Time, why are you not my friend?

Life is insane and I certainly don't have enough of this little thing we call time. I have less than three weeks, three papers, a video that we have to make, as many interviews as I can fit in, a trip to Nara, two afternoon finals, and four Japanese finals (it's actually two finals with two parts but each part is a final in and of itself so...). And then it's back home to the States to spend Christmas with my family! I'm so excited about that! But there's still three weeks of stuff to do and stress is definately not fun...

It's been almost two weeks since I wrote last, and I'm sorry about that. So, here's what has happened. After I last wrote, I spent that Saturday shopping in Umeda with Ruth, where I saw a camera for 300$ that I wanted (since mine is old and starting to fall apart). It's a canon, and when Ruth looked it up on Best Buy's website, it is a 600$ camera in the states, available only by special order. It is a freaking awesome camera, with 10X zoom, image stabilizing tech (so no more blurry night photos), and really nice video capability. Thus this camera is staying in the back of my mind as a maybe. It's a fantastic buy, if I can come up with the money. But first things first, of course, so the camera must wait until next semester when I can finally assess whether or not I am capable of buying this thing. Because that's a lot of money and I don't impulse buy things that are that expensive. We'll see if I decide that I really need it.

That Sunday, the original plan was to go to Fushimi-inari and then continue from there. What happened was that for the two minutes we were at Fushimi-inari station the weather had decided to pour down rain. So, we got back on a train because the shrine has no cover and all those stone steps plus rain didn't sound like a fun idea. However, as soon as we left Fushimi-inari for Kyoto Station (where we would be dry), the weather cleared up and there was no need for an umbrella. So...

On the way to Kyoto Station, we stopped at a buddhist temple just a block away. It was described in Heather's guidebook as "the largest wooden structure in the world" but it was under renovation so the largest wooden structure was completely encased in a large steel structure. We could walk inside the steel structure and see the outside of the wooden structure, but heaven forbid we see the inside. I was not impressed. I'm sure when it's finished, it will be quite beautiful but... I probably won't get to see it. The interesting thing about this temple is that you don't have to pay to go in. (most buddhist temples charge you to go inside, which is why I have been inside so very very few) Additionally, inside the main gate is a stone courtyard that is covered in pigeons. While Heather resisted the urge to kick one, I completely gave into the urge to terrorize them. Yes, I acted like a complete two year old and ran to the center of the flock, hoping to make them all scared and fly away. But no, instead of humoring me, they all just kinda waddled out of my way. I was very disappointed. And I'm sure I looked like a fool but I don't care.

Now, on to Kyoto station. Kyoto station is an 11 story building about three blocks away from shichijo station, filled with shopping and, by the way, completely decked out for the holidays. We completely bypassed Thanksgiving and gone straight into Christmas. Which downright annoys me. Plus, Christmas here is completely the retail version of Christmas, so it kinda depresses me because Christmas here has no soul. Another reason I'm happy to be going home for Christmas. We did not actually go shopping in Kyoto station because it was fantastically busy and we felt no need to trapize through womens clothing that neither Heather and I can possibly fit into because we're both way too tall. We did travel to the top floor where we had probably the most fantastic pizza I've had in Japan yet. It was cooked by a real brick oven. Didn't think I'd find one of those in Japan but oh my goodness... fantastic.

Then, after Kyoto Station we decided to walk from Shichijo to shijo (for those of you who can't tell, Shichi is the word for 7 and shi is one of the two ways to say 4. Jo, I assume is either stop, street, or something along those lines. On the Keihan line, there is a Shichijo, Gojo (5), shijo, and Sanjo (3). Not sure where the other numbers ran off to, but this is Japan and I have learned not to ask. So from Shichijo to shijo was approximately 5 or 6 blocks. We stopped at the sister temple to the Tallest Wooden Structure in World Temple (I remember no names, I'm sorry) along the way, but that one was not anywhere near as impressive. Both were under renovation.

At Shijo, we walked back to the Keihan line and stopped at what Heather called the "incredible store of insane cuteness" and is actually an accurate description of this place. This is where I found a present for Yoshi, since Sunday was her birthday. I was quite proud of myself because when I gave it to her later that evening, I had apparently chosen the perfect gift. Makes me happy. That evening was spent with Yoshi and family, where we had a small cake, her favorite meal, etc. She turned 16.

Last week was downright busy. There was originally a plan to skip Shinto class and go see Nogi Shrine but we were tempted with a movie and decided to show up that wednesday. How I wish we hadn't! It was the most senseless movie I had ever seen! I could see where aspects of the movie had shinto references but in all honesty? It was pointless. And the sad part is that this was the highlight of that week. Not to say I didn't have anything to do last week, far from it, but that's the only thing worth writing about. Most of what I did that week was homework. And lots and lots of it.

Last Saturday, I finally did make it to Nogi Shrine during shichi-go-san. I am working on a feild report of that trip and I shall post it here when it is done. That will be one paper less for me to write. But for now, just know I went to Nogi shrine during the day, then left for home before it started getting dark. Then, I went to Kyobashi to have dinner with a friend over Subway (best subway sandwich I've had in my life, thank you). Sunday, I went to Seminar house four to watch Princess Mononoke. Then it was back home to do even more homework.

This week too has been characterized by two things--homework and cold. The homework is more annoying than anything else; our video is due next week so we are hurrying to get it videotaped and stuff like that. It will be a really cute video, so I'm happy with the plot and we've poured a lot of work on it. It's just the actual practicing the lines and filming that we have to do now. Sigh. And no one has time.

As for the cold... During the day, I am just fine, even without a coat that I stupidly forgot to pack. I just wear layered clothing and normally only need two layers to be quite comfortable. It's like a typical fall day in Arkansas. It's like the days when its warm in the sun but cold in the shade (which are the kind of days that I love anyway). But oh at night... At night there is no sun so it gets really cold. And the best part of it all? My room is the same temperature as the outside. Why? Because I have no significant heat source whatsoever. The only thing I have is a small foot-pad thing that's about a 3 inch by 5 inch square and even on its strongest doesn't get very warm. And my host mother has specifically warned me not to run it while I am sleeping. Well that's great and all but I kinda would like to keep all my toes thank you.

Now before you start freaking out, my friends, let me explain. It is quite normal in a Japanese house to have no central heating and air. For heat, most families use a variety of electric heaters and no one thinks this is strange. It is not normal, however, for those living in a Japanese house not to have some form of electric cover or electric rug under their futon. Many people say that they are actually quite comfortable at night with the electric rug or cover, depending on which they have. I am sure I would be comfortable too if I had such things. But I do not. All I have is that foot pad, which I guard with my life. But I still have to turn it off when I sleep (lest my host mother get angry and take it away) so... I generally end up doing my homework while huddled up under the covers, which is actually fairly uncomfortable because there is no flat surface to write on and not enough room to spread out whatever I am working on. In general, I look forward to going to class because at least in the CIE they keep things nice and warm. Sometimes too warm, but I can't be too picky. I'm just trying to last until the 16th, when I come home for Christmas.

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me...
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.