It's been a while since I've posted - and I have some catching up to do, but in the meantime I figured I might as well live in the moment. I'm currently sitting in a youth hostel in the Asakusa district of Tokyo, Japan. We flew in yesterday afternoon and had dinner with our students from last summer. That's why I'm here - along with a few other Stanford students, I was a host for the American Language and Culture program, part of VIA (Volunteers in Asia). We hosted about 75 college students from Taiwan and Japan during the month of August. We were kind of like RAs, helping organize activities and trips for them, and helping them with their English homework. As part of that volunteer program, each host gets to go on a trip back to Japan and Taiwan the next summer, and the program will pay for part of the trip. So that brings me back to Japan - the first time I've been here since August 2005 after my internship.
So far, things have been a bit nostalgic. It's cool to be here with Adam who was also here in 2005 when we worked in Tokyo. It is a bit different though, since I'm no longer a student, and also since we have tons of Japanese students here to help show us around. My Japanese is pretty bad though - but I guess that's what happens after 2 years..
Anyway, here are some pictures from the plane ride and dinner last night. I'll try to post a bit more frequently during this trip so my posts are super long..
Julie and Wei Wei on the plane.
I was sitting across the aisle from them. It was a long 10 hours...
We met the students at the giant lantern in Asakusa.
Taking the obligatory tourist shot.
And then proceeded to go eat okomiyaki (a kind of savory pancake omlette).
Adam eating with Manabu and Takayuki.
Okonomiyaki is basically one of my favorite Japanese foods.
I watch the master chef Saori mix the batter before she cooks it on the table.
A similar dish, called monzayaki - just a little bit more runny.
The guys got a little crazy with the sake - already.
Adam and I relive old memories of Pocari Sweat (kind of like gatorade) in the Konbini (convenience store)
We've got a pretty busy day planned today, so hopefully you'll see some more interesting photos soon. See more photos at: http://picasaweb.google.com/dcruzin/ALCJapanTrip.
