An afternoon in Kyoto

Yesterday, Friday, was a busy day as usual. We had a sex health orientation where they told us where contraceptives, morning after pills, abortions, sti tests and all that could be done. They showed Japanese AID/HIV Psas and told us about places to look for "services". They pretty much took the approach of "We know there is a good chance your going to go out there and have sex. We aren't going to just ignore that so here is how to safely look for it if you want it and how to avoid it if you don't want it." They also wanted us to be prepared because they have had girl students in the past who would freak about not having a period only to find out they weren't pregnant, it was just the stress of being in a new place and such. They had little animated characters like condum-kun and such.

Then I hurried off to get my school id and class schedule before going to get a bicycle from Bi-One aka Bike Land down the street from the main gate. I got a yellow bicycle now and just have to register it with the school on Monday. Bikes here have a headlight by law, a lock for the front wheel and a huge kickstand on the back. I'll post pics on Facebook later.

Then when I returned to campus I goofed around for a bit before being paired up with 2 other American students and 5 Japanese girls who showed us Kyoto. We visited a temple/shrine with gigantic Buddah and diety statues where we forbidden to drink, eat, be on a cell phone, take video or pictures because it is a national treasure.

We then went to a huge shopping district where I bought a little fan that came with a few other items. After a bit one girl had to leave to go to work, and then 2 had to head home early. We walked around for awhile before getting curry and such from a noodle shop. We then returned to the station to head back to Kyoto where the other 2 girls with us had to leave and we managed to make our way back to Hirakata Station and then caught a bus to the campus where I picked up my bike and made my way back home to Seminar House 3.