Nikko Shrine and Edo Wonderland

Today we went to Nikko shrine and learned some history inside of Utsunomiya and were surprised by the beautiful art work of the architecture. Nikko shrine had some amazing insights on Shintoism and taught us the proper way to pray, wash our bad luck, and respect the worshiped under Shintoism. The architecture was amazing too. When one of the famous shoguns fell, they buried him on top of 207 steps of stone. During the pray in the temple there was a bell, so you had to bow twice, clapped twice, bow again, then pray.
After Nikko shrine we went to Edo wonderland which was like taking a step back into time during the Edo period with Shoguns, merchants, blacksmiths, museums, and the theater arts. It was especially fun because we made a new friend with a Teikyo student name Akuana Chan. She translated a lot for us we all had a blast learning how life was like back in the Edo time period.

May 28th: Utsunomiya

Today we traveled across state into Utsunomiya, Japan so that we could visit the other Teikyo University campus and continue with our adventure. After we got to Utsunomiya we dropped off our bags and went straight to the campus so that we could learn some economics behind Japan and see what the new campus holds. Inside the campus we soon learned that the Utsunomiya campus was based off of engineering and physical training via karate. The instructors there were very enthusiastic about there work, which made the class feel accepted into the school. Then, we got into our groups which made us split up into sections depending on our majors and we went to our lectures. Lectures are a little long when the professors speaks kinda broken English. When we all finished our lectures we got back onto the bus we went home to start the next day.

May 26: Home Visits

Today we started the day with trying to figure our way to college. Sounds fun right? Except this time we had to assistants and that was fun. The professors did not really know their way around either so we had to pull together as a team to figure out our way. Now that was fun but then when we got to the school we were treated to an adventure.
At Teikyo University we got to meet more classmates and played many ice breaker games including musical chairs, gesture game, and the kanji game (which was my favorite). After hanging out with our new friends we all went to lunch together and I was treated to a new food item called Fried Sweet Potato and that was a treat. Japan surprises me every day I wake up to its sunshine and I keep wanting more. After our lunch we went with our family's to a home visit and that was amazing to see the insight of a family home in Tokyo. I learned a lot from our host and was ecstatic to see how nice and giving everyone in the community is. We exchanged gifts over dinner and my partner and I both learned how to cook "Dan-go". I was able to pick up some more cooking skills which is something i will definitely will bring home with me. I hope to continue learning throughout this trip and cant wait to use most of these influences into my future home.

 

Day 3: Edo Mueseum & Sensoji Temple

Yay! The day I looked forward too came today and we had a blast! Today we went to the Edo mueseum in which we learned about the Edo time period in the 19th century and then feudal Japan. I loved that in the mueseum they had spectacular replicas to what the actual artifacts at that time period looked like.

 

After the Edo Museum we went to Sensoji temple in Asakusa, Tokyo. This place was magical. It was like the farmers market back home but on an extreme scale. The Sensoji temple made me feel more human than anyother place that I have been. I saw many people wearing Kemodos and had to get as many pictures as possible. Everyone was so nice about everything and the place was also very clean. I will defentily be back to see this place as there were so many attractions and stores that I couldnt go into each one today.

Thursday May 24th, 2018: Teikyo University

Today, the class visited Teikyo university on one of the main campuses and we learned about the Japan culture through lectures and meeting with the Teikyo students. The lectures were fun because we learned about Seppuku and why it was sacred for the Japanese Samurai during the Samurai age. After learning about the culture we were able to meet with Teikyo university students and try to communicate our culture with theirs. That was fun especially when we got to eat with them and discuss about our two cultures and how they went to school. Their cafeteria was ginormous and I am very happy to be able to experience this culture. Also they showed us what calligraphy was and how the art is a style that creates words on paper. One major concept that I loved from this visit was the ability to adapt and communicate with the students. They made me feel so welcomed and glad to be able to attend the school. Definitely wanting to come back.

21 May, Day 1: The unexpected happened

Day 1 of the study abroad trip was probably the most acute beginning to any trip a person can ever ask for. Before we can even begin the trip, I must take a picture of all of my luggage for some reason and make copies of passports, itineraries, and insurance cards for careful purposes. I go to breakfast with my Dad to let him know I will be okay on this trip. Then, he drops me off to where the fun begins.
I was dropped off at the Groome station, (which isn't a bad choice if any of you lot are looking for cheap travel) and just followed my people to putting in my information until the bus arrives. We climb in and head to ATL. Easy right? So far at least this is simple, now we arrive at the airport and start the process of getting our boarding passes, security, and hitting the pillow section. (Yes, I am a man. A man needs his pillow) We get to the terminal only to hear that our plane is delayed. Okay.. what does that mean? 2 hours of waiting until our flight can take off the first part of our trip. We get onto the plane and travel to San Francisco only to find out, that delay caused us to miss our next flight.
So, now we are stuck in San Francisco until the following morning. What do we do? We grab a hotel and that ladies and gentlemen was just the start of it. Then, we get some extra cards so that we had our meals ready and prepped for the following night and day. Finally, we get bumped up to economy class seats how great is this?
Now, this may seem like an actual good thing but honestly I didn't really care about the extra stuff we were provided. I was happy with how we all kinda grouped up. Yea, we had to cramp up a little bit in the rooms, but then we all made plans. We went out, walked the bay area, ate an amazing dinner, and hung out for a while. We bonded which is a broad term, but we did. I am glad these people chose to go on the same study abroad class the same time I did. Now this maybe the exhausting talking (Still in SF) but I would totally do another day like this with anyone and the exact same people.

Whats Currently in the Works with the U.S. & Japan

The world as we know it will always have some type of Global Issues. It's what makes humans listen to other's reasons, ideas, and creativity by overcoming the problems that arise within each agreement between nations. Japan and the U.S. are currently trying to undergo a new trade structure agreement that was a response to the U.S. leaving the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) after Trump was elected in 2017. Trump made it clear that he wanted to open up some bilateral trading with Japan, which would open up more trade that increases investing and downsizes tariffs. Japan however, seems pressured that if this on going "future" trade agreement could damage their protected markets against their agriculture and just wants the U.S. to rejoin the TPP.