This morning started off great with a wonderful breakfast prepared by Okaasan ("Mother" in Japanese). We ate scrambled eggs, Japanese style, with ham and rolls. I headed off to the train station and had to figure out how to get to Tokyo Station! It was about a 45 min train ride and ended in me asking for a lot of help from some very friendly locals :) Once I got to Tokyo Station, I meet up with the rest of the group and we got ready for our trip to Meiji Jingu Shrine! Today was also the "Coming of Age Day" which is celebrated by everyone who turns 20 years old this year! Many people that celebrate dress in Kimono's which is a traditional attire. After the checking out the shrine we spent a few hours walking around Takeshita Dori, a HOT shopping district with various designers stores and some knock off booths in some back alleys :) We grabbed some lunch at a "Italian" Restaurant, which was clearly not Italian as I thought it would be, but had a good time. I ordered what I thought was spaghetti, but my host mom clarified it was noodles with Tuna Sauce :( I knew it kinda tasted funny!
After hanging out in Harajuku, which is the small city the shrine and Takeshita dori was, we hopped on a train to another shrine in Asakusa! I bought our family these delicious bean cakes, which turns out was an awesome gift to bring home from Asakusa!
The last thing on our agenda was to go watch a Sumo Tournament in Ryugoku Stadium, in the north side of Japan! It was awesome to see first hand the tradition and culture that takes place at the event!
There are surprises around every corner here, and I love it! My family is awesome and the group I am here with is really great! I have meet some fellow AC students I never would have meet before and now will have some strong friendships coming home!
Tomorrow I have class in the morning and a lecture on the Japanese Organized Crime, or Mafia, called Yakuza. Should be awesome! I've had a very long day and need some rest!
That's all for now! Chat soon!
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