Courtney du Monde

the adventures of a Nebraska girl who sees the world

[courtneydumonde]

Sunday marks the end of Golden Week✨ here in Japan, and it was so much fun getting all the gold! Just like this temple in Kyoto! NOT. Golden Week (GW) is actually a string of nearly a week straight of public holidays. So in reality, there was no gold to be gained for me, only to disappear all too quickly as I traveled across Japan. • The name comes from the film industry in the 1950s, when this week gave the highest ticket sales of the year, even more than the New Years holidays. It's also the most popular time of year for Japanese workers to actually take paid leave, a chance most don't have the rest of the year since they're so busy. Thus, the mass exodus of Japanese salarymen erupts and so follows a week of train delays, intense studying of the art of queue, and more crazy Japanese festivals. • For my Golden Week travels, I split my adventures in two. Last weekend, I visited Fuji Five Lakes and stayed in a beautiful, Japanese-style guesthouse at Lake Sai with incredible views of Mt. Fuji. From Tuesday to Saturday, I traveled (and ate!) my way through Fukuoka, Nagoya and Hamamatsu. Though it was beautiful weather and I had so many amazing new experiences (pics to come), I was quite happy to stay home and clean and relax before going back to school tomorrow. • What did you do this weekend? Any big GW stories? 📍The Golden Pavillion (Kinkakuji), Kyoto #JETlife #goldenweek #goldenpavilion (à Kyoto, Japan)

[courtneydumonde]

Balance is not something you find; it's something you create // Honen-in Temple, Kyoto #JETlife #balanceiskey #happinesscomesinpairs (à Kyoto, Japan)

[courtneydumonde]

For the first opportunity to meet you, I have waited more than 1000 years. A small white pine tree, I am. To the lord's pond in Kameoka, the cranes flock to play. --Song from the "Tale of Heike", the origin of Gio-ji Temple • This is my FAVORITE temple in Kyoto, I've decided after visiting it this March. Gio-ji is a rather small but incredibly beautiful temple that most people walk past or never get to in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto. But with its thatched-roof main hall and rich, vibrant moss garden, I'd say it's well worth the visit. • Gio-ji Temple is named after the dancer Gio, who fell in love with the leader of the powerful Heike Clan many years ago. However, ensnared by another woman, the clan leader spurned Gio and she turned to this temple where she dedicated the rest of her life as a Buddhist priestess. Inside the temple's small main hall, you can find a wooden statue of her and the Buddha of Light. 📍Gioji Temple, Arashiyama, Kyoto #JETlife #offthebeatentrack #templehopping (à Kyoto, Japan)

[courtneydumonde]

"Be like bamboo. It bends, but does not break. It's flexible, but is firmly rooted." --Japanese proverb • Bamboo is a symbol of great importance in Japan. From fairy tales like Kaguya-hime to bamboo-shoot rice, from shrine decorations to sturdy fences, the Japanese revere bamboo in their daily lives as a symbol of strength and prosperity. • One of the most famous places in Japan to see bamboo is the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto. Its forest paths stretch more than 500 meters, a perfect place to leave the city for a slower change of pace. Although it's always open, make sure to visit either really early or late in the afternoon, outside of peak hours--it gets quite crowded with tourists throughout the day. • My mom and I visited the Arashiyama area on my spring break trip, and I have to say walking through ancient trees that towered above me was wonderful. But my best advice: keep walking. The Arashiyama area has a lot more to offer than just the bamboo grove. In fact, my new favorite temple in Kyoto was at the end of the bamboo forest, just beyond the typical tourist path... 🔜Find out where tomorrow! 📍Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto #JETlife #kyotojapan #wordstoliveby (à Kyoto, Japan)

[courtneydumonde]

Down the rabbit hole we go 📍San-mon, Nanzenji, Kyoto #JETlife #templescenes #kyotojapan (à Kyoto, Japan)

[courtneydumonde]

“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of each.” —Henry David Thoreau • No other country I’ve visited celebrates seasons like Japan. And in no other country have I taken the time to enjoy the beauty of Earth. Living in Japan has reopened my eyes to the lovely planet that we live on—and how much love we NEED to give back to her. After all, this is our HOME. • Starting in August last year, when I climbed Mt. Fuji and discovered a newfound pleasure in the outdoors, I’ve taken advantage of the natural beauty that Japan and Earth has to offer. Watching the sun rise from the tallest point in Japan, exploring the rich colors of fall in Hakone, lounging under the sakura… And yet I haven’t been living particularly responsibly to protect this beauty. • In honor of #EarthDay2018, I pledge 5 small changes in my daily life in the hope that the beauty I’ve enjoyed will be here to stay a long time from now: 1. Skip the vending machines and take my refillable water bottle with me everywhere 2. Reuse rejected worksheets as my note and scratch paper 3. Refuse the plastic bag at the conbini and grocery store 4. Actually recycle the 101 ads I get in my mailbox every day 5. Turn off the lights when I’m not in the room • How are you celebrating Earth Day? #JETlife #getoutside #saveourplanet (à Mount Fuji - 富士山, Fujisan)

[courtneydumonde]

So... I was asked to be a model yesterday 💃 • Spring in Japan is amazing. Since February, with every new blossoming cycle, I've had a new favorite flower. It's hard not to be overwhelmed by the beautiful flowers here when yeh Japanese celebrate every season with such zeal. Currently, it's wisteria season. And they've just become my favorite flowers, with a delicate smell and elegant beauty draped across trellises. These flowers are also called "fuji" in Japanese, not to be confused with Mt. Fuji. • Yesterday, I decided to take a spontaneous solo trip to Fujieda, a city not too far from my own, and explore Rengejike Park. It was AMAZING: a huge, open park with seasonal flowers of every kind and plenty of things for kids to entertain themselves. After finishing my healthy meal of fries, fried chicken and a hot dog (clearly the food of a model), a man came up to me and asked if I could model for him. So that happened. All in Japanese too. • What can I say? Sometimes it pays to spontaneously day trip alone. 📍Rengejike Park, Fujieda, Shizuoka #mommaimadeit #stopandsmelltheflowers #daytripper (à Fujieda, Shizuoka)

[courtneydumonde]

Hey, I'm Courtney-sensei: teacher of English and ninja master. ___ Last week at my new school was a blast! For lunch on Tuesday, my students and I trekked over to our city's castle and had a hanami (picnic under the flowers). Unfortunately, while they were plenty of students and picnic lunches, all the sakura had already finished for the year by the start of school. After lunch, some of my braver students came up to me and introduced themselves. After breaking the laughing barrier, I was soon joining the games they've played since kindergarten. And since my job is still teacher and I had no classes that day, I also taught them the Ninja hand swipe game from my junior high days. ____ Today, one week later, we'll head over for another picnic in the park that will finish with a bang: Janken King. There's even a trophy involved. Yes, it's an understatement to say that I'm excited for school today. ____ Sumpo-jo Koen, or Sumpu Castle Park, is all that remains of the castle of famous warlord Tokugawa Ieyasu. Every year at the end of March, the Shizuoka Matsuri is hosted in the park, with hundreds of food stalls, street performers, taiko stages, and more. 📍Sumpu-jo Koen, Shizuoka #JETlife #springinmystep #kingme (à Shizuoka, Shizuoka)

[courtneydumonde]

The first full week of classes here has reminded me just how busy teachers can be. Strange, considering this time last year I was close to finals and graduation for my final year of college! Definitely wishing I was back in Kyoto under the dream of sakura. 🌸 One of the lesser known of Kyoto's many temples, Shinnyodo Temple was one of my favorite new explorations when I visited at the end of March. After climbing the surprisingly steep hill to the top of this temple, I was more than ready to relax, eat my picnic lunch, and lazily enjoy the stunning sakura at this empty temple. Originally established in 984 off the important Enryakuji Temple and surviving fires and wars, the present temple complex was rebuilt in 1693, where it remains today. #JETlife #unknownjapan #dreamingofsakura (à Shinnyo-Do Temple)

[courtneydumonde]

"Nice to meet you, Courtney-sensei!" 📚 The Japanese school year usually begins in mid-April. For me, especially since starting at a new school, this means the first two weeks of classes are self-introduction lessons to my new students. This includes me sharing my hobbies and favorites, and introducing America and Nebraskan culture to kids who've likely never heard of The Good Life before. Let's be real: there's a lot of Americans that don't know anything about Nebraska either. Regardless, I always finish my self-intro by telling students that Omaha and Shizuoka City are sister cities (look it up!) and how happy I am to be in Shizuoka now. It will be weird to leave this second hometown in August. 🎨 One of the things I love most about my city is exploring and finding the most wonderful random things. This picture, for example, shows a small glimpse of the 183 murals painted along the walls of the Tomoe River in the Shimizu Ward area of my city. According to the nearby sign, they were painted in July 1998 by several local high school students in the art department. The paintings' themes range from sakura to soccer, from summer festivals to Japanese fairy tales, and more. It's by far one of my favorite rivers to walk by. #JETlife #unknownjapan #mysecondhome (à Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, Japan)

[courtneydumonde]

The beautiful thing about spring is that it turns everything green again. 🌿 Spring in Japan is magical: from the fragrant plum blossoms to the otherworldly beauty of sakura and the rich green of moss, there's no end of things to enjoy here, even in the rain. One of my favorite places to have visited so far was 📍Ginkakuji Temple in Kyoto. We were among the first people there, right when it opened, and spent an hour wandering around the gardens with vibrant green moss still fresh from the early spring dew. And on the moss-carpeted floor were many bright pink flowers, scattered as their blooms faded away. #JETlife #floralstories #thecolorsofspring (à Ginkaku-Ji Temple, Kyoto)

[courtneydumonde]

Yesterday, one of my old JTEs texted me out of the blue that she was on her way to my apartment because she had made some "extra" bamboo shoot rice and tempura. In the short seven months I was at my old school, I will always feel so incredibly lucky for the lifelong friend and Japanese mother I've made because of my job. Always, she would bring me a little snack or make me a full-on bento when she knew I wouldn't have lunch. That kind of warmth is better than hiding under under a kotatsu on a snowy winter day--even if it's spring here now. And for the record, her bamboo shoot rice and broccoli tempura is DELICIOUS. 📍Tokyo, Japan #JETlife #itsnotwinteranymore #trainwatching (à Tokyo, Japan)

[courtneydumonde]

I've just finished reading @khosseini's book "A Thousand Splendid Suns" and in one day, I've lived through only a fraction of the vibrancy of Afghani life, the shattering of innocence, the horror of war, and the fierce love of two unconquerable women of that country. I am emotionally drained, yet inspired and curious about this part of the world largely unknown to me. This is the power of libraries, of books: to give us perspective and transport us across the world; to remind us we all have stories because we are all human. Simply put, libraries hold the books that are our passports when our government ones are insufficient. @passionpassport #PPLibrary (à Take You Anywhere)

[courtneydumonde]

Spring is an ode to the blossoming of new friendships. 🌸 First day at my new school went GREAT yesterday 😊 So well, in fact, that I already know I'm going to miss this school when I leave in July. Yesterday, we had a new student entrance ceremony and orientation. The third years on student council had prepared a very entertaining school manners skit, which included everything from chants to comedy and drama. I can't wait for Day 2! 📍Hirano Shrine, Kyoto #JETlife #EnglishinJapan #springishere (à Kyoto, Japan)

[courtneydumonde]

Every end is a new beginning. 🌸 Tomorrow, I start working at my new school for my last four months here in Japan. Just in time as the sakura are shedding the final blossoms. It's been a short, crazy, wonderful spring break that's slightly tinged with the sadness of endings. But I'm excited for the start of another year and meeting all of my new students! 🌸 Though my time in Japan isn't over quite yet, I know I will always remember this incredible opportunity with @jetprogramusa and all the amazing memories from it. 🌸 Pro tip: If you make it to Tokyo, definitely check out the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building's free observatory! Open late and free means you can get some pretty fantastic views of this incredible, sleepless city. 📍Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building #JETprogram #startofsomethingnew #sakuraseason (à Tokyo, Japan)

[courtneydumonde]

"The only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart" - Rumi 📍Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo (à Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden 新宿御苑)

[courtneydumonde]

This wrong turn turned out to be one of my favorite walks I took with my mom as we wandered around Kyoto last week. Strolling along the river. Smiling back at the obaachans who nodded to us. Waving to the brave elementary student who dared to practice his English. Laughing at the little explorer playing on the stones in the river. It must run in the family, but we both love to people watch. 🌸 Being here in Japan, especially during the magic of sakura season, I love how natural it is to simply go outside and enjoy the cherry blossoms. In the midst of graduation, changing schools, and the start of a new year, it's a good reminder to live life slowly, to take time and enjoy each other's presence. 📍Horikawa River, Kyoto #JETlife #unknownjapan #sakuraseason (à Kyoto, Japan)