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This is it. In five days, I will be home. I can eat pizza without egg and mayonnaise,
I can flip on the TV and actually understand what's going on, heck I can talk to
other humans beings and understand what's going on.
Last week was Golden week. Now, normally this is a time for travelling, for partying,
and visiting relatives. Since I am in Japan, and was running low on money, I skipped
the first and third and stuck with the second one. Also, since this Monday was our
final in Japanese, I spent much of last week studying for it. And now I'm done. I
have finished my major in Japanese. I will still continue taking Japanese classes,
but I am still done. It is quite a relief, I might add.
The other night, we watched a video(I have seen lots of videos lately, such as
A Clockwork Orange, Fight Club[again], Michael Jackson's "Moonwalker", American
Beauty, and others). Afterwards, I learned how to play Mahjongg, and played until
5 a.m. I really like that game.
This week I am tying up loose ends, closing bank accounts, buying souvenirs and
things I can't get in the States. Friday, I am going to see Cirque du Soleil, the
world famous "circus" that performs all kinds of really really cool acts. And it
is here in Nagoya. A once in a lifetime chance, practically. But since my friend
has always wanted to see them, she insisted on the most expensive tickets. Now, it
happens that this friend is the very same friend that I went to see CATS with, you
know, in Japanese. And we paid a hundred dollars to see it in Japanese. Well, we are
paying about a hundred dollars to see this circus, too. But at least you don't have
to understand Japanese to see cool tricks and acts. I can't wait.
This weekend is our commencement ceremony for completing our time at Nanzan. Then,
on Sunday morning, I get on a plane, leaving Japan behind.
It's been a crazy year. Perhaps the craziest I've ever experienced. Two host families
and a dorm. Speaking in Japanese. Realizing that I really like tofu, octopus, squid
and eel. Visiting Hiroshima. Dating a Japanese girl. Riding the world's fastest
train, the Shinkansen. Playing guitar for Japanese people. Reading more books in
one year than I have in the last five. Going to Okinawa. Karaoke bars with Filipino
girls that want to marry me.
I've definitely acquired some great stories that I will probably tell for the rest
of my life. I highly recommend studying abroad. But there are things I might have
done differently in bringing stuff over, where I was living, what I would have
done to prepare, etc. But it's still been a cool experience.
I will keep this page up here until I graduate and it gets removed from the server.
I have already spoken with a few people who are studying abroad and have been
reading about my experiences. I hope it helps someone. I hope everyone else enjoyed
it and found my tales and writing entertaining. If I have sparked someone's interest
in Japan, that's wonderful as well.
When I get to back home, I will scan all my pictures in and post them on the page.
So be sure to check back in a week or two and see them all.
I can't wait to get back home..but at the same time, I will miss this place alot.
Arigatou gozaimashita. Sayonara.
Chas