Catch Me in Kyoto

The second day in Japan, I signed up for another field program with Semester at Sea, called Art & Culture. This field program was in Kyoto, Japan so we had to drive today instead of take a train. Since yesterday I was a bit cold, I learned from my mistake of wearing light layers (thinking it would not be that cold) and I put on a few more layers than the previous day. I headed down to meet the group and we got on a bus to start the field program. The first stop that we did with the program was visit an origami house where we learned how to make origami; however, before we headed into the house we were asked to take off our shoes. As I struggled with my Lems, trying to get them off, I was one of the last people into the house where we were divided into two groups and into two rooms because we were such a large group. My group that I was with, sat on these small chairs close to each other. As we were instructed on how to make the origami, our first item that we were to make was a jumping frog. As the Japanese lady in the front instructed us, her helpers, wearing the Japanese attire walked around the room, helping the ones who were struggling (aka me)! We later had a frog jumping contest, seeing whose frog could land upward the most times. Our group made a few more origami pieces, were shown a few examples of their origami, such as the pieces that take years to make, or the tiniest pieces (see below), and then we left, getting handed origami paper to take with us. After the origami, we put our shoes back on, headed back onto the bus, and as we drove away we watched as the Japanese workers who had helped us with our origami waved us goodbye as we drove away in our bus. We then headed towards lunch. #StreetfoodinKyoto

The last thing we did that day with the field program was visit the Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion. We had the chance to walk around, and see the different angles of the Golden Pavilion and of the all that was around the area. I was walking with the theater teacher because I did not know exactly where to go, so we walked together, keeping each other company and talking about the sites. Soon we saw another site that was of statues or figurines and then the Japanese people would throw their coins at the statues. The last thing we saw before we left was a shrine. It was a wonderful day, and Japan just kept seeming to become more wonderful. I enjoyed getting to see the beauty of the country. Cannot wait to see what else Japan has to offer!