Sept 21th

OK sooo Im currently in Hiroshima, I got here last night. It was even before i got out of the train station that i had my first adventure. I have bee here for nearly 2 months and have managed to avoid the infamous Japanese squat toilet...not anymore. There was all there was in the bathroom. It was an interesting experience. After i got out of the station i was able to find my friends. It was nice to get to see them again. the first thing we did was go in search of okonomiyaki. It was really good, really filling, but good. after that we just went back and hung out for a while to catch up.

this morning we went to to breakfast and did some shopping. We then went to the art museum. It was a nice museum, but really small. The had a few Degas' so i was happy.

Me one of my friends went ot explore the castle. Its a rebuild castle with a museum inside...it was a nice museum and i even learn a little history...lol. the grounds were really nice though. It was a good place to walk, even if it was raining.

We then went up to see this really amazing temple. It was unbelievable...the pics cannot begin to do it justice. It was such a calm kind of a place and not well known so we were the only ones there. It kind of felt like ours. It was really nice.

sept. 15th

Ok so yesterday was the Tea Ceremony / moon viewing at Kourakuen. I went with two other teachers at my school. We got there early at like 5 and just sat around and talked for a while before it started to get dark. When it was getting close to 7 i went off to find the people that i had met the first time to the garden. I finally found them and they invited us to go with them to have tea at their area. We then went and did the first tea ceremony outside. This was the same as the first one that i went to. I remember a lot of what to do, but not all...lol. We then walked and went to the tea house and did the tea ceremony inside. For this there is a lot more rule to be careful of. My one friend walked me through it and i think i got through without insulting anyone. After the ceremony she told me about this tea class that she and some of the other go to. She said i should come to class and may be start taking it. Im so excited i cant even explain. The tea ceremony was one of the things that got me interested in Japan all the way back in 7th grade. I feel like its this kind of cultural thing that i came to Japan for.