Repeating myself

After spending more than one year in Japan, you notice how the cycle repeats itself. Interesting that even some events for foreigners are exactly the same. Anyway, after a while you start doing the same things again. And this post goes back to two experiences last year that were repeated recently.

First there was a trip to Amanohashidate (June 15th and 16th). Last year I went with other Brazilian students for a one-day trip, and this year I returned for the iAT "gasshuku" ("summer camp", although I disagree with this translation). I also travelled with this group last year (to Keihoku-cho), so I might count this as a double repeat.

Guess it can't be helped since it's a relatively famous touristic spot in a good distance for short trips (not so close, but not so far either).

While I had no further business in Amanohashidate, it was nice to be together with friends, especially the ones from my former dorm (and that'll unfortunately leave Japan in September); although I made some new friends as well...

A walk at the beach, "kimodameshi" (test of courage. It usually consists in going further into some place with "scary stories" about it. Usually in pairs, reason for why I think the real objective might be another. Or it's just because I think the living are scarier than the dead so I don't find this kind of thing scary...), some hanabi and card games at night gave a nice atmosphere to the event.

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Then there was Gion Matsuri from July 14th to 17th. Since last year I went for yoiyoiyama and yoiyoiyoiyama, this year because of tests I only went for yoiyama (the night before the parade... usually the most crowded night) to take some pictures.



Too bad I couldn't find some presentations (including some maiko dancing) I was told that took place on yoiyama... Checking later, I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Better luck next year...




I said I went alone, but being on such a place one is surely to find friends around. But being in the middle of the crowd is tiring, and just having done a test doesn't help things either. I was tired and decided to go home earlier...

Guess I'll still have to return to Gion Matsuri next year...