Final Thoughts...

I got my hair highlighted and cut for Japan:

I'm leaving this week!! Holy cow, where the heck has all the time gone?

I remember when it was 250 days until my first trip to Japan. And now I've come this far. This is seriously crazy, and it doesn't even feel like real life! I'm still a little short on money for living expenses, but I know I'll get there. Also, my sister Anna wants to get me an iPad or give me the money for Japan, so I'm gonna go there first and see if I think I'd like to have one. She's so nice.

My host family seems seriously perfect, and I can't wait to meet them. Kyoko-san, my host sister talks to me a lot over Skype IM and I love hearing from her. We even have a lot in common!! I hope my Japanese will be good enough to have a basic conversation soon. But, in the meanwhile, her English is very good compared to many Japanese people I know, so it's very easy to keep up a conversation with her.

I have not had time to study Japanese lately because of all the American homework I have. In the next 3 days I have to finish a 50+ paragraph research essay, a study guide, 2-3 tests, a Socratic seminar (research forms I have to fill out and then I have to give the comments out loud) and shopping, packing, saying goodbye to everyone, etc. It's unbelievably stressful. I don't even know how I'm finding time to write this! :')

But, I can relax once I'm in Disneyland! I leave the night of the 12th/morning of the 13th at 2am, get on an airplane at Sea-Tac at 7am, fly to LAX and spend the night there, then go to Disneyland for 3 days after that! Then, on the 17th, I have an orientation at the Hacienda Hotel in LA and I spend the night there, leave on the 18th for Tokyo-Narita at 12:05pm, get into Japan at 4:00pm on the 19th (Americans are the latest group that day!). After that, I spend the night in an airport hotel along with all the other students and then get to Nagoya somehow for an orientation with the kids in that area! On the 22nd I meet my host family!

     My Schedule (all dates are for March 2014)

     12th/13th     -     Fly to L.A.
     14th             -     Disneyland
     15th             -     Disneyland
     16th             -     Disneyland
     17th             -     Gateway Orientation in L.A. (say goodbye to parents)
     18th             -     Fly to Japan
     19th             -     Arrive in Tokyo, Japan
     20th             -     Go to Nagoya  for Arrival Orientation
     21st             -     Nagoya Orientation
     22nd            -     Meet Host Family

My schedule is packed even if I'm not! (groan).

I don't want to say goodbye to more people! But I know it's only for 11 months. I'll come back.

I already had two going away parties (three if I count my last night at youth group and the little party we had there!) so I've said sayounara to quite a few people. Wednesday is my last day of school so I'll say bye to my school friends then. I'm definitely going to miss my best friend Payton, but we can Skype every once in a while or send each other pictures so it'll be ok. I've gotten to the point where I have quite a lot of friends so It'll be draining to have lengthy goodbyes with everyone, but it's worth it!

Just a few of the many friends that came to eat Thai food and ice cream with me:

(My dad took this picture so it's really bad)

I'll also miss my dogs and my cat. My dad is a vet so I'm very close with my pets, especially my golden retriever, Pipe. I've had her for nine years, since I was in first grade!

She's too cute for words:

I just hope nothing happens to my pets or family members while I'm gone! My grandma had a stroke but she's doing so much better now, and Pipe is having hip problems but I hear that's normal for goldens so I'm not too worried. I still hate goodbyes though.

Oh well, while I say goodbye to my life in America for a while, I'll be saying kon'nichiwa to a whole new life in Japan!

Here's to the spirit of adventure! :)

I may type another little something up if I can find the time, but I'll see you on the other side if I don't!!