My trip to Japan:
The actual plane trip to Japan started off a bit rocky with me oversleeping my first flight. Thankfully, however, a second flight could get me to Detroit in time to catch my flight to Osaka. The flight to Osaka ended up being three hours delayed for a variety of reasons, but I do not complain, as it gave me plenty of time to grab lunch and some snacks for the plane. After the fourteen-hour flight I arrived safely in Osaka airport, but upon arriving at immigration feared that I might never actually get out of it. The consulate forgot to give me and another person in my program that shared a plane with me the address where we would be staying. Obtaining it turned out to be slightly harder to do than would be expected, but alas we made it out of the airport and to the center where we would live for the next week or so.
The center was located in Rinku Town; a short train ride from Osaka, and a minute’s walk from the beach. The view was spectacular and the accommodations were not bad either. The group we were staying with was amazing. We numbered about 40 and probably covered about 25 countries, including Papua New Guinea, Egypt, Guatemala, Germany, China, Iran and may more. There were five Americans in all, three of which were native born, but the majority of the group was fluent in English, so that quickly became the language used for speaking among friends. One of the best attributes of the program was the fact that while learning about Japan we were also given the opportunity to speak with so many people from other cultures and traditions. I now have friends from all over the world.
Our mornings and early afternoons were occupied with cultural and language classes, for the first week or so. In the beginning I was definitely overwhelmed by the amount of Japanese being thrown at me, as all Center activities were conducted in Japanese alone, but this is what I came to Japan for. I participated in a number of fun classes including calligraphy and flower arranging. I can’t wait to practice at home.
Our evenings were free for the most part after 3:30. Usually a group of us took the train into Osaka to have dinner and explore the city. We became very good at asking for directions and eventually adept at understanding the answers. This was enjoyable as we got the opportunity to try a variety of Japanese foods and sweets. I must say I have become addicted to something called Ichigo Daifuku, a strawberry wrapped in Mochi, a doughy substance created from grinding a certain variety of rice. This is quite unfortunate as it is not available in the US, so I guess I must learn how to make it.
While in the Osaka area we were also given the opportunity to see a castle, one of many on our trip, and a sumo tournament. The sumo was quite interesting as it is about 95% ceremony and then a quick match ending in either a wrestler on the ground or being tossed out of the ring. Not something I would attend often but very interesting for a first time experience.
During this time I also had the opportunity of a one-night homestay. I joined a Chinese girl from our group in staying with a nice family about half an our from the center. No one in this experience spoke English. A very good thing for me who had been relying on the English speaking abilities of the others to communicate. It was my opportunity to be really immersed in the language, and it did me a lot of good.
On Tuesday we left Osaka to explore the rest of Japan. We visited Nara and Kyoto, seeing about 5 temples in the process. I will have pictures available soon, so I will not try to explain them as words will not suffice to tell of their beauty. Although I must say now that I am not alone in saying that I am a bit templed out.
We also visited Hiroshima which was a very emotional experience. It is one thing to read about something in the textbooks and another thing entirely to see it with your own eyes. I can’t say that I have changed my opinion on the dropping of the atomic bomb, but now I understand more the devastating effect it had on Hiroshima. In respect for the wreckage and as a memorial the Japanese have left one building standing that was near the center of where the bomb landed. It was a dreary raining day when we visited so I was near tears most of the time. The worst point for me was when a kindly Japanese woman seeing that I had separated myself from my group and was quite upset brought me over an umbrella, one that she must have bought for me considering she already had her own. A small act, but one that I will treasure forever. The actual memorial is beautifully done. There is a hollow arc with flowers in front of it. A good distance behind that was an eternal flame and beyond that you could see the ruins of the building left standing, very simple, but very effective. Again, you will have to look at the pictures to fully understand.
After Hiroshima we went to Tokyo where we had our last full day all to ourselves. A friend and I made much use of the subway and saw as much of Tokyo as I believe humanly possible in one day. We returned home at night to say farewell to our new friends with promises to keep in touch and offers of free housing to visitors, offers which I hope someday to have the opportunity to make good on.
Overall it was a wonderful experience. I come out of it being much more comfortable with the language and having a better feel for the culture of Japan. Equally important I now feel I know a little more about the world in general, having several preconciecved notions blown away. I learned of countries I previously knew little about.
-Lis