MONKEY PARK and Return to Toyko
Thursday May 28th, 2009
This morning we left the hotel at 8 am to go the monkey park. We discovered this gem by simply wikipedia-ing Kyoto. Our expectations were low going into this because it just seemed too good to be true. The web-site made it seem like there were no fences and we were just free to be with the monkeys. When we first arrived, we hiked up a hill and kept a sharp eye out for the monkeys. We saw a few in the distance, and all took pictures expecting this to be the best we could see them, we were wrong. We got to the top of the hill and clinging to this small building were about twenty monkeys. We entered the building and were able to get food for the monkeys, and were able to feed them through the fence. It was incredible they would take the food right out of your hand. After all the food was gone, we were able to go out and walk around with the monkeys. We even got pictures of us sitting next to the monkeys on bench. After about an hour of monkey play, we realized that we needed to start heading back so we could catch the bullet train back to Tokyo. The train ride wasn’t very eventful, I just took a much needed nap on the way home. Kyoto was great, but it was awesome coming back to Tokyo. When we were walking back to the Sakura from the train station, it felt like I was walking home. We spent the rest of the day recovering from the trip.
Bank of Japan.
Friday May 29th, 2009
We had a lecture on economics that was interesting, but a little complicated. Afterwards we made our way to the Bank of Japan. They showed a movie, which was somewhat comical. It was about this young Japanese woman who had just discovered the wonderfulness of the Bank of Japan. They showed her the path of money and how the Bank of Japan operates. Afterwards we went on a tour of the bank, and into the old vault. The door was immense, at least three feet thick. They said that it took two men just to move the door. Afterwards we finished up with a lecture, which was a bit dry, but interesting enough. We made our way back to the hotel and had some dinner. We were looking for something to do that night, and we ended up going with the whole group out to Ginza to a 300 yen bar. Upon arriving though the bar was way too crowded, so we ended up going to Hub, a British pub chain. Some of the Japanese students came with us, and it was a lot of fun. Afterwards we made our way back to the train station in time for the last train, which meant that it was incredibly crowded. Darius, Lauren, and myself decided to walk home from Akhibara rather than take the train all the way to Ochinomizu. The walk home was great, we went into an arcade and I spent entirely too much money on a crane game. Not a good idea to play a game that requires depth perception as well as coordination after a night at the bar. We ended the night with 190 yen dumplings, all in all a great night.
Odaiba District.
Saturday May 30th, 2009
Today we went to the Odaiba district. In this man-made island district were museums such as a science museum, the Panasonic museum, as well as huge shopping areas. The science museum was the purpose of the trip, and inside were a lot of Robots and other technical things. We waited thirty minutes for a very anti-climactic virtual reality exhibit. The point was a virtual tour of Tokyo, but one person only had 90 seconds to move around the city, and it was a very poor virtual representation of Tokyo. After the museum, we went to an area that was like a mini Hong Kong for lunch. It was ok, a bit overpriced, but decent. Afterwards, some of the people I was with went to the Panasonic museum, but I wasn’t too interested to Marisa and I went back to the hotel and decided to take a nap in preparation for the night. We decided on another all nighter, since it was out last Saturday in Tokyo. We ended up at this place in Ropongi called club flower. It was not as intense as the club in Shibuya, but the people seemed a lot more down to earth. The music was decent, and the people were a lot more willing to interact. We left the club around 4 and decided to get some food. We went to this burger place, and spent the time there until we could get on the first train back. It was a good night, I had more fun at this place than at the last club.
Recovery
Sunday May 31st, 2009
Today was all about recover from the night. We slept until around two and decided to go out and get some lunch. We ended up eating at subway, my first experience with this since my arrival there. I had a teriyaki chicken sub, which was good, not the same as the states, but still good. Afterwards we attempted to go shopping, but the downpour stopped us. We waited at subway for a while, hoping for the rain to break but it didn’t. We sprinted back in the rain, not fun in sandals. We hung out with some of the Japanese students in the lobby of the Sakura for a bit, but decided to call it an early night, and to watch old school. It was a good day to recharge the batteries. I am only in Tokyo for another three days so I am sure that this will be the last quiet night that I will be having here.
Monday June 1st, 2009.
Today we had a lecture by Professor Kikuchi on local governance. It was a very interesting lecture, and the Professor was a very nice and intelligent man. It was defiantly one of the best lectures that we had up to this point. After the lecture we went to Asasuska, which is a more traditional Japanese district. This is the second time that I was there, so I had already seen the whole main area. So I decided to wander down some of the side streets. I found a place that served Fugu, and decided that I wanted to tell Aaron about it because I figured he would want to try it. I had no desire to try it at first, but the more I thought about it the more I decided that I wanted to try it. It actually tasted pretty good, and gave this tingly feeling in the roof of my mouth for a bit. After the fugu, I went back to the Hotel and got ready for the dinner with Professor Kikuchi and some of the Business majors at Meiji. The dinner was really good, and I really like the students that were there. At the end of the dinner, I got all of the students contact information so we could see each other before the end of the trip. Since we are leaving in a few days I hope that it is possible. Afterwards, we went to Akhibara for some late night video games. I walked over because there wasn’t enough room in the cab, but I am really glad I got the chance. It was nice to be alone in Tokyo, with my I pod on. I really enjoyed the walk, and was able to meet up with them there. We played some video games and then headed back to the hotel.
Tuesday June 2nd, 2009
We had our final lecture today from Professor Nakamura, and just as last time, it was a great lecture. He is a great lecturer, entertaining as well as extremely intelligent. After the final lecture we went to Kamakura, a different prefecture outside of Tokyo. It was incredible, we had to take four trains to get there, but I saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time. We saw a few of temples when we were in Kamakura as well. One of the temples had a hundreds of miniature statues and other types of shrines. While we were at the first temple, there was this hawk that kept swooping down around us. It was the closest that a hawk has ever gotten to me. After we went to the first shrine, we went to the second largest Buddha in the world. I enjoyed it more than the largest Buddha. It was out doors and you were actually able to go inside the Buddha. We left Kamakura and had a long ride back to the hotel. That night we decided to head to Doma Doma for last time. It was a good farewell a place that we frequented. After the restaurant we went back to the hotel, we have an exam tomorrow.
Wednesday June 3rd, 2009
Today we had our final open note exam. It wasn’t terrible, but I don’t think I did as well as I thought I could have. After the exam, since I had all of my shopping taken care of I went back to the hotel to take a nap for the farewell party, since I wasn’t feeling great from the night before. When everyone got back from shopping we showered and went to the farewell party. The party got kind of emotional, the speeches that the Japanese and American students gave were all really touching. Going into this trip, I knew that I was going to make good friends, both Japanese and American, but I never expected to get this close to them in a month. Looking back on the time that I spent here its crazy to think that in a month, I’ve made friends as good as the ones that I have. After the dinner a group of students as well as a few of the Japanese students went out to the same bar. We all sang karaoke with all of the Japanese students. It was really fun, and afterwards we all went out to a second karaoke bar with more of the Japanese supporters. It was a blast, it got to be around 2 o’clock in the morning and I decided that I had enough. I said my good byes and called it a night. I had a long flight the next day, and flying completely hung over is not fun.
Thursday June 4th, 2009
I am now back in America after an incredibly long flight, which in real time took only three hours. The good byes in the morning were incredibly emotional; I was on the verge of tears for a lot of it. When we were driving away on the bus, seeing the Meiji students crying as the bus went past was almost too much. There was no room on the bus for the any of the Japanese students to come with us, except for Mika. When we arrived at the air port we were waited for a little bit there, and Ryohei and Daisuke surprised us to send us off. It was awesome that they came to see us off, but I feel bad that they had to go all the way out there. The flight wasn’t as bad as the first time, but it was still long. Now that I am back home, its starting to hit me that I will never have the same experience that I had in Japan ever again. I made some great life long friends here, and plan on keeping in touch with them. I cant wait until they come to visit in August, and when Ryohei and Daisuke come to visit in September.
