Monday, August 4, 2008

I'm Alive!

I just realized I never updated this and thought perhaps you might be worried I'm still lost somewhere on Mt. Fuji. Worry not! We made the climb (got the the top at 4am to watch the sunrise), stood around freezing on the top for a while, and then basically slid back down. It was looooooong and difficult, but we did it! It was totally worth it. The sunrise was AMAZING! Pictures coming soon!

We bussed back to Shinijuku, hung out for a little while and I managed to lose my contacts. They were in a case and I accidentally left them somewhere... oh, and I wear hard lenses, so I only have ONE pair (plus my old pair for back-ups, but one of the lenses is damaged so it hurts). Long story short, I'm wearing glasses till I get a chance to see my doctor in Chico. Anyway, I had dinner with my friend Marie who moved to Tokyo in April. It was nice to see her, but sad to say goodbye. I'll definitely see her again (she wants to work/school in CA in a year or two), so it's okay.

Then we finally made it home at 1am. Which means I was out and about for 43 hours straight. AND I climbed to the highest point in Japan! Very cool!

The rest of the week was a series of goodbye parties and late nights packing. Lots of pictures from those, too (not the packing part), so wait excitedly!

Last night (Sunday) I finished packing/boxing up everything, and today I sent it all off. I mailed 4 packages (a poster tube, 1 small amazon.com box, a big envelope, and a medium sized box) via Japan Post (the post office) and it cost about $150. It sounds like a lot, but I really think it's a good deal. Those things were heavy! I hope everything arrives okay. My favorite lady at the post office, Kawamura-san, helped me get everything packaged and ready, and I trust her to make everything alright. Next I shipped my two big suitcases straight to Narita Int'l Airport, so I don't have to deal with them when I change from the domestic airport (Haneda) and I can just walk up to the check-in counter and they'll have my bags (COOL!). It cost about $35, but I think it's totally worth it.

Now that that's all done, and the stuff for my carry-on bags is set, the only thing left is to clean my house! I've been working on it little by little, but it's really hot and humid, so I have to keep taking breaks (like right now) to sit under the AC in the livingroom. I want to finish tonight (it's 6:40pm so that's totally possible), so when the board of education people come tomorrow to "help me clean" and pick up the garbage bags they can be in and out in a flash. Tomorrow's my last day!!!! Right now I have planned to get a haircut at 10, meet the BOE people and get them out asap, cancel my cell phone service, get dressed in my yukata, and go to Kanto Festival in Akita City with all my friends!

Wednesday morning, I'm leaving here at about 10:40am and a bunch of my friends are seeing me off at the airport. Nice! I'll probably cry.

I'm really going to miss it here!!!!!
But, I'm also excited to go home. Wish I could have both! =/