So yeah, the seminar isn't important. AT ALL. In fact I kinda didn't go the last day. I went to Mr. Donut instead... because I'm awesome.
What IS important is that I finally got to go to Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. Tara set it all up, so I can't take credit. She took me everywhere. And it was fun. Unfortunately, I'm low on sleep so I couldn't make the most out of the trip (except for at night when my energy level rose.)
Kobe was awesome. There were people everywhere... YOUNG people. People who were actually my age! And no bugs! And I bet their water isn't brown! And they had STUFF TO DO! Restaurants and stores that I actually like! The only lame thing was the barbie dolls walking around everywhere. When something is trendy in Japan, it means EVERYONE is doing it. Seriously, these girls look like clones with the French hair, oversized bags, and butt-ugly high-heeled boots. They all want to stand out, but since Japan is such a herd culture, no one actually looks different. Oh! And I got my first glance at a nasty looking business man running up and trying to get some booty from a girl half his age. SO GROSS.
Kyoto was beautiful. It had temples everywhere and the leaves were changing colors... red, yellow, everything. But it was crowded since everyone came to see the fall leaves. I was staring at the temples and trying to apply my art history knowledge, but it didn't work very well. I slept through those classes... or just plain didn't go.
And then Osaka! Osaka was like Kobe, except with less of the weird barbies walking around. There was also a lot of music being played in the streets. I loved it. I think I like Kobe more though. There was something more youthful and friendly in the atmosphere there.