First day in Japan

ANd we hit Japan running. Our first full day in japan began with a great brakfast. It was the all-you-can eat breakfast at the Olympic center where we were staying. Rice, eggs, salads, fruit, miso soup, and much more. And really good coffee. I love coffee. following Breakfast we had a briefing in the meeting room for the daily schedule and a lecture on being Punctuational and dressing correctly, followed by half the group going back to the room to change because they weren't dressed correctly. After the business is done, we get on the Metro, more difficult than the Taiwan subway though not much to me though I feel I was the only one who thought so, to visit the Meiji Shrine. The Meiji Shrine was erected in commemoration of the Meiji Restoration, a very important part of Japanese history as basically japan opened up trade with the rest of the world and advanced to a world power in a series of few decades what it took most of the West to do in Centuries. This Shrine is absolutely amazing. It is so beautiful. The shrine is surrounded by a large natural "reserve." I say park, but that doesn't really describe it. The area is basically a wooded area with creeks, woods with little to none of that stupid 'care' that people do to make a parks living members 'perfect', and several commemorative and decorative items interspersed. Can you tell I hate the idea of maintaining nature space! Its like having grass you can't walk bare food on. WHY DO that?!? We only got to go to the see the shrine, we didn't have enough time to go in the shrine itself. Either way, I am so glad I got to see it, and I am going to see in on Saturday again on my free day. YAY. I wonder what else I will do then?
Our second main attraction for the day was Gakoshuin University. This college is very very beautiful and with extreme security though I don't think the rest of my group noticed it at all, but it also serves as a high, middle, and elementary school or that the building are close by with a very small wall between them. This is the school where the Imperial families attend, and this college is an all women's college. Our first visit here is to get acquainted with the students as well as observe some of the cultural classes offered in the school. Which I found out is really what the school offers, Japanese culture classes, and a study of Delomatic studies that High ranking members of Japanese society need to know to work within their circles. SOunds Fishily like they are being trained to be the perfect wife for politics to me. Hey I am almost a Femist on this matter. This school has a cirriculum which incorperates a large amount of japanese history and culture. We observed the flower arranging class before for dinner with erica.

For dinner we went out with Ericka and some of her friends for a traditional Japanese meal. Ericka is a local who had come to ASU for a brief visit. She is a friend of Dr. Chen and Dr. Fox, basically she was a bit lost on campus and wanted to talk to some one who knew her language culture and got Dr. Fox from what I understood. Several of her friends are graduating soon or have graduated and are lining up big time business and marketing jobs all over the world.
Lastly, we took a stroll through the red light district, guided by Dr. Chen. Let's just say it was interesting, and I taught Dr. Chen the word Sketchy!!! Needless to say, I think that I will avoid such places at night for the rest of the trip because it was bit sketchy just because everyone was trying to get us into their shops.. Now to Bed, I feel so tired which seems stupid because I feel like I have done nothing.,