We made it!!! After 17 hours of flying between Boston, Detroit, and Osaka, we arrived last night. We are back at Guin House, Doshisha University's guest residence in Iwakura (North Kyoto). This is exactly where we were seven years ago: Since then, Skylar has gotten bigger and Guin House has gotten smaller. Skylar's Pine Hill teacher would be proud of him: He read "The Lightening Thief" cover to cover on the plane---while I made a dent in a Japanese women's murder mystery. Neither one of us could put our books down.
Here is Skylar's first cultural observation about Japan: Why is it that for a country that is so technologically advanced, everyone rides on such old-fashioned, single-gear bicycles?
This morning, we decided to explore the neighborhood in search of breakfast and are happy to report that there is a MacDonald's just up the road. Cultural Observation No. 2: Pancakes and Egg McMuffins taste the same no matter where you order and eat them.
Our neighborhood is in north Kyoto, right up against the surrounding ring of mountains. It has a very "small village" feel and our nextdoor neighbor is the tennis court from Doshisha High School. The houses are crowded together, but then there are rice paddies squeezed between some of the streets as well as a stone cutter's yard where they make gorgeous and gigantic stone lanterns for one's garden.
We look forward to visiting the Doshisha University campus today--and trying to remember our way around the city. Stay tuned for more. . .
1 comment:
Wow! I thought you were leaving next week. Something made me check out your blog, and guess what? You guys are already there! 17 hour flight? Can you stand up straight yet?
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