I have been so busy, I know I’ve used that excuse a lot but it is so true. I am moving to Minneapolis at the beginning of July (yes, in TWO WEEKS!) and I will be living with my boyfriend. We’ve been dating for almost one year! I got a full time job (and a very small part time summer job) at a preschool through Americorps, so that will begin in August. I’ll also be getting a part time job, hopefully at a coffee/tea shop or the Mall of America. I’ll be doing 17 credits online through my school….and I will be so busy that I won’t know what to do! I’m so stressed and excited about my new life.

My host sister in Japan is getting married on October 5 in Kyoto, so I will be in Japan for a week! I’m so excited, I just wish I could stay for longer. I can’t even explain how happy I am that I will finally be “home.” Although Minneapolis is starting to feel like home, I still call Japan my home.

There will be a lot of changes happening here on this little blog…I’m converting this to blog of my time in Japan, and I’m creating another blog for my film and digital photography. So everything will be changing….this will no longer be “Girl With A Camera” but something new!

Wish me luck, grin and bear with the changes coming up and come check back soon! Thank you guys!

" Please let us stay as the most STUPID couple in the world. =) "

A couple from Mayalsia took this picture.

J and I walked back towards my guesthouse, and he got on the subway to take the train back to Osaka. He got us lost (haha) but eventually we figured out where we were. And we found a kitty!!! By the time I got back to my guesthouse, I was so exhausted! But it was such an amazing day. I love Kyoto.

Brenda (:

This little guy was hanging around the shrine the whole time I was there, just enjoying the morning.

Next, I went to Entokuin. It’s a wonderful temple that was formed for Toyotomi Hideyoshi after his death, by his wife. It’s beautiful and charming and I loved it. I’d definitely recommend visiting this temple when you’re in Kyoto.

Entokuin

 


I walked through Yasaka shrine again, on my way to the Ryozen kannon. I saw a geisha at the temple near Yasaka, it was a bit unreal! The Ryozen kannon was incredible…after a 10 minute climb on a very steep staircase, you make it to the top and can look over all of Kyoto. Then I explored the kannon by myself, and it was so beautiful and amazing. I lit a candle and made a wish inside, and then spent a while just walking around the area.

I looked up while I was taking these pictures, and these guys were just chilling....sitting there and staring at me!

Oh, Kyoto. I love you.

Ryozen Kwannon

After Yasaka, I walked to Kenninji, the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto. It was huge and a little overwhelming, and completely gorgeous.  I felt so calm and peaceful there, and I walked around in awe the entire time.

The amazing ceiling!

I went back to IchiEnSou after wandering around the area for another few hours. I met a few people who were staying there, and we went to the stairway leading to Kiyomizudera, so they could buy some presents for people back home. The stairs are lined on both sides with tons of little shops and cafes. They’re so cute, and an awesome place to buy gifts! Everyone had okonomiyaki for dinner…but it was the type of restaurant that only had once choice, and since I’m vegetarian, of course I couldn’t eat it. The little restaurant was tiny and had an awesome atmosphere, and it was funny trying to teach them how to say ごちそうさまでした.

A small shrine in Gion.

Yasaka shrine at 8 am.

The Yasaka shrine complex is huuuge.  There’s a park with a lake and stream, many different paths and smaller shrines all around the complex. There’s a very big cherry tree in the park, and many smaller trees. It’s gorgeous in the fall, and gorgeous in the spring. I’ll be posting more about Yasaka when I get to March (my mom visted me & I took her to Kyoto).

I went to a temple that was very close to Yasaka shrine…I’m not sure of the name, but it was very nice. I was basically the only one there, because it was 9 am, so it was kind of eerie. But it was very calm and peaceful. I love temples and shrines.

Around Sensoji:

One of my favorite pictures that I took while in Japan!

There's always a ridiculous amount of people at Sensoji...except very late at night and very early morning. Both times are incredibly calm and peaceful.

Around Asakusa:

Shopping street near Sensoji

Awesome graffiti near Sakura Hostel. I think the building is a community center....(?)

Making cotton candy!

Every year, companies have a “company party” at the end of the year, in November or December, for all the employees. My host family works at 3 different pharmacies; my host brother works at Sakura Dispensing Pharmacy, my host sister and dad work at Miharu Pharmacy(??) and the front of my house is actually a pharmacy/drugstore -  Hamada Pharmacy. So for the company party, it was a combined party for all 3 pharmacies. It was at a big hot spring/banquet hall type thing. We had dinner, played a game (rock paper scissors, of course!) and had a variety show. It was so fun! Then afterwards, some of us went to the onsen and then to the bar for karaoke. It was really funny to see everyone drunk and trying to sing karaoke!!

Can you find me?!

Saisho iku...

Janken poi!! And Kazu is the winner!

I think there's about $30.00 there.

And here are some pictures of Christmas lights displays in my neighborhood!

The first year kids made handprint "turkeys" for Thanksgiving in English class.

I was excited because it snowed.

Our flower display

My favorite 3rd year boys!!

There are so many different things at the school festivals…most clubs set up booths or demonstrations, there’s pictures and flyers and posters everywhere, and there are tons of activities. Examples of a few: tea ceremony demonstration, flower arrangement display, live music/concerts, piano performances, crafts, dance performances…and so many more! It was awesome and so great to see all the talent of the kids in my school!!

This band was all girls, and they dressed up in costumes...like Pikachu!

These are all 3rd year boys. They yelled at me while I was walking down the hallway, and made me take a picture with them.

Their was a little display of pictures and a slideshow from our trip to Okinawa!

I couldn't stop laughing when I saw this. What a weird name! It's a photography poster....no "Nipples" are pictured!

Calligraphy exhibit about the Okinawa trip. Some of these kids are amazing at calligraphy!!

3rd year boys. People always wanted me to take their picture!

Okinawa

This was taken from a teacher's office, where I spent all of my Japanese lessons and study halls.

3rd year girls. "CHELSEY! CHELSEY! SHASHIN KUDASAI!!"

Pumped up Doraemon? Lay off the steroids, dude.

2nd year girls (:

Bassist in my friend's band. They're rockstars!

These guys put tape on their shirts to spell out girls names, while the girls were onstage dancing. How cute!

I'm a celebrity!! Haha, it was ridiculous how "famous" I was!

3rd year girls, right after they got done dancing.

The last activity of the day. They had to pass some tiny items down the line, from chopsticks to chopsticks.

2-4 won...followed by all 3 sports classes. Of course, right?!

I was always getting ambushed for pictures. These girls were all in my gym class. <3

2nd year sports class boys. They were always asking me to be their girlfriend! Haha, they're so funny.

Courtyard from our balcony on the 3rd floor. I climbed lots of stairs everyday!