ben and I went back to Sensoji temple yesterday. Ben and I were there last March, and I wanted to check it out again. It's Tokyo's oldest temple, and one of the most popular. It is near The Sky Tree which wasn't complete last time we were there, and it is a perfect place to admire the architecture.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UzLN4xRMvgg/UTNNCu8ycoI/AAAAAAAAEUM/oexmbwyh7ac/s1600/DSC_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UzLN4xRMvgg/UTNNCu8ycoI/AAAAAAAAEUM/oexmbwyh7ac/s1600/DSC_0034.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6qEN5gOF0wg/UTNNC5siFSI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/oIOzRtar_gM/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6qEN5gOF0wg/UTNNC5siFSI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/oIOzRtar_gM/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7zEFyxfmhc/UTNNF5Uvw7I/AAAAAAAAEVE/51w6WbdL4ug/s1600/DSC_0093.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I7zEFyxfmhc/UTNNF5Uvw7I/AAAAAAAAEVE/51w6WbdL4ug/s1600/DSC_0093.NEF" height="400" width="267" /></a> My favorite thing at Sensoji is the Hozomon gate which houses two Nio.
The Nio are demon guardians that are said to protect buddha from evils.
They stand infront of the temple to protect it from evil spirits and
thieves. The Nio have bulging muscles and menacing faces.<br />
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<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08218677284954846205noreply@blogger.com0