Tokubetsu Kenshuu-Kyoto

My second Tokubetsu Kenshuu (special training) was held two weeks ago in Kyoto. I was pretty stoked that we were going to Kyoto rather than Tokyo Disneyland (where they usually go), but my co-workers were really disappointed because it really is ridiculous to travel so far for just a weekend trip, but everything is paid for (shinkansen tickets, hotel room, and meals). Altogether it was about five hundred dollars per person, so I wasn't complaining! To qualify for tokubetsu your school has to meet it's financial goals for six consecutive months, and my co-workers work really hard to meet those goals every month. Kim wasn't able to go because she has only been with Amity for five months, so I was on my own with my Japanese co-workers (just like the last time), but she will definitely be able to go on the next one!


Kyoto shinkansen tracks (reminds me of "Lost in Translation")



I take picture of the "shink" everytime I ride one...I think they're so awesome...what a dork!

First stop was Kiyomizu-dera. The Kooyoo (changing of the leaves) in Kyoto is supposed to be the best in the country but we caught the very last of it so it looked more dead than vibrant.



poor guys who had to rake the mountains and mountains of leaves..."men-do-kusai naaaa!! (pain in the butt!!)

At Kiyomizu-dera there is a "love rock" where young people pray that they will meet that "special someone". Here are my co-workers praying that they will meet their future fiancee soon :) Hehe...Most of my co-workers are in their early 30's, and in Japan they should be married with two kids by now haha...I don't think they need a prayer to meet someone, I think they just need to quit their job. They work way too hard.




Lunch at Kiyomizu

Temple in Gion

Second stop was Kinkakuji (of course)

The company was awesome enough to put us up in the Hotel Granvia Kyoto. Hotel Granvia is a big chain of hotels in Japan which are usually located right outside the station (in this case Hotel Granvia is IN Kyoto station!). It's a top of the line hotel, and I'm always stoked to get to sleep in an actual bed!!


hotel lobby


We had super Japanese food for both dinner and breakfast (my co-workers didn't even know the things we ate). Sugoi oishiikatta!

Christmas tree at the top of Kyoto station

The next day we had to attend the 3 hour long "meeting", which was SO painful. The meeting is conducted almost entirely in Japanese, and we are not allowed to talk the entire time. We sit there in silence listening to speeches, and have to hear about how grateful they are for our hard-work, and why the company is so successful. I wanted to poke myself in the eye just to keep them from closing. Worst of all we have to dress in full suits just to sit there, take one picture, then change right after. So retarded...anyway...After the longest meeting of my life we went to go eat (MORE). This time it was okonomiyaki!


stuffed with green onions and seafood

hiromi, satoko, and cheese okonomiyaki

me and rina

chihiro


Soon after okonomiyaki we waited in a long line at this famous Macha-cafe called Tsujiri. Their menu has pages and pages all of Japanese green tea sweets.


I was so full when we got on the shinkansen to go back to Iwaki! I can't believe how much my co-workers eat, and yet they weigh like 80 pounds!! Not fair!! Even though it was a short trip, I am always grateful for tokubetsu because it's the only time that I can see my co-workers let loose a little, and we can actually get to know each other. It's surprising that we see each other every day but we're all so busy that we often go the entire day without saying anything other than "Konnichiwa (hello)" and "Otsukaresama deshita (our goodbye)". Overall, good times, and great food!