Summer Plans

Various countdowns:

1. End-term exam - 14~19 July (5 days to go!)
2. Marine Day - 17 July (3 days to go!)
3. Summer holiday - 22 July ~ 31 August (8 days to go!)
4. Scholarship pay day - 25 July (11 days to go!)
5. Trip to Kamakura etc with host family - 25~26 July (11 days to go!)
6. Nasu (那須) English Summer Camp - 28~31 July (14 days to go!)
7. Rusutsu-mura, Hokkaido (留寿都村、北海道) homestay - 18~28 August (34 days to go!)
8. Malaysian National Day - 31 August (37 days to go!)
9. Autumn term - 1 September (28 days to go!)

For those who are curious about where the heck I'm going during the summer holiday, here you go. Believe it or not, this is edited using the antediluvian MS Paint!

A. Hokkaido (北海道）

Hokkaido (北海道) is known for its cool summer. I'll be going to Rusutsu-mura (留寿都村) from 18 to 28 August for a homestay programme. (Phew, glad to escape from the scorching heat in Tokyo!) The town is a famous spot for skiing during winter.

Will take a plane to Sapporo (札幌), Hokkaido's major city and spend the first night there in a youth hostel before leaving for Rusutsu-mura by bus the next morning.

B. Tokyo (東京) and neighbouring prefectures

Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, TUFS (東京外国語大学), that's where I'm currently studying. It's about 30 minutes by densha from central Tokyo; located in the middle of nowhere between Chofu and Fuchu.

Will be going to Kamakura (鎌倉) with my host family, tentatively from 25 to 26 July. Kamakura is famous for being one of the ancient cities in Japan which were influenced by Buddhism from China. Thus, old temples scattered across the city. One famous spot in Kamakura is the Big Buddha in Kotokuin. Originally housed in a temple, the building was destroyed in a tsunami in the 15th century. Ever since then, the statue remained outdoors.

Taking part in an English Summer Camp in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture (那須、栃木県) from 28~31 July. The camp actually starts on 29 July but we have to attend a briefing for foreign staff a day before. Oh yeah, the camp is for Junior High School kids and we're there to help running the activities. And we get 20k yen as the renumeration!

Nasu is a famous with its lush greenery and hills. Besides, Nikko (日光) is also located in the same prefecture. Waterfalls, lakes, temples... I hope I'll have the chance to go around the place!

Besides the plans mentioned above, of course I'm planning to make day trips to several other places. And maybe I should also find time to register to the Malaysian Embassy. (Yes, I haven't.) National Day is coming soon. Who knows we might get invited for the celebration?

Oh man! Come, come, summer holiday!