Two days ago, I officially made my sad goodbyes to the wonderful people I met in Kyoto. I had the opportunity to meet some amazing folks, both in the program (like my absolutely fabulous roommate) and on the streets of the city itself (like our totally sweet and awesome hair cutter/stylist at the Noel Salon on Shijo-dori near the corner of Shijo and Senbon–you should definitely check her out). I got some amazing pictures and great adventures were had by all 🙂 Everything from washing our hair in Shampoo and then Body Wash because it looked like Conditioner (stupid look alike bottles) to finding a restaurant that offered Beef Tongue and Grilled Horse meat (true story–it also served beef gristle; you know the stuff you cannot eat off your steak?!?). We got lost so many times, but every time met someone or ran into some awesome landmark that made up for it. We found new favorite restaurants (Anri in Porta at Kyoto Station is DELICIOUS!), favorite hang-outs (loved wandering around the riverside at Arashiyama), and new best friends.
Chishaku-In and Sanjusangendo
7 Jun
Chishaku-In and Sanjusangendo:
Kyoto’s Most Famous Garden and Temple
It’s funny, but when they told me I would be visiting Kyoto’s most famous gardens; somehow my brain was picturing a type of botanical garden such as you would see in the U.S. You know, open rows upon rows of flowers, all arranged carefully around small stone water fountains. Suffice to say, I had it more or less completely wrong (kind of like when they said I was going to a monkey zoo and instead took me hiking to the top of a mountain to see them in their natural habitat mid-forest).
The Chishaku-In garden is actually rather small and compact, but what there is of it is stunning. Carefully interwoven around some lovely temple buildings and tucked up against one of the many mountains in the area, the gardens consist of small Continue reading
Soda v. Pop: 22 Maps that Show Language Differences in US
5 JunSoda v. Pop: 22 Maps that Show Language Differences in US
This is pretty awesome!!
10 Things I Will Miss About Japan (and 1 Thing I Won’t)
25 MayPage 1
Is it possible to fall in love with a country in just two weeks? In some ways, Japan is very similar to the US. Every other block has the old, familiar sight of a Starbucks, McDonald’s, Seven-Eleven Convenience Store, and bus stops. Go to a store and you’ll find Pringles and Doritos chips, Tide laundry soap, Dove shampoo, and Apple computers. Afternoon tv shows tend to be some serious drama that is reminiscent of US soap operas. Despite the language barrier, you can always still recognize that look from a Japanese mother towards her child that means innately “sit still.”
But at the same time, there is something so unique, so different about life in Japan. So here are 10 things Continue reading
Life In Japan: Week One is Done!
22 May
Oh my gosh, I am so sorry! I swore to myself that I would keep this blog updated as I went about my trip and I totally screwed up. I just realized I haven’t posted in weeks, and I sincerely apologize! Everything has just been so incredibly hectic. But I hereby promise that from now on I will keep everything updated and going, and I will get up the stuff I haven’t posted on.
The trip getting here was one problem after another; if I didn’t know better I’d swear a poltergeist was working against me.
It started when I started working on getting my Chinese visa. Continue reading
Panda!
15 May
I had a really awesome experience today! I was coming down the mountain of fushimi inari and saw a little critter run past me in the woods. After I described the fur, tail, and legs to my professor, we looked it up. I actually saw an incredibly rare Red Panda in Japan! Apparently this is really, really rare to see on in the wilds of Japan. Cool! I didn’t get a picture of him (he ran past too fast for me to get it), but here is what they look like. He was HUGE! And furry 😛
Off I go!
8 MayHooray!
I officially leave Iowa City for the Chicago airport sometime tomorrow. My mom is driving me up there (no point in leaving a car there for 3 months) and then coming back. Since the drive is so far, we’ve decided to stay in a hotel overnight since I have to be at the airport at 3:30 a.m. on Friday. I have to say this whole thing has been horrible (Chinese Embassy lost my passport, resulting in three six-hour trips up to Chicago in a week during final exams, etc.) but I am so happy it is finally getting underway. I did learn a lot during the process, so I’ll upload some of the tips in the next few days. Wish me luck! I’ll start posting again here in the next week or so as I arrive in Japan. Praying everything works out perfectly!
Tata!
7 Foot Floating Head
25 Apr0_0. . .
Mom, Dad, guess what I found! This is seriously a story to be told. LOL
Psy(chology): Not the True Korea
19 AprPsy(chology): Not the True Korea

The Singer Psy
Take a moment and go check out this article: “Psy’s new track ‘Gentleman’ Banned in South Korea. Yep, that’s right Psy has made another video. Brings back traumatic memories of a certain song being stuck in your head for days when every radio, club, restaurant, and Wal-Mart was airing it.
The first video “Gangnam Style” was so popular, it drove searches for South Korea through the roof. I was living in the Gangnam (aka Kangnam) area when the song first came out. Previously, when friends asked where I was, I had to explain carefully where Korea was; trying to explain “South” Korea usually was more than they cared to get. But suddenly, everyone know where the country was. Korea was popular, the entire nation Continue reading
















