Back in Matsumoto: White Day at Alps Park

After Soojeong and I got back from our ten day trip to the island of Kyushu, it wasn't long before it was time for White Day. White Day in Japan is just like Valentine's Day in America, except on White Day the boys buy for the girls (they also have Valentine's Day here where the girls buy for their partner) and it happened this year on the 14th of March. For Valentine's Day Soojeong had done so many sweet things for me; made me chocolates, fixed dinner, and made the entire day wonderful, and I wanted to make White Day just as special for her.

That morning I made bought the ingredients to make chocolate-covered strawberries, a card, and set about working. It took a couple of hours to get everything together, but with the chocolate-covered strawberries cooling in the refrigerator, I set off to buy flowers. I was lucky enough to find Soojeong's favorite flower (Freesia) at a local flower shop for the first time, so I bought it and headed off to get my strawberries. The weather that day was beautiful, and I headed over to the International Dorm to bring her her gifts. To see her smile made my day. We relaxed for a while, and decided to have a picnic lunch at Alps Park. Off we went.

We stopped to buy our lunch, and from there we headed up into the hills. By bike it took about 30 minutes, but we made it there, and set about having a great time. The weather was sunny with just a slight cool breeze. The park was very beautiful and we were able to enjoy the picnic with views of the mountains, trees, and flowers of Nagano Prefecture. There were so many things to do at the park; roller-slides (that we had a great time riding together), zip lines, obstacle courses, a huge rock climbing wall, and a very nice museum with a lookout tower at the top with views of the Japanese Alps. They even had a free zoo there with many different animals. For me, it was a perfect place to spend the day with Soojeong relaxing and playing together.

After we left the park, we had already decided to go out to an Italian restaurant named "Mar de Napoli" for dinner. The restaurant was very beautifully decorated with paintings, mosaics, and lights. Our food was excellent, and the dessert was just as delicious. What a way to spend the day after playing. White Day was so much fun, and it was a day that I will never forget. From the window of my apartment I can see the tower at the park, and I hope that someday we will be able to do it all again.

Lantern Festival

While Soojeong and I were staying in Nagasaki, we were fortunate enough to be there during the time of the Lantern Festival held in Nagasaki's China Town district. Lanterns were hung over the rivers so that their light reflected across the water, animals of shapes and sizes lit the areas where people gathered for food and events, and there were even lanterns shaped like swans and lotuses that were set into the river to add to the effect.

The main area where most of these pictures were taken, was truly a spectacular place. The smell of Chinese and Japanese food being cooked was in the air, music and performers entertained the full audience, and they even had a dragon dance. For me, it was a wonderful night that I could spend with Soojeong, enjoying our time together as we learned something new about Nagasaki and the people there. There is something very romantic about a part of the city lit by lanterns. I don't know if it was the soft glow of the lights, that reminded me of candles, or knowing that you are witnessing something special with the one you love, but whatever it was, it made our night there one that I will never forget.

The people of Nagasaki must have worked very hard to put the event together, and it really showed. Along with the regular animal lanterns; like pelicans, goldfish, etc., there were all of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac, and famous characters out of old legends. Nagasaki is a wonderful city, and I would love to go back sometime and see the festival and events again.

Back From Korea

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to send out a quick message letting everyone know that I made it back from spending 6 days in Korea during the Golden Week holiday break. Meeting with Soojeong in Korea was more wonderful and fun than anything in the world, and getting to do all of our favorite things together in Seoul, made me more happy than all of the money in the world could. I know that when I graduate next year, I am going to move to Korea. What a beautiful, historic, and cultural place! I have been falling further and further behind in my posting, so I will try to keep things going when I can these days. Please be patient. I hope that all is well.

Sam