New life in Nowrich

I have been very lazy to update my blog, sorry...

Because I moved to Norwich on September 23rd, where my university is then from the next day of moving, orientation programme started followed by the start of courses on Monday.

Everyday, time flies so fast with so much new information and preparation of each modules.

Plus, for the first 10 days since my arrival, everyday it rained.

I finally experienced typical British weather : after a short sunshine, it starts raining...

So the first thing that I bought was a folding umbrella.

Everyday when I leave my room, I take it with me even though it is nice weather at that time.

The non-stop new information with lots of work exhausts me but the courses are quite interesting.

My university is located in very countryside, 15 min by bus and 30-40 min by walk from downtown.

Wild squirrels and rabbits run around on campus freely.

In my course of Environment and International Development there are 22 people from all over the world:

3 Japanese (including me), Italian, Swedish, British, Malawian, American, Korean, etc...

Everyone is very kind and I like discussing with them who have so different rich experiences.

1st welcome school party

I'm going to live in university accommodation this year. It's 5-10 min by walk from university.

Courtyard view from my room

The rent is quite expensive but it's not far from university with free internet and some TV channels so, I can live for a year :)

My 5 flat mates are international as well:

Scotish, Malawian, Nigerian, Chinese and Cyprian.

I am trying to get used to this new life style little by little.

It will be very very intensive busy year but I will enjoy as much as possible！

Bonus:
There are so many chestnut trees along the car roads.

Right now is the season and nuts are everywhere on the streets !

I love chestnuts and I wanted to pick them all up but their prickles are so sharp and also I would feel embarrassed of doing so, I brought back one to my room :)

1st week in UK

I arrived well in London on 7th from Malaysia.

I had to wait so long time at the immigration. There were so many Non EU people waiting.

But suddenly one immigration agent cut the line and let people come to on the first line for 2 new gates.

And I was the first person to benefice it !

So lucky :) But as soon as he checked my passport, he asked the letter of acceptance from my university which I didn't have with me. (it was in my suitcase...)

He gave me a glance saying stupid (kind of) and started questioning me (where I study, how long, who pays my stay, etc...)

I told him about my volunteer in Africa which actually helped me to save up my money, etc...

Because of that story, he let me go exceptionally.

I was happy that he was very generous.

At the exit of the airport, Ben's dad and sister came to pick us up then we continued toward his hometown, Lincoln, 3 hours from London by car.

The house is boat on canal.

At first, I was not comfortable with water movement but I got used to it after a couple of days.

Last weekend, we did canal boat trip with Ben's best friend and his gf.

Although we had several unpredicted incidences,

 it was great trip with nice weather.

 The oldest bridge with a building above in UK

They look like boxes but no, they are horses !

I navigated a boat for the first time without license ! (Not illegal, no worries :)

Until 23rd when I move to the university residence in Norwich, I spend time here on the boat.

Detour

It has been already 10 days since I arrived in UK...

Yes, I have been very lazy and no update by today.

So finally I decided to write some about since my departure from Japan on September 4th.

Before arriving in UK on 7th, as we had to change planes in Malaysia, we decided to spend some time there.

It was nicer in terms of temperature and humidity there than in Japan.

At capital, we did not do much and stayed near airport.

Then next day morning, we flied to resort island Penang.

We walked around the old town.

Hinduism (Indian),

Islam (Malay) and,

Buddhism (Chinese)

 exit all in different parts of the town.
(this could be also a part of cultural mix↓ :D）

We also enjoyed cheap but delicious food.

 

 with famous Malaysian beer :)

We tried jet ski for the first time, too.

We could forget sad feeling of leaving Japan.

Bonus ①
Oh,"Panasonic !"
Hnnnn?! No, P"E"nsonic ! 

Bonus②
Many bike riders wear their jacket like this.
I don't know what for... maybe to avoid wind or dust...

Motorcycle trip

After Obon holiday week, I went to a bike trip with Ben.

This was the first time to travel by motorbike especially on mountain roads...

So I was quite nervous about it but the fear was blown away by the amazing scenery.

First, we went to see a world heritage Amanohashidate in Kyoto from Osaka.

Before arriving to the beach, we pass a bridge which is separated in 3 parts to let boats and ships pass.

This guy is always on the middle part to keep watch the process.

I had not seen a as beautiful beach as there since the one in Okinawa!

It was very hot day but the water was nicely cool to put feet in.

Next to the beach, there was a path under pine trees which was great for a walk.

Cercle lantern of  wisdom

It is said that if you pass through the cylinder 3 times, you would become intelligent.

It was located too high for me...

On the same day, we went up the coast side till Tsuruga in Fukui because we could not find a reasonable nice hotel.

2nd day morning, we ran into the ocean, which we couldn't in Kyoto because we were too lazy to unpack the well attached bag on the bike and take out our swimsuits.

Then we went to Echizen to see Ben's bonze Japanese friend.

We went to again to a beach with him.

Sunset is always everywhere so beautiful!

At night, we stayed at his place in a temple.

It was cold, rather than cool to sleep !

Next morning, he left at 6 to go to work.

We saw him out then tried the family's daily work with his mum : ring the temple bell.

It was difficult to find out the right volume of the ring.

After saying thank you to her, we headed to Gero city in Gifu prefecture.

I have a friend with who I went to Burkina there.

We left Fukui at 7 and arrived in Gero after 6 hours...of course including seveal stops.

Gero is a small hot spring popular town in the valley surrounded by mountains.

The hot spring bath and the local famous food "Kei-chan" (seasoned chicken which we grill on a hot plate with cabbage) removed our fatigue.

Her friend brought us wild Ayu (fish) taken from the river which crosses the town.

4th day we went to see another world heritage Shirakawa-gô(village).

Conserved traditional architecture in the region

The biggest house has 4 floors !

5th day, we went to Nagano where Ben wanted to go since his arrival in Japan.

Because we did not have too much time left, we went toKamikôchi in North Japan Alps.

Just after getting off a bus at the bottom of the Alps, the beautiful landscape came up in front of us !!!

The water was so transparent and cool.

Actually, it was too cool for me to play in.

As we did not have proper equipment for trekking, we could not climb up the mountains but the walk at the bottom was also very nice with meeting some wild animals.

On the same day, we went down til Nagoya in Aichi.

The friend in Gero just moved in a new apartment on the day to start a new life with her fiancé.

So, I know it was kind of weird but they let us stay at their new place for their first night there...

We had a great time with them though :)

Finally on 6th day,

we went back to Osaka, passing by Biwa lake in Shiga.

I have lived in Osaka which is just next to Shiga for 4 years but I had never been to see the largest fresh water lake in Japan.

The water wasn't as clear as in other places where we went this time but I enjoyed not only seeing it but swimming in !

I prefer swimming in freshwater to salt water!

On the way back in Uji (Kyoto), for the 1st and last time, rain and thunder attacked us on the mountain road especially...

We were soaked and I was scared of driving under the rain but Ben drove very carefully and slowly.

Also there was not much trafic.

I had never enjoyed so much nature in a trip.

I rediscovered the beauty of Japanese nature and I am very proud to be Japanese.

I hope sincerely that this wonderful nature last forever.

Today's kids

Kyushu regional office of JICA (the agency who let me go to Burkina for 2 years) organised monthly events at after school kids clubs in my city to let kids know about different culture and lifestyle in the world.

I participated as animator in the event at 5 kids clubs during the first 2 weeks of August.

It's summer vacation in Japan, too so kids spend whole day at their club because their parents both work.

It starts at 9:30 for about 2 hours.

We start with "how does the world look like ?"

They get a map with only Japan on and different continents card and try to put them in the right place.

Then we talk about "clothes, food, house and school" in different parts of the world with photos.

In which country the photo is ?

What do they do ?

How different is it from Japanese style ?

Basically we talked by questions and answers.

Kids were usually so excited to get the right answer.

They showed their surprised look each time.

Some kids know certain countries well,

Others are very intelligent to talk about wars and else.

I was quite impressed.

I was also very happy to have met these young kids (6-11 years old) that I don't usually have contact with them.

I had a great time and learned many things.

For the last one hour, we try a play from a foreign country.

Each club chose one of 2 games.

Some did "cat and dog" game form Vanuatu : 2 groups try to get a bar (bone for real) as many times as possible.

Other did "Shipa" from Philippines : Make a shuttlecock with a flat beer lid ad cellphane tape and play with it by hitting it with hands and feet.

They both have different type of fun so kids enjoyed them. (the photos are for shipa)

When I was 6-11 years old, I had only interests or knowledge about my family, school and club activities (piano, calligraphy and swimming).

I find very important to have such occasion to learn about the world at these ages.

Recently, there are more TV shows which introduce culture and lifestyle in different countries so that kids can easily get information from them.

Many critics say that today's young Japanese are often passive and don't look outside (of the country).

But at least about 150 kids or more that I met this summer are or won't be like that.

I strongly hope that they will become adults who have interests toward foreign countries and capacity to see inside (Japan) objectively as well.