Kinkak-ji

I'm uploading some pictures from last weekend.

I was still recovering from being sick so I took it easy for the first part of the weekend. Then on Monday I went to visit this temple in Kyoto. Its called Kinkak-ji which means Golden Pavilion. Here is some information if anyone is interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkaku-ji.

This is the first view as you walk into the temple gates. They kind of throw the whole shabang at you all at once.

Close up of the temple. Its actually covered in real Gold.





The rest of the temple had some nice waterfalls and ponds.

People in Japan are all about good luck. In fact I think if they saved the money they spent on fortune tellers and throwing yen into Shrines, they wouldn't need luck since they'd be rich.

Top of the Golden Pavilion.

Nice little reflecting pond. But at this point my stomach bug had started to come back, so I couldn't really enjoy it as much as I wanted.


Some things that happened this week worth mentioning:

1. Tuesday my Manger and Native Japanese teacher were gone. So I was the only person at our school all day. Which is pretty scary when people try to call or come by to deliver packages and stuff.
2. Thursday I went to Osaka for teacher training. It was actually pretty good tips on how to improve my English teaching. It felt kind of weird being on the train in a full suit with all the Japanese businessmen going to work though. I felt like everyone was like, "does this gaijin really think he is normal?"
   
3. Training was from 12-8. At 8 we left the building, and they made us say some Japanese phrase to the workers up at the office. I asked what it meant, and our trainer said, "It means I'm sorry for leaving work before you". Geez we left at 8 pm and still had to apologize. These people really do love to work.
4. Friday I made one of my children students cry. She's in the class with her brother who is like 3 years older than her. So at the end of the class we are practicing writing and I notice she is just looking at the ground. Well after about 5 minutes I realize is full on balling. My manager comes in and speaks about 3000 words in Japanese and come to find out she is upset because she can't do what her brother can. Again, Japanese people really do love to work and study. Even at 7 years old.
5. My friend Takuya is DJing at a local club tonight. He came by the other day and asked me to think of a cool DJ name in English, all Japanese DJ's have English names. So I said since your first name is Takuya why don't you go by DJ Tic Tak. Well he didn't really like that so I said, Since your last name is Sasuda, why don't you try DJ Sasquatch. So I'm about to leave for the worldwide debut of DJ Sasquatch.
6. I also turned 25 yesterday. I bought myself some cakes bites at the store to celebrate. Not really I actually eat them almost every day. Anyway I'm halfway through my 20's. Which is really depressing. And since I don't have a car I can't celebrate the only positive of turning 25 which is lower car insurance.

Chad