The Panda Travels: Stanford Start - Yasaka Shrine and Orientation! (1/4/13)

Hi everybody,

We’ve officially started our Stanford study abroad trip!

Hanging out with the cool guys!

All dressed up and ready to go! It's a little hard to walk around though.

We started today with a Stanford group hatsumode (first temple/shrine visit). We went to a kimono rental place and dressed up in traditional Japanese wear. Then we went to Yasaka Shrine. Everyone looked so nice all dressed up! The girls were really pretty with their hair tied up in a traditional bun. And the guys looked cool too. Even David looked ok.

Minasan ga kirei (everyone is pretty!)!

So we’ve talked about how shrines and temples are where you pray for good luck, but today one of the Stanford Japan Center professors showed us the proper way to pray. First you pay a coin (5 yen and 50 yen are the best – those are the one’s with the holes), then short bow, deep bow, clap twice, say a short prayer, then bow once more. Then you ring the bell!

Ok...you don't look half bad.

Then we went to Doshisha University, our new school! I met all the nice teachers and Japan center staff. There were even some Kyoto students who will be taking classes with us! I’m so excited for our class on Japanese Popular Culture. We will be exploring the origins and history of many pop culture figures. I hope we do a segment on animal characters too.

Mixing, mixing, mixing

This evening we went to a make-it-yourself okonomiyaki restaurant! I think I’m pretty good at it. The trick is getting the flip just right without breaking it. Of course you can always ask for help from the staff. Personally, I think when you make it yourself, it tastes much better!