WEEKEND TRIP TIME!

This weekend, interns raced to Tokyo from all parts of Japan (Tokushima, Ehime, Nara, Okinawa, Osaka, Kyoto, and more!) to make the 10:27AM train to Miura Beach in the Tokyo Bay of Kanagawa. On our way to the beach house we were staying at, we stopped at a lava rock beach.

Afterward we took a small boat ride to a seafood and vegetable market. 

Buying food at the market is always an exciting experience. They’re all locals from who don’t understand any English, so we can only use Japanese with them! We never know what food we’re buying, but it’s okay because the food is always delicious.

Watermelon on the pier.

Later that night, we returned to the beach house and had a big barbecue. Tofu, vegetables, tuna, sashimi, kimchi, chicken wings—we had it all! 

Osaka is famous for okonomiyaki - a savory pancake stuffed with whatever you like. Literally. Okonomi means “how you like,” and yaki means grilled. Sounds perfect, right? So I was pumped to go to Osaka this week. 

My students took me to an okonomiyaki restaurant near our classroom. LOOK AT THIS.

In Japan, tables at restaurants sometimes have a grill that's built into your table. Usually the food is made by the staff. Other times you make the food yourself! This is something I'll miss when I go back to America.

Osaka had so many exciting things to do - shopping, ferris wheels, lines of restaurants, and even a British Pub. 

Osaka is the second biggest city in Japan, so we never ran out of new things to try.

The view from our classroom.

Group photo!

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When I first heard that I was going to Ehime, I thought I would be stranded in the 田舎, or countryside, but I was surprised by how lively the city is! After classes, we went to Matsuyama Castle, Dogo Onsen, and Baishinji Beach.

Monday night late dinner!

We also did fireworks and celebrated an intern’s birthday with cake and a barbecue. Just like Hokkaido, the Japanese staff were so welcoming and wanted to show us everything Matsuyama has to offer.

Dogo Onsen is one of the world’s oldest hot springs, and we went there!

Millie (the birthday girl!)

Matsuyama Castle with Rikuto and Ichiro

Climbing was so hard. But worth it!