After the crazy night we had had, waking up was surprisingly easy (I guess I was motivated by all the sightseeing planned out for us). I tried going back to my room to get my clothes/suitcase but I was still locked out of it. After making my rounds (haha makes me sound like a doctor) … Continue reading
After school today we had no activities scheduled so we were free to go wherever we wanted. Of course, we decided to take this opportunity to (finally) go shopping downtown in the fancy department stores and fashionable shops. Seeing as the downtown area is a 15-20 minute walk from school, we figured we’d take a … Continue reading
You remember *THIS* post about my team and I visiting the governor of Ishikawa? Well a few days later, the news of our arrival broke out and we were featured in not one, but two newspapers (with full-colour pictures and all)! Caption reads: “抱負を話すアシュレーマリさん左ら＝県庁で” -> “On the left, Ashley talks about ‘aspirations’ at the prefectural … Continue reading
Today after school we had a special activity planned out for us by our staff. We paired up with a group of students from Washington University (a friendly bunch for the most part ^^) and went to a cooking school to learn how to make 和菓子 wagashi. Wagashi are adorable traditional Japanese sweets usually served … Continue reading
First day of school! Summer school is always unpleasant, even in a foreign country. While the sun is shining brightly outside and people are enjoying the warmer weather, we’re stuck on the inside diligently studying. However, our Japanese class wasn’t boring or cumbersome (as are most summer classes) but rather something interesting to look forward … Continue reading
Our morning was quite eventful, what with the official Opening Ceremony (a small official event meant to welcome us to the school and introduce us to our new teachers). We sat there for a while as the director of the programme introduced staff members and teachers, and prepared us for the visit to the government … Continue reading
Upon arriving at our school we were welcomed by the head of department of Japanese classes at the IFIE (Ishikawa Foundation for International Exchange). He gave us a short briefing about the day’s schedule: 1PM – Written and Oral placement tests 2PM – Short presentation of the study programme 2:30PM – Meeting of Host Families … Continue reading
On the second morning following my arrival in Japan, I was struck with a case of terrible food poisoning. Simon and I had gone out for dinner the previous night at a nearby restaurant that served sushi and other cooked items like tempura. Not being able to eat raw food, I ordered only the cooked … Continue reading
兼六園 Kenrokuen is Ishikawa Prefecture’s most prized garden, and is one of the country’s Three Great Gardens. Having had the opportunity to visit this amazing location, I snapped close to 200 photos and, combined with my friends’ collections, the grand total comes up to around 1500 pictures. We went there on May 8th, right after … Continue reading
#6 CONVENIENCE STORE Convenience stores in Japan, or combini for short, can be found scattered around cities like stop signs. Combini have everything to offer: from snacks and bento to toiletries, toys and souvenirs. Food-wise, you can buy anything that you can think of. Onigiri, sushi, soba, ice cream, soda, beer, sake, etc. At the combini, … Continue reading
A blog dedicated to the art of tea
Eat well, save yen - all with two camp burners and a mini-fridge.
Moving a Family When Everyone is Held Tightly in the Grips of Puberty or Menopause
Come chill on the couch.
And her misadventures in Japan on the JET Program
Essays on politics and culture
