Hello there Wisconsin~

Hi!

I made it back, safely to America! My flight from Jakarta to Seoul was shorter than I thought It would be. It was only about 6 hours. But my flight from Seoul to Chicago was boring, as the plane that I flew with did not have good selections of entertainment (movies, audios, games, etc). So it was quiet a boring 12 hours flight.

Anyway, I'm back in Wisconsin, and will be moving in to Japan House this Sunday. Yes, I am going to be living in a Japan House on campus. We just get this house last fall, since there are more than enough number of people who want to live in it. I will be sharing my room, with my best friend, Minyu, who was studying abroad in Denmark in the Fall of 2011. I miss her so much, and can't wait to see her and living as roommates! I am also super excited to be living in Japan House, with every one else who has interests in Japan!

Classes start next Tuesday, so I am a bit nervous, but at the same time, can't wait to be back at Beloit~

See you later~

Read more

Half-around-the-world flight

Yes. I am going back to Beloit, tonight from Jakarta. I will have a lay over in Seoul for approximately 4.5 hours, then off to Chicago. The weather here unfortunately is not very supportive, as it is pouring heavily now. I hope everything will be okay. My flight is at 9:55 pm Western Indonesia Time, and I will get to Chicago, Sunday morning, which will be Sunday night Western Indonesia Time. Wish me luck! I will write once I get to Seoul.

Ciao~

Read more

Happy New Year 2012!!

I am back! After, being out of the radar ever since I came home. This is because I have had family and friends bonding time since Christmas. Now, everything finally is settled down. I am in Jakarta now, staying at my dad's house in the Indonesian Air Force base. I am going back to the States the day after tomorrow, at last. Let's have some flashbacks.

I got to Surabaya, which is the city where most people in my family are from, on December 24th morning. My parents, who are currently reside in Jakarta, flew out to Surabaya, in order to pick me up. But I arrived at the airport not too long before they did. My sister couldn't pick me up, because even though it was a Saturday, and Christmas Eve, she had to take a quiz at her school. I don't know why. Don't ask me. I saw her later during the day though. So things were good.

I spent Christmas visiting my uncle and aunt from my dad's side of the family, who live an hour away from Surabaya. Then, I visited my mom's side of the family. So Christmas was really family time for me. I finally went home, by taking the train, with my mom and sister. The trip was 3 hours without a delay, which I was thankful for. Sometimes, trains can be delayed for hours in Indonesia. It sucks.

At home, while most of my best friends were in Surabaya, I only met one of my close friend in Madiun. Madiun is the city where I grew up till high school. It is a small town, that does not have either Starbucks or McDonalds, even though its population size is about 153,000 people. (^o^)v We only have A&W and KFC. But it has the biggest Air Force Base in Indonesia. (^o^)v. Also, the communist party tried to take over the town back in the 1960s but failed. Anyway, enough with the history. I spent all day going to the Immigration office in order to renew my passport. It is going to be expired on April 2012. Then, I was only home till December 30th.While my parents have gone back to Jakarta the day before.

I went back to Surabaya in order to celebrate New Year's with my family and friends. I spent most of my times in Surabaya, going out with friends, went to Karaoke, watch Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, got a flu shot, went to the dentist, and had lots of amazingly delicious Indonesian meals. Boy, how much I miss it. Japanese food is great, but your own country's food is always better ( at least that's what I think ) (^-^)V

I am so sad that I had to leave Surabaya today. I won't be able to see my best friends, till God knows when. I hung out with them almost everyday ever since the 30th. They are a year above me, so they are trying to graduate this coming semester, and I can only wish them best of luck for their future endeavors. No matter how far I am going to be from them, they will still be my best friends. My best friends and I went to the same schools since elementary school, we have known each other for so long. It was really difficult to say "see you later". (T-T)

So that's what's been going on since I am back in Indonesia. I can't believe that I am coming back to the States after being away since August 26th 2011. It's been a while. But again, I had not coming home since August 2010. Wow, that's a year and a half! Too bad, that I could only be home for exactly 2 weeks. Time sure flies really fast. I wish I could stay longer. I never realized how much I missed my family and friends back home, until I saw them before my eyes.

I will write again tomorrow. See you ~

Read more

I am in Singapore

I flew out of Osaka, and have a lay over in Singapore, before I fly to Surabaya, Indonesia.

I am currently sitting in the gate in Changi Airport, Singapore. I got here around 5:30 am local time, which was 6:35 Japan Local Time, and 3:35 pm American Central Time. My last flight will be around 8 am local time, which will take about 2 hours.

I still can't believe that I have left Japan. O.o It just doesn't feel real.

Read more

日本！行ってきます

 I have officially left Japan around 11:30 pm last night. Stuff happened, but I don't have enough time right now to write about it as my flight is leaving in 30 minutes. I will update this blog post as soon as I am back in Indonesia. I won't be home, home, because home is 3 hours by train from the city I am flying to. My parents are currently living in Jakarta, and they are flying in to the same city as me around the same time. So I am looking forward to see them, and everyone in my family. Then, I will stay at my family's house from today perhaps till the 27th.

Talk to you later ~

Read more

神戸の南京町 China Town in Kobe

There is a China town in Japan! Yay!

It is located in Kobe, Hyogo prefecture in the Kansai region. Kobe has been an important port city for some centuries. Therefore, it was my first time to be able to see sea in Japan.

Read more

Uji, the land of "The Tales of Genji" 源氏物語 and Uji Tea 宇治茶

Uji was historically developed as the center of transportation with main streets to connect Kyoto, Nara, and the eastern provinces and the Uji Bridge over the fast-flowing Uji River.

The Fujiwara clan built personal villas in this area with an emergence of regency government in the Heian Era, and we can still see the whole picture of Phoenix Hall of the Byodo-in, one of the remaining architecture which represents the Fujiwara Era.

The tea industry was important for Uji since the Muromachi Era, and flourished with the reputation of Uji tea. The local governor also controlled teas during the Edo Era, and tea was presented to the shogunate by the teapot procession ("Chatsubo Dochu"), marching to Edo. They say villagers lined the street to welcome and see it off as the daimyo's procession.

Uji is also the setting for many literary works such as the Manyoshuf and The Tale of the Heike. Uji is well known by the setting for the Ten Uji Chapters from the world-renowned Tale of Genji 源氏物語.

That day, Saya, my Japanese friend, and I also went to the Tale of Genji Museum, and walked around a bit. 

Cute bathroom door

The Statue!

Read more

嵐山 The Arashi Mountain

For those of you, who know Arashi, Japanese boy band, who is still relatively popular here in Japan, they use the same kanji / character as the Mountain Arashi. It is a cool fact to know. (^-^)b

Britta, Ezra, and I went to Arashiyama once we were done with finals. Britta is my best friend here in Japan, she goes to University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, while Ezra is a friend from North Carolina but goes to Tufts University in Massachusetts. Ezra apparently knows one of my close friend, Esti, back from my exchange student year at Hackley School, NY. What a coincidence! Hence, that is how I become friends with him.

Anyway, Arashiyama is a pleasant, touristy district in the western outskirts of Kyoto. Arashiyama is particularly popular during the Cherry blossoms season and fall color season. The Togetsukyo Bridge is Arashiyama's well known, central landmark. Many small shops, restaurants and other attractions are found nearby, also Arashiyama's famous bamboo groves and pleasure boats that are available for rent on the river.

Read more