Hiroshima

Our last day in Japan. Usually when something like this comes to an end it's sad, but I don't feel that way this time. It has been such an amazing and life changing two weeks that I'm just so happy it happened, as opposed to being sad that it is over. For our last day, a small group and myself went on a short excursion to Hiroshima. We had the option to either take the exam early and go to Hiroshima, or take it later in the day and not go to Hiroshima. This was an easy choice for me because I would not be able to forgive myself if I went to Japan and had the chance to see Hiroshima and did not. We spent the whole time at the peace park and museum. This was really heavy, emotional stuff that was best experienced in silence and deep thought. It made me disgusted to even be part of the human race after seeing the suffering caused. After we left the museum I felt a little better because I realized that I was in Japan with a very diverse group of friends from all walks of life. This gave me hope for my generation, I feel that as the world becomes more global and connected the chances of something like Hiroshima ever happening again disappears.
I just want to say thanks to all of the people that made this trip possible. I love Japan and all it has added to my life in these two weeks. Above all, I learned a lot and made new friends, which was my main focus for the trip. Hopefully one day I will return to Japan, for I have only scratched the surface. Who knows, maybe I'll even end up working here.

Kyoto

More traveling! Our final day to really be a tourist, shop and sight see etc.., could not have happened at a better place. I love Kyoto, It has the feel of a big city yet still maintains it's culture and immense history. Also, the larger than life mountains surrounding the city take it to another level. The castles we visited gave me a taste of what Japan was like back in the days of the Shogun and emperor. Though, I'm a little disappointed that I did not see any Geisha girls. According to a man who worked at the second temple I went to, the Geisha girls have no set public time that they appear, so it is a surprise if one sees them. Too bad because I think they would have really liked me. I finally got to eat at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, which was one of the top things I wanted to do in Japan. It was very simple to understand and extremely delicious. I was a little adventurous in one of the plates that I grabbed because it looked like nothing I've seen before and was very chewy. The shopping was great because I had a lot of things to get for people back home and did so here in Kyoto. One of my proudest purchases is a shirt with a knock off version of the cartoon Totoro on it. It may not be "the" Totoro, but it is unique and funny to look at. Being surrounded by all these old city buildings almost reminded me of Europe, they add a lot of character to such a dynamic city. It was an adventure returning home, since we were on our own. But luckily we were smart enough to figure it out. As the final approaches, night time is dedicated to studying which doesn't really bother me when the day is so successful.

Rainy Day

After all that moving around, it was nice to get a day with lots of free time. First night at JCMU was good. The beds are a little hard, and by a little hard I mean they are really hard but I still slept like a baby. Though it has been very rainy, Kyle and I still decided we needed to make a grocery run. What I've learned from this trip, and other trips abroad, is that going to a grocery store can be one of the best cultural experiences. We knew that we needed food to last us our final few days, but the problem was finding food that we could tell what it was. Our solution was to just grab a bunch of stuff and hopefully it will taste good. This method worked very well as we stumbled upon some great Japanese junk food. I still have a whole bag of candy yet to be tasted for when I get home. Luckily, the grocery store had towels, which I desperately needed. Well, I think it is a towel not quite sure because it's about the size of 4 regular sized bath towels. It might be some kind of a rug, but that's not important because for these four days it's a going to be a towel. I'm sure it is apparent that not much happened today becuase I'm ranting about a towel, but tomorrow we are going to Kyoto, which I've been looking forward to for some time.

"He is able who thinks he is able" Buddha

He is able to get a good night sleep if he is able to sleep at Koya-san, that's for sure. I don't know if it was the comfortable bed, the traveling, the peaceful atmosphere or the bath but I got the best night sleep thus far on the floor of a small room located in the mountains. I have always been interested in Buddhism and just read a book by the Dalai Lama, so I was very intrigued to witness a real Buddhist ritual. The room was small and very aromatic due to the incense. The hypnotizing chants of the monks focused me on the ritual and helped me settle my mind by taking it off of other things. After the ceremony we got to eat a Buddhist breakfast in a large room where we sat on mats. Talk about a healthy way to start the day. It made me question why I've always felt that a large feast in the morning is necessary when in fact something as simple as rice and soup is just as pleasing. Unfortunantly, the rain put a halt to the rest of our plans but that didn't stop Fan, Kyle and I from discovering another temple down the road which was very beautiful. After we left we had to get back into serious traveling mode. Along the way a few of us got the Japanese take on burgers. It wasn't bad, just didn't feel right. I guess it would be the same as a Japanese citizen getting sushi in America. We arrived at JCMU in the evening. The rooms are spacious and equipped with everything we could need, except towels. I feel like if a room has a rice maker it should have at least one towel. Other than that I like it here, and feel like it is a good atmosphere to prepare for the final exams. Hopefully tomorrow I can get some grocery shopping in and try some more Japanese food.
Just a side note, I forgot to write about this when it happened Friday but I guess I'll share it now. We went to Dennys before returning to our hotel and it turned out to be a greater cultural experience than we expected. Except for maybe one or two items, everything on the menu was completely different from a Dennys back home. I ordered some kind of a noodle bowl that had lots of veggies in it. What is bugging me about the noodle bowl is that it came with a small portion of olive oil on the side. I feel like I did something wrong because I found it very difficult to dip soup in a plate of olive oil. I tried pouring some in my soup but it added nothing to the flavor or texture. Maybe I misunderstood the use of olive oil when it comes to soup but if it was to add directly in the soup, why wouldn't they just do that in the first place?

A Test of Our Traveling Endurance

Goodbye Tokyo! Let the next step in this journey begin. The city life was amazing but I think I am ready for something different, something a little slower and more peaceful. Koya-san was definitely the answer, especially after the traveling we had to do to get there. The entire trip of jumping from train, to subway, to train took almost as long as the flight to Japan. Despite how tiresome it was, it came with it's share of great moments. For example, we drove past Mount Fuji in the bullet train and got a good enough view to take a picture. Another part of the journey I enjoyed was the final ride up the mountain with plenty of beautiful landscape to be admired. When Dr. Ross said we were going to the mountains he meant it. Koya-San is everything I expected a Buddhist monastery to be and more. I immediatly felt relaxed just breathing in the fresh air listing to the subtle sounds of the forest surrounding the traditional style lodging we were staying the night in. Naturally, it only took us minutes after dinner to put on the Yukata found in the rooms and head to the traditional style Japanese bath. After all that traveling, the very hot bath was perfect. After, I spent some time just sitting in the chairs near the front of the temple enjoying the transcendent state of mind I was in. Who would have thought that the beds in a Buddhist temple would be ten times better than the beds at Sunshine hotel but they were. I love the feel of this place and am looking forward to experiencing even more of it tomorrow before we pack up and ship out again.

Short video I took in Shibuya

Final day of Plant tours, and Tokyo

Wow, it has already been a week and we are finishing up our last two plant tours today. Somewhere along the way of a go, go, go schedule I developed a good understanding of how these plants function. The two plants we went to today were good practice for me in trying to read a plant fast, well at least faster than before. I have to note that every single one of our hosts/guides of the plant tours have been so polite and welcoming. It is not easy for us to come to a foreign country and impede on other people's schedules, yet they always fit us in. I'm going to miss Tokyo. Though we did see a lot, a lot is not much when it comes to a place like this. It would probably take a lifetime to experience all it has to offer. Luckily, we had a chance to visit the Shibuya district. Crowded does not even begin to describe this place. We did a little shopping and people watching before heading to a gigantic arcade/casino. The atmosphere was electric and exciting. To be honest I had no idea what you were supposed to do with half of the machines but they were still fun to look at. A very big trend I noticed in Japan are those group photos you take in a booth that adds funny backgrounds and you print off on a strip of paper. They have intense lighting to make your eyes look huge like an anime character. I do not look good as an anime character, but I'm sure most Japanese girls do because it is marketed towards them. It was an all around good way to end a week in Tokyo as we prepare for a day of intense traveling. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me today but will make up for it tomorrow.

Oh what a night

Soy sauce ice cream is surprisingly delicious. That's one of the many things I learned today. Another is that Lady Ray and Higuchi San sure know how to treat someone to dinner. I was pleasantly surprised at the process that soy sauce it made, it seemed very simple yer efficient. Our tour guide for Kikkoman was very passionate about what he was teaching us and it was easy to tell that he was proud of the company he works for and the product they sell. The highlight of the day, or I guess night, was going to the trendy restaurant the Mirror to be served a private dinner compliments of Higuchi San. The place was small yet elegant and paired nicely with our attire. Upon arrival we were seated at group tables with drinks and appetizers to get the night started. The meal was served one specific dish at a time, which allowed us to thoroughly enjoy it as opposed to getting flavors mixed together. In my opinion the highlight of the meal was the fresh tuna sashimi served with avocado. Never in my life have I had fish that quality and so delicious. I'm begging to get a little jealous that quality fish isn't always part of a typical diet in America. The night progressively got more and more amazing as everyone started to relax and enjoy each others company. Higuchi San emphasized the importance of doing business globally, experiencing and respecting every culture we encounter. I could not agree with this more. It was one of those nights that play out so nicely that you wake up the next morning smiling and immedialty reminiscing on the good times. I'm very grateful for the experience.

Getting the hang of it

If I ever need to store a priceless work of art, or a fine wine collection, I know the place. Terrada public warehousing was our first stop for the day, and it was different to anything we have seen thus far. They have a very high quality and customer satisfaction which shows in their comfortably designed warehouse. From the lay out to the high security options, customers are expected to feel comfortable that their possessions are in good hands and easily attainable if they ever need them. After the tour we went and ate at one of Terrada's warehouses that had been turned into a restaurant specializing in Californian cuisine. I know I should only be eating Japanese food but I was dying for some American food. And technically it was made in Japan so it is still Japanese food so I think I can live with it. The food and atmosphere gave me an energy boost to focus on our final tour of the day, which was the very cold CO-OP frozen food distribution center. This was the most high tech warehouse I've ever seen , and rightfully so with food being kept in extreme cold temperatures. We finished with our plant excursions for the day and had the rest of the night to ourselves. The time had come for some karaoke. Luckily we found a place that didn't hurt our wallet too bad, and offered a big enough room for all of us. It's safe to say that none of us are professional singers, but that didn't stop us from having a great time. It was one of those moments when you think, "I'm in Tokyo singing karaoke, I can't believe it." It was one of the top things on my list to do and am glad at how the whole day turned out.

Day Four

Another busy day in Tokyo. Today we met Mr. Scott Smiley at Kuehne and Nagel. We were introduced to the companie's contract logistic strategy, as well as how doing business in Japan involves a different mindset because of their high standards.I have already noticed that most things in Japan are very aesthetically pleasing and of high standard; the Japanese have good taste in things and are proud of it. Before we left for the BMW distribution center, we had lunch in a pleasant business district. Despite the very nice weather we ate inside at a food court in what I think was a mall. Unfortunately I came across my first bad meal at this food court. What looked like a cross between an omelet, a pancake, and some kind of dessert turned out to be nothing like what I expected. First off there was these flakes of a questionable substance on top that seemed to be squirming around, which was unpleasant. Second the sauce on top seemed to be a mixture of bbq sauce and frosting. So it is safe to say I won't have another one of those but am glad I'm trying new things, it is exciting. On the other hand I did buy a donut on a stick from some of the nicest sales clerks I've ever come across so it wasn't all bad. The BMW distribution center was amazingly quite and well organized for a warehouse. I also enjoyed the drive there because we got to see some of the country side of japan. The high standards of the Japanese customer were again examined at Nichifutsu. It was very interesting to see how the demand for foreign foods in Japan offers a potential for a company to make money buying these foods then selling them in Japan. A humorous bit of information that was shared with us that the Japanese will send in hundreds of complaints about food they like because they want to help the company make it better. I feel like most complaints in America come with a lot of malice instead of positive insight but I could be wrong. As for the night we all just took it easy and did some work before getting some very needed shut eye.

Third day in Japan

Never in my life have I seen anything so hectic and crazy work as well as the Tsuki Ji Fish Market. At times I was scared for my life at the possibility of being killed at any corner by a speeding fork lift. Despite the madness, Tsuki works amazingly fast and efficient in order to meet the consumers demands every single day. The flow of tuna was very intense and dramatic. Though I got an amazing behind the scenes tour and lecture, I still cannot say exactly how it all works without the use of computers or modern equipment. After the tour we walked around the outdoor markets in search for an authentic Japanese lunch. It was here that I received the best meal I have had yet, some sort of a Tempura noodle soup. It was a real trip eating it at the counter of the very tiny street vendor, hopefully I will come across more meals like this.
The Isogo plant was a change of pace from Tsuki. It was much more clean and organized. We had to wear hair nets and boots as well as follow other sanitation protocol before we could even get into the factory. I was very impressed with the environmentally friendly ways that they froze their fish using liquefied natural gas which they get from their business partner next door. Everyone on these tours have been so informative, as well as hospitable and am looking forward to the two we have tomorrow.

making Tokyo look good

And it keeps getting better

Today was so amazing. Harejuku was perfect place to explore and people watch. Luckily we found a reasonably priced souvenir shop that we could do a little shopping in. Most of the shops were high end fashion labels mixed with smaller, yet still very expensive, clothing stores. Hopefully we will make our way back to this area as we just touched the surface of this trendy part of town. Next we got a taste of the historical aspect of Japanese culture at the Tokyo Edo Museum. The huge building was designed to resemble a traditional Japanese granary as it was positioned in the air on huge posts. My favorite part about being in that part of the city was seeing real life Sumo wrestlers. All I could think about was how badly I wanted his traditional Kimono outfit and decided I will not leave Japan with out one. On our way back I made a great decision to stop at the electronic district in Tokyo. "Electric" is a perfect way to describe this part of town, in more ways than one. There's no doubt that the Japanese love their entertainment, and after experiencing a lot of it I can see why. After an ocular over load and a very manly Turkish sandwich we decided to call it a night and took the subway back to our hotel.

Day One

I'm officially in Japan! The flight was not as bad as I thought and driving into the city was almost surreal. I Knew that Tokyo was big, but I could never have anticipated that it would be this colossal. Jet lag may be taking its toll on me but I managed to make it through a very, very long first day. Though I may have been a little out of it, I still had a great first experience with Japanese culture. I've always loved big cities and this ones the jackpot. The architecture is so unique and modern, it is hard to explain, I guess the best way to describe things in Japan would be "cute and modern". You would be hard pressed to find anything without some adorable cartoon character on it, and I mean anything. As for the people of Japan, my first impression is that they are extremely respectful and well mannered. I noticed that even when our group was blocking a busy commute exit or entrance, people would just go around us without even looking upset. Another observation is that Japanese people know what they like and are not ashamed of it. The observation tower was a real treat as we got to see the entire sky line of Tokyo. It was overwhelming to see something that huge function so well but the people of Japan are such hard workers that it doesn't surprise me. I was very pleased with our visit to the traditional Japan farmhouse museum. Though, at times, it was hard to keep up with Doctor Londo, I felt that the trip was a nice change of pace from the metropolis that is Tokyo. Just taking in the sights and sounds of the nature as well as the simplistic architecture calmed me down after a hectic day. I am looking forward to tomorrow and couldn't be more excited for what the next few weeks has in store for us.

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind

Hey everyone. Thought I would be a little pretentious by titling this post as a quote on travel, but I like the quote so whatever. Hopefully this blog will allow me a chance to reflect on everything I take in through the days, as well as give anyone who reads it an idea of what I am experiencing. After anxiously waiting for months, the time has finally arrived and I could not be more excited.