Daniel

Note: I periodically update information in the posts below, so don't forget to check for new updates. Thank you!

February 27th, written April 20th

This is a recollection of my memories from the last day of our trip. I woke up early, perhaps around 5:30, and had to leave immediately, so much so that I couldn't have a last breakfast. My host father had left for work, and I wasn't able to say goodbye to him, although I'm sure he knew how grateful I was for me to be hosted in his home. Mana, her mother, and I left the house, and headed to the Shinkansen station. I remember it being a very quiet ride, which allowed me to enjoy the last sights of the Japanese countryside before I left. We buy our train tickets, and head to the platform. Once the bullet train arrived, I boarded with Mana, and was confused as to why her mother wasn't coming with. I turned around and she was crying. It was a very powerful and moving scene, and I began to cry with her. I waved goodbye, and felt as though I were saying farewell to my own mother. I couldn't stop crying for much of the train ride. Mana and I arrive at Urasa Station, and join our classmates in a meeting area, where we took a few group photos and said our final goodbyes to our hosts. We board our Tokyo-bound train, and wave goodbye once again.

The train ride itself was very relaxing, and I was able to finally talk with my friends after being separated for a few days. A few hours later, we stop at Narita airport, and begin the long procedure of waiting. Our class occupied a small seating area, and caught up on homework and tests we had missed. Many hours pass, and we finally board our flight to Chicago, which was another Boeing 787 Dreamliner. A long flight later, and we had arrived at O'hare. By this point, I had been awake for 31 hours, and was beginning to feel very lightheaded.

This was a life changing trip, and I was, and still am, so grateful to have been apart of it. I have become more confident with my ability to speak both English and Japanese in new settings, myself, and my ability to try new things, especially fugu (poisonous puffer fish). I can't wait to return!

February 26th

Today was an early start, with me waking up at 6:45 and quickly leaving with Mana’s family to drive to a well known ski resort a few hours away. In order to wake up, Mana and I started watching Kiki’s Delivery Service, a Studio Ghibli animated movie, and enjoyed the snow storm that was developing outside. We then arrive at the ski resort which her friend’s parents own, and I am given some gloves, well fitting shoes, skis, and other necessary things for the day. As we were leaving, you could see the skiers along the mountainside, and I assumed that since they were so graceful, skiing would be easy. I was wrong. As soon as I stepped into my skis, I began to slide down a small hill uncontrollably, using my poles to attempt to stop me, which did not help. My body then bent down over my knees, and I fell. This then occurred twice more along the same small ditch, which was located in front of the ski lift to the actual courses. I was scared. Mana’s father and grandfather help me onto the lift, and we went off to the first hill, which they said was shallow and easy. The beginning of the course is a path along a steep cliff overlooking the hill, and I had to have Mana’s father ski backwards so that I would not ski over the side of the mountain. It took a good 15 minutes for me to move 50 feet downhill, and I had to stop halfway since my legs were so tired. We arrive at the top of the hill, and discuss possible strategies for me to go down. They suggest that I move sideways along the hill, and stop near a tree line where I can then turn myself around. I attempted to do this, but I could not slow myself down since I was not able to move my right ankle much, if at all, since I had injured it many times while playing soccer a few years ago. My calf was also in pain since it was pinned under the lift chair as we were going up, forcing them to stop the lift. I then get up from my fall, and move very slowly across the side of the course. I was moving fairly well, until I couldn’t stop myself from entering an area of loose, unpacked snow, where I fell again. I’m then helped up by Mana’s mother, who then passes me along to her brother-in-law, who was very helpful in teaching me to use the corners of the skis to help me slow down. We then ski to an exit where I was left to move on my own. It was very fun to ski without supports, but since I wasn’t able to slow myself down, I slammed into a large snowbank. Overall, it was a very fun experience for that first hill, and I am very grateful for Mana’s relative’s patience with my inability to ski. I was then taken to a small cafe where I had some soft ice, and was told that we were going to a restaurant at the peak of the mountain. It took three lift rides in order to get there, and I knew I was going to have trouble skiing down the advanced slopes. For lunch, I had some beef curry, which was very good and filling. Afterward, Mana’s father and I walked to two different ski lifts to see if they would allow me to ride down the hill, but they refused. Since I was facing advanced slopes, and my right leg wasn’t in good shape, the ski patrol took me down hill via a snowmobile, which was extremely fun and a great experience, one that I won’t forget. We then return to the resort, and take a bath in the onsen and sleep for a bit. We then left, and I crashed once again, sleeping for another hour and a half. Before coming home, we visited Mana’s grandparents house, where they gave me a few more gifts and treats, and said goodbye. It was a very sad experience, although I hope to see them again once I visit Japan again. We then come home, and have a dish that consists of tea, rice, and seaweed in a single bowl, an interesting combination. As we eat, we watch some entertaining Japanese TV, which was very funny, yet odd at the same time. And finally, I pack for my departure tomorrow. Since Mana’s family has given me so many gifts, I was required to put their omiyage into a box which I will have to carry until we reach the airport. It’s strange to think that I’ve been in Japan for more than two weeks, and that tomorrow I’m going to leave and return back to my familiar environment. It’s going to be a sad day.


February 25th

Today was a relaxing day, and another day of firsts. The day started late, with me rolling out of bed around 9:00. Mana's mother then served me a breakfast that lasted well over an hour, and was filled with fantastic homemade goods. We then left around 11 to go see the Sea of Japan, which was only a three minute drive away from their house. It was absolutely stunning. The sky was a lovely shade of light blue, the day so clear you could see Sadogashima, and island off the coast of Niigata prefecture, and the weather was fair enough to wear a T-shirt. Our first destination was a fish market along the coastline, which was quite large and had an assortment of squid and large fish. Mana and I then walked to the beach and enjoyed the view. We then picked up Mana's cousins, Yuuri and Niho, and drove to a large mall, where I saw a few of my peers. I bought a few more gifts, and had some ramen, smoothies, and mochi daifuku with Mana's family. We also played two intense rounds of table hockey, which was one of the highlights of today.

Our next stop was to Mana's grandparents house, where they had prepared a massive dinner for us. There were crabs, miso shiru, tofu, snails, fried shrimp, chicken, and most exciting, fugu, puffer fish that can be poisonous if not prepared correctly, with it's lethality being 1,200 times that of cyanide. It was the first dish served to me, and I have not been so nervous in a very long time. I trusted my host grandmother, and tried it, although I hesitated many times. The taste is somewhat spicy and sour, while the texture is smooth, yet also slightly tender. I had many more servings until I moved on to the next course. Everything was delicious, and I will always remember their care.

February 24th

This morning, Mana and I woke up a little later since she did not have to take an exam in the morning, which was needed since I hadn't received much sleep the past few nights. Mana's mother prepared a massive breakfast, but since I'm a slow eater, and we were short on time, I couldn't finish it all. I still feel bad as of writing this. Today's routine was a bit different since Mana and I took a standard rail train to the Shinkansen, rather than drive, which cost us time, so much so that we missed our shinkansen! We found out that the next train came at 9:30, so we decided to travel to the next stop from the terminal, Nagaoka, and wait. Apparently my absence was noticed at KJ high school, which was very touching, and I am very thankful to be apart of such a caring group! At Nagaoka station, Mana took me to a french cafe where I had some nice hot chocolate, and caught up with the news. We then went to Nagaoka's city hall, which was an extremely modern complex designed by the famous Kuma Kengo that featured tons of glass, wooden floors, extremely tall ceilings, roof gardens, and more that exposed me to the potential future of modern architecture. We caught our shinkansen, and were picked up by Mana's English teacher so that we wouldn't miss 2nd period. The first activity for my group was origami construction, where I made a paper crane.

We then moved on to assisting from freshman Japanese students with their English presentations in the music room, and then gave our group presentations. Overall, the presentation went well, and there weren't too many errors in what we said or did. After shadowing a few more classes, I saw the last two presentations from our group, which were dancing and American pop culture, which were both very funny. A few more classes, and the school day was over, with the students giving us gifts of chocolate as presents. Mana and I then make our way back to her house, and are given more chocolates and some mochi from her mother, which were fantastic. We then had dinner, which was cooked on a portable stove, and had a conversation about what I was able to eat in regards to Japanese cuisine. While eating, Mana's mother suggested that we watch a movie, and seeing that I was interested in physics, and that she had access to Particle Fever, a documentary about particle physics and the Large Hadron Collider, we watched it. Since both her and Mana did not know much about the topic, I explained to them the purpose of the LHC, that it was a particle accelerator, and how it related to the universe. This was completely in Japanese, with the help of my dictionary (since I don't know the words for particle or universe), and I am very pleased with my ability to hold a conversation with a more complex topic. This stemmed into discussions about "what came first, the chicken, or the egg?", evolution, alien life, black holes and their existence, and more. Mana was asleep for most of this, so I didn't have a fail-safe if I misunderstood a question or a word, adding to the immersive nature of the conversation. Apparently, Mana's father and I have extremely similar interests, so I'll try to hold some more in-depth conversations. I'm off to watch Mr. Bean. Goodnight!

February 23rd

Another incredible day! Since Mana lives so far away from both the school and the Shinkansen station, I had to wake up at 6:00 for breakfast, which was fine. We eat, and quickly leave for the train, where we had some conversations about our morning routines and how they are different. Once we arrived at Urasa Station, we took a bus to her school, Kokusai Joho, which was surrounded by snow five feet high. As you enter the school, you are greeted by many rows of lockers which were used to store boots and shoes, which is something I did not expect. The school itself was different than what I expected, primarily because Mr. Van Krey said the classrooms would not be heated and that we would be freezing all day, which luckily was not the case. As the day progressed, and after Devenere gave his speech in front of the school, I shadowed Mana's classes, which were very interesting. The way the class lessons were structured was not very different from what we have at Evanston Township, since both schools prioritized working on problems related to the topic during class and by holding class discussions. We also played many games that simulated English conversations or the wealth inequalities between industrialized and underdeveloped nations, which were very fun.

After lunch, I went to our school's homeroom to learn how to make crafts with re-purposed paper from rice bags, a relaxing break from school. Once Mana's classes had ended, I was taken, along with my peers, to the tea room, which was convered in tatami mats. We were strictly seated along the wall, and listened to the instructions of the student overseeing the tea ceremony, which is a welcoming gesture in Japanese culture. The ceremony itself was incredible, with the students conducting themselves in a highly professional manner and having complete control of their body's movement, which is important during the ceremony. They then served us delicious Japanese desserts in order to counteract the bitter tea. The tea that was served was a fine green tea, and we were instructed to drink it with two or three sips, as is customary in Japan. The students then asked our group if we wanted to make our own tea with the help of an instructor, and I was peer pressured into going, although I don't regret it at all. There was a bit of an instructional barrier between the student and I at first, but I did manage to understand her and appropriately make the tea. The process is to take a small wooden ladle, for a lack of a better term, with your left hand, while your right hand grabs the tea container. You then, with your left hand, take of the lid, and place it down where the container once was. Next, you must take two to three helpings of fine tea with the ladle and place it inside of the tea cup, or bowl in this case, and then place both the container and the ladle on the tatami. Add hot water, and grab the tea whisk with your right hand. You then whisk the powder extremely quickly for 30 seconds to a minute. My whisking skills caught the attention of the tea ceremony teacher, which made the experience even better.

Since the tea ceremony took so long, Mana and I missed our shinkansen, as did everyone else, so we waited at the station for a while. As soon as we arrived at our stop, Mana's mother, grandmother, and grandfather drove us to a sushi restaurant that served its sushi via shinkansen on tracks. The sushi was very good, and the quality of the fish was much better than what is available in the US. I believe I had roughly 18 sushi until I was full. We then returned home where I took a hot bath and spoke more with my host family. Our conversations led to me giving them a presentation of my photo album, which lasted a very long time, and I'm glad I was able to record most of the conversation with my phone. As I'm about to go to bed, I discover that there is a hidden third floor to their house that is filled with books, CDs, and a nice audio setup, which are all Mana's fathers. He joins me, and we talk about our favorite musicians (he likes Brahms, I enjoy Vivaldi), physics, travel, languages, and books, which was a great bonding experience. And that was my day! I can't wait for tomorrow!

February 22nd

Sorry for the lack of photos today! I wanted to leave my camera packed so I could experience the first day with my host family more intimately. I will also be working on days 20 and 21 tomorrow.

Today was truly a great day, one that I will remember for my whole life. It began with our group having a late breakfast at 8:30 and proceeding to check-out of the hotel by 11, followed by us walking to the train station. Upon arrival, Mr. Van Krey told us that we would have to wait for an hour and a half before we boarded the Shinkansen to Niigata. Rather than sit around and do something productive, I went out with Zinta and Eytan to buy omiyage for my family and a few friends. Since I had budgeted for so long on the trip, with 20,000 yen remaining, I decided that it was time to spend a little more than usual, yet still remain within my means (thanks Opi!). We then boarded our bullet train, and sped off to Niigata Prefecture, where we then took a connecting train to Urasa, where KJ High School is located. Here, all of the host students lined up along the entrance of the train station, holding their colorful signs with our names written in various fonts, and smiling uncontrollably. We were also extremely excited, and couldn’t hold it in. I found my student, Mana Yamada, and headed over to a set of tables where we talked about where I had been thus far in Japan, and the goshuin that I had collected from the many shrines I have visited these past few days. I was extremely excited that I was able to speak fluently, although with elementary vocabulary and grammar structure, with Mana, and the conversations continued onto the Shinkansen, where we talked about college and what we want to study (she wishes to become a doctor).

We then left the Shinkansen to meet her mother who was outside waiting in her minivan. As we were driving to a supermarket, where Mana and her mother bought me whatever I liked, including some nice apples, a few teas, and some dango, Mana’s mother was very interested in my travels to Toji, a temple compound in Kyoto, and had a small conversation regarding it. She does speak very quickly in Japanese, so it is a bit difficult to understand her at times. It is a way of learning. We then arrive at Mana’s home, which is a beautiful house with tall ceilings and many windows overlooking the ricefields across the street. As soon as we arrive, I am driven to Mana’s grandparents house, which was massive and had a more traditional architectural style. Apparently, her grandfather was looking forward to meeting me, which was very touching. He invited me to sit with him at his heated table, and gave me some green tea and a few dango sticks. We chat, and then are driven off once again to an onsen complex that also housed a restaurant. Mana’s grandfather directed me to the men’s onsen, and showed me how to properly cleanse myself before entering the baths, which was necessary since many shortcuts were taken at the Shibu onsens. He and I then relax in the baths and talk about the temperature of the water and how it compares to other onsens, how cold Chicago is, and many other things. We then leave the baths, cleanse ourselves again, dress, and go off to dinner. Since Mana and her relatives were still bathing, Mana’s grandfather and I began to talk about Japanese food, specifically the different kinds of meats that were available, such as katsu, ebi, sakana, ika, and others. I now realize how similar he is to my grandfather, Opi, especially with how they act toward others they care for. Mana and her family then arrive for dinner, and we eat many delicious meals, while also talking about Shibu onsen and various foods, which made me feel welcome and apart of their family. It was also a nice experience because they almost never spoke english, which made the setting more immersive.

We then left and drove home, where I was given a gift from my dear friend Hayato whom I had hosted last year. I cried as I opened his well wrapped gift, and decided not to tamper with it any further, since I wanted to save it until I am back home in the US. I then gave them the omiyage I had brought, which were a few cubs T-shirts, some Ghirardelli chocolates, and a laser engraved glass cube with the Chicago skyline inside of it. As of writing this, Mana's father came home, and was very surprised to see me. We had a nice conversation about the Sear's Tower, Donald Trump, geography, and the location of places I've been to inside of an atlas. Overall, an incredible day, and I hope to enjoy this experience further!


Hayato's gift

February 20th

We began our day with a somewhat rushed breakfast, and headed to Kyoto Station in order to catch a shinkansen to Kanazawa, the final city we will visit as a collective group. Once we had arrived, it was just beginning to rain heavily, forcing us to run to our hotel a few buildings away from the train station. We received our room keys, and promptly went to see our first site, Ninja-dera, a temple and partial inn for important politicians and their soldiers that was designed to appear as though it were two stories, when in reality it contains seven. Our group then left to visit a food and fish market, an interesting place, although there wasn’t much to do but view the laid out fish and eat small snacks. Seeing that we were all cold and wet, Mr. Vankrey allowed us to return to the hotel and relax, a well needed break. The rest of the day was filled with eating, laughing, and many conversations.

February 19th

Today was an incredible day. I woke up again to a lovely breakfast, the last Kyoto kaiseki style breakfast I'll have for a while, Our first destination was the Toji pagoda and temple compound in downtown Kyoto. Everything about this site was spectacular, from the sheer height of the pagoda, to the quality of the goshuin at the shrine they had. There were also a great many Buddha statues covered in gold, which was interesting. We then took a few buses to our next destination, a plum blossom park with many shrines and temples. The blossoms themselves were beautiful, but them being paired with incredibly old structures made it even more enjoyable. I will certainly not forget the beauty of the scenes I saw.

The tickets for the plum garden also gave our group access to a small tea seating area that was also across from a dango, or rice dessert, stand, which was delicious. After relaxing and drinking sweat plum tea, which was quite salty and sour, I headed off to see the temples. Here, massive trees lined the streets, with well groomed plum blossoms dotted around. The temple also had a goshuin stand, where you could receive a few stamps and calligraphy pieces placed inside a shrine booklet.

We then left to have a quick lunch, and headed off to see the next attraction, Nijo Jinya, a traditional inn where many significant daimyo stayed throughout history. It was a very interesting and beautiful building complex, but the floors were extremely cold, making it hard to focus on the tour guide and what he was saying. Down the street was the Nijo-jo Castle, which was an impressive architectural feat. We were granted access to the interior, which was filled with massive paintings and murals of traditional Japanese scenery in different seasons.

The final destination of our day was a famous series of red shrines that lined various paths up a mountain side. It was extremely beautiful, and the evening light added to the atmosphere. I hiked with Jeff, Noah, Drew, and Eytan, and found a few paths taking us through a bamboo forest and ended at a graveyard, where I saw some interesting shadows. Our group then took the subway to Kyoto Station to again have dinner in the many restaurants found inside. I ordered a nice pizza with prosciutto and roasted tomatoes, and had some green tea ice cream. We then went home and prepared for the travel day ahead.

February 18th

I will be posting a list of what we did, rather than a full blog post since I am extremely tired and that I am now only going to receive 5 hours of sleep with an 18+ hour day ahead of me. I will rewrite this post when I have time. Sorry!

After receiving only 5 hours of sleep, I begin my day with a delicious breakfast of tamago-yaki, dried fish, some oranges, and an assortment of condiments for my rice. Our group then took a series of subways and shinkansen to travel to Nagoya in order to catch a bus that would drive us to a series of small villages in the middle of the mountains with histories spanning hundreds upon hundreds of years. The drive itself was an annoyance, although luckily I was tired enough to sleep through most of it. After sitting for 2, perhaps 3, hours, we arrive at Shirakawa-go, a village of 75 or so buildings and temples tucked away in the Japanese alps. Immediately, I was split from my group, although I saw this as an opportunity to explore and enjoy the scenery on my own, which was a nice change of pace. I've discovered that traveling in a group is fun for a time, but quickly becomes tiring.

We then left for our next destination, Gokayama, a village similar to Shirakawa-go, although it was hosting its annual winter light festival that was only showing the weekend we were visiting. It was an impressive sight to see thousands of lit candles lighting the trail down to the main portion of the village, and it was even more brilliant once we were climbing back up in the dark to return to the bus. In the main village, they had set up a stage were they performed various cultural dances unique to the region, and was quite interesting. Once the light faded, I went with Eytan to photograph the village homes.

On our journey back to Nagoya, Alfredo and I bonded some more by jamming to Daft Punk and Childish Gambino whilst silently mouthing the lyrics to a few songs, which was very fun.

February 17th

Today was another long travel day, although it ended in quite an enjoyable fashion. I decided to sleep in this morning since I had exhausted myself from bathing for the entirety of yesterday, which was nice. The breakfast that was served was again similar to the one we had previously, but was still absolutely delicious. We then had to pack our luggage since we were to leave at 9:30, although I procrastinated and waited until the last minute. The second part to our day were the multiple train rides that we took in order to reach our next destination, Kyoto.

After settling into our ryokan, and many train trips, we went out of eat in the many restaurants found in Kyoto Station. I paired myself with Alfredo, Evan, and Eytan, and we agreed to eat at a nice ramen shop that served large portions for relatively cheap prices given the quality of the food. We then took a walk around the train station, which is surprisingly large, and humored ourselves however possible. After this, we went back to the ryokan, and enjoyed the nice rooms provided to us. The staff of the ryokan were very helpful and friendly, and I struck up a small conversation with one of the desk clerks about onsens.

February 16th

Today was a day of baths and relaxation. Alfredo and I woke up at 6:30 to wash ourselves in the hotel onsen before venturing out into Shibu, which was a lovely experience. After thoroughly scrubbing ourselves, we went to the nearest onsen from our ryokan, and were quite surprised. The water was scalding hot, and we were only able to stick our calves in for a few seconds before the pain set in. A great way to wake up. He and I then returned to the ryokan to enjoy breakfast, which was heavenly.

After our meal, Evan joined us to bathe in the many onsens of Shibu. Mr. Vankrey and Ms. Yokota presented a challenge to us all where we would have to visit and bathe in all nine onsens. The three of us then made it our goal to accomplish this task, and we were successful. We enjoyed ourselves quite a lot during the process, and I won't forget the experience. Plus, I'm the cleanest I've ever been.

After completing the challenge, and walking up a serious flight of stairs to a shrine to receive a final stamp, we went back to the hotel for another traditional kaiseki style dinner. Again, it was a nine course meal, and the main dish was the Shabu-shabu, thinly sliced wagyu beef that must be mixed in boiling water with vegetables. The many side dishes were incredibly delicate, yet extremely flavorful. I experienced flavors that I had never experienced before, and I am quite glad I was able to try every dish provided.

February 15th

Travel, travel, travel was the theme for today. After waking from my few hours of sleep, I went to bathe with my fellow roommates in the onsen housed inside the youth hostel. It was a great way of waking up, and I hope to set that as my morning routine while I am here in Japan. For breakfast, I had a light meal of rice and eggs, croquette, salad, and daikon. Since we had to catch our Shinkansen to Nagano at 10:26, Mr. Vankrey gave us until 9:00 to relax and pack. We said goodbye to our first home away from home, and experienced the Japanese rail system for the last time. After switching over a few train lines, we arrived to the Shinkansen stop, where we purchased some surprisingly high quality boxed meals for our trip. I chose the tuna with salmon roe bento box, which was excellent. The ride on the bullet train was absolutely incredible, with there being no "turbulence" while we were on the train. A few minutes into the trip, Mount Fuji could be seen in all its glory overlooking the outskirts of Tokyo. The train ride was quite short, but more surprising was how quickly the environment changed.

Once we had arrived in Nagano, we transferred to a new line that would take us to "Monkey Park", which was near the Ryokan which we would stay at. The hotel's bus came to pick us up, and we were once again on the move. After settling in, our group went to hike a mountain trail to see Jigokudani Monkey park, which was absolutely stunning. There were hundreds of Japanese Macaques sitting around the bank of a river, and were not afraid to come close to us.

We then hiked back to the drop off point to wait for our hotel bus, and enjoyed one another's company. Tonight's dinner was absolutely incredible, with it being a nine course meal containing Wagyu beef, many soups, and salty fish. It was the best meal of the trip so far, and I am excited to experience what we will do tomorrow!

February 14th

Our second day in Japan was an interesting one filled with many adventures, both big and small. For breakfast, I had some croquette, fried fish paste, some eggs with rice, Canadian bacon, daikon salad, miso soup, and some very good cocoa from a dispenser. Mr. Vankrey gave our group 30 minutes to finish any blog posts or relax, so I called my incredible friend Julia and her brother Andrew for that time and answered their questions, which was nice. We then left the hostel to venture into Tokyo once again. Our first destination was Ueno Park to see the Japanese National Museum, the Smithsonian of Japan, and a shrine in the center of the park. The museum was absolutely gorgeous, and quite grand, and was filled with countless national treasures and historical artifacts. I paired myself again with Eytan and Keziah to see the displayed art, and were not disappointed.

After appreciating the historical Japanese art, we regrouped in the museum store, which was filled with extremely high quality gifts, many of which I bought. From here, we went off to see the Ueno Toshogu shrine and the Toshogu Peony garden, an absolutely gorgeous collection of colorful blooming flowers. The shrine was built in 1651 to honor Tokugawa Ieyasu, a famous Shogunate, and is known as the Golden Shrine.

After taking in the sights, we went out to lunch at a collection of restaurants near the Ueno station, where I had an incredible ten don (fried shrimp) bowl, which was considered fast food by Japanese standards. Mr. Vankrey then gave us the opportunity to explore a historically black market alley system, which was incredible. There were hundreds of shops and restaurants tucked away in these long, narrow streets, and I couldn't help myself but take tons of photos. Our next destination was a massive temple in the center of Tokyo that featured massive lanterns. Here, the group paid respects to the temple, received temple stamps which we placed inside shrine booklets, and enjoyed the street life. We then went back to the youth hostel for dinner, which consisted of salad, rice with vegetables and beef, fried chicken with pasta, and potato salad. Once again, I was extremely tired, but knew I had to muster enough energy to see the view from Skytree, a massive observation tower overlooking all of Tokyo. It was an incredible experience, but I was exhausted to the point where I had difficulty standing.

Overall, a great second day, and I cannot wait to visit our next destination, Shibu Onsen!

February 13th

Our first full day in Japan could perhaps be my most enjoyable day thus far in my life. After awakening at 5 AM from a stress dream about the horrors of Japanese train tickets, I enjoyed viewing the sunlight strike the countless buildings that make up Tokyo, and ate a lovely Japanese breakfast consisting of rice, eggs, korokke, sausages, seaweed, miso soup, and natto, fermented beans that appear to be quite unpopular with my peers. Our first destination of the day was Ume (plum) park, where I took many macro shots of the blooming buds, drank some lovely barley tea, and, perhaps most significant, spoke with an incredibly kind Japanese painter! I was quite nervous to ask him for permission to take his photo, although he did not mind at all, and was more interested in speaking to me about where I was from and why I was in Japan, which stemmed into an incredible conversation about travel, our families, and my impressions of Tokyo. His willingness to converse with me has greatly improved my confidence in speaking to other Japanese citizens, and I will certainly be adding him on Facebook!

After taking a few photos of Fuji-San from afar, we took the train to Harajuku, a district in Downtown Toyko. Here, we went to Kiddy Land, an adorable department store that sells cute little items, and were then given the opportunity to explore the district on our own. I paired myself with Eytan and Keziah, and we set off to find something to eat, eventually settling on some extraordinarily long french fries and a few kebabs. Seeing that we were near a massive shopping complex, we ventured into the narrow streets, seeing some very interesting signs along the way. After spending 20 minutes or so inside a multi-story hyaku-en (dollar) store, we rushed back to the train station in a panic, only to find out that Mr. Vankrey had extended the time we were allowed to explore by an hour and a half. Keziah and I, as well as our new companion Drew, decided to trek to the Meiji Shrine, which was located in a massive park a few blocks from the station.

The hike itself took around 30 minutes, but it was entirely worth the pain. Seeing the massive gates and walled structures was incredible, and the weather made it even better. The three of us performed a few rituals in respect for the temple, and were in awe for the entire journey.

After leaving Harajuku, our group made a visit to a small amusement park where we went up into a very nice Ferris wheel overlooking Tokyo, and went on the most thrilling roller coaster I have ever been on by far. We then went back to the youth hostel for dinner, where I had some fried squid, chicken with rice, salad, and shrimp dumplings, which were incredible. Our plan was to next take the train to a light show display, and while I was extremely tired to the point where I was falling asleep both in the hostel lobby and on the train, I tagged along. It was a very nice experience, although it may have been more beneficial for me to have stayed in my room and sleep. Overall, today has been a day of firsts, and a great start to this trip! I look forward to seeing what we do next.

February 11th - 12th

Today has been quite an interesting day. After spending many hours working on the final touches of my photo albums, I awoke to my parents encouraging me to get up in order to arrive at Terminal 3 on time. After hugging and saying goodbye to my parents, our group went through security, which was quite simple and without hassle. Odd. After wandering around the terminal for a few hours, our group boarded flight AA153, and set off on our adventure. For the first few hours, most, if not all, of us watched many movies and enjoyed the games the in-flight entertainment system provided. After many Trivia rounds and checkers games, we neared Japan. At this same time, it was nearly midnight in Chicago, and everyone was tired. Overall, the flight was very comfortable. Our group landed in Narita around 3:00 PM, and waited for hours in order to receive our rail passes. We officially left Narita International Airport around 7:30 PM local time, and experienced the lovely rail infrastructure of Japan. My apologies if this sounds bland, I haven't slept in 26 hours at the time of me writing this.

February 10th

There are fewer than 24 hours left until we depart for Japan, and I cannot express how excited I am to be traveling to a nation with such a different culture and language. Regretfully, I, as well as many of my peers, have not finished packing for the trip, forcing us to panic and quickly gather everything we need. I suppose this is natural behavior. Regarding my classwork, I've had to both catch up from the classes I missed last week for my Model UN conference and attempt to work ahead, which has been exhausting. I hope everything goes well!