Start of my fun experience!

Hey everyone! 

So, I will be writing a blog about my experiences in studying abroad in Japan. I'll be studying in Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata City, Osaka, Japan as part of the Asian Studies program. I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm very excited! I'm hoping that I will improve my Japanese significantly especially my reading and writing skills. I'm also hoping that I'll be more independent and perhaps even start cooking more often while I'm dorming! By doing this, I'll probably save some money. However, school has not started yet (which the first day of classes is September 2nd, 2013). 

I landed in Japan early on Tuesday, June 11th, 2013, about two months before school starts, because I wanted to spend time with my family here and perhaps even find a job while I'm at it (don't worry! I'm a Japanese citizen so I could work! ^.^). I'm currently in Nagoya, but I landed in Tokyo on Tuesday, and my mother and I met up with a family friend. We went to their hometown in Nagono Prefecture by their car. Their town is called Kijimadaira. 

Kijimadaira is VERY nice! In every directions there were mountains and it was very cool unlike Tokyo, where it was very humid and hot. There were a lot of rice and vegetable fields in the town as well. The town also had a ski resort, which was right next to our friend's house. 

Our friend's house, which my mother and I stayed in, was GIGANTIC!!! They have about 3 floors with 3 baths and bathroom. My mother and I counted the number of rooms on their 3rd floor and there was 11 rooms! Their house was apparently a small hotel before they bought it and moved in. This is a picture of their house. Isn't it nice? :D It doesn't seem like a Japanese house at all!

Around the area, there are a lot of onsen. An onsen is a place where people take baths together in hot springs at hotels or inns. Often times, friends, colleagues, and family members go together to relax. Of course, men and women bath separately. During the first night, we went to a hotel right in front of their house which had an onsen. It was mostly indoor and relaxing. 

On the second day, we went to another onsen, which was a lot nicer than the first. Unlike the first onsen, it was set outside! The mountains were right in front of us and it was spectacular. My skin became very smooth as well when I went in the onsen perhaps because of the minerals inside the water. We spent about an hour and a half here. Here is a picture of me and our friend in onsen.

After visiting our family friend, we went back to Nagoya to take care of my grandmother. Besides that, I have been hanging out in the city, getting groceries and other necessary items with my mother. While shopping for food, it made me realize how cheap many of the foods are such as vegetables. In New York City, it's so expensive! I haven't done much else besides buying necessary personal items and hanging out with my grandmother. 

Well, until next week, sayonara~!