Wednesday, June 30 - Pictures
Destinee LoganPicture 1 - Himeji Castle
Picture 2 - Himeji Gardens
Picture 3 - Akashi Fish Market
Picture 4 - Japanese Tea
Click an image to zoom with description
Study Tour Blogs
Wednesday, June 30
Destinee LoganToday after breakfast, we headed by train to Akashi to visit the fish market. Aside from the fish there there were also a great deal of other creatures including octopus, which is an Akashispecialty, eels, shrimp, squid, etc. After exploring this area we jumped back on the train and went to the city of Himeji. Himeji is known for its castle - Himeji Castle or The White Heron. This historic castle completed in the early 1600's was built primary as a defensive castle, however, was never used in that way. We saw a good portion of the castle, but due to renovations could not see the main keep. After touring of the castle was finished, the group went to the Himeji Gardens which are built close to the castle. Here everyone took a leisurely stroll around the gardens and some even were served tea in the traditional manner. After the gardens it was time to head back to Sannomiya Station (our train station) to go back to the hotel and get some dinner.
This was our first day in Japan and there was a lot to take in. One thing that stuck out to me was the layers and use of spaces. Unlike the US, each building is used to its maximum potential. There could be a grocery store on one floor, a restaurant on the next and living on another. Almost all buildings are multi-level and space is a huge commodity. This can be seen not only in the bigger cities, but in all the places in between the cities as well. Space seems to be carefully planned. It doesn't seem as through yards or lawns are something most people have in Japan. Extra space is used for cars, garden or even rice patties. Bottom line: Japan uses all of the spaces it has to maximum potential.
Arrival
Jae HwangSo, after an exhaustive trip, where our group traveled from Dulles Airport to Osaka Japan, we all made it safely to our hotel last evening. The airline we took, ANA (All Nippon Airline) wasn't bad, and thanks to their great individualized entertainment center I survived the 14+ hour flight, I even got an exit row seat, though it was the middle seat. We arrived in Tokyo than took another plane after a hour layover. We than had a change of plans in Osaka, instead of taking two trains our fearless leader thought that perhaps taking a bus would be better, and it was.
While some of us needed time to decompress and acclimate to the new timezone and surroundings others hit the area running eating out and evening taking in some World Cup as Japan played Paraguay. Many of the places weren't showing the game, mainly because they weren't equipped with TV's, but the places that were had so many people there was no room to join in the festivities. So now after we have had our first good nights, we are going to go to a Fish Market and see some sights.
Last thing, the exchange rate is 86 yens to the dollar, I feel poor already.
Click an image to zoom with description
Hello!
Hrioshi NaraHello! I am Hiroshi Nara, one of the three leaders for this tour. I am a professor in the Department of the East Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh, where I have now worked since 1987.
During academic year 2007-2008, I lived in Kobe, Japan and took care of a group of foreign students at Konan University, so I am somewhat familiar with the task at hand. I look forward to going back to the familiar part of Japan with a new group of travelers.
Please Allow Me To Introduce Myself....
Patrick HughesGreetings to all blog-readers. I am Patrick Hughes, and I suppose I can be considered the “middle management” of the Study Tour. I wouldn’t consider myself an expert enough to be ranked as a leader like Brenda and Hiroshi, but I will be assisting them with the day-to-day details of the trip (my ‘day job’ at Pitt is as Brenda’s assistant). When I am not working for Brenda and NCTA I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Religious Studies at Pitt with a focus on late 18th and early 19th century Anglo-American unbelief, irreligion and freethought. I am currently working on my dissertation, the title of which is “Antidotes to Deism: A Reception History of Thomas Paine’s ‘The Age of Reason’.”
This will be my first trip to Asia, and even though I have done a good bit of globe-trotting already, I am quite looking forward to this Japan trip. I have been to Brazil, Morocco, Colombia, Mexico, Canada (yes, it does count as a foreign country), and all over Europe (I even lived in Ireland and Spain). I am a Pittsburgh native and have a 5-year old daughter who has asked me to send her post-cards every day while I am away.
I hope to learn lots about Japan not just from my own experiences on the ground, but also from all of my fellow teacher-travelers.
Click an image to zoom with description
Welcome to the 2010 Japan Study Tour
Brenda G. JordanGreetings, everyone. Welcome to the 2010 NCTA Study Tour to Japan. I'm Brenda G. Jordan, one of the faculty leaders and Director of the University of Pittsburgh coordinating site for the NCTA (one of 7 national coordinating sites). I'm also a Japanese art historian, with special interest in nineteenth century painting and prints.
I enjoy hiking, gardening and bird watching, and doing mildly crazy things like pose for pictures like the one enclosed (I'm the good looking one on the left). I have a tall, moustached husband (the funny looking one on the right) who speaks Spanish, and passes for Mexican or Chinese in Japan, but really is from Nagano (the Japan Alps). We have a 12-going-on-13 year old daughter, Erika, who is furious that we are leaving her behind this summer. Nevertheless, Erika has instructed me to take all of you to her favorite eating places in Kobe. What with all we have planned for our group, this is sure to be an adventure. Anyone ready for robots, merry-go-round sushi, and gigantic Buddhas?
Yours,
Brenda (aka the Captain)
Click an image to zoom with description
