I'm sitting at my parents' kitchen counter, watching the news in English and thinking I can't believe I'm back! The 11 hour flight from Japan to Chicago was a little long, but United Airlines is nice enough to put tv's in the back of every seat so we can watch movies the whole time. I watched The Bucket list (kind of boring..) part of National Treasure 2 and parts of other ones that I can't remember because I kept dozing. Then came the waiting in line to get through customs in the US..and I was amazed at the amount of yelling and frustration on the part of the airport staff. I've decided I'm not working in any of those job because they must be stressful.
Life in Tokyo is reported to be one of the most expensive in the world, so coming home amazed me! Everything is so much cheaper! Even gas, but I'm not looking forward to filling up.
Jet lag is a bummer, but I'm doing my best to fight it by staying awake until 11 pm (virtually impossible!!)
I feel like I missed out on a lot! We got new $5. That's cool. American Idol is finished and America now has yet another Idol. Neat. Mmm...that's about it.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
I leave in 3 days. That's crazy. I started packing today. That has proved nearly impossible because I just have too much stuff. I'm leaving a big stack of clothes here, and hopefully will be under the weight limit on both suitcases.
The past week was spent living in a hostel and being a complete tourist around the former capital-Kyoto. Google it if you get a chance. It's full of really really old (like from the 500's) temples and shrines and other touristy things. I quickly figured out the bus system and cruised around making friends with a lot of elderly Asian travelers. I also completely filled my memory card on my camera.
Today all I did was sleep and pack. I need to withdraw some money (because I am completely out...oops) and get some food for the next couple of days, and get a couple pictures printed as gifts..but I just couldn't leave the apartment! Haha. Tomorrow I'm meeting Yoko for church then to Harajuku and will spend the day with her. I can't believe I already have to say goodbye! Monday will be my last day at school where I have to give a speech in Japanese to the teachers (oh dear, my pronunciation is terrible!) and then the native teachers are taking Jenna and I to an Indian restaurant in Matsudo. Tuesday I'll wake up, finish packing, and head to the airport. Again, I can't believe it's over already!! The next post will most likely be from home if I remember to update this thing at all. I'm really bad about forgetting this exists.
Monday, May 12, 2008
The end is near
It has been a crazy 2 1/2 weeks! My friend Krysta came for a much needed visit, and was surprised that I had not been exaggerating when I told her my apartment was small. She enjoyed sleeping in the huge cupboard under my bed (it's not as strange as it sounds, trust me) and we figured out how to not go crazy in such a small space.
Golden week is about 3 holidays in a row (with a space in between that was declared a holiday simply by being surrounded by them--I like the way they think here.) I was invited on an overnight trip with my friend Yoko and her family to Karuizawa which was beautiful! Much like the Canadian landscape, the air was crisp and cool and the mountains (and volcano!) that surrounded the cute little town (which was actually not that little) raised my spirits and refreshed my soul tremendously! I loved spending time with Yoko and her older sister Tomoko (23), and her mother Keiko. They quickly became my Japanese family!!
I returned on Sunday evening absolutely exhausted and so thankful that Monday and Tuesday were both holidays so no school! Monday we didn't do a whole lot I don't think, but Tuesday it was an EARLY morning to meet Yoko at Disneyland! Jenna, Krysta and I left the apartments around 6:15 and met Yoko at the Disneyland train station around 7:50 am where we
proceeded to spend the entire day. The park opened at 8 and Krysta and Jenna left around 5:15 but since I had never been to any sort of Disneyland before I was drinking in all the excitement and Yoko and I stayed until about 9:30. So all in all I spent over 13 hours in Tokyo Disneyland and so would have gone back the next day had I not had to return to school!
Krysta left yesterday afternoon. It was not the greatest weather as we trekked to the train station to begin the hour and 45 minute adventure to the airport, but we made it there in one piece. We got her all checked in and then of course headed to Starbucks and to Bagels and Bagels where I bought bagels for breakfast! Then I said goodbye for now to Krysta and as she waited to get on her plane I wandered aimlessly (and got a little lost) around Narita. I love airports. Just the idea of all the possible places one could travel to, and all the different people wandering around. I ate a really late lunch at Subway and then walked in circles for a bit until I found the right escalator to get back to the
train station below the airport.
I got excited about traveling home soon, but realized I need to cherish these last days here. This week is essentially my last week at the school because next week the school is sending us to Kyoto which is a really old and beautiful part of Japan that everyone is so excited about when they hear we are going there. Their faces just light up! Then we will return, I"ll have a few days to pack everything up and say my goodbyes and then it's home to America!
Golden week is about 3 holidays in a row (with a space in between that was declared a holiday simply by being surrounded by them--I like the way they think here.) I was invited on an overnight trip with my friend Yoko and her family to Karuizawa which was beautiful! Much like the Canadian landscape, the air was crisp and cool and the mountains (and volcano!) that surrounded the cute little town (which was actually not that little) raised my spirits and refreshed my soul tremendously! I loved spending time with Yoko and her older sister Tomoko (23), and her mother Keiko. They quickly became my Japanese family!!
I returned on Sunday evening absolutely exhausted and so thankful that Monday and Tuesday were both holidays so no school! Monday we didn't do a whole lot I don't think, but Tuesday it was an EARLY morning to meet Yoko at Disneyland! Jenna, Krysta and I left the apartments around 6:15 and met Yoko at the Disneyland train station around 7:50 am where we
proceeded to spend the entire day. The park opened at 8 and Krysta and Jenna left around 5:15 but since I had never been to any sort of Disneyland before I was drinking in all the excitement and Yoko and I stayed until about 9:30. So all in all I spent over 13 hours in Tokyo Disneyland and so would have gone back the next day had I not had to return to school!Krysta left yesterday afternoon. It was not the greatest weather as we trekked to the train station to begin the hour and 45 minute adventure to the airport, but we made it there in one piece. We got her all checked in and then of course headed to Starbucks and to Bagels and Bagels where I bought bagels for breakfast! Then I said goodbye for now to Krysta and as she waited to get on her plane I wandered aimlessly (and got a little lost) around Narita. I love airports. Just the idea of all the possible places one could travel to, and all the different people wandering around. I ate a really late lunch at Subway and then walked in circles for a bit until I found the right escalator to get back to the
train station below the airport.I got excited about traveling home soon, but realized I need to cherish these last days here. This week is essentially my last week at the school because next week the school is sending us to Kyoto which is a really old and beautiful part of Japan that everyone is so excited about when they hear we are going there. Their faces just light up! Then we will return, I"ll have a few days to pack everything up and say my goodbyes and then it's home to America!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)