Category: LSA 2016

07.29.16 – 07.30.16 

Hello lovely readers! It's about time that I gave all you a detailed account of our excursion to Nikko.

Nikko is located in Tochigi Prefecture, which is not too far from Tokyo. It is home to several famous sites, including Kegon no taki (華厳の滝、Kegon Falls) and Tōshōgū (東照宮、Tōshōgū temple and shrine complex, which was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu and bears his remains). Here are some maps for reference!

To get to Nikko, we boarded the semi-express train from Asakusa. The line to the train was filled with foreigners, which only confirmed the fact that Nikko is a must-see destination for tourists. We arrived at Tobū Nikko Station at around 11:30 AM, and stuffed our overnight bags into coin lockers.

We scouted the area for a lunch spot, since many of us were hungry from the ride. We found that yuba dishes (basically tofu skin, or the dry layer that forms on top of tofu when it is boiled) and yuzu flavored drinks (a citrus fruit native to Japan) were popular. We decided to eat at a restaurant that could accommodate a group of our size…the same restaurant that my LSA ate at three years ago! Small world!

The gang.

My lunch!

After feasting on some delicious grub, we headed off to Kegon Falls. We had to take a five-minute long elevator to reach the base of the falls. The tunnel-like passageway connecting the elevator to the base of the falls was extremely cold and wet, much like rainy winter days in Hanover. The waterfall was absolutely gorgeous, and we all made sure to snap several photos.

Kegon Falls.

The gang, before descending to the waterfall.

On our way out of the falls, we stumbled across a very…frightening mascot (or yurukyara) for Nikko: a cartoon version of yuba. Attaching a photo here for your viewing pleasure.

?????

After the terrifying encounter with the yuba character, we headed to Lake Chūzenji. At the lake, we were able to rent swan boats! The scenery was absolutely gorgeous from within the lake. There was some mischief within the lake: in Mario Kart fashion, some of us crashed our swan boats together playfully.

Lake Chūzenji.

Sharing a swan boat with Jen and Nicole!

Little did we know, it’s quite easy to get lost in a lake as big as Chūzenji. We actually had a lot of trouble making it back to the dock, because all of the docks looked the same. Sadly, we couldn’t enlist Siri’s help…how does one even use GPS on a lake, anyways?

We managed to make it back in one piece, and shortly afterwards headed back to the station. We picked up our stuff from the coin lockers, and headed to our hotel: a very large Japanese-styled inn (ryokan). We ate at the inn’s delicious buffet (which had a sushi section!!), bathed in the onsen (hot springs), and ended the night with karaoke.

Day 2 of our excursion involved a trip to Tōshōgū, which is basically a very ornate temple and shrine complex built by Tokugawa Ieyasu. The gaudiness has caused some controversy, namely that it conflicts with Buddhism’s focus on simplicity and humility.

Entering Tōshōgū.
Temple

Pagoda 

Nemuri neko.

Kikazaru (Hear no Evil), Iwazaru (Speak No Evil), Mizaru (See no Evil).

We walked around the temple complex, gawking at the ornate designs and carvings within the buildings. We also ran into several noteworthy sights within the temple, such as nemuri neko (the sleeping cat). We also managed to take some photos of the infamous carving of monkeys that depict “see no evil,” “hear no evil,” and “speak no evil.”

Our excursion was also full on interesting interactions with wildlife. We spotted a deer, which is a rare sight in a place like Nikko (though certainly not a rare sight in Nara). It looked so majestic and healthy – definitely a photo op. We also noticed a furry creature running about, though it did not look native to the area. It turned out to be a ferret – someone’s pet, actually! The owner of the ferret, who had mentioned that he was taking his ferret out for a walk, proudly introduced Mirin-chan to all of us. He also explained how he finds more comfort in Mirin-chan than his wife. Yeowch!

Mirin-chan!

Towards the end of our excursion, we also spotted some monkeys! Monkeys are native to the area, but are also notorious for being extremely aggressive, and for stealing souvenirs from tourists. This aggression was proven once a tourist in front of us tried to take a picture of a baby monkey – once the baby monkey screeched in annoyance, the mama monkey came dashing forward, bared her teeth, and gave the most frightening screech. Needless to say, all of the LSAers cautiously walked around the monkeys, and prayed that we wouldn’t get attacked.

A majestic deer

A monkey hiding among the leaves

More monkeys

After our excursion, we hopped onto a train back to Asakusa. Upon arriving in Asakusa, we were shocked at how packed the area was! Apparently, it was the day of the Sumida Fireworks, which is one of the biggest events in Tokyo. It certainly was a struggle for us to make it back to Chiba, but we did nonetheless. Stay tuned for more adventures!

07.23.16

Greetings! As you have probably gathered from reading this blog, the Dartmouth students’ experiences with their host families form a significant component of the LSA. I remember that during my LSA experience (back in 2013), my homestay families were truly the highlight of my study abroad experience in Japan. I speak to some of my families to this very day!

In order to provide families with a chance to host a Dartmouth student, some students have the opportunity of staying with two homestay families throughout the program. This is due to the fact that many families want to host Dartmouth students, though there are only 9 students on the program. Students stay with one family for the first half of the program (June 25^th until July 23^rd), and stay with a second family for the last half of the program (July 23^rd until August 28^th).

Today, students said farewell (or rather, “see you soon”) to their host families for the first-half of the LSA, and switched to their second-half host families! Dartmouth, KUIS, and Homestay Japan organized a “Makizushi Party” for the occasion. Makizushi is basically the equivalent of a sushi roll. Both the first half and second half host families were invited to the party, which gave the students a chance to engage with both of their families at once.

The Dartmouth students had a great time learning how to make makizushi with their homestays. The professional makizushi chefs astounded us with lovely designs, such as a sushi roll decorated with the design of a cherry blossom tree. Some of us felt quite guilty about eating the makizushi afterwards, only because the designs were too beautiful to eat!

Makizushi. This specific design was in the shape of a flower, and featured a cheesy center!

Chatter filled the air as the students conversed with their homestays, and the homestays conversed with each other. The food was all around delicious: we all got to try different varieties of makizushi.

At the end of the party, students said farewell to their first-half families, and headed home with their second-half families. Thus begins yet another exciting chapter in the LSA experience: meeting a new family, and experiencing different lifestyles in Japan!

07.16.16 

Today we decided to awaken (or release?) our inner child – we trekked to Maihama for a daylong visit to Disney Sea!

You can’t find Disney Sea anywhere outside of Japan, not even in California or Florida. It is a sea-themed park, with architecture and an overall setting that is reminiscent of Venice. While Disney Land is designated as “Disney for kids,” Disney Sea is generally frequented by teens and adults. Why, you ask? The rollercoasters are a bit more intense than those located in land, and some restaurants serve alcohol.

Now, I know you might be wondering: why would we even bother going to Disney in Japan, if we can easily go in the States? Aside from the fact that Disney Sea is only located in Japan, it’s important to note that Disney itself is a significant cultural experience. The Disney experience is quite different in Japan, both in terms of customer service and park visitors. For example, in terms of park visitors, many friends decide to dress in osoroi, or matching clothes. During our visit to Disney Sea, we saw friends dressed in matching shirts, couples dressed in matching Minnie and Mickey outfits, and even a group of 10 to 15 girls all dressed in the same black outfit (with matching black bunny headbands). If you want to read a scholarly analysis of the Disney experience in Japan, I would suggest taking a look at “’Bwana Mickey’: Constructing Cultural Consumption At Tokyo Disneyland” by Mary Yoko Brannen.

Disney Sea.

Six Dartmouth students attended the Disney excursion: the other three students had other obligations (such as homestay plans and personal excursions). We met at around 9 AM at the turnstiles of Maihama, and boarded the Disney Express Line to Disney Sea. Once we purchased our tickets and entered the park gates, we were immediately greeted by Goofy!

Group picture with Goofy!

We made our way into the park proper, and ran into Jiminy Cricket and the gang from Pinocchio. We grabbed a Fast Pass for “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” and walked to the Aztec-themed part of the park in order to wait in line for “Raging Spirits.” This ride is notorious for being the only rollercoaster in the park with a 360-degree loop.

Trying to figure out a pose with Jiminy Cricket.

After Raging Spirits, we stopped by for a snack at a nearby vendor. Some of us had a mango frozen smoothie, while others ate the spicy chicken leg unique to that side of the park. Afterwards, we made it back to “Journey to the Center of the Earth” just in time for the start of the Fast Pass usage period. We all truly enjoyed the rollercoaster’s scenery, ferocious monsters, and the huge drop at the end (although, I must confess that I thought that I was going to fly out of the cart).

We stopped for lunch, and feasted on some gyoza dogs (gyoza-shaped nikuman). Afterwards, we trekked to the other side of the park and waited in line for "Indiana Jones." Afterwards, we made the journey to yet another side of the park (America-themed!) for “The Tower of Terror.” I didn’t go on the ride, but the LSAers who were brave enough to ride seemed to enjoy it!

The gang on "Tower of Terror."

At one point during the trip, one of the LSAers lost her cellphone. Now normally in the States, once you lose your cellphone at a park like Disney, you can expect it to be stolen and/or gone forever. However, Jen and I were so surprised when we reported the missing cellphone at the park’s lost and found, and received it 15 minutes later! It turned out that a park attendant had found her cellphone, reported it missing, and held onto it. Once we gave a description of the phone (from its outer appearance to the image on its lock screen), the attendant at the lost and found made a phone call, and informed us that a park attendant was waiting for us at the location where Jen had left her phone. Once we arrived at the location, the attendant was waiting with the phone and a clipboard in his hand. One signature later, we received the cellphone! We were in awe, and also very grateful.

The rest of our trip to Disney was mostly characterized by grabbing Fast Passes, waiting in lines (each ride had about a wait of 30 to 40 minutes), and feasting on delicious park snacks. The intricate architecture and designs of the park (such as Ariel’s grotto) definitely caught our eyes.

We were all quite tired, so we headed home before the fireworks. Most of us bought some omiyage (souvenirs) for our host families. We then hopped back onto the Disney Express Line to Maihama Station, and had dinner at Ikspiari, the giant mall located near the station. We all went our separate ways afterwards.

After several weeks of classes and excursions, it definitely felt nice to release our inner children for one day!

07.05.16

Today, we were fortunate enough to participate in a Japanese tea ceremony on KUIS’s campus! This activity was organized by Dictionary, so that the LSAers could have the opportunity to witness and experience an actual Japanese tea ceremony.

The ceremony took place in a traditional tatami no heya (tatami room), featuring summer-themed decorations. We all kneeled in typical seiza fashion, and followed the teacher’s instructions on how to properly perform and enjoy a tea ceremony. She, along with her students, distributed a dish of wagashi (sweets unique to tea ceremonies) to each of us. The wagashi was filled with sweet bean paste, and featured a design of a fish. After we ate the wagashi, the teacher and her students distributed chawan (a small bowl used for drinking tea during tea ceremonies) filled with matcha tea. Before receiving the chawan, we all bowed and expressed our appreciation. We were then instructed to hold the chawan up to chest height with our right hands, and turn it clockwise two times. We then took a sip of the tea, and enjoyed it quietly as a group. The teacher urged us to take in the summer scenes of the room as we drank our tea, such as the giant scroll bearing the kanji of waterfall (taki, 瀧).

Photographs from the tea ceremony

At the end of the ceremony, we gathered around the teacher for a brief Q&A session. She spoke to us of the importance of the longevity of the tea ceremony, and its ability to survive despite the modernization of Japanese society. It was quite easy to tell that she was truly a master in her craft – we were all truly grateful that she took the time to teach us about the art of the tea ceremony.

After the Q&A session, we expressed our gratitude to the teacher and her students, and went out separate ways home.

7.03.16

On Monday, the members of Dictionary were kind enough to organize a “Makuhari Exploration” event with the LSA! We all gathered in front of Shokujin, one of the cafeterias in KUIS, and headed towards Makuhari. As we walked, the members of Dictionary pointed out several key locations in Makuhari, such as the local Ito Yokado (a department store chain) and Book-Off (a used bookstore chain).

As we got closer to the station, we entered a narrow street full of local food vendors. Some of the LSAers decided to eat some korokke (croquettes) from a local vendor. The majority of us stopped by a local dango vendor. The dango was very, very delicious, and we were all pleased with our purchase.

Photos from our Makuhari excursion!

We then all began our treks home (with satisfied bellies, of course). Some of the group walked to Makuhari Station, while others walked back towards Kaihin Makuhari Station.

Thanks for a fun day in Makuhari, Dictionary!

6.27.16 – 07.03.16

It’s the first week of classes! On Monday, everyone met at KUIS bright and early for first period. The first day was pretty much an introduction to KUIS and the Japanese coursework for the term. The LSAers took a diagnostic test and interview with Professor Dorsey and Professor Yamaji, and received a tour of KUIS’s library shortly afterwards. I must say, KUIS’s library is just as beautiful and resourceful as Baker Berry. We also received a campus tour from some KUIS students.

Tuesday and Wednesday were typical class days. The coursework for the LSA+ revolves around two classes: Japanese 22/23 and Japanese 11. Japanese 22/23 is taught by Professor Yamaji, who is affiliated with Lakeland University. This course centers on Japanese grammar, vocabulary, and kanji. This class is especially important, in that it allows students to build a solid grammatical foundation which they can then utilize in conversations throughout the program. In other words, it’s a perfect supplement to students’ interactions with their host families. Japanese 11 is taught by Professor Dorsey, the Director of the LSA. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Japanese 11 is an incredibly fun class that utilizes Japanese music (specifically folk) as a form of language study and critical analysis of themes in Japanese society. Students thus gain experience with translation while learning new grammatical patterns. During the first week of Japanese 11, students were introduced to a song called “Aishiteru Yo,” or “I Love You,” by Izumiya Shigeru. If you’re interested in hearing it for yourself, take a listen here! Translation courtesy of Professor Dorsey himself!

On Thursday, we had a joint lecture with Sekiya-sensei’s first-year English class. Sekiya-sensei is a professor at KUIS who teaches a course on gender and society. During our joint class, we split into groups to discuss the implications of “Aishiteru Yo,” and how it relates to Japanese society. Half of the class period was spent speaking in Japanese, while the other half was spent speaking in English. Both the Dartmouth students and Sekiya-sensei’s students had a great time exchanging ideas and opinions in both Japanese and English. It was difficult, but I think both groups liked the challenge!

On Friday, we had “conversation club” with members of Dictionary, a KUIS club that specializes in helping exchange students with their transition to life in Japan (or, more specifically, Chiba). During conversation club, the Dartmouth students were split into groups, and sat among members of Dictionary. The members of Dictionary passed around slips of paper with questions and conversation topics, and both the members of Dictionary and the LSAers exchanged answers. It was a great way to get some casual conversation practice in after a day of classes. The LSAers had a great time befriending the Dictionary members, and I certainly hope that the Dictionary members also enjoyed the exchange!

Conversation club with Dictionary

That’s it for the first week of classes – all in all, the LSAers had a rather smooth transition into KUIS life thanks to Dictionary, Sekiya-sensei’s class, and the KUIS staff!

6.25.16, 6.26.16

Today is the big day: everyone is moving into their homestay families! The LSAers have been anticipating this for a while, so you can imagine the excitement (and perhaps nervousness) that filled the hotel lobby. The schedule for the day involved a homestay orientation at KUIS, followed by a lunch reception. Students will then leave with their respective families, and officially begin their homestays.

Everyone gathered bright and early in the hotel lobby, all dressed in formal clothing. We checked out of Apa Hotel, and walked to KUIS as a group. We arrived a bit early at the university, and settled into one of the cafeterias for a hydration break. The students, aware that they would have to introduce themselves in Japanese to all of the families and KUIS staff during the orientation, practiced their jiko shōkai (self-introductions) nervously.

We eventually made our way to the reception, and each student sat at their assigned tables. After about 10 minutes, the homestays began to arrive, and shared tables with the students. The nervous atmosphere disappeared, as the LSAers began to talk excitedly with their homestays.

Photos from the reception, taken by Kenneth Zhu. 

The orientation officially began, and both Dartmouth and KUIS faculty/staff gave speeches. The homestay agency (Homestay Japan) then gave a brief synopsis of the homestay experience, specifying the dos and don’ts of staying with a Japanese homestay family. Finally, the big moment arrived: the jiko shōkai. Each student introduced themselves to the homestays, including some details on their major, hobbies, and hopes for the summer. The homestays were very impressed by the self-introductions. Needless to say, the LSAers nailed their jiko shōkai!

Me, Professor Dorsey, Professor Hori, and my host families for the summer

We went to one of the KUIS cafeterias for the lunch reception (featuring karāge, sushi, salad, and pasta), and ate with our homestays. Afterwards, everyone went home with their homestays. The rest of the day (including dinner) was spent with the homestays.

Fishing with my homestay. Caught a fish big enough to feed a family of five (note: I am being sarcastic).

The LSAers spent Sunday with their homestays. Some went on excursions in Chiba, and others got to know their neighborhoods. I spent Sunday fishing with my host family – this was, in fact, my first time fishing! I failed several times (such as by snapping my line and somehow catching an empty clam), but also managed to snag quite a few fish. Since we were fishing in a river, the fish were not too big – they were big enough to fry for dinner as a side dish.

Thus ends the orientation week of the LSA! Next adventure: the first week of classes!