Random Ramblings of a Traveling Student @erikacovian - Tumblr Blog

Time to say goobye....

Well today I have to move out of my room and then tomorrow I will be flying back home to North Carolina. I certainly had my ups and downs while in Japan but it has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have met so many interesting people from all over the world. On top of all of that, I also made some really great friends that I am lucky to have met. I tried a lot of crazy foods that I never thought I would and have been able to travel and see a little more of the world. I came to Japan with a bucket list and I am that I have accomplished almost all of it. I was not able to see Takarazuka because tickets were sold out when I tried to go. Even though I attempted to see Mt. Fuji ( we got there and it was all covered by clouds), I was not able to climb it and arrive by sunrise. But lets be honest, I probably would have died doing that. I have never been hiking, nor do I have the right clothes and shoes for that. Its probably best that I didn't do that. However there is always next time. I probably could have also eaten more cake, but again it's better that I didn't. But I will miss the cake so much. I do think my Japanese has improved. Not so much with the speaking, but I can understand people a lot better as well as read and write a whole lot more kanji. So with that, I leave Japan with no regrets.

Hong Kong

I went to Hong Kong in June...again late I'm sorry. Man, was Hong Kong hot though. It seriously felt like outside was a sauna. It was just really hot and humid and gross feeling but it was a rainy season too. Despite all of that I had a great time. I skipped a whole week of school but I thought it was worth it. I usually have some sort of test or quiz every week but this was the only week that there was nothing. So I took it as a sign and decided to go while I could. And to make the trip even better, my boyfriend happened to be there at the same time so we got to do some sightseeing together.

Hong Kong is really just like all skyscrapers though. I was really surprised. I have never been some place where that's all you see. Japan has a lot of tall buildings as well but in the mix of all of that you see the older buildings that look run down but have been there for decades and little small shops.

Again, I only had a about 4 or 5 days so I could not see everything but I still had a great time and it was another new experience to add to my list. I would have loved to take a ferry to Macau while I was there but maybe next time. Or if I plan enough ahead I can actually go to China. Hong Kong was very western in my opinion though. I'm sure that is because of being colonized by Britain before but it was an interesting mix.

#HongKong #studyabroad #travel

Korea

So I went to Korea to visit a friend studying abroad there in April/May. I know this is so late. Part of it is because I am busy, but really I've just been kind of lazy too. But better late than never. I think Korea is very similar to Japan except it is like a million times cheaper. I picked the wrong place to study abroad at. Some differences I did notice though were that high heels didn't really seem like a must like they are in Japan. Tennis shoes and street style seemed more common than looking like a princess. This may have just been because I was in a college area though. The temples and what not were pretty similar to Japan also. I was only able to spend 5 days there but I had a great time and ate a lot of great food. My friend even got me to go outside of my comfort zone a little bit and try some bright lipstick :)

My friend and I really just did a lot of eating. Which sounds bad but I love to eat :) We went to a few cute cafes, including a Hello Kitty cafe and a dog cafe. I loved this dog cafe, I wish they had things like that in the states. There isn't any food and the drinks are crazy expensive but you only have to buy one drink and then you can stay as long as you want and just pet the dogs. It was the cutest thing ever.

I would definitely go back again if I ever get the chance. I didn't have a lot of time so I wasn't able to see everything but I saw the top attractions. Hopefully if I get a chance to go back I will able to see the little aspects of Korea that make up its culture.

#korea #studyabroad #travel

Prettiest view I've seen in a while. #kamakura #japan #ocean

#kamakura #ocean #japan

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Ever seen an # elephant dance before. :D

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I have no idea what I ate for dinner last night but it was moving when I got it 😳

Kegon Falls #japan

#japan

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You know she has some skill to be walkin in those shoes #japan #edo (at Nikko Edomura)

#japan #edo

Hello Kitty Cafe, Korea (at Hello Kitty Cafe)

Sunshine City Aquarium, Ikebukuro.

#sunshinecity #ikebukuro #japan #aquarium

So in Japan when you turn 20 you become an adult and have this nice fancy ceremony and everyone dresses up in Kimono and stuff. I didn't go to the ceremony but while my parents were here I got to play dress up. Some of them are the professional ones and the ones my family took.

#kimono #seijinshiki #turning20 #japan #studyabroad

Zoo!

I have been dying to see a Panda for like forever! The last time I came to Japan they weren't at Ueno Zoo so I left disappointed but I finally went to the zoo over my break and got to see the wonderful Panda I have been dying to see my whole life. And as a bonus I got to see Kangaroos for the first time too!

#zoo #Uenozoo #panda #kangaroo

Hokkaido

I'm so bad at keeping up with this...but better late than never I guess. So over my winter break ( here it is called Spring break but I think that's weird since it was from Jan-Apr) my parents came to visit and we went to Hokkaido. Basically never seen so much snow in my life. We took the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) there. It was an all day trip and its a lot cheaper and quicker to take a plane there but the experience was nice. And the train went underwater....not many people can say they have done that. Plus, I think we got a nicer view on the way there compared to if he had taken a plane.

But it was fun either way. We mainly went to go see the Sapporo Snow Festival but also saw some ice sculptures and did some shopping and what not.

The things you can make with some snow and water is pretty crazy. It was a great experience and I was so happy that I got to go. I also made some new friends while I was there :P

While my parents were here we also did some sight seeing around Tokyo and what not but this was the main big thing that happened. I think we were all suffering from the cold. That's when you know you have lived in the south too long..