We started the day at the brink of dawn: 7:30 AM. We made our way to a nearby temple where we met a monk who taught us how to do Zazen Meditation. Though my posture was hideous and my body was in pain, the numbing effect of it really helped clear my mind. After two sessions, we went to a Tea Ceremony, splitting into two groups. The ceremony was really beautiful and the 40 minutes it supposedly was went by like five.

After the tea ceremony, we went to Nishiki Market, where I had some of the best steak I’ve ever had in my life. The market itself reminded me a lot of Vietnamese Night Markets with many vendors selling mobility-friendly food.

Afterwards, we had some free time before the true staple of Kyoto culture: bowling. Brody and I went back to the hotel where we decided to rest for a little bit before 6 PM.

At 6 PM, we made our way to Round One, an arcade, karaoke, and bowling place. I met a KCG student named Quan who came from Vietnam seven years ago. After a couple games of bowling, I got to know him better and he was extremely friendly, helping me and some others understand the subway system to get back to the hotel.

After a quick trip to FamilyMart for a cup-and-noodles dinner, Brody and I went back to the hotel where we had a quick meeting. Soon after, we clocked out, preparing for a big day at Hiroshima.