Finally Heat and Deer hit us!

Finally hot and humid weather hit us today.  City subway and Kintetsu Train protected us from the heat during the ride for about an hour, but as soon as we began walking...  sweat sweat sweat.....

Many Deer in the Nara Park welcomed us and some of us feed deer with deer cookies!

World Largest Wooden building was housing a giant Buddha statue and greeted us with smile.

About the dozen of our group lost GTS and eneded up going back to the Nara Station by themselves while GTS took the rest of the group to the Kasuga Grand Shrine and Sarusawa Pond where so many turtles enjoyed swimming!

We were reunited on the shopping street near the train station from which we were headed back to Kyoto!

Yasaka Shrine to Kiyomizu-temple!

Right after the class, we moved to Senbon Imadegawa around where everyone eat lunch.  The city bus 201 took us from there to Yasaka Shrine (Gion) directly and our hike began that Shrine. 

Behind the shrine is Maruyama Park which is famous for the Cherry Tree.  We walk from Maruyama Park to Kodai-ji Temple, two-year slope, three-year slope and then to Kiyomizu Temple and Jishu Shrine.

Very cloudy and I was afraid of having rain but we could manage without raining and with rather comfortably cool weather!

So far So good!

Silver Pavilion w/ Philosopher's Trail

After having lunch in the school area, we were headed to the Silver Pavilion, which isn't quite decorated with silver.  Most famous Kyoto Scholars studied in Kyoto University near the Silver Pavilion and philosophers did philosophise around this area.

It is the beginning point of the Philosopher's Trail where you might find fireflies at night!  Our walk was eneded in the middle of the trail but the spirit continued to walk along the path.

The Silver Pavilion was built by the Yoshimasa, the grandson of Yoshimitsu who built the Golden Pavilion we visied yesterday!

No rain, not too hut, it was another perfect day!

Phoenix on top of the Golden Pavilion smiles on us!

Cloudy weather during this rainy season is so far helping us!  We could walk quite a bit fairly comfortably as it is not as hot nd humid as usual! 

We ate lunch at the different college cafeteria before heading to the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji Temple). 

Golden Pavilion with its Phoenix on its rooftop was standing and shining under the sun!  Still at the beginning of the program and everyone seems to enjoy the new environment though some also seem to have so-called culture shock and make some effort to adjust themselves to the new culture!

The Rock Garden Rocks!

Little rain in the morning stopped nicely before the afternoon excursion.  It is getting hotter and more humid without doubt.  Today is the monthly flea market day at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in front of the Language school and it was lively and busy all day long.

We avoided getting involved with it as another 25th day is coming in July before we return to the US and were heading to the Rock Garden.  Before getting to the Ryoanji temple (The Rock Garden) we had a lunch at the Ritsumeikan University Cafeteria.

After visiting the Rock Garden, many, indeed, returned to the flea market to explore more.  The weather is holding nice and some cool air refresh us from time to time.

Tigers Won in front of us!

Our study abroad group went to the Koshien Stadium as spectators for the Ball Game, Tigers vs. Bay Stars. Bay Stars got a run in the first inning but Tigers veteran player, Kanemoto's three run Home run began shutting up the game!

Nice perfect weather for day game pleased us as well!  Students had a good chance to compare Japan and USA in the field of professional baseball!

By the time we begin next week schooling, everyone should normalize his or her routine life out of Jet Lag!

Weather Completely Recovered!

Though raining early in the morning by the time the class begins this morning, blue sky gradually got spread!  We went to Ritsumeikan University to have lunch at its one of several cafeterias!  It was cheap and good. 

Our students were having some trouble to get what they wanted but it was the lesson to get some food!  University is still in session so we saw a lot of students including many foreign students as well.

As weather got recovered, we will be heading to Koshien Ball Park to become one of the excited spectators for the day game of Tigers vs Bay Stars tomorrow!

First day of the schooling went well!

We were lucky yesterday without rain but today wasn't.  Not heavy but light rain continued all day long as we are in the rainy season.

Everyone found his or her way from the host family to the Academy without fail.  After the placement test, the first class began with worry and expectation.

After school, we went to the center of the city, Shijo Kawaramachi Shinkyogoku (四条河原町、新京極) to see what the center of the city is like.

GTS truly hope that the rain will stop and the sun began show up soon, at least, by Saturday Professional Baseball game!

Study Abroad Japan 2012 BEGAN!

Everyone got together at about 5am at the departure gate for the first flight from Chicago to Minneapolis.  It left on time and arrived on time for the second flight heading to Seattle!  The connection of DELTA was more than perfect!  Our flight reached to the gate next to the gate for flight to Kansai, Japan.

Everyone was quite happy and we met many elementary school kids from Alaska heading Japan!
In comparison to the former flight (which was still Northwest), Delta seemed to make some improvement.

We got to Osaka Kansai International Airport on time and went through immigration and custom very quickly without any problems.  Personally last time we used Kansai Airport was 5 years ago but I am thinking to use it again in future.

Everyone got to Japanese School around 7:30pm and host families picked up assigned students right away.

Well, hope everyone makes it tomorrow morning!

We will be on our way to Japan in 3 days!

The departure date is now approaching very quickly.  As GTS is returning to Chicago from Slat Lake City, UT working as a leadership of AP JAPANESE Scoring team, he will be leading 2012 Study Abroad Japan Group to Japan. in a couple of days.

Every preparation in Kyoto, including Schooling, Home-Staying, Daily Activity Prep, is ready to begin.  Every student should be excited to plunge into the new world!  We are hoping that the weather during the long flight is cooperative as well as during the entire program.

Stay tuned for daily event!

June JCC/GTS Dinner went well with Rina!

The final GTS/JCC dinner night was held Yesterday with a dozen people and 3-year old Rina, GTS' daughter!  Due to the busy schedule of GTS, a couple of dinners last two months were skipped and finally we re-united with jokes, smiles, discussions, and talks.

As GTS will go to Salt Lake City, UT for AP Japanese Scoring next two weeks and to Japan for the following 6 weeks, our dinner will only resume in September 7th (Friday).

Hope everyone gets a nice summer time.  This blog page will be updated everyday during our summer program in Kyoto!!