A whole new world...

Today was my first full day here. Just walking around the streets is kinda weird. The whole driving on the left side is still throwing me off. Almost got run over a few times, gotta look to the right first before you cross the street. And not being able to read like 80% of the signs is a bit disorienting. We took a little tour of the area around the Stanford center, saw a temple and then finished orientation. Then for dinner, we went out with some Japanese students from an exchange student group at Dooshisha University.

Afterwards they took us to a Karaoke place, which was lots of fun. The best part was when we tried to sing Japanese songs, and when the Japanese students tried to sing English songs. It's still a little hard to believe I'm really here.



The director showing us around near a big map of Kyoto.


A cool statue near the center.



In front of the gate to Nanzen-ji temple.



Dimitris from the top of the temple.


Ji, Sandy and Erin posing for a picture.


Brian is clearly overcome by the extreme beauty.


Nazen-ji with sakura blossoms in the foreground.


Arches near Nanzen-ji.


Me with some of the students on our way to dinner.



My new friends Naru and Shima at the dinner table.


Okonomiyaki, a pancake shaped dish with rice, vegetables and various types of meat inside.


The street outside of the Karaoke place.


Me and Dimitris warm up our voices.


Brian and I attempt to sing "Haruka Kanata" from Naruto.


Shima, me and Yuki having a good time.

So far, been having a great time. I meet my host family tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes. . .

Check out the rest of my picture gallery from my second day in Japan.