Start Learning Japanese

I have a ton of ideas for blog posts in my head but I haven't done one on learning Japanese in a while. I know there are people who are trying to learn Japanese like myself. We're all doing what we can to learn in our own way whether it's taking formal classes, watching anime and dramas, or studying with friends. Each of these sadly has a flaw. Taking formal classes cost money and you learn in the order of the textbook being used. Watching anime doesn't get you far in your studies and you only pick up small words and phrases. Studying with friends can be a good idea, but at the same time you all are either distracting each other from actually studying or you all look to each other for guidance and get stuck. I did all of these things and still do some of them. Japanese is a hard language to learn and it will take years if you are not fully dedicated everyday, like myself.

To a Japanese person my level of Japanese is at the lower intermediate level. I can read and write hiragana and katakana and make basic sentences. A beginner is not knowing anything, a total beginner. The upper intermediate level is when you know the grammar but you can't understand conversations in Japanese. And finally, advanced is when you know how to converse in Japanese and can understand Japanese television and newspapers. I really hope one day I can get to the advanced level but I'll be lucky enough to just get to upper intermediate. The obvious way to learn fluent Japanese is to live there for a few years but me and most other people don't have that opportunity to do so (it's just not in our cards we've drawn). I'm in no way qualified to teach Japanese to others, but I don't mind helping out with giving tips and stuff like that.

Grammar/ Sentence structure

There is one thing that we should all focus on studying though and that's what we NEED to study. Open up a Japanese textbook, go ahead. The first introductory chapter is useful because of the hiragana, katakana, and helpful phrases but then the chapters start to teach you vocabulary you don't need to know. I find that a textbook doesn't challenge you enough like an actual person does. The one thing a textbook is good for is all the sentence structure and grammar rules in it. Collect all of those into one spot and study those each day to keep yourself refreshed. Even form the sentence, leaving out nouns, subject, time, adjective/adverbs, and verbs so you can practice making your own sentences.

Understanding the particles is a critical part of learning the sentence structure.

Vocabulary

In order to form sentences you need to know some vocabulary. Don't just learn random words. Be smart about what you learn. Ask yourself, "What am I going to Japan for? A job? A vacation?" If it's for school or a specific job learn the vocabulary related to those occupations. If it's for a vacation learn words for everyday conversation or what you think you would use like directions and asking questions. To study these vocabulary I suggest going back to the basics of studying and writing some flashcards. Learn 10 words at a time, adding 10 more everyday. Don't stop studying the flashcards for that day until you make no mistakes. If you miss a few days of studying you will have to start from the beginning because you won't remember anything, so make sure you study those flashcards everyday (it shouldn't take you any longer than a hour). 

Good old flashcards. They really do work.

Writing Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji

Learning how to write Japanese is important so you can read signs and other important information. With hiragana and katakana you just need to practice once a day, tallying how many you've got wrong. The goal is to keep practicing until you can write each one without any mistakes. Kanji is a little more work. Each day study 5 kanji, adding the previous 5 to the mix. Make sure that the 5 you are studying that day you have memorized it's English and Japanese meaning and are able to write the kanji. The next day, your goal is to be able to regenerate the previous kanji and it's meaning. If it can;t be done you need to study those thoroughly again with the next additional kanji. This method has worked for me previous, letting me comprehend 80 kanji at once.

You will keep getting better with each day!

I hope these study tips help you reach closer to your goal of learning Japanese. If you have any tips to help others please leave a comment below on your methods.

Like always, thanks for reading. I appreciate it all the time.

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Japanese Market in America

I personally love to go to Asian Markets around my hometown. We have many to choose from due to the Asian population in New Orleans. Since New Orleans is a port city it is common to encounter many different people and cultures. New Orleans is truly a "Gumbo City," a city made up of different cultures. The Asian Markets I have encountered so far have a bit a everything from different countries. The differences of the markets are who may own them. If a Chinese man owns a market it will have more Chinese products than anything else. There's another market around the city owned by a Korean family, so they sell more Korean products. My favorite Asian Market to go to is owned by a Japanese man and they sell the most Japanese products. It is truly heaven, walking into that store.

For the sake of being a blog about Japan I will be talking about what you can find at a Japanese Market in America. Now the store I'm referring to will be different from other ones around the country but they will have similarities and you should totally check them out.

Spices and Sauces

There are so many different spices and sauces to choose from. Many people don't think of spices when they think of Japanese food, but they have there own spices that are great for their food. One if the most popular Japanese spices is called Nanami Togarashi. This is a type of chili pepper that is used in a lot of Japanese cooking. As for sauces, they have every sauce you can think of. There's sauces for Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, and Yakisoba. If it's a cooked Japanese food there is most likely a sauce for it.

Fruits and Vegetables

Japan has many fruits and vegetables that are only native to their country.  A Japanese market may have these fruits and vegetables to purchase. Japanese fruit are very interesting. An apple in America is usually small but Japanese apples are huge. Many fruits that are well known in America are either bigger in size or smaller than usual in Japan. The vegetable selection is wide with the usual carrots, cabbage, and potatoes to the Japanese vegetables such as daikon (radish), taro, renkon (lotus root), and goya (bitter melon). These types of vegetables are not common in regular grocery stores but may be food at a Japanese market. Experimenting with Japanese vegetables is a great way to introduce yourself to Japanese food as it is used in many Japanese dishes.

Drinks and Snacks

One of the most popular reasons to go to a Japanese market is for the various flavored drinks and snacks. There are obviously different brands of green tea and other teas such as Jasmine tea. Famous Japanese drinks you can find at a Japanese market are Ramune, Calpis, and Pocari Sweat. There are also Japanese beers and sake to choose from for persons of age. The snacks are the best part of the market. This is the section that gets me the most excited. There's so many different kinds of snacks such as chips, candy, and ice cream. The popular candies are Pocky, Milkita, Hi-Chew, and Koala March. These candies come in popular flavors such as strawberry, chocolate, and green tea. Lately, there have been special flavors out such as chocolate banana and cookies n' cream. Chips are another great snack to purchase. A popular chip snack is Pretz, biscuit sticks that come in various flavors you would find in chips. And then there's the ice cream section. It's so beautiful, all the ice cream that's available. There's mochi ice cream in almost any flavor you can think of, frozen taiyaki, cream puffs, and Japanese ice cream sandwiches.

Tableware and Trinkets

If you're looking for some really nice Japanese tea sets or bowls then you need to visit a Japanese market. Not only is it reasonably priced but there are really nice quality ones along with the more cheaper kinds. Ever wanted a ramen bowl and a soup spoon you always see at Japanese restaurants? Well you can find all of that at the Japanese market. There's also some bento cutters to shape vegetables and nori (seaweed). Need a cool set of chopsticks? They got that. Want to learn oragami? They have paper for that. You can get a bunch of cool stuff at a Japanese market.

I hope this helps many of you venture off to an Asian market. It can be intimidating at first but once you go into the store you'll feel right at home when you see all the items available. Happy shopping!

If you liked this you should check out some of my other posts. I talk about various topics related to Japan such as anime, culture, food, and lifestyle. Enjoy!

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Restaurant Etiquette in Japan

Japan is a county set on manners. I've mentioned this before in a few of my other posts. This is extremely important, especially out in public. One of the places you should be mindful of your actions is at restaurants. Eating out is a great way to socialize and try new things, but there are some etiquette rules that should be followed.

1. Chopstick Etiquette

This is probably one of the most talked about rules on all the Japanese blogging sites. Many people have heard of these rules. It's talked about so much because it's that important. There are many things you don't want to do with your chopsticks. All of these are considered rude in Japan.

Don't Stick Your Chopsticks Straight Up in Rice- This is considered very rude. Sticking chopsticks straight up resembles burning incense at a grave or memorial of someone who has passed away. You don't want to mimic this at a dinner table. Instead either place your chopsticks at the edge of your bowl or plate or you can place them on the table (sometimes there will even be chopstick holders on the table for you to use).
Don't Pass Food With Your Chopsticks- This is also considered rude in Japan. You don't want to pass food to someone with chopsticks since that is also recognized as a gesture from a funeral. At Japanese funerals it is a traditional gesture to pass remains with chopsticks. Doing this at a dinner table can be very offensive. Instead either use the other side of the chopsticks to pick up food from a shared dish or bring the shared plate closer to your plate to receive the food.
Don't Play With Chopsticks- That's just childish.
Don't Shave Your Chopsticks- Not sure about other countries, but in America it is a common occurrence to see people at Japanese restaurants rubbing their wooden chopsticks together to get all the loose strands of wood off before they eat. In Japan, this can be considered rude as the restaurant staff could take offense to this in thinking you find their supplies cheap. You should be fine without shaving your chopsticks down.

My chopsticks are placed on the chopstick holder.

2. Getting a Waiter/Waitress's Attention

There are all kinds of restaurants in Japan, with a different set of standards. It is common for a waiter or waitress to only come to your table two or three times. They come give you the menu, to take your order, and bring out your food. Rarely do they come to check on you to see how you are doing (which I love because I hate how in restaurants in America waiters and waitresses have to see how you are doing, especially when you just took a bite of your food and they want to know how the food is). If you need your waitress or waiter for some reason you can always get their attention by saying "sumimasen" which mean excuse me in Japanese. This will get their attention and they'll come over to help. This is not considered rude so don't hesitate to say this out loud.

3. Don't Try to Alter an Item

I'm a very picky person when it comes to food. There are a ton of things I don't like to eat. When I went to Japan all of that changed, or at least it had to change. When you go out to eat in Japan and you see something on the menu that you're interested in but it has something in it that you don't like you're just going to have to deal with it. Not only is it probably rude to the cook, but waiters and waitress literally can't alter any food. Don't want onions in your pasta? Too bad. Want extra sauce? Not going to happen. The workers will not understand why you want to alter your food, not because of the language barrier (if there is one) but of the fact that they were never taught to change the orders and add to an order. It is not a common happening in Japan, so it just can't be done.

I couldn't read the menu so I ordered randomly. I'm eating some kind of salmon rice dish.
I don't like salmon but I ate it anyway.

4. How to Pay for Your Meal

It is not common to pay for your meal at the table after eating. You will find it is more common to pay for your food at the register before or after you eat. I've mostly seen restaurants that make you pay for your meal after you are done eating but I've also come across places that make you pay before. When you are done eating you can walk up to the register and hand them your receipt. They'll give you your total and project it onto the register screen. You should place your money on the tray at the register counter. Don't give the cashier your money from hand to hand. You will see the cashier hesitate if you do this. Put the money you owe on the tray and she'll return your change back on the tray and hand you your receipt with two hands. Take the receipt with both hands as a sign of courtesy.

I hope this helps you with your ventures at a restaurant in Japan. I sadly learned all of these on my own when I went to Japan for the first time. It was so embarrassing! I hope I can help all of you avoid these embarrassing situations too.

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A Taste of Japan: Disney's Epcot

There are many circumstances that can keep people from travel such as health conditions, fear of flying, and just not having the finances. I still find these circumstances sad for those who really want to experience Japan but can't make it over there. It can be hard traveling to other countries, and I understand. That's why I'd like to help those in America (where I'm from). You'd be surprised at how many places in America have areas that resemble Japan. These places obviously aren't going to be exactly like Japan, but it'll give people a good taste of what Japan may be like.

I plan to talk about Disney World's Epcot located in Orlando, Florida in this segment of "A Taste of Japan." Disney World is a great family or friend vacation for all ages. There's literally something for everyone to enjoy. There are several parks to explore, but I'll be talking about Epcot. I will eventually do more blog posts like this as I have the finances and time to travel to places that resemble Japan. So expect this to be a long running series on my blog.

Let's get started! Epcot is a park in Disney World that let's you travel around the world with its World Showcase. As you circle the park you'll arrive in countries such as South Korea, Mexico, China, Ireland, France, Germany, and, of course, Japan. I've been to Epcot three times already and it's always my most look forward to moments when I'm in Disney World. Epcot Japan resembles the real Japan in many ways that can come to many as a surprise. When you first transition from leaving America to entering Japan you can hear taiko drums in the distance, welcoming you to Japan. In the lake that is in the middle of the park, there's a torii, or gate, that is sitting in the water just like you can find in Japan. Once you enter that Japan section of Epcot the scenery changes drastically from the previous America section. The buildings are designed like traditional Japanese architecture. These buildings house shops, an exhibit, and restaurants. Towards the back corner, a Japanese garden and a pond can be seen. There's a pathway you can follow to stroll through the small garden area, leading to a small restaurant and the shopping area.

In the middle of the Japan section of Epcot.

The pond in the small Japanese garden. Those are some big koi fish.

There are two dinning restaurants to enjoy Japanese food like sushi and tempura. Then there is a casual restaurant, perfect for lunch, that serves items such as curry, garlic shrimp, and chicken teriyaki. The last time I went to the casual restaurant they had okonomiyaki (cabbage pancakes) on the menu that was delicious, but I guess it was too foreign to visitors so they exchanged that item for curry. I got the chicken katsu curry for lunch. It tasted just like the ones I got in real Japan. The workers were super friendly. They had no problem starting a conversation with my husband and I about his Kokoichiban (a curry house franchise in Japan) t-shirt. We enjoyed the small talk and got to know the workers a bit. Every worker, even in the other countries of Epcot, had a name tag on that would give where they were from. So the cashier at the casual restaurant was from Tokyo, Japan. I loved looking at all the name tags to see where the Japanese workers were from.

The exhibit room, featuring Kawaii Culture.

The next thing I saw was the exhibit. These exhibits are long-term, about 4 to 5 years. In 2012, the exhibit was about Japanese folklore. I really loved that one because they had a life size statue of a tengu (crow/man) that was so cool. This year they had an exhibit on Japan's kawaii (cute) culture. The room had glass cases filled with cute plushies, accessories, and other little trinkets. As you look at the exhibit you can hear Kyary Pamyu Pamyu playing in the background. It's a fun little exhibit that always introduces an interesting part of Japanese culture.

One of the glass cases explaining how cute culture can be present at work and for play..

Once you exit the exhibit there's an entrance to the Mitsukoshi department store. The store is nicely organized, sectioning off parts of the store for different things. There was a section for sake, snacks and candy, food, kitchen, kimono, hobbies, clothing, beauty products, stationary, Miyazaki items, Japanese learning books, Pokemon, Hello Kitty, and anime.  All of these great things in one store. It was hard not to buy everything in sight. My very first time in the store I went crazy, buying a purse, stickers, Pokemon plushies, a kimono, and candy. This time I only bought mochi candy and an umbrella.

The hobby section of the Mitsukoshi department store.

So as you can see Epcot Japan is in the comfort of American soil but lets you experience tiny parts of Japan. You'll get to eat real Japanese food, learn about Japanese traditions, and learn about the Japanese culture. All of this without the worry of speaking Japanese, yet if you'd like you can practice your Japanese with the workers and they'll be thrilled to talk with you. Not only will going to Disney's Epcot be a vacation, but an opportunity to learn about Japan in a relaxed setting. I won't be fully immersed into the culture. You will get little taste of Japan from Disney's Epcot, but enough to understand the country better.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post. I'm looking forward to doing more like this in the future. Thank you for reading and giving me support. I have so much fun writing about Japan and sharing it with everyone.

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Purikura

Not a fan of taking pictures? Worried about that pimple on your chin or those dark circles under your eyes? Fear no more! Purikura is here!

Yes, in Japan there's a photo booth that can make you look as perfect as you want to be. Purikura is Japanese for print club. The reason why these photo booths are called purikura is because after you're done taking your pictures you can decorate them and print them out. There are many purikura booths to choose from that'll have different decorative themes. Many of these booths are found in game centers, or as some of you may refer to them as arcades. Purikura will have its own designated area in the game centers, so it's really easy to find. These booths can cost from 500 to 800 yen (about $5.00 to $8.00 USD). 

The inside of a purikura booth.

The first thing you need to do to start your purikura experience is to feed the machine your money. It'll collect your money and you can start using the screen inside the booth to set up your picture format and settings. It's easy to use even if you don't know Japanese so don't worry about that. Once you have settled that, you're ready to take your picture. It'll give you a few seconds to just adjust into a pose of your liking in between each shot. After all the pictures are taken you can step outside the booth to the screen outside to decorate your pictures. Decorating is probably one of the greatest things about purikura. There are digital stickers to use and a wand to write on the pictures themselves. Many people usually write their names, their relationship with the people in the picture, or an adjective to describe the moment or the picture. The options are limitless!

A friend and I decorating our pictures.

Another feature for the purikura machines are the makeup settings. You can alter your facial features however you'd like. An example is that if you don't like how small your eyes are you can make them bigger. This and many other features are great for people who are camera shy because of their looks. Now you confidently take pictures with your friends without worrying about how you look (I know I always hate the way I look in pictures). Once you're done decorating you can print the pictures out. They'll come out of the machine on a long strip of paper. You can leave the pictures as they are or you can peel the pictures and stick them onto things such as phones or notebooks.

Purikura are great to do with friends. It's something that I recommend everyone to try if they go to Japan. It's an experience you don't want to miss.

I hope you liked this post. I just love purikura booths, and Japan in general. Check out my other posts on Japan. Thank you for the support.

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My Study Abroad Experience- Part 5

My Study Abroad Experience

Part 5: Leaving Japan

Start from the beginning with Part 1: japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-japan-study-abroad-experience-part-1.html

Program:

UNO-Japan: Study at Doshisha University

Studying in Kyoto, Japan

To learn more go to inst.uno.edu/japan or contact them at UNOJapan@uno.edu or (504)280-6388.

Five weeks may seem like a long time, but it goes by so fast. When it was nearing the time to leave Japan I felt like I had only just arrived. I was just getting settled in. I felt myself rushing to do as many things as I could before I left. That last week was like the end of a roller coaster. You see the end coming so you really focus on enjoying the ride while it's still moving. That was how I felt. After classes I was always trying to fill my time with sightseeing and activities I knew I wouldn't be able to enjoy back in America. I remember going to see Kinkakuji and Fushimi Inari my last week because I never got the chance to go before. I was so glad I got to fit those two sights in at the last week.

Kinkakuji and Fushimi Inari, both found in different parts of Kyoto.

Then our final exams came. For classes such as Literature and History we had to type a paper. For Japanese classes we had to complete an online exam in a certain amount of time. Many of us waited until the last night of classes to write our papers. I still laugh about it today. I had about five people in my room trying to type papers. We all were typing on our laptops, trying to get these papers done. I was having so much trouble completing the paper because I was still freaking out about leaving Japan. A friend of mine who was not worried about papers came into my room inviting us to karaoke with his Japanese friends. The people in my room declined the offer. Another friend and myself decided to join the karaoke party. It was my first karaoke experience so I'm glad I went. I had a blast that night. When karaoke was done I knew I had to get to work on my paper. I finished it that night and turned it in the next day. It felt like I was able to finish the paper because I knew I had done everything I could possibly do in Japan. I felt accomplished.

Friends finishing their papers and me in a karaoke room with another friend.

One of the things a group of us did was have dinner for the last time in the tatami room. This tatami room was a place for the student to eat together. You would sit on a pillow seat, at a low table. There were no shoes allowed in this room because of the tatami floors that were made out of bamboo straw. It was a pretty room, and we used about two other times besides our last dinner. The dinner consisted of food our parents sent us in the mail. It was a nice spread and we had lots of food. We had about seven of us in the tatami room, having dinner. It was a great last moment to have at our dorms.

After classes, on the last night in Japan, was the closing ceremony. The teachers tallied our grades and granted us our certificates. All the faculty and staff involved in the program was present at the closing ceremony. It was a different atmosphere than the opening ceremony. We were all friends by this time. Even the Japanese students who were our partners felt closer. It was a sad but good time we all had together.

All the faculty and students of the 2010 UNO Japan study abroad program.

Studying abroad is probably one of the greatest adventures anybody can ever have. It's filled with new people, new places, and new opportunities waiting to be experienced. I was very sad to leave, not knowing if I would ever get the chance to visit Japan again. I'm lucky enough to have that chance, but I can honestly say going on this studying abroad program has changed my life. 

Thanks for following my study abroad adventure! I hope this helps some of you take the plunge.

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Why People Dress Nice in Japan

Japan is a culture that thinks of others over themselves. Most people are thinking will I be a bother to other people before taking action. This way of thinking applies to a lot of different aspects of daily life in Japan. But for today, I'll be discussing the dressing habits in Japan.

It is well known that Japan is famous for its fashion. These seasonal fashion trends can be most commonly found in Shibuya prefecture in Tokyo, Japan. The reason Shibuya is known for its fashion is because of its hundreds of stores with the latest fashions. A popular department store in Shibuya is Shibuya 109. It features 10 floors of clothing stores and restaurants. It's a very busy places with crowds of people looking for the popular trend that's out. It's a great place to visit as a tourist if you are into the more modern lifestyle of Japan.

Shibuya 109 building.

If you venture out into other cities in Japan there won't be as much hype for fashion, but looking good still exists. Previously mentioned, it is important to present yourself in a clean, respected manner. This includes the way you dress. I've briefly discussed this topic in another blog post of mine titled Japanese Pop Culture. I'll have the link to that post at the end of this one. Anyway, There are guidelines on how you should dress. For females, it is acceptable to show as much leg as you would like but it is necessary to cover the chest. Japan is a country of modesty which is why the chest needs to be covered. It is also common for females to where heels. There's no strict reason for this. It's a combination of looking taller and fashionable. For males, the desired look to aim for is cleanly dressed. Fitted clothing accomplishes this desired look. Now there are exceptions to these guidelines. Older adults will still dress nicely, but it'll be in a more comfortable way. So instead of heels they may wear tennis shoes since walking is a common activity in Japan. Also living in a more rural area gives room for compromise, as it may not make too much of a difference to dress up in a low populated area. There's also going out to tourist attractions. If you know you're going to be walking a lot from place to place it might not be reasonable to dress up.

Touristy area in Kyoto and a ton of stairs. Dress in comfortable shoes in you plan on walking a lot.

Now, it is not required to dress up in your own house in Japan. In privacy, it's okay to be more relaxed. But if you're going out to the grocery store or the post office, little errand like that, you should consider following the dress procedures I mentioned above.

I personally love this way of thinking. Yes, it can be seen as annoying to most people who just don't care about their appearance. I'm sometimes guilty of not caring and going out looking like a slob. But it would be nice to dress up without having a reason to dress up. The most common look where I'm from is a shirt, some shorts, and flip flops on your feet. In my home of New Orleans, its not common to dress up on a daily basis, unless your job requires this of you. In my case, I work in a back office where no one hardly ever sees me except for the occasional potty breaks and whatnot. On rare occasions I like to try to look nice, and people notice I'm looking nice but then they ask me, "What are you all dressed up for?" I can't dress up just to dress up? There has to be a reason? This is not fair in my opinion. There shouldn't have to be a reason. If I want to wear heels I should be able to wear heels. If I want to wear a dress, I should be able to wear a dress. I wouldn't get this kind of reaction in Japan because it's just natural for everyone to look nice.

Shopping in Kyoto's shopping district.

What do you think? Would you like to live in Japan and experience this lifestyle for yourself? Try dressing yourself up on a random day and see if you get any reactions like I got.

Link to my other blog post: japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/06/japanese-pop-culture.html

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Manga in Japan

Manga are Japanese comics, referred to in America as graphic novels. Manga authors are the most populated authors in Japan, publishing many manga each year. When you go into any bookstore in Japan you can be sure there will be lots of manga on the shelves.

I will talk about manga's role in America at a later time but I'd like to first introduce manga from Japan's standpoint. 

Manga is a common type of book in Japan. Imagine a bookstore in your country. You have your common literature section and then the books start to branch out into sections like young adult, poetry, science, sports, etc. If you've taken notice, literature will most likely be the largest section of all the sections at the bookstore. Now think of that literature section and turn it into manga. That's how it is in Japan. Bookstores in Japan have sections too but manga is the biggest section.

Manga series called Tokyo Crazy Paradise.
Not licensed in America.

It is common to read manga in Japan. There are many Japanese people who read manga whether it be for enjoyment or passing time during their day. Manga is known as the original content to anime, so manga is a great way to get into anime. Nonetheless, in Japan, if you read manga it doesn't mean you like anime. The reason for this is because manga is the common literature in Japan. It is literally everywhere and easy to obtain. This makes manga a popular source for reading material. Anime is still considered a Japanese cartoon no matter its projected audience, so if a person has no interest in watching a cartoon they won't watch anime. Yet, that anime could be derived from a manga. So to restate, just because a person in Japan reads manga doesn't mean they like anime. The two don't equal up in Japan. They are two separate interests.

Manga is a great source of enjoyment in Japan. Of course a Japanese manga is written in Japanese, so you would need to know how to read Japanese. To read Japanese manga you can get by with knowing only hiragana which is the easiest form of reading, in my opinion. There are kanji used in manga but many manga have tiny hiragana next to the kanji so it's a great way to study the language. You'll also have to have a good vocabulary in order to understand the words. If not, you can always have a Japanese to English dictionary on hand to assist you when needed.

Japanese version of the manga Reimei no Arcana (Dawn of the Arcana).

If you ever get to go to Japan I suggest taking a stroll through a book store. It is a sight to see. Maybe even pick up a manga. Even if you may not understand the contents of a manga it can be a great souvenir to bring back with you. And yes, I own a few volumes of Japanese manga.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you liked this one you should check out of few others I've done. Thanks for reading!

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My Study Abroad Experience- Part 4

My Japan Study Abroad Experience

Part 4: Field Trips

Program:
UNO-Japan: Study at Doshisha University
Studying in Kyoto, Japan
To Learn more go to inst.uno.edu/Japan or contact them at UNOJapan@uno.edu or (504)280-6388.

One of the most exciting things about going to Japan is traveling. Japan has many sights to offer with the intermingling of modern and rural areas. There will never be a time where you have nothing to see.

Studying abroad is an easy way to travel through Japan securely. Some people are naturally adventurous while others may not. And both kinds of people are fine. When I studied abroad and went to Japan for the first time I was scared to venture out and explore on my own. I was glad that the program I went on gave the opportunity to see other places in Japan.

At a game center with friends.

The program was stationed in Kyoto, Japan. We had school Monday through Friday but only from 8 a.m. to 2 p. m. After class, everyone would go explore the city of Kyoto. At first I only went to the shopping district, but I eventually explored out in the further corners of Kyoto.

Group picture from Kyoto field trip.

Three weekends were dedicated to field trips. The first was a mandatory field trip in Kyoto. The Kyoto field trip was what the program director thought all the students should see while in Japan. It included landmarks such as Nijo Castle and the Kiyomizu Temple. The other two field trips were to Osaka and Nara. These field trips were optional for the program. I wanted to see as much of Japan as possible, but I didn't want to do it alone. These field trips let me accomplish this. I got to see Osaka Castle, eat Okonomiyaki, and pet deer in Nara.

Deer in Nara, Japan.

There was one free weekend on the program. This was open to other travel plans or exploring more of Kyoto. I stayed in Kyoto due to the lack of funds, but there were quite a few students who went to Kobe, Tokyo, and other cities in Japan. I would've joined if I had the money but I was happy to stay and enjoy my last week in Kyoto with my new found friends.

At Monkey Mountain in Arashiyama district of Kyoto.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Continue to Part 5: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/10/my-study-abroad-experience-part-5.html

For more Study Abroad Experience:
Part 1: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-japan-study-abroad-experience-part-1.html

Part 2: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-study-abroad-experience-part-2.html

Part 3: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-japan-study-abroad-experience-part-3.html

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How to Get Around in Japan

I apologize for the lack of posts on my blog in the last week or two. There should be no excuse but I've been busy. One of the things I've been busy with is getting my husband a new car. In New Orleans, it is necessary to have a car because it's not easy to get around on bikes or safe enough to walk and the public transportation isn't the best. So I'd like to take this time to discuss transportation in Japan.

Car

Japan is the total opposite of New Orleans, and probably America in general, when it comes to transportation. There are not many people in Japan who own cars, for several reasons. One being that the traffic is really bad. Two, there are a ton of tolls on the expressways in Japan. And three, there's just not enough room to park cars in Japan. Sometimes cars can't even be used. Some high schools in Japan will not allow their students to arrive at school in a car. Cars are just not as convenient in Japan.

Taxi

Taxi cars have the same problem as everywhere else. It's going to be expensive. It's good for a desperate time when all other means of public transportation is not running. It's great to experience a taxi drive though. Most of the taxi cars have doors that open and close automatically. Once you get into the taxi you will notice the cleanliness inside. The seats have covers on them and the taxi driver will be wearing white gloves. It all feels fancy.

Train

Next are trains. There are shinkansen which are bullet trains. These trains go really fast and cut travel time in half from ordinary trains. Shinkansen are great for people on a time constraint or are doing a lot of traveling from far distances. There are passes you can buy in advance for the shinkansen. The passes are worth buying if you plan to travel through Japan a lot. Other than shinkansen, there are regular trains that go to different cities in Japan. Buying the tickets from the machines can be difficult at times but there is usually a help desk that can guide you through the process if you ask.

Subway

They remind me of trains in a way. The tickets are bought in the same manner as a train. I've only used the subway once in Japan. I'm from the south so I've never really experienced a subway before so I never really used it Japan. Think of it like a bus, but underground and no traffic.

Bus

This is my favorite mode of transportation. The bus is best used when you're staying in one city. Using the bus is cheaper than using a taxi and you'll get to be a part of the Japanese society. It's usually about 250 yen for adults which is pretty cheap. If you plan to go around the city, using the bus multiple times, it might be in your best interest to obtain a bus pass. You can inquire about a bus pass at the train station. If you plan to use the bus or any of the above modes of transportation you should know some rules of etiquette. It is polite to stay quiet on the bus in respect for other people's time. That means no talking on the phone or talking to your friends next to you in a loud voice. If there are seats available you may sit but don't take up the priority seating for older people and pregnant women;that is considered extremely rude. That is my favorite form of transportation to use in Japan.

Bicycle

The most popular form of transportation in Japan is a bicycle. There are more bicycles than cars in Japan. Bicycles are convenient to use because there's no sitting in traffic and it is cheaper in the long run. Bicycles are like cars in Japan which means it has laws. There's no drinking while riding a bicycle. Another law for the bicycle is there can't be a passenger riding. These two laws exist for the safety of the people and pedestrians in the area. If you're riding a bike don't be alarmed if a policeman stops you. He'll be asking to see some kind of bike license. This is common in Japan to make sure who the bike belongs to. Just like cars, bicycles have parking spots. There are bike rakes on every major street corner or populated area. If your bicycle isn't parked properly it can be thrown into bike jail which is a yard of bikes taken due to rule breaking. Most people don't retrieve their bikes because they will be admitting to breaking the law. Sadly, bicycles would not be the way to go for me because I don't know how to ride one. Never could learn to ride one. I would get too scared of the height, being off the ground, and the balancing required for riding a bike. I prefer walking or using the bus.

Walking

It's not a bad idea to walk to places in Japan. There are a ton of benefits to walking. One, you'd be able to get to see places you would have missed if you rode a bus or subway. Two, it's good for you. Three, you can interact with people you come across. I love walking in Japan. You will discover so many great places you never intended to find. If you do plan to walk I suggest wearing comfortable shoes.

That's it for this post. I hope you enjoyed the informative side of it. I will be getting back into the groove of things again. Once again, like always, thank you for reading my blog. I hope to make this grow into something great. Please support me!

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My Japan Study Abroad Experience- Part 3

Part 1: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-japan-study-abroad-experience-part-1.html

Part 2: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-study-abroad-experience-part-2.html

My Japan Study Abroad Experience

Part 3: Tomodachi

My Study Abroad Experience- Part 2

Part 1: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-japan-study-abroad-experience-part-1.html

My Japan Study Abroad Experience

Part 2: School Life

Program:
UNO-Japan: Study at Doshisha University
Studying in Kyoto, Japan
To Learn more go to inst.uno.edu/Japan or contact them at UNOJapan@uno.edu or (504)280-6388.

It's exciting to travel to a new country to see and experience new things, but when you're studying abroad you still have to go to school. I went on this program because it was already affiliated with the university I was attending. The good thing about this program is that it accepts students all over the country. In my last post I mentioned I had a roommate. Well, she was coming from California. My program year also had students from Utah and Ohio. The reason why my roommate decided to apply to this program was because it was the cheapest she could find online. And this program is not only limited to students. My program year had a girl who attended that was no longer a student. The girl just went to the two required classes she needed to take to be on the trip but didn't have to stress over what grades she got. This program is literally for just about anyone (there are restrictions though so look that info up).

My roommate and I eating out in Kyoto, Japan.

Now, I said something about required classes. Let me explain that. This program is a study abroad program. There will be a selection of classes you can sign up for. It is required that you take two classes during the program of the listed classes they supply you. I took a Japanese 2001 class and an English class focused on geisha and samurai. My roommate took a Japanese 1001 class and a Japanese history class. I repeat, two classes are required and it doesn't matter what two. Next order of business, these classes are taught in English by professors from the University of New Orleans or Tulane. The classes are small and attendance is mandatory. The program direct and teachers understand that you are in a new country so your classes are not extremely hard. You still have to work hard at your classes but there's typically no homework. In the Japanese classes you take online tests. For the other classes (like English and History) there will be about two papers to write during your six week stay in Japan for the program. The classes change every year for the program, so depending on which teachers will travel will determine the type of classes for that program's year.

Two classrooms we used on campus in two different buildings.

The university I studied at was Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. We only used the campus for classes and lunch. The campus was so beautiful when I went, and it still is. Each building was designed differently, and the designs reflect the function of the building, in my opinion. The campus wasn't too large so it was easy to get around. In order to get onto the campus all the study abroad students on the program received student passes. The passes were needed because the campus entrance was guarded by security. I didn't need to purchase a printer because the student pass that I was given gave me access to the computer labs. There were two that I knew of, so there was always space in the labs to print my papers before class. If you weren't feeling in the mood for cafeteria food there would be the option of convenience store food or restaurants near by. During the program the students had the chance to go to three club activities on campus. I got to participate and meet the students of the flower arranging club and the calligraphy club. The other club was the kendo club.

The building I ate lunch in. It was crowded during lunch hour.

Group photo of the program students with the flower arranging club (Ikebana).

The campus was always so lively with students everywhere. The study abroad students had the opportunity to gain new friends with the Japanese students. But that'll be discussed next time, so look forward to it.

Part 3: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-japan-study-abroad-experience-part-3.html

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