Me in front of Todaiji. It is huge!
Large Buddha statue inside of Todaji. Also huge.Nara is also very famous for something else... its deer! These little guys are everywhere, and they are hungry! Tourists can buy snacks to feed them, but at the risk of being mobbed! My coat and scarf both got munched on, and people lost tickets, maps, bags, etc to the deer! They were very cute and fun to pet though.
Classmate Ethan being mobbed by hungry deer!
This past weekend I was supposed to do a weekend homestay with a family in Shiga. Unfortunately, the family's daughter came down the the flu, and it had to be canceled at the last minute. I ended up helping out with a "Cooking in English" program at the local high school instead. They brought volunteers from the Michigan Center to practice speaking English with the high school students who are studying it. Of course what better way is there to spend time with each other than while making cookies? It was a lot of fun (and the cookies were delicious)! I was very impressed with the high school students' English abilities.
Finally, today's adventure! Tried out a new restaurant with some friends. It is an Indian restaurant about 15 minutes away from our school. It was delicious! I got vegetable curry and nan, and I was so full afterwords! Definitely going there again.
When we got back from the restaurant we had a party to welcome the new students. JCMU is hosting some Japanese students who are taking a short English course here for the next few weeks. It was fun meeting and talking to the Japanese university students. One of the students I met is actually going to America and visiting Grand Rapids next month! I'm glad I am getting the chance to meet and talk to more Japanese people!
To wrap this up, I leave you with a photo I snapped of Hikone Castle yesterday!
