My host sisters came into my room at 10am and said we were leaving at 10.15. 15 minutes do get ready? No hope! After struggling to come to terms with the fact that the Japanese can sometimes be inefficient, I was out the front door, ready for this adventure. After a 15 minute walk and 2 trains, we arrived at cooking school. Our sensei told us by the end of the class we would have made a meal for Hinamatsuri. Otherwise known as 'girls festival.' It was an unforgetable experience.

I love my room. It’s small, which is typical when it comes to Japanese houses, cozy and warm, very unexpected. I have found the Japanese are very conscious of the weather and in winter, the rooms are a lovely 25 degrees. Although the heater is on only when there is someone in the room. When no on is in the room, the heater must be turned off. (Japanese are strict about cutting down on electricity. Lights must be turned off when the room is not in use.

My host family love ornaments. The more ornaments, the better. There is very little room in the house because the ornaments take up all the space. Initially I thought this was a mess but now I have grow to love the looking at the toys while I’m in the toilet and having the toys stare back at me while I’m brushing my teeth.

Kobe! This was a beautiful town, where the old meets the new. Walking through ‘China Town’ was exactly how I imagined China to be. The traditional colours and statues lined the two streets. While the food stalls smelling of a delicious array of food occupied both sides of the streets. As we continued to walk the streets of Kobe, we stumbled across Starbucks which bought us back to reality and reminded us of the impact of globalization. Not far was the Kobe port, which although I have never felt so cold (apart from the day in Kyoto) was beautiful. The damage from the earthquake in 2002 was untouched and remained a part of history.

Shinsaibashi. I love Shinsaibashi. Out of all the places I have visited so far, this has been my favourite. The people have their own unique sense of style. Everyone is an individual who contributes in their own way to the collectiveness of the Japanese society. At first glance, walking down Shinsaibashi Suji seems almost unachievable. However as u walk down the busiest shopping strip I have ever seen, u come to realize the control and order that takes place. Everyone walks on the in sync on the correct side and the hustle and bustle that I thought existed is calm and controlled. The bright lights and amusing signs are all apart of Japan. The small laneways and narrow streets make Japan so unique. To think that it is so technologically advanced, yet their way of thinking can be so traditional.

The First Two Weeks

Japan seemed similar to Australia. Initially, I saw little differences, apart from signs in kanji, a few more sky scrapers and a lot more Japanese people. However i started noticing major changes. The gestures were different; bowing was common. People would stand and wait to the right side of the escallator instead of the left. People would give up their seats on trains for the elderly. It was generally a more group orientated society than the individualistic society that was apparent in Australia.