SimplyAllyTea

I woke up at 6:20, but laid in till 6:35ish. I want to have a day where I can sleep in for a good 10 hours, but that would a total waste of my time in Japan! For breakfast I had the mighty toast and eggs once again! (Thank the lord I don't grow sick of bread nor eggs).

Today was semi-important day, because I had to take a quiz that would determine if I could be moved up to the next Japanese level here in Ritsumeikan. I felt pretty good about the exam, so hopefully they move me up...because i have missed about a week of class already...UGH.

Anyways, the quiz came and went along with class. For lunch I made myself another bento (cause money). It was spaghetti with tomato sauce, awkwardly cut cheese and a random boiled egg.

The excursion for today was Taiko drums. A Japanese form of drumming. And we were able to attend a class and learn to play a bit. (I only got one blister thanks to my years as a percussionist). It was extremely fun! I shared a drum with Mitch and Elaine and we drummed together. Also, Franz broke two drum sticks and the teachers congratulated him on they job. (A++ for Franz).

After the Taiko excursion Maho, Hikaru, Franz, Pam and I went karaoke. It was a two hour long session and it was oodles of fun. Karaoke is completely different from the States. In the States if you want to karaoke you either sing at a party of some sort or find some random bar with a karaoke night. Karaoke is really big in Japan, there are tons of buildings, floors and stores just dedicated to karaoke. During our karaoke I bought a cream soda float and for some odd reason it was green.

I was really surprised by how much I sang in the karaoke room, My throat hurts a little. As you may already know I really love CardCaptor Sakura, it is one of my all time favorite animes/manga/series. So I looked up the songs from the anime's opening theme to see if I could sing them. because when I was younger I actually knew the songs in Japanese pretty decently. To my surprise, I still knew the songs very well. They are stored somewhere in my long-term memory. Maho and Hikaru were so surprised and amused by me. I was singing in Japanese. It was insane...also...opening theme songs for animes are a lot shorter than the actual song themselves and the song offered in karaoke was the full length. I sightread a bunch of Japanese words and I did pretty well (one of my proudest moments).

By the end of the session all four of us were extremely hungry and went out to eat. We ate Omurice at a restaurant called Pomme. Omurice is a egg and rice dish where you wrap an omelet typing thing around some rice and then drown it in some sort of sauce. I got one with shittake (mushrooms) and it was so good, but it was a lot of food and I did not finish it.

We stayed in the restaurant for an extra two hours because the four of us and two of Hikaru and Maho's friends showed up (their names escape me). Believe it or not, I am actually getting better at Japanese...or at least I think/hope I am. I at least feel more comfortable speaking it and more comfortable screwing up. And all the buddies are so sweet that they always correct you and try to make sense of you badly worded sentences. They are all precious.

Also, Hikaru wants to host a Alligator Pyjama party in Miami when she visits. She has an obsession with alligators, and I don't know how to explain to her how dangerous they are. And Maho will be doing study abroad in Orlando next year, so she will also be coming to my house too! They both want to try arepas (be ready to feed cute Japanese girls mom!)

I think my sleep deprivation is finally catching up to me. Today I was suppose to get up at 6:20 once again, but I had a lie in till 6:40 because I could not get my eyes to stay open. It was bound to happen eventually, but I hate feeling so bleh in the mornings.

Today has been one of my less exciting days. I had class from 9:10-12:00. (I also slept on Riley's shoulder on the bus ride to school because I need a few more minutes of rest). Only groups A and B had an excursion today. Tomorrow it will be my turn to play on the taiko drums since I am group C. After class ended I hopped back on a bus and returned to the accommodations with Franz and Chess. The bus so crowded that I thought I was going to die of a heat stroke, due to the warmth of the amount of bodies in that tiny space!

Originally, I was going to visit Nijo Castle by myself because Franz was going to go to a Cat Cafe.(I am allergic to cats) I was totally fine with going by myself, especially since I was in Tokyo by myself for three very long days. Last minute, Chess and Franz decided to join me (mostly because they had nothing better to do).

Before heading to Nijo castle we made a quick stop to a bakery Komura-sensei recommended us called Croix-Rousse. There I ate a melon bread, but the one from Seiyu is beating all the melon breads I have eaten so far.

Then we headed off to Nijo Castle (It was about 3 bus stops away). The castle was originally built in 1603 as the official Kyoto residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun, Ieyasu. It was completed in 1626 by the third Tokugawa Shogun, Iemitsu. Nijo castle is an example of early Edo period and Momoyama culture in Japan. This is because it makes splendid use of early Edo period building designs, lavish paintings, and carvings that Iemitsu commissioned. By 1867 the castle became the property of the Imperial family and by 1939 it was donated to the City of Kyoto. It is considered a national treasure of Japan.

It sucked that I could not record or photograph the inside of the Ninomaru Palace (where the Shogun lived), it was so beautiful. The painting that lavished the walls of the main rooms were restorations but I was able to later visit the gallery exhibition where they had the original wall painting by Kano School. It was exhilarating walking the same halls that the Shogun and many historical figures of Japan once roamed. It almost felt surreal.

Something really cool about the Palace is its corridors. When one walks on the corridor of the Ninomaru Palace, it chirps. This floor design is called a Nightingale floor. This type of floor was used in order to catch any assassins who tried to assassinate the Shogun. Also, we had to take off our shoes and put them in little cubicles before stepping into the Palace. (My socks got dirty). Once we finished touring around Ninomaru Palace we took a stroll around the Ninomaru Garden, and here I could take as many pictures as my heart desired (along with videos).

It only took about an hour to tour around the Nijo Castle. It was so beautiful. I pass it everyday on the way to school and now when I pass it I will have it's beauty appear in my memory. Which is bloody fantastic.

After Nijo we went to eat pizza at the hispter place again in Sanjo-dori and then returned to the accommodations to study, because if I do very well on the quiz I will be able to move up a class.

Something I do not like about Japan is that everything closes so early, by 4 or 5 most major sites are close and many mom and pop stores also begin to close. I feel sorry for those who have work and get off around that time and can't really go anywhere because everything is pretty much close.

My day was suppose to begin at 6:20 but I stayed in bed till 6:30ish. I don't know why, but this morning I was so tired that later I had a hard time staying awake in class! (I even slept on the bus to Ritsumeikan!). For breakfast I had leftover pancakes and scrambled eggs. (At least it wasn't toast). On the way to school I saw the most beautiful flowers, but I do not know if it is okay to pick flowers in Japan.

Class went on, and the only thing I have learnt so far has been that I actually know a lot more kanji than I give myself credit for. I really hope I get bumped up soon, because I want to learn new things so I can use during my time here in Kyoto.

For lunch I brought my own little bento box. I had honey glazed salmon and some rice (which I made the night prior), along with some milk tea (that I did not finished because it got warm) and melon pan I had sitting inside the fridge. I also bought Japanese sweets. It was peach gummies and a pudding (aka flan) tart.

After lunch I had to sit through the most boring lecture about Japanese Pop Culture, it was have been interesting if it were relevant, but it wasn't. It just talked about a bunch of statistics from like 2003. I ended up doodling in my pamphlet (because I was sitting in the back). Later, I learnt that Hikaru and Mahou were watching draw the whole lecture (they were also extremely bored).

Once, the most annoying and boring lecture of human and Japanese history finished. Hikaru, Mahou and Mayu led me and a bunch of people from the study abroad group to Arashiyama. Arashimaya is very famous for the bamboo forest that they have.

On the way there I realised how great Hikaru and Mahou are, and I also realised how much more I am speaking Japanese! Hikaru is going to Florida in September to be part of the Disney College Program and I promised her that I was going to visit her in EPCOT Japan. I have also invited a bunch of people to come to Miami and stay with me. (Mitch, Elaine, Jay, Mayu, Shihou, Hikaru and Mahou, but not all at the same time. Duh!)

Arashiyama's bamboo forest was so beautiful that no picture I could take could capture its beauty. I want to return when there is no people that way I can capture it's beauty correctly.

Left to right: Mayu, Me, Mahou, Chess

After walking around in the bamboo forest Hikaru and Mahou led us to their favorite ice cream shop in Arashiyama. It was a gelato store called Sinpachi. There I had a green tea gelato that had sweet bean paste and two pieces of dango. The dango was gross ( I have come to realise that I do not like dango), but everything else was super delicious.

We were suppose to go to Iwatayama Monkey Park as well, but the time we decided to go it was 10 minutes to closing. Tomorrow hopefully Franz, Chess and I go to the park.

After a while we said goodbye to the buddies and hopped on a bus to our accommodations. I also dragged Mitch along even though he lives in Nijo rather than Hirokawa. (He hangs with us because he hates his roommate much like Franz dislikes his own). Mitch and I wanted to eat fish, but Chess and Franz did not. So, we went out separate ways, Mitch, Michelle, Pam and I went to find a restaurant that served grilled fish. The one we wanted to try was not open yet so we headed back into Sanjo-dori market and ate a Chinese places that is ALWAYS full. And after eating there I understand why...it was the best Chinese food I have ever eaten...ever. ( I ate Chinese food in Japan...A+ for me)

What we did was that each one of us bought a dish and then we shared. We had: fried rice, crab miso steamed buns, fried chicken, and shrimp noodles. It was so great, I wish the Chinese food in the States was this amazing. Also the steam buns were made on the spot, so they were super soft and warm!

As I was returning to the accommodations, Franz and Chess were heading out to find corn meal once again...and I got dragged along.

But! We found corn meal, which means...AREPAS! The corn meal is yellow rather than white so the arepas that I made came out tasting a bit strange. Hopefully in a couple of hours when I call my mom she can help me how to make arepas.

Today I woke up at 9:30 and lazied around till 10. Sleep is a great thing. I made pancakes for breakfast and they were so American that I felt like I was back home. Around noon I headed off to a baseball game. It was Ritsumeikan against some other university.

Baseball is the only sport I completely understand thanks to my dad, but Japanese baseball is something else. At least Japanese University baseball, omg.

First of all, they had cheerleaders! I always thought cheerleaders were only an American thing. Also, they had a pep band! (the musician in me was so excited!!) It was the most culturally shock thing ever, because it was not like regular pep bands and cheerleaders. The cheerleaders were in the crowd all the time rather than tumbling around on the field or just sitting around like in America. There were also spirit people. and they would switch with the cheerleaders and do really wear stances and motions, it was so weird but so amusing to watch! (Franz and I plan to return to another game and this time we plan to sit closer so I can record the spirit people).

I have never been to a game were the whole crowd was so into it (the Japanese really do love their baseball). Every player had their own specific fight song, which was the cutest thing ever! Every time a new batter (from the Ritsumeikan team) would go up to bat the crowd would sing, play and cheer a new song. Franz and I caught up that every player had their own song when they all re-batted. Then when the pitchers pitched they both had their own fight songs. The pitcher for Ritsumeikan was Ishikawa until he was injured, when he was batting the pitcher of the opposing team hit his throwing arm. Then we had Azuma. Also...the cheerleaders had their faces (Ishikawa and Azuma) plastered on a cardboard and would lift it up to the crowd as they cheered them on and sang their fight song. Defiantly nothing like the states.

Unfortunately, Ritsumeikan lost. But, the other school cheated! Not only did they injured Ritsumeikan's star pitcher, but they also there was unfair run. Ritsumeikan caught the ball while it was still airborne and the other school got to home base and they scored, but they shouldn't have since RU caught the damn ball! That run made them become tie, so they had to go into another inning. (College baseball only has 9), they got all away till 11th and the other school scored a run.

After the game we, Franz, Michelle, Joe and I, hopped on a bus and went back to Sanjo-dori, There I forced everyone to eat linner (lunch/dinner) in the first Japanese restaurant I saw. It was a choice out a whim, I really wanted fish and the moment I saw the kanji for fish on an outside menu and immediately enter and made everyone else follow me. It was actually really good and cheap good. Everyone thanked me on my random choice. I had grilled fish, rice, miso soup and mixed greens. All for about 5 USD.

Then we went to Sanjo-dori market (again) and Michelle purchased: honey, eggs, butter, garlic, and bread. I bought: ice cream, green tea kit-kat and two peppers. Afterwards we returned to our accommodations because we all had homework to finish.

My day began at 8:30ish, but I tried to sleep go back to sleep for an extra half hour because my roommate forgot her key and needed me to open the door for her the night before (she returned at 3am….so I slept for about five hours…maybe?). For breakfast I made a saltless omelet and toast. (eggs and bread are a reoccurring thing in my life).

Franz and Chess came over and helped me put on the kimono I put on a couple of days ago. It was mission and a half; even YouTube couldn’t help us! So we decided to visit the shop where Chess and I originally bought our kimonos, and we also needed socks and sandals.

When we arrived to Sanjo-dori the owner of the store was kind enough to help us straighten out our kimonos. She told us that we did a pretty decent job for it being our first time tying an obi (and by our I mean Franz, he tied both our obis).

At Sanjo-dori we met up with Mitch. Mitch is also part of the Japanese summer program. He is from Oklahoma and an architecture major. He accompanied us to Gion district where I had my maiko transformation at the Aya Studio.

A maiko is an apprentice Geisha, they are the ones with the full-face white make-up and the decked out kimono with the really long sleeves. When I found out that dressing up like a maiko was a thing in Kyoto I was really excited! I did so much research finding the right place that will be worth the money. I had my appointment booked for about 2 months in advanced.

The studio was in an old traditional Japanese house, I think it was once a teahouse, but I am not exactly sure. Anyways we got there and they allowed Chess, Franz and Mitch enter and made them wait in the waiting while I went to get my make-up done.

Getting my maiko make-up done was an experience, there were a lot more steps than I anticipated. It began with the maiko lady wiping my face with baby to wipe any make-up or dirt. Then she put a waxy base, according to her it is to keep the make-up from running if I started to sweat. After the wax was all over my face she got a brush and dipped it in the famous white paint and began at my neck.

The paint was very smooth, it felt like someone was drawing on me (and it was kinda true). The maiko side of the maiko transformation cannot be filled because there are women there in flimsy bathrobes and it would be rude to film half-naked women. Anyways, after the white make-up was covering my neck and face, I looked like a ghost or demon that came straight out of the grudge. I always wondered what maiko used to not look like ghosts and the answer is: baby pink paint. I was really surprised when the lady began brushing pink paint on my face, but it made sense, because it gave me colour (slightly). After the pink paint was applied the make-up artist patted my face dry with white powder and blended the pink into the white (which was totally weird).

Once my face was matted and dry she began my eyebrows. First she filled them in with red and then later retraced them with black. I had never had such nice eyebrows in my life! Next she did my eyes and did the same steps, first red and then black, the made my already small eyes even smaller. Same with my mouth, when she applied the liquid red lipstick she made my small lips even smaller. This is because the whole idea of petite features is what is deemed attractive in Japanese women.

Next was the wig. Part of my hair was attached into the wig with bobby pins and then the wig was kinda sewed into my hair. Quite literally, and it gave me a headache the whole time I had it on. The sections of my hair that became part of the wig were waxed and spray painted black.

This was finished product:

Then I was led upstairs along with Chess, Franz and Mitch where six layers worth of kimono were put on me. After I was fully dressed I was led to the studio area where I got some professional shots taken in different maiko poses.

The maiko experience packaged that I chose included a 60-minute walking plan where I could walk around the Gion district as a fully decked out maiko! It was super fun and I got stopped a couple times because people wanted to take pictures with me, because they thought I was the legit thing. (I avoided speaking English to try to keep it convincing). We walked on Nenenomichi street and visited the koudaji temple. The koudaji temple was built in memorial of all the nameless soldiers who died in battle during world war II. We would have explored it a lot more but I was not about to walk a bunch of stairs in really tall wooden okobo shoes and a 6-8 layered kimono! I got some pictures taken by my friend Franz, they turned okay, the problem is that he switched the camera setting from automatic (I set it up for him this way) to manual and pictures came out of focused, under exposed or over exposed. Hopefully I can salvage them with photoshop and lightroom!

When the maiko experience finally ended, the ladies from Aya Studio helped me back into my own kimono, but it was funny because they did not how to tie it. I had three different ladies come into the dressing room and help me put it on. The thing is that they are trained to put on the kimonos they have in stock not random ones. But I am super grateful that they were willing to help put on the kimono on. After it all was all done I saw that Elaine was in the waiting room with Chess, Franz and Mitch. All five of us got on a bus and headed back to Sanjo-dori. There we went to Sanjo Market and ate pizza.

Then we walked all away to Ninjiki district where I finally decided to purchase Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone in Japanese. Chess bought a bunch of Japanese manga, but Chess can read Japanese 10x more than I can. By the time were leaving the book store by feet were killing me because I was still wearing my wooden sandals (couii). Chess, Franz, Mitch and I strolled around the Ninshiki mall that I was previously at with Riley and Michelle not too long ago. There Chess purchased two more yukatas, Franz bought clothes for a friend, Mitch bought himself so socks and I bought myself a Cardcaptor Sakura Anniversary badge (I also bought the special edition manga too, but I was strong and I didn’t…yay me).

Around 9ish all the store began closing down and all of us headed back to Sanjo-dori to drop off Mitch at Seed in Nijo (which is in Sanjo Market). Also, Franz needed to stop by Fresco to buy some more groceries. Fresco is like a Wal-mart. There I bought some beef croquets (because I was super hungry) and some sushi. I would show a picture of the croquets but I ate them on the walk back to the accommodations. I also bought: salt, cinnamon, and flour (guess who is making pancakes tomorrow!).

Then…I got locked out my room. I am currently writing this post in this post in Chess’ room because I got locked out of my room as I walked Chess out the door (They had left their shoes in my room) and my hand slipped and the door shut on me…my key was inside. I texted Michelle (my roommate) to see where she was and she said she was out eating and did not know when she was coming back. I was super angry, but more to myself for screwing up so majorly.

But it worked it because she came back at a reasonable time.

Like days prior, my day began at 6am. I woke up, made breakfast, skyped my parents and headed to Ritsumeikan. I am still in the wrong Japanese class and I spoke to the professor of the next class and she said that by next week I can MAYBE switch. I do not know how I feel about this, because two lessons have passed and I do not want to miss anymore. Reviewing grammar that I have previously learnt is great and all, but I want to learn more grammar in order to speak and write Japanese more fluently.

I did not eat lunch today for two reasons:

1) Riley was suppose to show me how to order food in the cafeteria, but he disappeared on me and left to eat sushi with Jun and Sumire (two buddies from the program). I was going to return to Franz and Chess, but they disappeared on me too. I did not know if I could split a 10000 yen bill at the store front that sells bentos so I bought a melon bread with the 200 yen I had in my coin purse and that essentially was my lunch

2) A certain situation was being blown out of proportion and it was making really anxious (and sick to my stomach).

So my lunch was: sweet bread. (I know, bad, don't get mad at me. But I did not want to handle anything alone so I a bought cheap bread and fled)

During lunch time fancy face sat with us and everyone but me spoke to him because I am ashamed of my really bad Japanese. According to him it is really good, but that is like the second biggest lie of the century. I speak like a two year old.

After lunch we headed to an excursion to Kiyomizu for pottery. Kiyomizu-yaki origins to the 5th century, and has evolved and changed over many centuries. Now Kiyomizu-yaki is often associated with the old pottery market which still exists on the hill leading to Kyoto's famous Kiyomizu Temple. We were giving the opportunity to mend and mold pieces of clay into cups or bowls ( I made a cup ) and we will receive it at the completion ceremony.

I was so grateful that I had taken a pottery class in high school where I learnt some basic techniques to properly make things. ( And how to not get dirty!)

Once we finished our pottery, Franz, Chess, Michelle, Joe, Hikaru and Haruka and I went to visit the Kiyomizu Temple. It was filled with students from Japanese schools and tourists. Between Meiji and Kiyomizu I prefer Kiyomizu. It was so beautiful and breath-taking. I got to see and enter three different temples, drink mountain water and crash into the rock of love.

There was a temple we entered and it was pitch black and we had to find some stone and touch it in order to make a wish. It was so scary, it was dark and cold, and we had to be barefoot! Thankfully Hikaru was brave enough to take the lead and lead us through. I wish I had recorded it because we were all screaming and freaking out in Japanese and there got a point that Hikaru yelled, "Stop pushing me!". Because we were all trying to get through the temple as quick as we could we were all kinda pushing each other in order to quickly exit.

Towards the end of the touring around the temple I was starting to get really dizzy and I knew why. I was starving and I needed actual food in my stomach ASAP. (Sadly I would not eat till 8pm). I found some interesting rice cracker with sugar that was 120 yen, it was called sarame. It was harder than I expected it to be and it was not enough to sustain me. At the time I did not know if we were going to go somewhere and eat at a restaurant . (We didn't).

I also bought a soft served matcha flavour. It was so weird, super sugary matcha was not something I thought I'd try. I am not exactly sure how I feel about the sugary matcha, it felt to wrong on my taste buds, but at the same time I was so delighted by it. I am 50/50 with it as of now. I must try it again to make sure of my final answer.

We took a bus back to Sanjo-dori around 5ish, because everything in Kiyomizu was beginning to close for the day. The whole time I was hoping we would stop somewhere for actual food, but once we got to the accommodations Chess, Franz and I went to the Sanjo-dori shopping street to visit the second-hand kimono shop to buy shoes for our trip Gion. Sadly, it was close so we have to return Saturday morning before we head off to Gion for my Maiko transformation reservation. But we did stop by a super market because Franz needed to buy chicken. And I bought matcha chocolate chip cookies and matcha pudding.

When I finally returned to my room I made pasta with butter and egg. I also had the godly apple juice and ate the matcha pudding from above. No real Japanese meals for me today...sadly.

For a bit I had Franz and Chess over in my room as we attempted to make a candy that I found in one of the food stores. Watch the video towards the end and watch us make the strange candy. It is quite amusing.

Japan | Taiko, Karaoke and Omurice

Japan | Nijo Castle

Japan | Arashiyama

Japan | Ritsumeikan Baseball Game

Japan | Maiko experience

Japan | Kiyomizu Pottery and Temple

Hi There, I am Ally M.G

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