And I thought I would have more free time…

It didn’t really sink in that I would be having class three hours a day five days a week once I got here ><

Outside of class we’re always busy. The program has a lot of planned and optional trips for us, so free time is pretty scarce. This weekend we’re going to Nikko, a good spot for onsen (hot springs). And where there are onsen, there are Japanese monkeys, the kind of creepy ones with red faces who chill/broil in the onsen all winter.

Last weekend we went to Kamakura. It was fun seeing the area in a different season. I also got a chance to eat some sweet potato ice cream. It tasted like lucky charms, in a totally delicious and addictive way! Worth splurging 3 bucks on a tiny cone. Also, because of the time of year, everywhere is blossoming ‘ajisai’. This is a new word I learned because in June/July Japan is in a hydrangea frenzy. They were even selling candies packaged to look like ajisai. And yes, I had to look up the English word because I had no idea what the flower was just by looking at it. So much for my knowledge of botanicals. We also visited the beach in Kamakura. It wasn’t really a sunny day, but my group dipped our legs in the water and avoided the skydiving sea hawks. These birds are creepy! I watched one take some girls lunch bread in one swoop. I also had an encounter with one at Sea World last time I was here, but I’m way protective of my pastries and other food products ^_^

On a side note, I can’t go a day without seeing a Japanese person wearing crocs! It kind of gives me the hibbie jibbies. And as Japanese people like cute little accessories, they have all the holes filled with things. I’ve passed two or three stores crowded with people trying to buy these ‘hip’, foreign sandals. I guess it’s kind of fun seeing a little slice of Boulder, CO walking the streets of Tokyo.

とにかく, tomorrow I’m going to be mysteriously absent from class and visit Sophia University (where I’ll be in September) with a girl who is going to be on the Japan America Student Conference with me when I get back. I’m pretty stoked to see the campus minus the fact that they had a small outbreak of otafukukaze (‘mumps’, a word I didn’t think would turn out to be a necessity to learn…). Last time I was here too, the other exchange student’s host brother got the mumps. In any case, I’ll be sure not to contract anything ;)

それじゃ, hopefully I’ll get a chance to post something more again, at least before we leave!!!
Bye~

Ah, Flesh.