"Remember, these are entries from my journal from a year ago including my thoughts and feelings I want to add now."
9/24/2009
I've joined Kansai Gaidai's Akido club. When I was in the States, I was really curious about this martial art. From what I read and seen on the Internet, it's seems very different from what I've experienced in Karate or Taekwondo. Taekwondo is very hard. By hard, it doesn't use the opponent's energy against them.
Aikido does just that and it's more relaxed then what I was used to. This was my second class and I still felt awkward. They did a lot of flipping and tumbling...my coordination sucks at that. But I am really glad that I had a few international friends in Aikido. We've talked to some of the Japanese students in the club, but they didn't speak a lot of English, so it was difficult for me to communicate with them unfortunately.
On Sunday, I went to Osaka castle with Kana, Ayumi, Sarah, and Stephanie. It was one of the things to do on my "To-do list"
It was a beautiful site! I remember it being really hot (おさかじょうはめっちゃきれでした天気はめっちゃあついでした）
Kana and I talked about Osaka castle during the cherry blossom festival. I can only imagine what it looks like then. Someday I will be here to see that. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I would have known more about the history of the castle. There was a lot to read and not enough time to read everything. The inside of the castle looks like a museum, not old style Japan.
After that, we were really hungry so we walked around Shinsaibachi for quite awhile. Sarah and Stephanie decided to go back to Hirakata. We ended up going to some small restaurant and I ate Udon noodles. I think I had Kitsune Udon, and I highly recommend it!
After that, we went to Tsutenkaku.
Tsutenkaku is the big tower towards the back
We took all kinds of pictures here and had a good time. When we got in line to take the elevator to the top, we waited for a long time. We waited, and waited, and waited. Then Kana noticed we were in the wrong line! The line we were in was for a popular restaurant. I think we waited for about 45 minutes in that line. Kana kept apologizing but it wasn't a big deal to me at all. We talked quite a bit so the time had went by fast.
After we jumped into the correct line, we were on our way to the top! At the top of Tsutenkaku, we were able to make a wish. I forgot the name of the statue we had to touch.
Kana and I at the top of Tsutenkaku
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