Tokyo is to New York as Kyoto is to San Francisco minus the hills. The city is mostly residential, dotted with parks, school and other necessary things that makes one feel more like your living in a city than a giant rat maze. It also is not filled with nearly as much overwhelming stuff. For example, the part of town we live in does not have a Kareoke place for a mile in any direction, much to our disappointment. It is FULL of temples, and historical places and many other wonderful places, but its just a lot slower by comparison. Also, the city is like San Jose in that it is surrounded by rolling mountains on every side, and it feels like you are being cupped in the hand of Buddha when the sun shines between the mountains at sunset.
Our living situation is now a dorm (a really nice dorm) just a few minutes from campus. Unfortunately the other Doshisha students have been forbidden to come visit us (I guess they are trying to quarantine the awkward) so if we ever do make freinds, it will have to be on campus. The rooms are tiny, but nothing we can't handle. My roommate and I are getting along great :)
By far the best thing about the neighborhood is that we are a two minute walk from the entrance to the old Imperial palace of Japan. Its a HUGE stony walled complex perfect for morning runs and lunch picnics. The cherry blossom trees are just coming out too, which makes for a truly spectacular show. Half of me is actually more interested in the people taking pictures than the actual trees, but the flowers are undeniable gorgeous.
The big central river is also just about an hour away from us by foot, and we went down there yesterday for almost three hours just sitting in the sunlight. Its a beautiful place with many children and adults alike playing in the river.
the school is small but nice, but I really dont think we will be spending that much time there at all.
jk gotta go to class, ttly.
Can you post more pictures of food?
ReplyDeleteLove,
Marika C.