Classes are now in session at Keio University! As excited as I am about starting my academic life here (hmmm), I decided to make the most out of my limited time out of school. For the past three weeks, I have devoted my time in Japan to reaching out to family and friends that I have here in and out of Tokyo. As soon as I landed at Narita airport, I took a shuttle bus from the airport to Tokyo Station, a hub station with access to bullet trains. I then took a two hour ride out west, heading straight to Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, where I was born, to visit my grandmother. I spent a week there to catch up with relatives who I was not able to see for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. My grandmother's cooking is undefeated and I was blessed to be spoiled for my first week in Japan. Catching up with her was long overdue, and she took me to her favorite cherry blossom trees throughout town. After a week of spending time with my relatives, I made my way back to Tokyo, where I spent lots of time hanging out with friends who live in the city. I have been to Tokyo almost every year before the pandemic, but never alone. I was in absolute awe of all of the city lights, cheap food, and buildings. I also made the time to go to a few skateparks in Kawasaki City, just a half an hour out of Tokyo, and in Shinyokohama, around the same time out of the city. This spring semester falls right on cherry blossom season, so the greenery and trees were beautiful everywhere I went. The skatepark had cherry blossom trees all around, and I even had a whole day planned with some friends to have a picnic while watching the cherry blossoms. We ended up going on row boats, eating at a yatai (food stalls), and walking around Asakusa, a very famous area for their sacred shrines and weekend festivities. On top of all of my recreational activities, I had to prepare for course registration and settling in at my dormitory. I am staying at Shimoda Student Village, in the international students annex. Every single person here is so very friendly and was very easy to make friends. My first weeks alone in Tokyo was magical and will be a core memory for the rest of my life.
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