Although I`ve been in Nagoya for nearly three months now, it is still hard to believe that everything that I`ve been doing up until now is finally being put to some use. It would be impossible to note how many times something has happened, or I went somewhere and I thought `I`ve read about this,` or `I saw this online.` It makes things all the more special…especially alongside amazing people!

I feel the peak of this semester was the IES sponsored trip to Kyoto. Tokyo and Kyoto tend to be the standout cities for Japan, so of course it was going to be amazing. We receive the itineraries beforehand, so I already knew what the highlights were going to be before I got there: riding in a rickshaw and Geisha. Of course there were also temples and the like, but it is getting to the point where you`ve seen one, and you`ve seen them all. The historical impact of reconstructed buildings is not as thrilling as experiencing culture first hand. But that doesn`t mean they don`t make great pictures

As usual we stayed overnight at a traditional inn and ate the fancier of Japanese foods. It was a little difficult to eat, however, since the Geiko and Maiko came to perform. Being the tourist I am, I spent most of my time holding my camera instead of my chopsticks. I could not believe that everything I read and saw in Memoirs of a Geisha was playing out in front of me. The hair, the makeup, her walk and poise, the way she smized at me; I don`t think I`ve ever been so star struck.

 After they danced they poured drinks, chatted and played games with us. They used the Kyoto accent and so some words I didn`t understand at first, but they sounded so lovely and light. For example, Thank You in standard Japanese is Arigatou, but in the Kyoto style, it becomes Ookini.

The next day, we went to Arashiyama (Storm Mountain, so epic) and wandered around. Apparently the bamboo forest nearby is the same forest that was featured in Memoirs of a Geisha. Just hit two birds with one stone that weekend.

The rickshaw ride was really weird and fun. I felt bad that this skinny guy had to pull us around and even more awkward when Japanese people started taking pictures of us and staring more than usual. But our guy was really nice and kind of cute, so it was all worth it!

This Kyoto trip has really been the peak for the semester.. Kyoto itself is amazing, but finals and projects are coming up, so it is time to really buckle down and get real work done.

Location: Kyoto, Japan