Dinner with friends in Shibuya

070723, Monday

Since school ended on the 20th of July I am free until the 15th of August, the day I have to leave Japan. The first day of my summer vacation I decided to spend at a hamburger place in Shibuya with two friends. The burger and the company were great.

Dinner with friends

Some of the delicious food we had

070721, Saturday

Not wanting the party to end my friends and I decided to meet up again tonight to have dinner together. We tried a new restaurant with various food like sashimi, yakitori, fried chicken etc. Very good! Along with that we of course had the nomihoudai :) Another great day!

Graduation

We had pizza, snacks and ice cream for lunch

Singing karaoke

A lot of people gathered at the farewell party held at Ookuma Garden

070720, Friday

This week was the last week for the term, for me also meaning the last week as a student at Waseda :( Having had final exams on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I was looking forward to today to have the tests over. But in the same time, this meant me not being able to go back to Waseda as well, which is sad. My morning class enjoyed pizza, snacks and ice cream for lunch. After having my last grammar lesson in the afternoon I went to sing karaoke with my friends. We had not been doing this for a while so we really had a great time :) After singing for about 3 hours we went to the farewell party held at Ookuma Garden. Half a year ago we went to the farewell party as well, but then to say goodbye to our friends, but this time we were the ones being said goodbye to :( Somehow it just felt surreal. I cannot believe that it is over!! :( In a way it feels as though we are just having a summer break and will study again next semester as well....but that is not going to happen, unfortunately. After the 2 hour party we decided to continue partying on our own. Some of us continued to an izakaya. Though having eaten at the previous party we still ordered in small dishes of various tasty food along with some drinks :) Even though sad, today was nevertheless a very fun day which I am thankful for being able to have spent with such nice people :)

B-day dinner

070716, Monday

Today being a national holiday, the day of the sea, we had no classes. Instead I went to my friend's birthday dinner. I had not seen her for a while so it was very nice seeing her again. We had a good time talking about old memories during these last months while enjoying a good pasta.

Iai competition and kenpou party

It was an international iai competition

A lot of people gathered

Performing iai kata

070714, Saturday

Friends and I went to see a friend compete in an international iai competition. Our friend did well winning 3 katas.

In the evening I went to a kenpou party. Since we do not have regular practice anymore it was very nice seeing everyone again gathered at one place. The food was great and the company was even better. We had a great time together :)

A friend leaving

070713, Friday

A friend of mine is leaving Japan tomorrow so today I went to her farewell party. The place my friend had chosen for us is a restaurant with a vampire theme in Ginza. We had a great time together though it felt surreal that she was leaving. This made me reflect on my own leaving Japan and that made me really sad. I understand that I too will soon have to leave and this is really breaking my heart! I just cannot imagine not being in Japan anymore :(

Gunma

070707. Beautiful kokeshi dolls

We had lunch...

...at this old fashioned and charming place "Kabiya"

Our room at the Japanese-style hotel :)

The famous Ishidan dori

At the very top of the Ishidan dori there is a temple

070708. Superb tenpura and soba!

Great view from the 32nd floor

070707-070708, Saturday-Sunday

070707, Saturday
I went by car to Gunma ken with my aunt, her husband, my cousin and her daughter. My cousin's husband went to the same place but by train, since there unfortunately were no space left in the car :( The reason for all of us going to this place is that my cousin's husband's parents live in Gunma ken. After about 2 hours we arrived. We met up with my cousin's husband and his parents and first we went to a place where the make the famous Japanese kokeshi dolls. We saw the craftsmen carving and working and it was very nice. This doll is a truly popular Japanese gift. After this we went to have lunch at Kabiya. We then drove to our hotel, Omori. It is a Japanese-style hotel and I really enjoy these types of hotels :) They make me feel at peace. We then took a stroll at the famous Ishidan dori, where there are a lot of shops selling souvernirs etc. When climbing all the stairs you come to a temple that is on the very top. It is very nice. After walking back to the hotel, and having rested a while we went to enjoy the hot springs :) After a refreshing dinner we went to see hotaru (firefly) in the evening. There were a lot gathered at one spot and they had a beautiful glow in the dark :) Feeling content about this day we went back to the hotel and relaxed.

070708, Sunday
I woke up early in the morning to have a chance to enjoy the onsen once more :) It was great! We then went to a museum of a writer who is named Tawara Moeko. After walking around in the museum we went to have lunch. On the menu was great tenpura and soba! It was really tasty!! Later on we went to a high building in Gunma ken Maebashi. From the 32nd floor we had a great view of the city. After enjoying yakimochi, another speciality here, we went back to Tokyo. It was a very nice trip indeed.

Phone call

070703, Tuesday

Friends of my family, living in Sweden, are actually in Japan at the moment on a vacation. Today I had the honor of talking to them on the phone! It felt a bit strange hearing their voices though, since I have not talked to them for a very long time. However, it was a great phone call and I hope they are enjoying their stay in Japan as much as I am :)