One week and One holiday later.

Classes have been in session for a week now, thus the one week absence. I'll do my best to summarize the past week and a half's events. As you can see below, I did a bit of sightseeing. The trip to Kyoto was the Fri. before class started, and I'm glad I chose to go. Thankfully I wasn't too hung over from Johnny's birthday to enjoy the tour. We went to Kyomizutera (translation: Holy Water Temple) and it rocked my world. It was the most beautiful temple. Not only do you have an amazing view of Kyoto, but you are able to drink the holy water. It flows from the mountain spring and divides into three chutes. The three stand for love, health, and knowledge. Being as sick as I was I took health. I loved every moment of it, and I can't wait to go back when it is warmer. That was Kyoto pretty much though. Hopefully I'll be able to go back soon and see more.The rest of the weekend I spent relaxing from the stress I had since arriving. Sunday I went bowling and came very close to getting a turkey.
Last Mon. through Fri. seems like ten years ago, that is how incredibly busy I have been. Since I was placed in lower level Japanese classes, I observed the ones I wanted. This sounds nice but it is truly hellish. While observing, you are required to attend all of your classes. Essentially I had double speaking and writing all last week as well as this week. I got very little sleep. I did ok in the level 4 speaking class, and ironically wound up observing Johnny and Maria's class. This was lucky and helped me feel very comfortable right away. The sensei for their class is very demanding but fair, she has helped me out so far and I will take the replacement test on Thu. We had a review test on Fri. and apparently it is the same one. I'll be ok I think.
This past weekend had a holiday attached to it, National Foundation day. The day that Japans first government system was signed into existence. Apparently it was abolished during the occupation because it celebrated Imperialistic history, however it was revived under the PC name it is today. Thanks to Imperialism I had no school yesterday. Fri. I went to Karaoke with ten other people, Johnny and Maija went to Osaka clubbing all night . I stayed at Karaoke for 4 hrs, nomihoudai'd, and went back to Maria and Tina's apartment with most of the Karaoke crew. There I saw a delapitated guitar and they were nice enough to let me fix it up and use it. Now I have a guitar and I am pumped. It is Nylon andI have never used one before, so it is an interesting experience. I goes out of tune after a while and the sound isn't perfect but it gets the job done.
Saturday it snowed like crazy all day and it was beautiful. I hardly ever snows enough down here to accumulate, so I set out on an adventure with Johnny's Camera. It was beautiful and I will post the pictures as soon as I get them off of his camera. Also while I was taking the pictures, I witnessed a huge branch break under the weight of the snow.
Sunday Daniel, Maija, and myself went to Osaka, while Johnny and Yuri went to the mountains of Kyoto. The Osaka crew went to Den-Den town and visited various erotic shops, the Kyoto kids saw various ancient buddha shrines. One shop was five stories of mostly dvds, I was in shock. For having such strict censure laws (anything south of the beltline is blurred), Japan has a lot of fetish shit. At the end of the day we all met up in Osaka at Yuri's resturant. It is Korean food and it was delicious. A big skillet of cooked beef and vegetables, much like sukiyaki. Good times were had all around.
Monday I learned how to knit rather than do my laundry, and was rather lazy all day. I couldn't sleep well at all last night, and I was told that I look hung over...TWICE. Woo-hoo. Thats about it for now, and despite the hung over look I'm in good spirits.