A Quiet Week: Sake & China Town

こんにちは！I hope this post is finding everyone well! Today's will be a pretty short post, as I didn't do a whole lot this week, but I'd like to start with a few quick comments: My boyfriend is coming to visit me in June! I am so stinking excited to play tour guide and travel around …

Kyoto: A Walk through Ten Centuries

こんにちは！Thank you for joining me for another week's adventure! I apologize for not posting last week. I generally write my blog posts on the weekend, but between traveling and studying for multiple tests, I simply ran out of time. I hope to make up for it this week though, as I discuss a class field …

Osaka, a Colorful City

As I step off the train, I am immediately bombarded with people. Crowds of foreigners lug heavy suitcases through the station, hurrying to catch a connecting train. Locals chatter in Japanese and admire the nearby shops selling various knick-knacks. Bodies bustle back and forth, and I move quickly to the side to avoid being pummeled. …

Trains, Tabemono, and Takarazuka

こんにちは！Hello! Thank you for joining me for another blog post. Today, I would like to discuss a few specific topics: transportation and grocery shopping! While not the most exciting issues on the surface, for me, they have been the most different and challenging part about living in Japan. And as usual, I will also touch …

Studying and Other Pursuits

こんにちは！Hello from Takarazuka, where it is 65 degrees and threatening to rain. Today I thought I would take the time to update everyone on what I have been up to. It has certainly been a busy couple of weeks preparing to learn at Kwansei Gakuin. During the first week, us exchange students were led through …

Arrival of the Gaijin

こんにちは！Hello! I am coming to you from my cozy little dorm in Takarazuka. It is currently 60 degrees and POURING! Because of the downpour, my original plans for the evening of doing a little grocery shopping with my friends have been put on hold. Therefore, I thought that I would use this opportunity to update …

And Then She Was Off!

It is the day before my study abroad excitement, and honestly, it doesn't feel like I'm going to be traveling halfway around the world in a matter of hours. Today, I spent the day traipsing through Lauritzen Gardens with my family and eating nachos in middle-of-nowhere Nebraska. I feel like I've simply been on an …

Getting Started, or The ups, downs, lefts, and rights of preparing to study abroad

    こんにちは! Hello! Thank you for joining me for my first blog post! As you may or may not know, I am planning on spending the next four months living in Japan! Studying abroad in Japan has been a dream of mine for quite some time, and I'm so excited that it's finally coming to fruition. I'm also very thankful that I …