Day 9

After waking up in several different environments throughout the trip, rising out of bed to another one was nothing new. I was fortunate enough to have a tatami room to myself which was probably the same size as the one I shared with four others in Tokyo.
After coming to the realisation that I was lying on the bottom floor of my host families house, I began to feel slightly nervous at the prospect of the day ahead, thinking `Should I already be up? Do I have a bath in the morning, or is it evenings only?` Desperately trying to recall information from various meetings and our booklet, I decided to get up.
Finding that only my host parents were up, I was instantly bombarded with questions concerning my well-being quote "Did you sleep well? Would you like some breakfast? What would you like to do today?"
After we had eaten and my host brothers and sisters were up, we began to `discuss` the days planned events. More accurately, tried to translate and work out what anyone wanted to do. As I had no idea what there was to do in Nara, and the family insisted that I choose an activity. We eventually decided to visit Nara Park to see the Daibutsu (Giant Statue of Buddha). Hopefully, Mr. Rankin will be able to put up some photos of the day, because it was an epic sight, and the deer chasing Naho (my host) was hilarious.
After dinner, I tried to explain to the family some of Australia`s differences from Japan. I was able to successfully explain how kangaroos can cause car crashes and why barbeques are so highly renowned. By the end of the day, I was exhaused. This is only one account of an experience with a host family, and upon reuniting with other Girton students, their days were varied to mine.

By: Tom Faulkner.

Vice Principal Uemura, Vice Principal Hyono, Mrs. MacCulloch, Mr. Morikawa (English Teacher) and Mr. Matsuda (English Teacher)

Mr. Matsuda and Mr. Rankin in front of the Giant Buddha Shrine. This is the largest wooden structure in the world.

The main entrance into the Giant Buddha Shrine.

Amy and her host family (Fukuda family) with Mrs. MacCulloch. We bumped into them at the temple

The Giant Buddha

The statue of Kokubosatsuzo. A guard for the Giant Buddha

Another guard statue.

Amy squeezing through a hole cut into one of the pylons. It is only just big enough to squeeze through. If you can pass through, it is supposed to bring you good luck.

Mr. Rankin only just managed to squeeze through. It was very scary

The beautiful lawn and gardens of the Giant Buddha Shrine.

One of the hundreds of deer in Nara Park.

One of the stone monuments lining the paths at Nara Park.

Mr. Matsuda and Mr. Morikawa.