I am a current junior at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. This year, however, I have decided to embark on a study abroad program through the Associated Kyoto Program. 

I arrived in Kyoto, Japan about three weeks ago after 18 hours of traveling. Desperate to explore and relax, we finally checked into the Kyoto tower hotel, which is one 20 famous towers in Japan, containing a 360 degree view of Kyoto at its peak. At the end of the weeklong orientation we got to climb the tower. I was in awe at the view--the background filled with puffy white clouds, the sky as blue as I have ever seen it, and green mountains enclosing the city. Binoculars were stationed around the tower with instructions on how to find particular landmarks from their view. 

Across the street from the hotel is Kyoto Eki or Kyoto station, which is a gigantic, spectacular glass designed building. Kyoto Eki is not only an underground train station but also an edifice engorged with tons of restaurants, cafe's, and stores. At the top of Kyoto Eki is a skyline that takes you from one end of the station to another. The view was also nice. It allowed you to see out into the city as well but I what found more appealing was the long set of orange colored stairs that bring you to a romantically lit restaurant and waterfall. Japanese aesthetics are quite different from the U.S.

After that week I finally met my host parents who are an elderly couple in Fukakusa. They have two children in their twenties but they live else where. My host father runs his own business from home as a masseur and my mother is a nurse at a local hospital. They are the most wonderful people I have met. They have taken me in like their son. My mother makes me nicely cooked meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday. For lunch she prepares me an obento, which is basically a packed lunch wrapped and held together with a handkerchief. My dad and I already have our inside jokes. I cannot complain; life is good here in the Japan. The weather is just like Puerto Rico's, very warm but humid.