Back to Kyoto 1 - Jan. 26 2007

The school has organized a trip to Kyoto and we decided to sign up. Most students have not been to Kyoto and I definately wanted to go back. When we arrive at the meeting point there seems to be a queue of 100 students for the trip. We decide to form our own group and go on our own itinerary. We visit Yasaka temple and Kiyomidzudera (photos). The latter is a contender for one of the NEW wonders of the world... I was not breath taken, but I thought it was a nice place. It must be superb during the cherry blossoms. After a day walking in Kyoto, stopping in the many tourist traps on our way to the temples and walking up and down the rugged terrain of temples, we are hungry and thirsty (for beer) so we set off to find a cheap and good place. I ask someone randomly in Japenese, but forget to add "cheap" in my question, so we end up in Gion where the restaurants are outrageously expensive, but we do catch a glimpse of Geishas hoping in a taxi. We go back to the drawing board and I ask one last time. This time, it is a salaryman going back to his place and he offers us to show us around the neighborhood and find a good spot! We are very grateful of his kindness; he is doing a detour on his own time to show strangers around town! When we get there, he treats us to beer and joins us at our table! I have heard many stories of Japanese kindness and hospitality, but I was quite skeptical about them, but now I entirely believe! Everyone was very surprised at this display of kindness and generosity from a complete stranger that we just ask directions on the streets of Kyoto. When we came back from Kyoto we decided to visited a local Isakaya to countinue drinking a bit. The bartender was fun and gave us sake shots. We went back to the dorm quite tipsy, 10 minutes before the gates close. The other highlight of the day is the placement test result: I was expecting level 3 and they gave me level 4 Japanese... I have to work extra hard, but I am very satisfied of the results, considering I have never taken a Japanese course.