Kyoto's cultural experience through language

I came to Kyoto for the culture and historical sightseeing spots and stayed for the people.
In the three month, I took classes at JALS I could improve my Japanese drastically. The teachers at JALS were always very patient and, even though strict at times, they encourage their students to speak Japanese which makes learning a fun and rewarding experience.
Thanks to the teacher and staff, I was able to make friends by only using Japanese and was able to see parts of Kyoto's life that wouldn't be possible as a normal tourist. The love and support I received from the people here make this stay really unforgettable. Only heavy heartedly I will leave this city and JALS to venture for new experiences to other parts of Japan. But I'm sure, that someday I will return to Kyoto to visit all the friends one more time.