Caught up?

Whew. 11 hours and 24 pages later, I think I'm supposedly caught up on last semester's grammar lessons, or at least the portion of them contained within the textbook required for this semester. By the way, Genki is awesome, the Intermediate Japanese textbook is sswwwweet, and this textbook is going to take a LOT of getting used to (there are NO explanations of the concepts. Good thing I'm a good copycat).

Now, on to the .5 page and review for tomorrow's chapter test! Chaaaarrrge!!

Globalization

The terrible part about the website Facebook, is that it is a very easy outlet for a bored mind, sick of the 26 pages assigned as catch-up work for entering a language class a semester late, using a book with absolutely no English and extremely little explanation of the concepts.

The best part about Facebook is that it connects people across the world to an unimaginable extent. Across walls of language, space, and even a little time, we can reach and communicate with each other. Globalization through the internet can be a harmful instance in many cases, bullying being one. However, it can also spread the word of old friends, who have not actually seen or conversed with each other in years.

Tonight, as I struggled with focusing on homework in a country that I barely understand, I was once again motivated to continue my work progress forward into my life thanks to a message sent over the wires and satellites from State College, Pennsylvania. 

I also know that the next winter I spend in Fairbanks, Alaska, I will be taking a day trip to Chena Hot Springs.

Rest in peace, Charles Phillippi.

Darn it!

I'm trying to keep on top of the scholarship application deadlines back at UAF, but it is NOT helpful that there is not enough space for me to list my goals! Darn you "character count" and your social expectations! I didn't even mention anything about aikido! Bah!

Third stop in Kyoto: Heian Jinguu 平安神宮

Heian Jinguu was a structure built within the last 100 years or so as a symbol of the revival of Kyoto. It is a recreation of a shrine that was burned down in the 1100s, and is only 5/8 the size of the original, but the style and grandeur remains preserved.

The front gate:

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This is a blue dragon, which is at the left side of the entrance (facing outwards). On the other side, is a white tiger (or leopard? Oops..)

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This is the citrus tree, planted on the right side of the temple (facing outward). Because it's a little chilly, I guess it's covered up to keep in good health.

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This is the cherry blossom tree on the left side of the temple. It looks pretty old, doesn't it? And has received much love...

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Here's a nice 3-part panorama! Yukiko-san and Masako-san too!

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Instead of cutting the trees, they're propped up! Yay!

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One last shot of the view. You can see the two trees from above in their place.

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Right before we left, this little guy circled out of nowhere, just like on the farm in Iowa.

Second stop in Kyoto: Yasaka Shrine 八坂神社

Yasaka Jinja (shrine), originally named Gion Jinja, is the founder and shrine in charge of the famous Gion Matsuri (festival) held in Kyoto every year. Started as a celebration of life and a protection against the plague that had racked the population around 840 A.D., the Gion Matsuri is a month-long celebration, in which 66 massive floats (representing each of the 66 states at the time of the plague) move slowly through Kyoto, and many ceremonies are carried out.

We passed through the shrine and went to several of the smaller shrines as well, to pay our respects.

Below is on of the torii (鳥居) for the Yasaka Jinja. The red-orange and white building behind the torii is one of the gates to the shrine.

Masako-san and me in front of the torii, on our way with Yukiko-san to find a place to drink tea.

First stop in Kyoto: Kenninji 建仁寺

The Thunder and Wind gods

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One of the many gardens at the temple, this displays the 3 shapes that made up all natural things (I found this out later).

Because when I saw this sign, I thought "Gah! Aikido! Woohoo! It's everywhere!!!" (....duh)

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The design of this window, and others in the temple, are to frame the beauty beyond it, as if it were a picture. I also thought of Paul (who would love this little alcove I think) and of the small jungle at Draco Hill back in Iowa.

I tried to capture the expansive feeling of this place, so please click the photos to get a larger image than what is shown below...

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When I saw these following two views and areas, I had a little geeky moment of "Yay Japan!"

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One of the main gardens, which was designed to be beautiful from every angle.

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After another excited "geeky moment" I took this shot because these hallways were awesome!

Yukiko-san! (Oneesan ^^)

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One of the views to the garden, which was very peaceful.

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And then I saw the three shapes again! It wasn't just coincidence! This was when I actually read through a little bit of the brochure I had, and found out that these are the three shapes of nature. Yay aikido!

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DRAGONS!!!!! These are actual copies of the originals, which are national treasures.

I found this extremely...ironic? Or oppositional to itself? The words elude me...

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I could live with this view. Once again, the picture does not do the sense of space justice at all.

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Masako-san and Yukiko-san!

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This was the tea house of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the man who finished the unification of Japan, built Osaka Castle, designed the city of Osaka, and invaded Korea (which began the major strife between Japan and Korea). My fingers are there to be some sort of measure hopefully (the room and entrance was very small).

Masako-san explaining that these stone figures were used as lanterns, mukashi mukashi (once upon a time).

I would LOVE to have moss instead of grass for my lawn! It would be a glorious surface to practice rolling on, and require no mowing!

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Once again, amazing views that are very hard to represent on a 2D or 2.5D plane.

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Yeah, this in an old building for sure. Trees just don't grow that tall and big in Japan anymore.

DRAGONS!!!

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Japan, ganbatte (keep fighting / good luck).

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This is the gate to the area that the temple was in. I wanted to snag a photo of a certain monk, but before I could start up my camera, he had already put away the cell phone he was using, which I found to be extremely amusing.