Tsukimashita. I've arrived.
Greetings from Japan! For many of you, I am writing this entry from 14 hours in the future. Sugoi, ne?
After arriving in Nagoya by plane, the IES group spent four days at a ryokan in Inuyama ("dog mountain"), which is basically a traditional Japanese inn/resort. It was a really nice way to get to know Japan, the people in the study abroad group, and to deal with the horrid jetlag.
I have been relatively adventurous so far, starting by watching a chick flick on the plane ride over. At the ryokan, we were served a lot of traditional Japanese food I hadn't had before, including sea snail, whole cooked fish (head and tail included), and an assortment of other things I didn't recognize and thought best not to inquire about.
Trips included going to the Inuyama Castle, which is one of the oldest remaining in Japan - most were destroyed by fire or bombs. We also got to see cormorant fishing, where they leash birds to boats and use them to catch fish. The trick is how you tie off their necks - you want them to be able to swallow the small fish, but have the large fish get stuck in their craw, so you can force it out. No PETA here, it seems.
The best experience so far is the hot springs, which is something like a glorified bath - and a lot more public. The Japanese really know how to relax.
I just arrived at my host family's house and have a placement exam tomorrow. More later ...
After arriving in Nagoya by plane, the IES group spent four days at a ryokan in Inuyama ("dog mountain"), which is basically a traditional Japanese inn/resort. It was a really nice way to get to know Japan, the people in the study abroad group, and to deal with the horrid jetlag.
I have been relatively adventurous so far, starting by watching a chick flick on the plane ride over. At the ryokan, we were served a lot of traditional Japanese food I hadn't had before, including sea snail, whole cooked fish (head and tail included), and an assortment of other things I didn't recognize and thought best not to inquire about.
Trips included going to the Inuyama Castle, which is one of the oldest remaining in Japan - most were destroyed by fire or bombs. We also got to see cormorant fishing, where they leash birds to boats and use them to catch fish. The trick is how you tie off their necks - you want them to be able to swallow the small fish, but have the large fish get stuck in their craw, so you can force it out. No PETA here, it seems.
The best experience so far is the hot springs, which is something like a glorified bath - and a lot more public. The Japanese really know how to relax.
I just arrived at my host family's house and have a placement exam tomorrow. More later ...
posted by James at
2:44 AM
6 Comments:
James:
You. Look. Hot.
I bet that guy in the middle is a hit with the Japanese.
i had a book about fishing boats like that when i was little! except it was about a duck named Ping who got lost from his family. i loved that book. *sigh*
I had that book about Ping too!
I remember Ping. ^_^
I think I might have read that book ... it's been a while. I remember more the five Chinese brothers who each had a special power. Or was it four brothers?
Thanks, Luke. ;-)
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