Thursday, 10 March 2005, 11.15 am PST

sotd: Utada Hikaru, Easy Breezy
cotd: BNR34 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II

So while I have some free time, I might as well use some of it to publish the final version of this site. I am taking all of the previous posts' content and releasing it in one final form straight through from August to December. Consequently, I'm making the previous posts private since they are no longer needed.

And ignore all the Japanese words, train station names, and seemingly cryptic notes. They're mainly for my benefit when I look back upon this in twenty years.

Fall 2004 Travel Journal

Friday/Saturday 8/20-8/21

After going through the security checkpoint, I walked pretty much straight to the gate and got there just in time to walk straight onto the plane.  Had a seat on the right side near the middle of the plane.  I think that was my first time on a 747.  I sat next to a young Japanese couple who slept for much of the flight.  The flight crew served pretzels and a drink early on in the flight, then later a meal (I picked chicken and rice).  Later on, they even served one more snack.  It was a tray of cold soba and a drink.  The last one honestly surprised me.  Landed at Narita International Airport shortly after 12:00 pm Japan time on Saturday.  From here, followed the rest of the people until I ended up in the Immigration area.  Lucky for me the area was pretty empty.  Once I filled out the Disembarkation Card, I passed through the immigration station pretty quickly and was able to go downstairs to collect my luggage.  I passed through Customs also pretty easily.  I told the Customs Officer that I was in Japan to study Japanese at Kansai Gaidai, etc. and he told me “gambatte.”  From here I proceeded until I ended up outside.  Not knowing where I was going, of course, I walked back and forth along the walkway a few times and stopped for a while, just looking out into the street where a number of buses and taxis were passing by.  After a while of this, I decided to go back inside after finding a map saying that Departures left from the fourth floor.  So I headed upstairs, dragging my two big suitcases with me because I wasn’t sure that everything I had would fit into an elevator.  So I go upstairs and, after taking me and all my bags up four floors of escalators, make my way to the information desk.  I asked the lady there where Terminal 2 was, because according to the itinerary, that’s where I was supposed to leave from to get to Itami.  She then told me that I had to go back down to the first floor, go outside (where I had just been) and catch a shuttle bus to Terminal 2.  A complicated process indeed.  But I did it.  After catching the shuttle to Terminal 2, I lugged my luggage inside where the ANA counter was luckily the first one.  I checked my bags through and then went up to the counter after not knowing where I was supposed to stand.  I was nervous when I approached the counter but for the most part I could understand the agent.  I had to ask her after one sentence, turns out she asked me if I wanted a window seat or an aisle seat. Riiight.  No wonder I had to ask for a translation on that one.  We had a mini conversation and so I explained her that I was studying at Kansai Gaidai.  From here I went up stairs and sat in the lounge for awhile before finally deciding to walk through the security checkpoint.  After crossing to the other side, I went downstairs where the gate was, but no one was there.  So I came back up to the main lounge and got yakisoba and a tuna onigiri from the snack shop there.  I know, buying airport food goes against all my principles, but at this point I really needed to eat.  And besides, what American airport would have had yakisoba?  The best I could have gotten there would have been Burger King.  So I sat around for a while (and I mean A LONG TIME), not doing much until 5:30 when the boarding started.  I had my two carry-ons with me, so of course I had a lot of reading material I could have brought out.  Somehow, though, just sitting in the lounge there was good enough for me.  I didn’t want to inadvertently miss some important announcement or something, especially since my ordeal of trying to get to Kansai Gaidai involved one more airport and who knows what after that.  I generally understood what they were saying in the boarding announcement, but luckily the announcement was in Japanese and then in English.  So I went downstairs.  Earlier I had wondered why there was no one down there and there was only a door leading to the outside.  Now I understood.  When I went downstairs this time, it seemed that everyone else had already gone down too and were now standing in a (mostly unorganized) line.  After feeding my ticket into the machine, I went outside and got on a bus that drove around the building, to the runway and finally straight to the plane itself.  Different, for sure.  After getting off this bus, we all went up the stairs and directly into the plane.  Again, I had a window seat.  With taxi and flying, from Tokyo to Osaka the flight took a little over an hour.  By now it was dark, and the neon lights of Osaka were a spectacular sight.  After getting off this flight, I went downstairs and once again retrieved my luggage.  Cleared the baggage claim check there and headed for the door.  Despite this being the most nerve-wracking part of the entire trip, I was so incredibly relieved beyond belief to see a middle-aged Japanese man standing there with a sign with my name on it.  It was at this point that I met Chris C. from New York. He had had to stay in the airport hotel overnight, poor guy.  We loaded our stuff into the Toyota Grand Hiace van sitting outside, and after picking up three other people, made our way to the Seminar House.  It took a while.  I lost track due to our conversation and such, but it must have taken between 1 and 1.5 hours.  As we got closer to Hirakata, it seemed that the van driver didn’t actually know where the Seminar Houses were.  (We were all soon to learn that this is a common theme in Japan for taxi drivers and postmen.)  Everything turned out all right though, and eventually we arrived.  I didn’t care much though, I was happy just to be in Japan, and more importantly, I was happy to have had a ride from the airport.  After checking in at Seminar House 2, we walked over to Seminar House 3, where my temporary room was.  My room number was 3213, which meant it was the third room in the first suite on the second floor in the third Seminar House.  Apparently, most Japanese room numbering seems to be done this way.  Chris was in the third suite on the opposite side of the floor.  After checking the place out for a few minutes, Josh walked in and thus I met him as well.  After sitting around for a while and reading papers, we decided to go out and look for a convenience store, or at least food.  So with Josh and Chris and another guy named John, we started walking in no particular direction.  Nothing seemed to be open, and we couldn’t find any convenience stores, so we made our way back and ended up at a dinky little place called Bar Chaos.  Seemed like a bar for the surfer/snowboarder type.  After sitting in there for a grand total of about six minutes, we left and returned to Seminar House, checked out the small but very convenient computer lab downstairs and then turned in for bed.  It had definitely been an interesting day.

Sunday 8/22

Woke up and after a bit, walked with Chris and Josh to a place called Petit Café to get food.  I did the ordering.  Stopped at the Super Sanko supermarket on the way back.  At 1:30, we headed downstairs to go on the “Hirakata City Tour.”  We headed out from Seminar House to the Keihan Makino Station.  From Makino we took a train to Hirakata.  My first train riding experience in Japan! Yay!  We walked across the street to the Vivre department store and were allowed to roam around for a while.  (Little did I know this would soon become my neighborhood.)  We came back and didn’t do much in the afternoon until dinner time, when we followed some other guys to Bikkuri Ramen, the 180-yen ramen place which is located right across the street from the Kansai Gaidai main gate (a fact we also didn’t know at the time).  On our way back, we stopped at the QQ (a 99-yen store chain) and a Lawson department store (also a national chain).

Monday 8/23

Walked to the actual Kansai Gaidai campus for the first time in the morning to take the campus tour.  It was pretty short.  Went with Bonnie (who had shown up with the other LCers the previous night) to the computer lab for a couple hours and then introduced her to Bikkuri.  Went back to Seminar House, and sat around for a while reading important documents and getting my bearings together with all that would be going on throughout the week.  While I was doing this, in walks Coyle.  So I walked with him to campus (again for me!) and then took him to Bikkuri (again for me!) and then back to Seminar House.  For dinner, I joined the guys (Chris, Josh, Albert who I finally met, and Leo the Australian). Bonnie came along too.  From the QQ, we walked in the opposite direction from campus for about 45 minutes until we ended up at a Kappa Sushi (kaitenzushi) place.  Unfortunately, we had to walk back in the rain.  Albert was a douchebag and took a taxi back to Seminar House.

Tuesday 8/24

Walked to campus to take the Language Placement Test in the big auditorium next to the Library.  Afterwards, quickly walked back to Seminar House to gather up my passport and other potentially important documents.  Walked back to campus, saw Bonnie and was informed that we don’t need a Mitsui-Sumitomo bank account after all.  Good news.  Hung around until the Language Lab (L.L.) Orientation at 2:00.  Had lunch on campus with John, then went back to Seminar House.  Went with the guys to Bikkuri for dinner, then QQ, then Bar Jam Jam for a total of about four minutes, then went home.

Wednesday 8/25

Walked to campus to attend the General Meeting at 9:30.  After that, went to the Registration Lottery.  Somehow, despite being an entire random process, I managed to pull the last number.  As in, the LAST number. Great.  Had lunch on campus with the guys as a consolation.  Went back to the big auditorium at 1:00 for the Intro to Faculty.  From 2:00 to 3:00 was the Homestay Students Meeting.  I went to see the professors afterwards for the classes I was hoping to get into to apprise them of my lottery status.

Thursday 8/26

Walked to campus in the morning.  My registration time was at 11:30, and despite being last, I still got all the classes I wanted.  Had lunch in the cafeteria, and afterwards Josh and I walked to the club building.  From 2:00 to 3:00 there was a “General Briefing” in the big auditorium, and at 3:30 we met Ai and Yuko took the trip to Osaka.  From school, we walked to Keihan Gotenyama Station, and rode to Osakajokoen Station.  We walked through Osakajokoen to Osakajo itself and went inside.  Afterwards we went to Keihan Kyobashi and transferred to JR to go to Osaka Station.  From here, we went to a big amusement building across the street and had dinner at an okonomiyaki place.  It was good.  From here we reversed the route back towards home.

Friday 8/27

At 9:30 we had the Opening Ceremony in the big auditorium.  It was a pretty big deal.  Everyone was dressed up, and all the faculty and staff and the board of the school was there.  Even the school president made a speech.  Afterwards, there was the Welcome Luncheon in the cafeteria, but I left early with Albert and Josh to go back to Seminar House to change clothes.  After walking back to campus, we left for the Kyoto trip at 2:00.  Bonnie and I went as a pair and here we met Maya and Yayoi.  They were very cool, and fortunately they talked much more than the girls from yesterday.  From Makino we rode to Keihan Sanjo.  We took a bus from here to Kinkakuji.  Walked around it.  It was a marvelous place, but there’s not much I can say about it in words.  From here, he walked a long way down the street to Ryoanji.  This is the one with the rock garden.  We took a bus back to the Sanjo/Shijo area and walked around.  Eventually we got back on the Keihan line and came home.

Saturday 8/28

Woke up at 11:00 J.  Left Seminar House sometime after 1:00 and walked to Bikkuri and ate there by myself.  Went to campus to register my laptop at the computer room.  Met Bonnie and returned with her to Seminar House.  When I got back, Albert and Josh and Zack had just gotten back from being out overnight and going to the grand opening of the Apple Store in Shinsaibashi in Osaka.  After a while, I headed out with Edwin to JR Osaka to go to Yodobashi Camera.  The place was massive.  Six floors of electronics.  I couldn’t believe it until I saw the place with my own eyes.  After investigating phones and electronic dictionaries and stuff, we came back and ate at Bikkuri.  Came back after that and watched some TV with the guys in suite 3.

Sunday 8/29

Woke up earlier than I needed to, but finished packing so that we could move all our stuff downstairs by 11:00.  Ate at the Chinese restaurant near QQ with Josh, Albert, Zack, and Colin from England.  We walked to campus after this and had a short rest before I met my host family, Chikako and Mone Tamagawa.  Went over the contract with one of the staff members, and then got a taxi back first to Seminar House to get my luggage, then to the apartment building.  They live in the Yamanouekitamachi area of Hirakata, which I have since learned is close enough to Kansai Gaidai that I can take a bus or ride a bike.  And I can walk to Hirakatashieki in twenty minutes flat.  After arriving there, I just stayed in for the rest of the day.  It was my first day after all.  After some initial nervousness, Chikako (hereafter Chika-san) and I had a great lengthy conversation about just about anything.  We had dinner after a while.

Monday 8/30

Woke up and after eating, headed out and walked to Hirakatashiyakusho (City Hall) to take care of my Alien Registration Card.  From here, walked through Hirakata until I somehow ended up in the Kansai Gaidai area.  Had lunch at Bikkuri and then went to school.  As soon as I went there, however, a high wind warning due to an approaching typhoon meant that all afternoon classes were cancelled and everyone was sent home.  Ai ya.  I walked over to Seminar House with some of the other guys and stayed for about an hour and then headed home.

Tuesday 8/31

First day of biking to school, thanks to the bike that Chika-san let me use.  Somehow met Albert on the way there.  Had Reading/Writing class (hereafter RW) and Speaking Class at 10 and 11, respectively.  RW class is with Furukawa Kanae, a young but incredibly sweet lady.  Speaking class is with Miyauchi Shunji, who I’ve since learned is something resembling the senior teacher at the school. Hmm.  Had lunch at Bikkuri with Bonnie and then returned to campus for Culture, Law and Business class (hereafter CLB) from 2:20 to 3:50 with Mark Tracy.  He’s a cool guy.  Went to the bookstore to take care of getting whatever books I could, and then bicycled back home.

Wednesday 9/1

Accidentally woke up early because I though the 9:00 class was today instead of tomorrow.  Bicycled to school early anyway.  Had Speaking at 11 and then had lunch in the school cafeteria.  Had Literature class from 1:00 to 2:20 with Paul Berry, who is an intelligent and well-read man, but his manner of speaking is a bit on the monotone side.  After this, got more books, and bicycled home, getting air for the tires on the way home.  Yay for air in the bicycle tires.

Thursday 9/2

Woke up at 8:00. (What the hell?) Biked to school in the rain, unfortunately.  Had Speaking class at 9.  Had an early lunch at Bikkuri with Coyle, then came back to school.  Walked with Zack and Albert and Josh to find a place to take purikura pictures, as it was sadly our first homework assignment for the CLB class.  Eventually found a Namco arcade along Ichigosen (Route 1), which was in a complex with a Book-Off, a Tsutaya, and a McDonald’s.  It was also across the street from a Nissan Blue Stage dealership.  Yay.  Had the CLB class from 2:20 to 3:50 and then biked home.

Friday 9/3

Walked to school, since I figured I might be doing something after school today.  I don’t like walking to school.  It takes an hour from home.  Had Speaking at 10 and RW at 11, lunch in the cafeteria, and then Lit at 1.  Went with Bonnie to the Vodafone store near school, and then back to campus to talk to my mother online.  Went back to the Vodafone store one more time, and actually got our phones this time.  Met Colin and Albert on the way there.  After we were done there, walked with Colin towards Seminar House (Albert had his bike), and met Josh and Zack halfway there.  We got on a bus to go to Hirakatashieki, and had dinner in a little restaurant on a side street near the station.  Yeah, those are always fun.  I was responsible for getting the bill, but fortunately everyone could order by pointing at pictures.  Walked back towards the station, but came upon another group of acquaintances and together we went walking around the station to find a karaoke place.  We did in fact find a little place, where the owner, a middle-aged woman, thoroughly enjoyed herself hearing a bunch of haoles singing karaoke.  After this was all over with, I walked home from the station after helping Natalie get on the train.

Saturday 9/4

Woke up and had bread for breakfast.  Had lunch a while later.  Finally decided to go to school to get some work done and get online.  Walked there, foolishly enough.  Met Colin in the computer lab.  Said ‘they’ would be going out later.  Went to the language lab upstairs to do the listening for Speaking class.  After that was done, went back downstairs to the computer lab, where Colin still was.  Walked with him to Keihan Gotenyama and had a good talk with him along the way.  We took a train back to Hirakatashi and met Albert, Josh, and Zack, in that order.  So we all got back on the train towards Kyoto and got off at Keihan Sanjo.  We made our roundabout way towards Nijojo, passing through some covered arcades and shopping districts and such, but by the time we got to Nijo, it was closed.  Go figure.  That was in addition to being rained on along the way.  So we went back across the street and took a bus back to JR Kyoto.  It was a massive freakin’ building.  We walked around the interior of the station, which was also just as massive and ended up eating at an Italian restaurant for dinner.  After this and our antics were done, we walked back to Keihan Shichijo in the rain.  Took the train back to Hirakatashi and walked home.  Watched Resident Evil (Biohazard) with the family and some other TV afterwards and finally went to bed.

Sunday 9/5

Woke up and ate.  Tako salad and ramen.  Very yummy.  Decided to actually stay in and get homework done today.  They went out to soccer like they do every weekend.  I fell asleep by the TV watching a videotape of Lupin III, but awoke some time after.  There was a HUGE thunderstorm in the middle of the afternoon, which passed right over my head on its path, the thunder was that loud.  Did more homework in the afternoon and had dinner after they came back.  Experienced my first earthquake that night, and of all places to be, I was in the shower at the time.  Needless to say, I wasn’t quite sure what was going on.  It turned out to be a 4.0 earthquake.  After I got out of that, watched Nausicaa, which is the first Miyazaki film I’ve seen without subtitles, and so didn’t really understand it much.  There was another earthquake that night, just about midnight.

Monday 9/6

Woke up and had breakfast.  Biked to school along Ichigosen.  Had RW at 10 and Speaking at 12.  Having no class after that, I biked with Coyle to a place called Sandoru.  Small little restaurant on the Makino side, pretty good too.  Biked back to school after this, and met up with Bonnie, at which point we walked together to the Vodafone store to get our e-mail addresses fixed.  After this was done, headed back to school and sat in the Building 2 lounge on my laptop.  Biked home along Ichigosen.

Tuesday 9/7

Woke up a little late, about 8.  Ate and left, biked to school along Ichigosen.  RW at 10 and Speaking at 11.  Went to lunch at the school cafeteria with the guys.  There was a boufuukeihou (high wind warning) and afternoon classes were thus cancelled.  Hung around school for a while wondering what to do (instead of the prescribed going home, of course) and so left with Bonnie.  I biked home and then walked back to Hirakatashieki. (She walked straight there from Kansai Gaidai.) We walked around the area, including City Hall to get the English guide to Hirakata which turned out to be nothing special, and the Kintetsu and Vivre department stores.  Walked back home after all this.

Wednesday 9/8

Woke up, ate, and biked to school on Ichigosen.  Speaking class at 11.  Had lunch by myself at Bikkuri, then walked back for Lit class, 1-2:20.  Went with Josh and Albert to get Reagan Ice Cream at the Conveni, then headed over to the L.L.  Went to the Building 2 lounge after that, until the Speaking Partner Meeting.  My speaking partner(s) turned out to be Ai and Yuko. Great.  Biked home after that on Ichigosen.

Thursday 9/9

Woke up, ate, and biked to school on Ichigosen.  Speaking class at 9.  Ugh.  Had an early lunch with Coyle at Bikkuri.  Walked back, and stayed on the computer until CLB, 2:30-3:50.  Hung around after that until about 6:15 and then biked back home on Ichigosen.

Friday 9/10

Woke up, ate, and biked to school on Ichigosen.  Speaking at 10, RW at 11.  Had lunch with Bonnie and Natalie at 12, then had Lit from 1-2:20.  Went to the Building 2 lounge after class, and then back to the CIE lounge after a while.  Met Natalie and her friends Eriko and Yuki from class.  Talked with them for a while, then left about 6:45 and biked home along Ichigosen.

Saturday 9/11

Woke up and ate breakfast.  Walked to Hirakatashieki and met Bonnie at 10.  Michele and Michele arrived after that.  Tried to check on discount tickets to the aquarium, but that didn’t quite work.  Got on the train to Keihan Kitahama (the stop before Yodoyabashi), and transferred to the subway(?) to Sakaisuji-Honmachi, and then transferred to an even different line to go to Osakako.  Got off there and walked over to the Tempozan Village.  After exploring the outside, we entered the Kaiyukan.  Walked through the whole aquarium, but there’s not much to say about it in words.  Afterwards, we went into the Tempozan Marketplace to find lunch. (KFC for lunch, Haagen-Dazs for dessert.) Walked around a little more in that area, to check out Osaka Bay and the IMAX.  We left and went back to Osakako Station, and took the train across the bay to Cosmo Square.  From the station, we walked to the World Trade Center Osaka building, which we later realized was ironic that the date was September 11.  Went to Starbucks inside the WTC, walked around there a little bit, then crossed the land bridge over the street to the ATC (Asia Trade Center), which holds a gigantic mall.  Funny for being in the middle of nowhere.  We stayed there for a few hours and then returned back to Cosmo Square Station, returning back to Sakaisuji-Honmachi (with a wrong stop at Honmachi first), then transferred back to Kitahama, got back on the Keihan line and returned to Hirakatashi.  Tried one restaurant near the station, but it wasn’t what we were looking for, so we got on the bus back towards Kansai Gaidai, got off there and ate at Bikkuri.  Bonnie and I got on the bus back to the station afterwards, and I walked home and Bonnie took the train back to Kuzuha.

Sunday 9/12

Woke up and ate lunch.  Walked to Hirakatashi about 2.  Took an early train to Keihan Hirakatakoen, and met Eriko, Yuki, and Natalie there.  Took the train to Keihan Yodoyabashi, and transferred to the subway to Shinsaibashi.  After emerging from the subway, we walked through Shinsaibashi, Ebisubashi, Namba City, and Namba Parks, which took longer than I just made it seem.  There were a lot of people there.  Had dinner at an Italian restaurant which I think was part of the Namba Walk, and afterwards tried to walk to Den Den Town, but everything was closed there.  Walked back to the Namba subway station and took it back to Yodoyabashi.  Got back on Keihan to return to Hirakatashi, and from there I slowly walked home.

Monday 9/13

Woke up, ate, and biked to school on Ichigosen.  RW at 10 and Speaking at 12.  Lunch at Bikkuri, and stayed in the Building 2 lounge all afternoon on account of having no afternoon class.  Biked home on Ichigosen.

Tuesday 9/14

Woke up, ate, and biked to school on Ichigosen.  RW at 10 and Speaking at 11.  Lunch at the cafeteria, and then CLB class at 2:30.  Went to the language lab, then back to the lounge, then biked home on Ichigosen.

Wednesday 9/15

Woke up and ate.  Left at 9 and walked to school on Ichigosen.  Tooke a side trip down Route 307 and finally found all of the Hirakata car dealerships.  Got to school at about 10:30 after I was done with that.  Got there in time for the Speaking class at 11 in which he had a test.  Lunch at the cafeteria and then Lit from 1-2:20.  Computer Lab until 3:30.  Had a long conversation outside the CIE with Bonnie, Nick, and Natalie.  Walked to Hirakatashieki from the school, where I finally bought my Keihanbasuteikiken.  Stayed around the station for a while and went to the Nomura bookstore, Vivre, etc.  Walked home from the station.

Thursday 9/16

Woke up, ate, and for the first time took the bus to school.  Have to get on in front of the Family Mart down the hill from home.  The bus stop is called Hendenshomae, and any bus is fine since they all go to the station.  From there, I take any usual bus that goes to Kansai Gaidai from the other side of the station.  Got to class for the Speaking class at 9.  Computer Lab with Bonnie until 10:45, when I decided to get up and leave to take a walk along Ichigosen, past Route 307, which is where we turn in to go to school.  Came back and ate at Bikkuri about 1:15.  CLB from 2:30-3:50, then back to the computer lab.  Took the bus home.  Yay for the bus.

Friday 9/17

Woke up and rushed out to take the bus to school.  RW at 10 and Speaking at 11.  Lunch at the cafeteria with Bonnie and Josh.  Lit class was at 1, but I skipped it to take a walk instead.  Went down the same way along Ichigosen that I did the day before, stopping at the Sega Arcade (first time playing Initial D Arcade Stage Version 3! And in Japanese too!), Uniqlo, and a place literally called 100 Yen Plaza. Fun.  Walked back home along Ichigosen to put my stuff away, and took the bus back to school.  Met Nick, Bonnie, Natalie, and Nari in front of the CIE, and together we walked down to Hirakatashieki.  Took the train to Keihan Demachiyanagi and ate at an organic vegetarian hippie place called “Peace Café.”  Bonnie and I reasoned that it would have looked perfect in the middle of Portland.  We walked in Kyoto for a little bit but had to return shortly after.  Took the train back to Keihan Hirakatashi and took the bus home.  Got off three stops past home and walked back along Sunshine Road, stopping in a big store that sells various pre-owned games, manga, etc.

Saturday 9/18

Woke up, ate, took the bus to school.  Stopped in the computer lab, then set my stuff up in the lounge and stayed there for a while.  Took the bus back to the station and walked around, then took the bus home.

Sunday 9/19

Woke up, watched some Pokemon(!), and ate.  Went back to my room and fell asleep.  Sometime later, woke up and changed clothes.  Went with Chikako and Mone to the station, where we took the train to Keihan Neyagawashi.  Walked to the big Book Off across the street.  They left while I stayed there and continued to browse.  After buying three volumes of Initial D, I left and went back to Neyagawashieki, and took the train one stop back to Keihan Korien, where I met Colin, who was apparently bored out of his mind.  Walked around some around his area.  Stopped first at a coffee shop (my first kissaten experience), but also looked into the Korien Tsutaya, Fresh Burger (which was back at the station), another game/music store, Colin’s house, and then back to Korien.  Took the train back to Hirakatashi and met the guys at a karaoke place called Green, behind the Mos Burger.  Josh and Zack were there, so was Natalie, and I finally met their Japanese friend Motoshy.  Cool guy.  After that, left them to their own devices and walked back home.

Monday 9/20

Woke up late and ate.  Rested for a while but went with Chikako and Mone to the Tsutaya at Hirakatashieki.  Saw Colin there, quite unexpectedly (he had tried to go to school, but it was closed for the holiday).  Chika-san and Mone left, so Colin and I went walking around, first to Mos Burger, but then to Vivre, the bookstore, Nakanukiya, etc.  Took the bus home afterwards.

Tuesday 9/21

Woke up, took the bus to school.  RW at 10 (test) and Speaking at 11.  Lunch at the cafeteria and CLB from 2:30-3:50.  Stayed in the Computer Lab for a while and then walked home along Route 307 and then Ichigosen.

Wednesday 9/22

Woke up a little late and took the bus to school.  Speaking class at 11.  Had lunch at the cafeteria (not the fancy cafeteria, which we walked in and then walked out of).  Lit at 1-2:20, then stayed in Lounge 2 for a while.  Took the bus home after that.

Thursday 9/23

Woke up and left to catch the bus to the station.  Met Albert there about 9.  Met Mayu and Minako at the station, and then Josh showed up after that.  Took the train to Keihan Fushimi Inari, and from there walked to and around all of Fushimi Inari Shrine.  Very cool place.  Ate lunch in that area and then went back to the Fushimi Inari station.  Took the train further into Kyoto and got off at Keihan Gojo.  Walked to Kiyomizudera from here and walked around there.  Came back down the hill and passed a lot of little shops along the way.  Took the train back to Keihan Hirakatashi.  The girls left, and Josh left to meet Zack in Osaka.  So Albert and I went to Tsutaya for a while and then McDonald’s.  He got on the train back to Kozenji and I walked home.

Friday 9/24

Woke up and took the bus to school.  Speaking at 10 and RW at 11.  Had lunch at Bikkuri with Natalie, and then Lit at 1-2:20.  Met Nari after this and went to Seattle’s Best Coffee.  Split up after that so I could go to the L.L. and then to Lounge 2 for a while.  Met Nari again and had dinner at this Italian restaurant next to the Hirakata Tsutaya.  Went home after that. Crashed as soon as I got home, strangely enough.

Saturday 9/25

Woke up (at 6:30!), took a shower, hung around, and ate.  Met Albert and Natalie at the station at 11:30, and took the train to Demachiyanagi.  Walked around some first, including the Kamogawa, and then caught the bus to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, where we walked around this humongous swap meet and also into the shrine as well.  Ate there and then left to start heading back.  Eventually we caught the bus anyway, and took it to the Ginkakuji, which was at the other end of Imadegawa-dori anyway.  Walked around there and then walked back along Imadegawa-dori, allowing the guys to stop in an arcade.  Took the train from Demachiyanagi back to Hirakatashi and then went home.

Sunday 9/26

Woke up and ate.  Caught the bus to Hirakatashieki and then just took a walk.  Went all the way out to Yodogawa, which sucked because it was an exceptionally hot day.  Went back to the station and caught the bus to Kansai Gaidai.  Walked out to Route 307, and went up towards Yotsutsuji and came back to Ichigosen.  Walked home along Ichigosen, stopping in at Book Off, Tsutaya, and Booktopia.

Monday 9/27

Woke up, ate, and took the bus to school.  RW at 10, and then had lunch at Bikkuri with Coyle at 11.  Speaking at 12.  Stayed on my computer in the lounge all day, and then caught the bus back to Hirakatashieki.  Tried to get a card at Tsutaya and failed.  Walked home and had a long conversation with Chika-san after dinner.  Didn’t end up getting too much homework done.

Tuesday 9/28

Woke up late, ate, and biked to school on account of my lateness.  RW at 10 and Speaking at 11.  Lunch with the guys in the cafeteria.  Computer Lab after that, and then CLB at 2:30-3:50.  Met Ai and Yuko after class and talked with them for a while.  Stayed in the lounge for a bit, but once Albert showed up, we left to head out to 307.  Stopped at the Toyopet, where the Isis had not yet arrived, but got a brochure anyway.  Went further up to the street and talked to this really nice lady at the Yanase place, across the street to Jaguar Hirakata, and then to the Mazda to see the Verisa and the new Carol.  Biked home after we were done with all this.

Wednesday 9/29

Woke up, ate, and took the bus to school.  Speaking at 11, and then to lunch with the guys in the cafeteria.  Lit at 1-2:20.  Computer Lab for a while, and then walked to 307 and spent some time in various dealerships.  Walked home and did homework until 2:30, when I inadvertently fell asleep.

Thursday 9/30

Woke up early and left to take the bus to the station to meet Kotaro.  Took the bus back to Hendenshomae so he could put his stuff away at the apartment.  Took the bus then back to the station, and then to Kansai Gaidai.  Speaking class at 9, my speech was today.  Walked around the Kansai Gaidai campus with Kotaro after that, and then off-campus for a while.  Went to Bikkuri at 11 and then back to campus.  Tried to take another walk off-campus, but then decided against it.  CLB from 2:30-3:50.  Walked home via the station, and stopped at the Family Mart.  Got some food there and went home to eat.  Stayed in for the rest of the afternoon, and we all had dinner together.  Kotaro and I headed out after that.  Walked to the station and tried to go into Fujiyama Land, but that didn’t really work out.  Went to the other arcade by the station for a while, and then walked back to Cosmo Kingdom, and did some karaoke for an hour.  Walked back home, showered, and went to bed.

Friday 10/1

Woke up, ate, and took the bus to the station.  Found a coin locker for Kotaro, and then took the bus to Kansai Gaidai.  Speaking at 10 and RW at 11 (test!).  Then had lunch with Kotaro in the school cafeteria.  Sat in the enkei for a while and then went back to CIE, where we split up.  Kotaro headed back to the station to go to Kobe, and I went to Lit class.  After class, immediately walked to 307, where I visited the Toyopet, the Nissan Red Stage to see the Tiida, and then the Blue Stage where I met Yamamoto-san and Orito-san.  Got stuck there for a while.  Walked back to the Kansai Gaidai bus stop and hurried to the station.  Met Albert, Mayu, and Tomohito (Shizuoka) in front of the Starbucks, and then went up to the karaoke place, where Minako and one other girl whose name I don’t know were.  Stayed there for a while, and when that was done, everyone left.  I walked back to the station and went to the Nomura bookstore and Vivre.  It was still early after that, so I got on the bus and ate at Bikkuri, then took the bus back to the station, and then the bus back to Hendenshomae.  Even with all that, still got home about 9:30.

Saturday 10/2

Woke up and got to have some melon pan.  Ate lunch after that, and then took the bus to Hirakatashieki and met Coyle.  Went to Baskin-Robbins first, and then took the train to Keihan Kyobashi.  Went into the Keihan Mall to use the bathroom, and then walked around the station some, but eventually went back and took the subway to Shinsaibashi.  Transferred to Namba and walked through to Den Den Town.  Walked around the various shops there for a few hours, and then took the subway from Namba back to Yodoyabashi, and then took the train from Keihan Yodoyabashi back to Keihan Hirakatashi.  Took the bus home where Chika-san was talking to this earthquake insurance woman.  We ate after she left.

Sunday 10/3

Woke up and took the bus to the station.  Met Bonnie and Maya there.  Took the train to Keihan Kayashima and changed trains to a local to get to Keihan Kadomashi.  Met Shiro-san after getting off the train, and then went downstairs to meet Maya’s dad, who was waiting there with the car (a white Mitsubishi Dion).  Drove to Bampaku Koen and walked around there for a few hours.  Drove back to Kadomashi station, and went back to Kayashima.  Changed trains and then went all the way to Keihan Kuzuha.  Maya came with us and then left us at Kuzuha station.  Bonnie and I went to the Daiso 100 yen store and Tsutaya, where I finally succeeded in getting a card of my own.  Went to the neighboring Kuzuha Court after that to eat and chat for a while.  Went back to Kuzuha station and from there returned to Hirakatashi, taking all of five minutes.  Took the bus home and had dinner.

Monday 10/4

Woke up, ate, and took the bus to school.  RW at 10 and Speaking at 12.  Lunch with Zack, Albert, and Michele at the secret cafeteria.  Went to the Computer Lab after, and walked around after that trying to find a place to plug in my computer.  Ended up in the Library, finally.  Coincidentally, that was also the first time I had really walked into the Library.  Went back to the lounge after this for a little while and took the bus home.  Had a big birthday dinner (with cake!).  Tried to do homework after that, but mostly ended up playing with iTunes.  Shameful.

Tuesday 10/5

Woke up and took the bus to school.  RW at 10 and Speaking at 11.  Lunch in the regular cafeteria today.  Back to lounge to read/study for the CLB test at 2:30.  Computer Lab for a while after that, then left school.  Walked down Ichigosen to the Daihatsu dealership, but didn’t go in.  Went across the street to the neighboring Honda Primo and Honda Verno dealerships.  Met Iwamoto-san at the Verno.  Went back to 307 and got as far as the Netz, where I finally decided to go in and ended up meeting Yamada-san.  Cam back home and ate.  Went out at 9:30 to meet Zack and Colin at 10 at Mono.  Walked back to Hirakatashieki with Colin and then walked home from the station.

Wednesday 10/6

Woke up late and took the bus to school.  Had Speaking at 11 and then had lunch with Coyle at a place down the road called Yamachan.  Skipped Lit class and sat in the Computer Lab instead for three hours.  Left, walked around 307, and ended up going into the Corolla dealership.  Stayed there for a while, and then left, taking the bus at Nishiikenomiya back to the station.  Took the regular bus home after that.

Thursday 10/7

Woke up and took the bus to school.  Speaking at 9, and then went to the Computer Lab after that.  Took the bus to the station after a while and walked to the Shiyakusho to get my Alien Registration Card.  From here, went back to the station to get bus maps at the Keihan information window.  Went to the Nomura bookstore and picked up some magazines.  Had a small lunch at Mister Donut and then took the bus back to school.  After all this, took the bus back to school and went back to the Computer Lab.  Almost everyone (Colin, Albert, Bonnie, Nick, Josh, Andrew, and Michele) was there.  CLB at 2:30-3:50, then met Natalie’s speaking partner Asuka and this guy named Masa.  Talked to them for a while, then went to the Conveni with Natalie, Eyal, and Cliff.  The four of us took the bus to the station, and from there I walked home.

Friday 10/8

Woke up and took the bus to school.  Speaking at 10 (test!) and RW at 11.  Took the bus to station after this and took the bus home on account of all the rain. (I skipped Lit class.) Got a bento for lunch from Family Mart and took it home and ate it and also put on some better clothes for the rain.  Took the bus back to the station and then took the bus back to school, and saw Zack and Josh in the lounge.  Left after talking to Coyle and got BACK on the bus to go to the station.  Met Coyle on the platform and together we went to Keihan Yodoyabashi.  Took the subway to Namba, and took the Namba Walk towards Den Den Town.  Split up, and I stayed for a while in the large bookstore there called Junkudo, and then finally went to the nearby Joshin (one of, like, twenty) to get my denshi jisho.  I was using a credit card to charge it, and so of course it took forever to accomplish.  After this, we walked around some, and ended up eating at the Wendy’s in Namba.  Walked back to the Namba subway station and took it back to Yodoyabashi, getting back on Keihan to Hirakatashi.  Took the bus home from the station.

Saturday 10/9

Woke up, ate, and took the bus to the station and then school.  Went to the Computer Lab, and after that stayed in the lounge all day.  Left to meet Nari at Hirakatshieki and ate at the same Italian restaurant.  Took the bus home and finally showed my digital pictures to Chika-san.  Left once again after this, taking the bus to the station and then to Kansai Gaidai.  Met Zack and his friend at Mono and walked back to Seminar House at about 1-ish.  Watched Donnie Darko and left at about 3:15.  Got home at about 4:30, entirely by walking.  Go me.

Sunday 10/10

Woke up about 12:45.  Ate ramen that was left for me and then took the bus to the station.  Decided to do some experimenting today, so I got on a different bus and rode it all the way to JR Nagao station.  Walked around that area some (there wasn’t much there), and then came back to the station and waited for the bus back.  Took it back to Higashiikenomiya and crossed over to 307.  Went to the Nissan Red Stage at the top of the street and then down to the Honda Clio, where I (this time) formally met Kushima-san.  Came down 307 and caught the bus at Kokudoikenomiya back to the station.  Got on the train to Neyagawashi, but had to stop at Hirakatakoen to use the bathroom.  Once in Neyagawa, went to the Book Off and the 100 yen shop upstairs from it.  Walked around the station to explore trying to find a place to eat.  Walked through an entire covered arcade, but didn’t really find anything.  Ended up getting an okonomiyaki-takoyaki combo from the Kaza-Guruma at the station.  Sat down to eat it, and then went to the Izumiya department store and after that, down some random streets around the station.  Eventually came back to the station and hung out in the Tsutaya for a while.  Caught the train back to Hirakatashi and then took the bus home.

Monday 10/11

Woke up, ate.  They left and came back, and then I left.  Which was about 4:00.  Took the bus to Yotsutsuji and crossed over to 307.  Stopped at one Nissan Blue Stage and then at the Netz.  Took the bus from Kokudoikenomiya back to the station and took the train to Kuzuha.  Went to Tsutaya, came back to Hirakata, came home and ate.

Tuesday 10/12

Woke up and caught the bus to school.  RW at 10 (test!) and Speaking at 11.  We had conversation time with Japanese students, and here I met Akiko.  Had lunch in the cafeteria with Josh, Kat, Chris, Andrew, and Michele.  Back to CIE after this and had CLB at 2:30-3:50.  Computer Lab after this for a while, then slowly made my way home, had dinner, and then read all night.

Wednesday 10/13

Woke up and caught the bus to school.  Went to the lounge until my Speaking Oral Midterm at 11:15.  Came back to the lounge after this and then went to lunch with Albert.  Lit class at 1-2:20.  Back to the Computer Lab, where I saw Albert and Colin.  Decided to leave, but stopped at the lounge when I saw Mayu and Minako.  Left with Albert and headed out to 307 by myself.  Didn’t go in any dealerships, though.  Sadness.  Took the bus from Kokudoikenomiya to the station and walked home.  Took a nap.  Started writing Lit paper.

Thursday 10/14

Woke up and took the bus to school.  Went to the lounge until the Speaking Written Midterm at 11.  Went to the Computer Lab after this.  Went with Bonnie to the cafeteria for lunch, met Maya, and stayed in the cafeteria talking to her for a while.  Back to the CIE for CLB at 2:30-3:50.  Walked out to 307 but once again didn’t go in any, entirely on account of me worrying about the paper.  Caught the bus at Nishiyotsutsuji which turned out to be a VERY BAD IDEA.  Walked from the station back to home.  Ate, finished the paper (as bad as it was), and went to bed.

Friday 10/15

Woke up and caught the bus to school.  Went to the lounge until the RW Midterm at 12.  Lit class from 1-2:20.  Computer Lab after this.  Walked up and down 307 after leaving school, but only went into the one Nissan Blue Stage dealership, despite being through with the paper.  Did get the Fuga brochure, though.  Walked back to school.  Met Bonnie at the Computer Lab, stayed there for a while, and then together took the bus back to the station.  Went home, and after eating, headed out again, with no particular destination in mind.  Took the bus to station, and then took the bus out to Katahoko.  Went to Seminar House, where I ended up surprising Coyle.  Took a walk together along the stream behind the Seminar Houses.  Ended up linking back up with Ichigosen at the Volkswagen dealership.  Turned back in at Kappa Sushi, and walked down the main road until we ended up back at QQ.  Took the bus back to the station and walked home.

Saturday 10/16

Woke up around 10:30, ate, they left, biked down the hill to Family Mart, and used the pay phone to try calling Meredith.  Didn’t exactly work out.  Called Bonnie after, decided to meet her at the station, took the bike back up the hill to put it away, walked back to Hendenshomae once more, took the bus to the station.  Met Bonnie there, stood around for a while, and just happened to see Jeff pass by.  Since he was going to a danjiri festival for a class field trip, we decided to tag along.  With the other people in the class and the professor, we went from Keihan Hirakatashi to Keihan Kyobashi, and then JR Kyobashi to JR Tsuruhashi on the loop line.  Walked around that area and saw various things.  Walked through Korea Town and finally ended up in the general area that the danjiri was taking place.  Ended up at Miyukimorijingu, where the festival was centered around.  Left after a while to have dinner.  Ended up at an izakaya.  Went back to Miyukimorijingu after this.  Somehow got invited to a party at the Ikunohozonkai after the danjiri was done.  Very cool.  Had to leave, though, so we could catch the train out of Osaka.  Walked to JR Momodani station, and got back on the loop line to Kyobashi.  Back to Keihan to come back to Hirakatashi.  Walked home after this.  Got home about 1:30.

Sunday 10/17

Woke up about 9:30 and left in a hurry.  Caught the bus to the station and met Bonnie, where we quickly got on the train to go down to Kyobashi.  Met Coyle there, and also Ai and Yuko.  From JR Kyobashi ended up at JR Motomachi (had to change trains to get from the Tozai line to the Kobe line).  Walked around Chinatown, had lunch there, and then went out to the harbor, where there was a small park commemorating the Hanshin earthquake and the rebuilding after.  Walked through a small festival that was going on, and also through the large Mosaic mall.  Headed out after this, coming back to the JR Kobe station and taking it straight to JR Osaka.  Got back on the loop line and went to JR Kyobashi.  Transferred to Keihan and came back from Kyobashi to Hirakatashi.  Took the bus with Bonnie to Katahoko and stopped in a couple stores before walking over to Seminar House.  Saw Chris, Leo, and Michele before leaving and taking the bus back home in order to be back for dinner at 7.

Monday 10/18

Woke up at 9 and rushed to the bus to get to school.  RW at 10, Computer Lab, and then Speaking at 12.  Met Akiko and her friends for lunch, with Nykanen.  Came back to the lounge afterwards, and happened to meet Albert and Colin.  Went to the library with them to watch a movie called Zatoichi.  Very interesting.  Back to the lounge, where I saw Zack and Josh.  Went to Bikkuri with Zack, Josh, and Colin.  Got on the bus back to Hirakatashieki.  Got on the other bus and rode out to Yotsutsuji.  Came down 307, but didn’t go in any dealerships.  Weird for me yet again.  Walked back along Ichigosen, and went into the Nissan Blue Stage there for the first time.  Met Fujino-san.  She was very cool.  Continued on my way home after this.

Tuesday 10/19

Woke up and once again rushed to the bus to get to school (in the rain, no less).  RW at 10 and Speaking at 11.  Lunch in the cafeteria with Andrew, Michele, Josh, and Josh.  Back to the lounge with Bonnie, Michele, and Michele until CLB at 2:30.  Computer Lab after class, and then back to the lounge where everyone was.  Left with Bonnie and Shelby to go to McDonald’s.  They left to go home and I got a table by myself.  Was still there when Albert and Colin walked in.  Albert was meeting his speaking partner there.  Caught the bus home after this was all over.  Spent the entire night finishing A Quiet Life.

Wednesday 10/20

Woke up at 10:30.  Realized I was not going to make it in time for Speaking at 11.  Finally got out of bed and get ready.  Came down the hill in intense rain to catch the bus at Hendenshomae.  Got to the station and caught the Katahoko bus to Kansai Gaidai.  As the bus was coming up the hill past the hospital, I noticed there were a lot of people heading away from Kansai Gaidai.  Indeed, as soon as I got off the bus, the guard at the front gate said that classes were cancelled.  So I started heading back to the Kansai Gaidai bus stop, but stopped when I saw the line of umbrellas stretching all the way down the road.  Turned around and saw Josh and Colin coming out the front gate.  Went to 7-11 for a brief rest, and then (as for my brilliant idea J) walked down the street to the Miyakogaoka bus stop, where a whopping two people were waiting for the bus.  Took the bus back to Hirakatashieki and caught the train with Josh and Colin over to Keihan Korien.  Had lunch with them at KFC in the station.  Colin headed home, and I helped Josh get on the bus back to his place in Miiminamimachi, wherever that might be.  Myself, I got on the 9A bus and conveniently rode it all the way back to Hendenshomae.

Thursday 10/21

Woke up and took the bus to school. Speaking at 9 and CLB at 2:30. Stayed at school for a while and then walked out to 307. Walked up and down twice before finally going to get brochures. Also stopped at the Nissan Blue Stage on Ichigosen, but Fujino-san wasn’t there. Got the Presage brochure anyway. Got home a little late, but still in time for dinner. Had a very long conversation with Chika-san after dinner about the festivals, and other things too. Went to sleep a little late.

Friday 10/22

Woke up and headed for school. Speaking at 10 and RW at 11. Gave my Lit class assignment to Natalie before heading out. Took the bus down to Suyamacho to take a look in the Suzuki dealership next to QQ. Took longer there than I would have liked. Got back on the bus and rode to the station. Got lunch from Kaza-Guruma and quickly got on the limited express to Keihan Sanjo. Got out there and was met with an overwhelming group of people. Walked down Sanjo-dori for a bit until I find a good spot from which to view the Jidai Matsuri. Amazing, amazing parade. After it was done, sat down and ate my now cold okonomiyaki and takoyaki. Got up after this and made the trek over to Heian Jingu, which also happened to be closed on account of the festival. Argh. Walked slowly back towards Sanjo, trying to navigate the streets of downtown Kyoto. Got back to Sanjo just in time for a limited express over to Demachiyanagi. Got out of the train and immediately saw the huge line for the Himatsuri. Ugh. Saw Kat across the crowd, who told me that Bonnie, Shelby, and Catherine were waiting upstairs. Kat decided not to go, so the rest of us stopped at a bakery to get food, and then got in the line. Eventually made it underground to the Eizan Demachiyanagi side and got on the train with two Japanese girls that Shelby knew. Rode the overly crowded train up the mountain. It also stopped at every single station. Not the greatest idea. Got to Kurama, and once we were out of the train, got swept up in a crowd of Japanese people, and lost the ability to move of our own volition. The festival was cool though, even if we didn’t stay until the end. It was mostly waiting in lines and being pushed around, though. Hmm. Left our viewing spot about 10:15, got to the line to get on the train, got on the train, once again stopped at every station going down the hill. Once at Demachiyanagi, got back on the Keihan side and took the last train out, a 12:01 local (LOCAL?!?) to Kuzuha. It was bad, but it would have been worse on the 12:18, which was a local to Yodo (not even Kuzuha!). Once in Kuzuha, met up with Bernie and a couple girls, who caught a taxi back from Keihan Kuzuha to Seminar House 3.  Ended up sleeping there (which was at about 2:30).

Saturday 10/23

Woke up at 10:30 and caught the bus from Katahoko. Got to the station, and then to home. Had lunch and showered. Got my stuff together and got back on the bus to go down to Kansai Gaidai. Once there, I saw Catherine in the lounge and had a long conversation with her, as she had been separated from us at Kurama. Once I got my computer set up, I was only able to stay on it for about ten minutes before being told that the lounge was closing. Argh. And that was about 4. Made my way back to the bus and went once more to the station, and then to home. Got home, put my stuff away, changed bags, and talked to Chika-san for a bit, before dashing out once again. Went down to Hendenshomae, but as no buses were coming in the unusually heavy traffic, I hightailed it down Sunshine Road to the station, got on the 6:00 limited express to Yodoyabashi and met everyone (Andrew, Michele, Natalie, etc.) at the ticket counter. From here, headed out to the swing dance place (which I wouldn’t know how to get to again). Had a lesson and then pretty much sat around for the rest of the time. No more dancing for me. Left with Natalie and Kara about 10:20. Stopped at one combini and then made our way quickly back to Yodoyabashi. Got on a limited express back to Hirakata and then walked home. Still managed to get to bed about 2:30. Oy.

Sunday 10/24

Woke up at 1:30. Ai ya. Stayed in for the whole day, cleaning my room and attempting to get homework done. Watched the news after dinner, about the earthquake in Niigata, and then Shinsengumi. Interesting show, but I had no idea what was going on. Stayed up late writing a sakubun.

Monday 10/25

Woke up late, and so biked to school along Ichigosen. Also had a sore stomach, which didn’t help.  RW at 10 and Speaking at 12.  Lunch at McDonald’s with Albert. Ate in the enkei.  Joined a discussion with Bonnie, Shelby, Meredith, and Lloyd.  Went to the library and plugged in there. Stayed there from about 2 to 5:30.  Biked home after that. Stopped at Booktopia on Ichigosen on my way home.

Tuesday 10/26

Woke up, and took the bus to school in the rain. RW at 10 (test!) and Speaking at 11. Lunch in the cafeteria with Josh, Zack, Michele, and Andrew.  Went to the library afterwards with Josh to study for CLB test. Zack also came along. We all ended up falling asleep in the library. It was sad.  Woke up at about 2:15 and made our way back to the CIE. CLB at 2:30 (test!), after which I went to the LL and then to the Computer Lab.  Went back to the lounge for a while and then made my way home.

Wednesday 10/27

Woke up and took the bus to school. Speaking at 11. Went to the lounge after that. Decided on Bikkuri for lunch with Bonnie, Andrew, and Michele, but since it was crowded, we got food from 7-11 instead. Oy. Took it back to the lounge and ate it and then dashed up to Lit class, 1-2:20. Video of Shizukana Seikatsu. Went to the Computer Lab for a while, and then walked out to 307. Stopped in Toyopet, Mitsubishi, the Red Stage at the top, and came back out to Ichigosen and stopped at the Blue Stage and saw Fujino-san. Went across the street to get a few CDs from Tsutaya, and then walked home along Ichigosen, also stopping in at Booktopia.

Thursday 10/28

Woke up late and took the bus to school. Was a few minutes late to Speaking at 9, in which there was a test. Oy. Afterwards, went to the Computer Lab and then came back to the Lounge for a while. Went to lunch with Shelby and Bonnie and a couple Japanese people. Got food from the cafeteria, but ended up eating in the enkei.  Came back to CIE and attempted to finish the CLB extra credit problem before class, 2:30-3:50. Afterwards, went to the Computer Lab for a little while, then saw the guys in the lounge. They (Andrew, Michele, Josh, Chris, and Colin) decided to go to 7-11 for snacks, so I went along. Split up—they went back to the CIE, and I walked out to 307. Stopped in at (and got stopped for a while) at the Nissan Red Stage at the top of the hill, but managed to score a Tiida Latio brochure a day before the car went on sale. Woot. Also stopped in at Mazda and Subaru—first time to the Scooby store.  Came back out to Ichigosen and stopped in at Tsutaya to return the previous CDs. Caught the bus from the Hoshigaoka Hospital back to Hirakatashieki, and went to Tsutaya there. Got a few things and then caught the bus home. Was a few minutes late for dinner, but no big deal.

Friday 10/29

Woke up and took the bus to school. Thought I’d be late, but ended up being just in time for Speaking at 10, and then RW at 11 afterwards. Went with Bonnie to Bikkuri for lunch and finally paid her back from what I owed a long time back. Came back and went to Lit, 1-2:20. I talked in class. Scary. Went to the Computer Lab for a bit, and then headed out. Caught the 18 bus from Kansai Gaidai to Deyashiki, and then went into Volkswagen Hirakata for the first time and met Kuryuu-san. Walked down the street some to the Suzuki Arena and met Yuuki-san. Went across the street to the Osaka Toyota Hirakata to inquire about a Mark II brochure, but was told they don’t have them anymore since they’re not selling the car anymore. That was a surprise. Seems they’re gearing up for the Mark X debut on 9 November. So I came back to the Kappa-QQ-Kansai Gaidai street and caught the bus at Tanoguchi-chuo and rode it back to Miyakogaoka to go to the Vodafone store to get a new prepaid card. From here, came back to Kansai Gaidai, where I discovered Colin, then Kat, then Meredith, Bonnie, and Shelby in the Computer Lab. Eventually headed out with Kat, Shelby, Laura, John, Ian, and a Japanese guy named Issei to the bus stop. Went to Hirakatashieki and then got on the train to Keihan Yodoyabashi. Once there, left the station, and crossed the bridge towards the concert place, a little lounge-type place called Pocket Piano. Or something like that. Passed it a bit and crossed over a street to where all the restaurants were. Ended up at a modern-décor bar-type place that was way too expensive and charged us 800 yen per person just as a table charge. Oy. Had a little spaghetti dish for 1,100 yen. Upset, yes. After leaving that place, walked back to Pocket Piano, where Mark Tracy and a bunch of people from class were already there. Stayed there from 7:30 to about 11:15ish, when Shelby, Issei, and I left to head back to Yodoyabashi. (The others had left earlier to go up to Makino to make a night out of karaoke.) Once back at the station (we had to ask a couple people), caught a very crowded sub-express back to Hirakatashi, where Issei and I got off (his scooter was at the 7-11 across from school), and Shelby continued onto Kuzuha. That was a little after 12:30. Walked home from the station in light rain. Went straight to bed.

Saturday 10/30

Woke up at 12:15. Oy. Ate a whole bunch of leftovers that Chika-san left out for me (it was good, by the way) and showered. Spent a while doing a combination of sitting around, playing on my computer, and moving stuff from the floor to the bed so that I could vacuum the floor. When this combination was about over, I did the actual vacuuming. And it didn’t take that long at all. They came back before I could go anywhere, since it was raining, so I guess soccer was cancelled. Not wanting to stay inside all day, however, I left anyway, about 4. Caught the bus to Hirakatashieki and went to Tsutaya to return the CDs from the other day. From here, got on the train all the way to Yodoyabashi and then got on the Midosuji subway line to Umeda. I had intended to go to Higashi-Umeda, but that was on a different line, oddly enough. And of course, I got lost before even emerging onto a surface street (The Umeda subway station and the massive JR Osaka station are connected to each other). My original purpose had been to check to see if the Amlux Osaka was around, but as best as I could tell, it no longer exists. I think. So I ended up in Kita-Osaka (a.k.a. Umeda) in the dark (the sun had gone down while I was on the train), in the rain, and with no idea where I was going. So I basically walked up and down the main streets for a couple hours. Also passed by the Hilton Osaka, where I saw the Bentley Continental GT for the first time. It was silver. Also saw a pair of the Toyota Century, and a Mercedes-Benz S600 (Along with the S600 that was parked on the street in front of the Hilton). Also saw some other Benzes, Cimas, and Celsiors emerging from the underground parking lot. Total crazyness. Since I didn’t want to walk around in the rain anymore, after a couple hours, I came back to the station and pretty much got on the train back homeward (subway from Umeda to Yodoybashi, and then Keihan from Yodoyabashi to Hirakatashi). Once back at the station, went into Vivre for a while. Went up to the 6^th floor to the amusement center and sat and played Initial D. After all, it was a dark, cold, rainy Saturday night. No, nobody was around. So I got a new card with a Panda Trueno with the Fujiwara Takumi-style tuning track (A Course). And I cleared the Myogi stage. Fun fun. Came back down and intended to go to to the Nomura bookstore, but it was closed by this time. McDonald’s was right there, but I wanted something more filling and less expensive. So I got in line for the Katahoko bus, where after a few minutes, I heard my name. And here came Colin, Josh, Zack, and Chris, getting on the bus back to Seminar House after doing who knows what. Either way, I got off at Kansai Gaidai to go to Bikkuri. Got a ramen-charai-teishoku since I had gotten to the next step on my stamp card and got a coupon. Yay. From here, I didn’t really want to head to Seminar House and back, so I just got on the bus and came back to the station. Got on the bus home and hung around in Family Mart for a while. I didn’t notice until I came out, but I had been reading magazines there until the rain stopped. Go me. Went home and showered, but still managed to go to bed late.

Sunday 10/31

Woke up at 1:00. D’oh. Ramen had been left out for me, but I didn’t eat it, as apparently people had been contacting me all morning, wondering if I was coming to Gaidaisai. So I quickly got ready and made my way to school via bus and walked around a little bit before meeting Bonnie and Shelby on the field to watch the Pyrates (cheerleading club) performance. It was pretty damn long. I mean, after all, they’ve got no football team to cheer for. After this, walked around some, saw some people, got some food, etc. Only managed to stay there for a couple hours. The completely gray sky didn’t help. While I was waiting for a churro from the aikido club (which Chris C. was helping out with), Bonnie and Shelby left to walk to Gotenyama station, and then I left soon after, getting back on the bus back to Hirakatashi station. On my way there, Coyle calls and says he’s planning on meeting Howard in Kyoto, since they were here for the weekend. So I agreed to go along and hung out around the station for a while. Went to the bookstore, to Vivre, and back to the bookstore until Coyle called back. Since he was heading towards Makino, I got on the train at Hirakata and got off at Makino and waited a few minutes until he got there. From there, we went over to Kuzuha, the next station, and waited for a limited express. Since we couldn’t really determine where Howard actually was, we got off at Sanjo and got on a local to the next stop, Marutamachi. After coming out here, we ended up walking up and down Kawabata-dori until we FINALLY discovered that Howard and his friends were at a different Marutamachi station. Oy. So Coyle got him to meet us at Sanjo. We walked there, since it was only a few streets down, and we went to the three-floor(!) Book Off until Howard called back. We then finally met Howard and his two female friends (whose names I have no clue) at the central exit at Sanjo station, and from here walked to Kawaramachi-Sanjo and into the Teramachi shopping arcade where we all had dinner at Shakey’s Pizza. Pizza tabehodai. Yummy. From here, came back out to Kawaramachi until we went into a massive Sega arcade center. I unfortunately spotted the Initial D machines and headed straight for them. Howard and I raced each other for a while (using both of my cards, ingeniously enough) until it was time to leave. They stayed there, since they could walk back to their hotel, while Coyle and I left, heading back out to Sanjo and walking back towards the station. Stopped in a Lawson along the way, but once in the station, managed to get on a limited express back. Coyle got off at Kuzuha to transfer to a local to Makino, and I of course got off at Hirakatashi. Took the buses home.

Monday 11/1

Woke up late. Quickly got ready and caught the bus to the station, and then school. Was about ten minutes late to RW class at 10:00. Oy. Went to the Computer Lab afterwards and saw Albert. Had Speaking class at 12, and afterwards went with Zack to the cafeteria for lunch. Sat outside, though, on account of Gaidaisai. After eating, went back to CIE and ended up in the Computer Lab again for a bit. Went to the Bookstore for a while and ended up picking up a few things. Came back out after this only to discover that it was raining. Tried to go to the library, but it was closed. Probably because of Gaidaisai. So I came back to the CIE lounge and sat with Andrew (and Michele) for a while, until I could get an open port to plug my laptop into. Stayed in the lounge until about 6ish, when I caught the bus back to the station, and then caught the bus back home. Took a shower before eating.

Tuesday 11/2

Woke up late again. Got ready and caught the bus to the station, and then to school. Was again late to RW at 10. Speaking was afterwards at 11. Walked around afterwards at Gaidaisai with Albert and Zack and Albert’s Japanese friends. Stopped in the cafeteria to get a melon soda after walking around and then went back to CIE for CLB at 2:30-3:50. After this was done, went to the Computer Lab for a while. After this, walked out to Ichigosen and instead of going up 307, turned left and walked down Ichigosen. Came to the Daihatsu dealership and actually went in this time. After spending some time there, walked further up the street, stopped at the Sega arcade for some Initial D and then checked out Uniqlo quickly. Crossed the street and came by, stopping in Honda Primo. Finally came back to 307 and walked up this time, saw Goto-san outside the Toyopet but kept walking. Went up to the gas station and turned around. Only stopped in Netz, as I recall. Crossed the street again and went back to Toyopet. Talked to Goto-san for a bit. Came back to Ichigosen and walked down to the other Nissan Blue Stage, but it was closed. Caught the bus at the Hoshigaoka Hospital again, back to the station. Went to Tsutaya and rented some stuff. Came home—arrived a little late—and had dinner. After dinner, retreated back to my room to burn the CDs. After this was done, told Chika-san I was heading out, and caught the bus back to the station once more. Returned the CDs to Tsutaya, looked around a bit, and then came back out. Just missed the bus and I didn’t want to wait for the next one, so I walked back up Sunshine Road. Stopped in Lawson and Family Mart before actually returning home. Got to sleep pretty late.

Wednesday 11/3

Got up around 11:15. Came out after they left and made the ramen that was left out for me. Also watched various TV channels, including some election coverage. Because of this TV watching (which I don’t do very often in Japan), I left a little later than I wanted to. Took the bus to the station, and then walked down the little road along Tsutaya and parallel to the train tracks. Followed it along the tracks until I came to Hirakatakoeneki, and took the time to walk around some residential areas, taking lots of pictures of random cars and scenery along the way. This was all in the areas between Keihan Hirakatashi and Keihan Hirakatakoen, behind Vivre and Tsutaya, between the train tracks and the Yodogawa. And that’s how I have to explain it because the Japanese don’t believe in street names. After enough of this, I emerged at the Yodogawa where I had come walking to it last time, and made my way back to the Honda Primo dealership near the station. I actually went in this time. After this, went back to the station and passed through to walk up to the Miyanosaka shopping area. Went into Izumiya here for the first time, which was a bad idea on a holiday. After looking through here, came back out and went to Mister Donut (they were starting another sale today). From here, walked back out to the Kinyaguchi bus stop, but since I just missed a bus, continued along that path back to the station. Once back at the station, caught a bus to Yotsutsuji. Tried the Volvo dealership, but it was closed. Came down 307 and stopped in at Netz, but only because I saw Yamada-san outside. So I talked to him for a while. Left and came back out to Ichigosen. Went to the Blue Stage on Ichigosen. Fujino-san was busy at the time, but I still managed to get a Tiida Latio brochure. Caught the bus again at Hoshigaoka Hospital back to the station and then took a bus home. Had dinner and then didn’t really get anything done that night.

Thursday 11/4

Didn’t really wake up late today, but later than I had wanted to. Got ready and then left to catch the bus to the station. Even though I could have caught a non-stop Kansai Gaidai bus, I didn’t, and opted to wait in the shorter line for a regular bus. Got to school just in time to get my Speaking test from my mailbox and then go to class at 9:00. After class, headed back down to the Computer Lab for a while, checking class options for next semester, among other things. Went to lunch late, but still managed to meet Albert, Colin, Josh, and Chris there. Went to the conveni afterwards, where Albert and I mostly stood around, checking out the new AU phones. Went back to the CIE after this, with just enough time to stand around for a while before going to CLB at 2:30-3:50. After this, went to the L.L. to watch more of that accursed movie before giving up some time around 5:30. Went to the Computer Lab once more to talk to Kristine for a while. Left a little after 6 and caught the bus to the station. Went to the Nomura bookstore and then to Vivre, where I played some Initial D and spent a few more coins than I really needed to. Walked from the station back home along Sunshine Road. Had dinner and then finished (started and finished) writing the Lit paper. Went to bed at 3.

Friday 11/5

Woke up late despite trying to forestall that by setting alarm clocks early. Got ready quickly and then caught the bus to the station and then to school. Rushed into the CIE lounge to get answers from Bonnie for the video homework. Ended up ten minutes late to Speaking at 10 and missed the quiz. Oy. Had RW right after that at 11, for a test I didn’t study at all for. It was pretty easy though. Went back to the lounge after that and set up my computer so I could e-mail my paper to myself and print it out in the Computer Lab. Once that was done, headed out. Got stuck in the enkei talking to a bunch of people, but eventually broke away from that and got lunch from McDonald’s and ate on the steps. Was eventually joined by Zack and Michele, who spotted me there. Left them after a while so I could go back to the Computer Lab to print out my paper. Was a couple minutes late to Lit class at 1 as a result. The class wasn’t too bad; a little empty though. After this was done, immediately dashed back down to submit my registration online to LC on the overly confusing website page. That took about a couple hours. Also talked to Kristine, so that kept me a little longer. As a result, I was pretty late to meet Coyle in Osaka. Left the Computer Lab as soon as this was all done, and caught the bus back to the station and then back to Hendenshomae. Walked up the hill back to home so I could switch bags (I didn’t want to carry my computer all through Osaka). Came back to the bus stop and got on a very odd-looking small bus, but didn’t think anything of it. When I got off the bus, however, the bus driver kept saying something to me over and over, but since I couldn’t understand him, he let me go. Whew. Walked upstairs to get a new Kansai card, but as soon as I stuck the ichi-man bill in, the machine started buzzing. Oy. So I had to wait until the attendant came out and fixed the machine so I could get my card. From here, went up to the platform, but missed the last red train by a few minutes. So I waited for the next blue one to come through and got on that to Yodoyabashi. I was so beat by then, I even fell asleep on the train. Good thing I was riding to the end of the line. From here, got on the subway to go to Namba. Once there, however, I of course got lost before even leaving the station, but eventually found the right exit to emerge at Sennichimae. Finally met Coyle at the Junkudo bookstore. Walked out for a little while, but came back so I could look around. Went to the second floor for the first time and looked around for a long time, especially at the history section. From here, headed out so we could eat. Ended up getting dinner at the CoCo Ichibanya Curry House J. Once done, we walked around for a bit but ended up at a small arcade in Sennichimae and played Virtual On for a while. Curry House and Virtual On in one night. Unbelievable. When we were done here, went back to the Namba subway station and went back to Yodoyabashi. There was a K limited express just waiting on the track, while the blue sub-express on the other side had huge lines, so we got on the K even though it would go clear from Kyobashi to Chushojima. So we indeed rode it all the way to Chushojima, crossed to the other side of the platform, and caught a regular express back to Kuzuha for Coyle, Hirakatashi for me. From the station, walked home, stopping in Lawson along the way. Got home around 11:15ish.

Saturday 11/6

Woke up around 10, even though I was supposed to meet Coyle at Kuzuha at 10:30. Oy. So I got up quickly, got ready, and dashed out of the house to the bus stop. Got to the station and went up to the platform to wait for a limited express to Kuzuha, where I retrieved Coyle and got back on the train to Tambabashi, where we switched to a regular express to go to Fushimi Inari. Although I had already been there, Coyle hadn’t, so we got off and went to the shrine. We didn’t go in and hike through all the torii gates, he just wanted pictures at the front. So we did that and got some souvenirs and came back to the train station to continue on to Keihan Shichijo. From the station, we got out onto Shichijo-dori and walked to Sanjusangendo Temple. It was amazing with all the Buddhas inside, but they don’t let you take any pictures. From here, walked back the other way up Shichijo-dori. Stopped for lunch at a ramenyasan before continuing on. After this, went to Higashi Honganji and walked all around there. They’re doing some construction on one of the halls, so it doesn’t look too nice right now. After this, walked to Nishi Honganji a few streets over. There wasn’t too much to it. From here, after resting for a bit, decided to go up to Teramachi. Walked back the other way up Shichijo-dori until we hit Kawaramachi-dori. So we turned and walked until we reached Teramachi, of which the main part is between Shijo and Sanjo. Tried to check all kinds of anime/game shops for any signs of an Initial D phone strap. No luck, but I did manage to find a Shinchan one at the AU shop in Teramachi. Yay. Went back to the arcade we went to with Howard. Yes, I ended up playing Initial D. After leaving the arcade, Coyle wanted to go home, so he left and I stayed in Kyoto. Went to the Book 1^st facing Shijo. Stayed in there for a while, targeting of course the history section and the dictionaries. While I was there, got a message from Bonnie saying there was a Christmas concert going on at Kyoto station. So after confirming with her, I dashed out of the bookstore and tried to hurry to a bus stop—not knowing, of course, where I was trying to go. Eventually, I crossed the street to the big Takashimaya department store and saw a bus pulling up at Kawaramachi-Shijo that was going to the station. So I got on and rode to JR Kyoto. Once inside, I contacted Bonnie to find out where she was, and ended up heading to the right and going up to the sixth floor. Yes, there was a big-ass Christmas tree, as she had mentioned, but it wasn’t lit up, so I couldn’t exactly see it from the entrance. So we sat there for a while (the concert was over by the time I got there), while they kept turning the lights on the tree on and off and testing various things. Eventually we got up to find food, walking first through Eat Paradise on the top floor, but eventually coming back down and then going underground to where the Porta and Cube shopping malls were. Ended up eating in a Chinese ramen place. After that was done, walked underground until we came to a exit onto Shichijo-dori and just followed that to Keihan Shichijo. Got on an express back. Bonnie got off at Kuzuha and I got off at Hirakatashi, and I walked home from the station.

Sunday 11/7

Got up about 1. Ate ramen and watched some TV. Other than that, stayed in all day and attempted to do homework and clean room.

Monday 11/8

Actually didn’t wake up late. Woke up a little after 8, got ready, and headed out to catch the bus to the station and then to school. Got to school at about 9:15 for my 10:00 RW class. Woo hoo! After that, went down to the Computer Lab. Then, Speaking at 12. Afterwards, had lunch at Bikkuri with Colin and Chris. Walked down to the Vodafone store (Colin needed a new card) and came back. Went to the L.L. to get the questions for listening homework, then headed over to the Library. Set up on the second floor near the A.V. room. Got there at about 2:15 and stayed until about 7:15. D’oh. Left to catch the bus to the station. Then got on the bus to come home and saw Chika-san. I got off at Hendenshomae (and took her groceries with me) while she stayed on the bus to pick up Mone from the day care place. Ate after they got home.

Tuesday 11/9

Woke up on time again. Got ready and left to catch the bus to the station and then to school. Had RW at 10 and then Speaking at 11 (speech!). Had lunch at Bikkuri. Came back and stayed in the Computer Lab until CLB at 2:30. Got out at 3:50, went to the Computer Lab again for a little while and then headed out. Saw Mark at the bus stop and then got on the bus into Hirakata. Ended up riding it one stop too far—my bus pass apparently ends at JR Nagao station, and I rode it into the next district. Which was bad, because I kind of got scolded by the bus driver AND had to walk all the way back to JR Nagao. Eventually ended up passing it, on to the bus stop called Nagaonishiguchi. There was a Nissan Blue Stage dealership there, but I ended up not going in, so I got back on the bus and rode it to Kokudoutanoguchi. From here, got off the bus and walked along Ichigosen over to the Hirakata Toyota dealership. Once there, went in and met Yurugi-san for the first time. Also saw the Toyota Mark X for the first time. Pretty good that the dealership had a live model since the car just went on sale today. Stayed there for a while, talking with him, and taking pictures of the car. It was a light blue 300G. After leaving (which was a while later), walked back along Ichigosen, stopping at the Suzuki and Netz dealerships on the other side of the street. Crossed back over one more time and stopped at the Daihatsu place and saw Fukuda-san. They were closing up, so I didn’t go in or anything. He did get a Mira Gino brochure for me, though. Continued walking home along Ichigosen.

Wednesday 11/10

Got to wake up a little later for class at 11. Still cut it close in getting there, though. Had Speaking at 11, then went to the Computer Lab. Had no money, so I couldn’t get any lunch. Had Lit after that from 1-2:20. Watched films about the atomic bomb. After this, immediately rushed out to find a bank. Ended up going to the Bank of Kyoto down the street and exchanged $500 into yen. This, of course, worries me, seeing as I have over a month left. Came back to campus and found Bonnie and Shelby watching Gung-Ho in the L.L. Media Lab, while I went to the actual L.L. and finished watching the end of Shikofunjatta. After finishing that, the three of us headed out. Walked to Keihan Gotenyama and got on the train to Keihan Shijo. Walked until we found the Chionin temple, and once we found it, continued walking to find dinner. Stopped in a little place that was actually quite busy. We all had donburi. Walked back to Chionin, took pictures of the sanmon (apparently the biggest one in Japan, but who knows) and then walked in. Since it was the raito-appu, it was of course hard to see anything besides the lanterns, especially the giant staircase that was apparently featured in The Last Samurai. But we nevertheless walked around and took pictures of everything about seven times because the night feature on digital cameras just sucks. Walked back to Shijo and got back on the train. Shelby and Bonnie got off at Kuzuha and I of course got off at Hirakatashi. Walked home.

Thursday 11/11

Woke up late, as usual. Got on the train to Hirakatashieki and then got on the Hirakatakoen bus. The bus ride between the two stations was freakishly long, and so I got to Keihan Hirakatakoen at about 11:30. Bonnie and Shelby were waiting there and I met them, and in the rain, the three of us walked to Hirakata Park. Thanks to the free tickets that Shelby had gotten, we went in and saw the Shinsengumi-themed chrysanthemum dolls. Fun fun. It was raining a lot (and you had to pay to go on any of the rides), so we didn’t actually do much else there. Shelby’s Japanese friends showed up, so while Bonnie and I waited (and I ate) in the food court, Shelby went out to meet them. We walked around some more and ended up leaving shortly after. They all caught the train, but I caught the bus back to Hirakatashieki. Went to Tsutaya for a little bit and rented some CDs, and the bookstore as well. Went home shortly after that.

Friday 11/12

Woke up late again. Caught the bus to the station and then to school, and walked in late to Speaking class at 10. Had RW at 11 after that. Went to lunch afterwards in cafeteria 2 for the first time with Natalie and Eyal. Came back and went to Lit from 1-2:20. Went to the Computer Lab after that for a bit, and then headed out. Walked out to Ichigosen, and then turned left. Passed the Kansai Mazda Hirakata, took some pictures and got some brochures, and then continued to Hirakata Toyota. Took some pictures outside and then finally went out. Talked to Yurugi-san for a while. It became dark during this time. Got up and went outside to leave, but stayed a bit longer when I realized there was a truck coming in with the dark blue Toyota Mark X that Yurugi-san had mentioned the other day. So I stood there with all the salesman, watching it being offloaded from the truck. Left a little while after this, in the rain. So I started making my way home, stopping in the Mitsubishi dealership first. It had stopped raining during my walk, so I came back down the street and cut across at Aoyama to get onto 307. Walked up the street, taking pictures of various cars. Also stopped in at Audi Hirakata (part of the Yanase complex) for the first time, and met Yamauchi-san. Talked to him for a while and then continued on. Went up the road and then crossed the street and then came back down, stopping at the Nissan Red Stage at the top. Met Hayashi-san and talked to him for a while about the new Skyline, and various other things. Once I left there, walked home as fast as I could. Had dinner and wasted time for the rest of the night.

Saturday 11/13

Woke up at 10 and then rushed to get ready and get on the bus to Hirakatashieki. Went to Tsutaya first to return the CDs. Then went up to the Osaka-bound platform and met Bonnie and Shelby. Got on the train to Keihan Yodoyabashi. Once there, came up to ground level and walked through Umeda up Midosuji to the Hanshin Umeda station. Made our way underground and eventually found the station entrance. Got on a limited express and rode it all the way out to Hanshin Motomachi (which is in the same exact building as JR Motomachi). Went to Chinatown from here. Only walked up and down a few times this time, and then got some food. Bonnie took care of the gyoza while Shelby and I got some nikuman. Only after I bought it did I realize it was cold. A dilemma indeed. So we ended up going to Lawson across the street to buy some drinks and ask if they could microwave our nikuman for us. Quite embarrassing, especially since I was the one who had to ask. So from here, we went out to Meriken Park, sat down on a bench and had our lunch. After this, took some pictures and looked at the memorial some, then walked through the park past Kobe Tower to get to Mosaic. Walked around there some (at least, more than we did last time) then went to the Garden Canal across the street (the one with the wavy escalator). Walked around here a little, then turned around and came out on street level. Walked back towards Motomachi, and once there, turned and walked up the hill towards the ijinkan. That was, uh, quite a journey, and we ended up only seeing a couple different places. It was fun, though, and I think we finally determined that the Teddy Bear Museum had moved into the American House. So we came down the hill along a trendy-feeling and wedding-shop filled street. Once back at Motomachi, we got back on the Hanshin line to Umeda. Emerging from underground, we made our way around the Hankyu and JR stations and went into Yodobashi Camera. After playing with the cell phones and digital cameras for a while (and only on the first floor, at that), we left and headed back down Midosuji to Keihan Yodoyabashi. Had dinner at McDonald’s there. I had a particularly big dinner, since I was kind of hungry. After this, got on the train. A limited express! Woo! The train was kind of full, so I passed Hirakatashi and got off with the two girls at Kuzuha. I then got on the other side of the platform and rode a local back to Hirakatashi.

Sunday 11/14

Woke up at about 12. Go me. Had lunch. Mone was out, but Chika-san was home to study for her big test next week. So during lunch, we ended up talking about all kinds of things. After this, her friend Andrea returned with Mone, so I met her and she stayed to visit for a while. After she left, I retreated to my room and got ready to go out. Finally left a little after 3:30. Got to the station and got on another bus about 4. Rode it to Yotsutsuji. From here, went to Volvo Hirakata for the first time and stayed there for a bit. Then came down the road and turned in to go to Rover Hirakata, also for the first time. Came back out to the intersection and went back to Mazda. Met the same lady who helped me and Albert the first time, whose name I finally learned as Ono-san. Talked to her for a while and left because it got dark outside. Came back out to Ichigosen, but turned right instead of left to go home. Stopped in at the Suzuki dealership, but only because I saw the lady, Nishimura-san, who I had met last time. Got a brochure and then left. Crossed the street and headed back along Ichigosen back towards home. Stopped in Booktopia for a little while, but then came back out and walked the rest of the way home.

Monday 11/15

Woke up late and totally missed RW at 10 and got ready, left to catch the bus to the station and then to school. Got there at 11 something, which was good enough to be there for Speaking at 12. After that, went to lunch at Bikkuri. Went to the Computer Lab after that for a bit, but ended up in the Library afterwards. Set up my computer, and was there from about 2:15 to 7:15(?). Caught the bus home from the Kansai Gaidai bus stop.

Tuesday 11/16

Woke up and made it to school on time today, which was good because RW was first at 10 and there was a test. Speaking after that at 11. Had lunch after that. I forget where. In the cafeteria, I think. Anyway, had CLB from 2:30-3:50. Went to the Computer Lab after that for a while, but soon left. Walked up to Ichigosen and took pictures of the Hondas at the Primo and Verno dealerships along the Bypass, turned around and ended up at the Daihatsu place until it got dark. Headed back home, but stopped at the Bypass Tsutaya to take advantage of their renewal sale. Then caught home from the Hoshigaoka Hospital bus stop underneath Tsutaya. Read N.P. after dinner from start to finish. Go me.

Wednesday 11/17

Woke up a little later and headed to school in time for Speaking at 11. Had lunch after that, I think again in the cafeteria. Had Lit after that from 1-2:20. Was in the Computer Lab for a while after that, but left and walked up to Ichigosen. Walked up Ichigosen as far as Hirakata Toyota, but Yurugi-san wasn’t there. Took pictures of the kon-colored Toyota Mark X 300G Premium (with S Package!) anyway. Made my way back to 307, and made a trip up and down that. Came back to Ichigosen and stopped in at the Bypass Nissan Blue Stage. Talked to Fujino-san, whom I haven’t seen in a while. After staying there for a while (quite a while, actually), went across the street to Tsutaya. Returned only, didn’t get anything. Oh well. Took the bus home from the hospital again. Went home and ate. Ended up watching Ping Pong on TV after dinner, thus getting nothing done. Good thing I had no homework anyway.

Thursday 11/18

Actually woke up on time and made it to school more or less in time for Speaking at 9. Well, I was a few minutes late. Meant to go walking afterwards, but just stayed on campus the whole time. Went to lunch in the cafeteria with the guys. Had CLB from 2:30-3:50, and then went to the Computer Lab for a while. It was a rainy day, so I didn’t go walking anywhere. Instead, caught the bus from Kansai Gaidai back to the station, and then got on the 61 to Hoshigaoka Hospital. Went to Tsutaya and rented more CDs. Then got back on the bus and went back to the station and then home.

Friday 11/19

Woke up again on time. Woo! Took the bus to school and had Speaking at 10 and RW at 11. Went to the Computer Lab after that for a while and then went to lunch at 1 with Colin, Chris, Michele, and Bonnie. Colin and I finally got to go to Bikkuri. Woot. After this, since I had, um, skipped Lit, stayed around in the lounge for a while with the guys, but eventually left. Headed out again to Ichigosen. Walked up to Hirakata Toyota again, but again Yurugi-san wasn’t there. Took pictures of the white Toyota Mark X in the showroom, the third(!) one they’ve had in there since the debut. Turned around and came back down Ichigosen back to 307. Stopped in a few of the places, including the Nissan Red Stage at the top, and the Honda Clio where I spoke with Kushima-san, whom I haven’t seen in a while, also managing to snap some pictures of the white Honda Legend there, especially since it had recently been awarded the 2004-2005 Japan COTY award. Came back down to Ichigosen and walked over to the Bypass Tsutaya, which was especially bad today since it’s the last day of the sale. Returned the stuff from yesterday and got some new stuff. Then walked home in a hurry to make it home by 7:30. Got home at about 7:35 and we watched Shinchan (yay!) while I ate, so it was actually a little difficult. Mononoke-hime played on TV after that (along with previews and clips of the press announcement for Howl’s Moving Castle) from 8-11. Yes, I fell asleep in the middle of it.

Saturday 11/20

Actually woke up on time. Or early enough, at least. Got a message from Coyle saying he would be late, so I took my time getting ready. Headed out at about 10. Caught the bus to Hirakatashieki and then got on the train to Kuzuha. Waited on the platform there until he arrived, and then we got on a packed train to Shijo. Got out and walked towards the Kawaramachi-Shijo-Teramachi area, and then passing through it, deciding to come back later. As we randomly (well, semi-randomly) walked the streets of Kyoto, we passed a Hankyu station and I decided to check it out. It turned out to be Hankyu Karasuma (second on the line after Hankyu Kawaramachi) and we could go all the way to Arashiyama for 220 yen, one-way. So we did. Changed lines at Hankyu Katsura, to the Katsura-Arashiyama direct line. Once there, we came out of the station and started walking straight ahead, following the crowd of Japanese people. Passed some food stands and stopped for snacks, then continued walking until we came to the Katsuragawa and the famous Togetsukyo bridge. After crossing the bridge, we walked along the main shopping street until turning off of it to walk through the bamboo forest. Also came to a little shrine called Nonomiya Jinja. Little as it was, though, there was a sign saying that both Prince Naruhito and Fumihito had been there on visits. Cool. So after walking around the general area some more, we decided to turn around and sort of head back towards the station. After coming back over the bridge, I decided to go up to the Monkey Park on the actual Mt. Arashiyama. Yes, there were a lot of monkeys on the mountain. And yes, I took lots of pictures of the lots of monkeys on the mountain. After coming back down, Coyle and I walked along the river until we decided to move along. So we made our way back to the station. Reversed the route, but went all the way to the last stop, Hankyu Kawaramachi. From here, we emerged in an exit that led us along Takashimaya, and we thus emerged at Shijo Kawaramachi, right where we wanted to be. Went into Teramachi and patronized a few shops, eventually coming out of it and ending up at Book 1^st. Got some stuff there too. After this, decided to head to Kiyomizu. Normally, temples all close at about 5, except when they’re doing a special night viewing. So from Teramachi, we came back out to Kawaramachi and walked it from Shijo to Gojo, turning left on Gojo and heading all the way up the hill to Kiyomizu. Stopped in another bookstore along the way. And my, were there a lot of people there. So we went in and walked through, fumbling to take lots of pictures along the way and finding the occasional interesting item on the ground. Came out of there, came back down the hill, and walked back to Keihan Gojo. From here, caught the train home. Coyle got off at Kuzuha to transfer, and I got off at Hirakatashi. Stopped in at Tsutaya just to look before walking home.

Sunday 11/21

Got up about 11:15(?) when I was woken up for lunch. Had lunch and then sat around in my room trying to clean it. Changed my mind when I got messaged by Bonnie. Got ready and headed out about 1 to meet her at the Hirakata Starbucks. Got there about 1:20, Bonnie left about 2:45, I left before 3:30. Went to the Nomura bookstore for a while and ended up getting some things. Had to go to the bathroom, so I tried to find the one in the Keihan store that I was told about, so that didn’t work, and I had to end up dashing over to Kintetsu to use the one there. Caught the bus home after this, and got home about 5. Chika-san got home from her secretary test a little while after this and we talked a lot instead of me cleaning my room. Had dinner and talked a lot through dinner as well. Even turned the TV to Shinsengumi at 8, but talked right through it. Oy. Afterwards, took a shower and retired to my room for the rest of the night. My room is still not cleaned up.

Monday 11/22

Woke up and caught the bus to school. Was on time!  RW at 10 and Speaking at 11, then to Bikkuri for lunch.  Came back and got to the library before 1:30, and set up my computer equipment.  Ended up staying until 6:30-6:45.  Caught the bus back to the station, went to the bookstore and Tsutaya for a bit, then walked home.  Had dinner and ripped the borrowed CDs.  Caught the bus afterwards back to the station, returned the CDs to Tsutaya, and then got on the bus back home.

Tuesday 11/23

Woke up at about 8:30, got ready and took the bus to the station.  Got off the train and was supposed to meet Coyle at Kuzuha, but since I couldn’t, I stayed on and rode to Tambabashi, where I still had trouble getting off the train anyway.  Looked around a bookstore near the south exit, met Coyle, and together we transferred to the Kintetsu line.  Rode from Kintetsu Tambabashi all the way to Kintetsu Nara.  Got out, tried to catch the bus and failed.  Nevertheless, walked into Nara.  Passed by Kofukuji and took a bunch of pictures.  Walked to Todaiji and stayed there for a while. Tried to find Shosoin but didn’t know how. Sad.  Walked over to Kasuga Taisha, which we got to but couldn’t see much of since it was the last day of a Shichi-Go-San.  Walked back through Nara Koen, walked around some more, partly through a shopping arcade, had lunch at a ramenyasan, walked around some more, passed by Gangoji (another World Heritage Site), walked back to Kintetsu Nara, rode to a station called Yamato-Saidaiji, and changed from the Osaka-yuki line to the Kyoto-yuki line.  Got charged an extra 500 yen because we got on an express train. Boo.  Got off at Kintetsu Tambabashi, transferred back to Keihan Tambabashi, rode back to Hirakatashi, got off and headed home after making stops at the Nomura Bookstore and McDonald’s.

Wednesday 11/24

Woke up early, got ready, took the bus to the station, took the bus to school, met everyone by the library and then walked to the elementary school.  Stayed there for about a couple hours.  Walked back with one, then three of the Japanese girls who volunteered as interpreters for the elementary school trip.  Had lunch with them at Cafeteria 3.  Left after that, to go back to CIE.  Lit at 1 to 2:20.  Computer Lab after that, for a little while.  Left and walked out to 307.  Went to Onix for the first time.  Stayed there for quite a long time, taking pictures and collecting brochures.  Decided to walk straight home afterwards because my bag was so full.  Came back out to Ichigosen.  Went to the Hoshigaoka Nissan Blue Stage.  Got brochures, but couldn’t talk to Fujino-san because she was on the phone.  Crossed the street to Tsutaya to return CDs from last week.  Stayed and looked around, so couldn’t catch the 6:34 bus from the hospital to the station.  Went to Book-Off instead.  Ended up getting some stuff there.  Went to McDonald’s.  Got a hamburger and a strawberry shake and went down to wait for the 7:09 bus.  Rode back to Hirakatshieki.  Walked home even with my ridiculously heavy bag.

Thursday 11/25

Woke up on time again!  Caught the bus to the station and then to school.  Speaking class at 9 (test).  Then to the Computer Lab, and the Lounge.  Went to the Bookstore for a while and bought stuff.  Lunch at Bikkuri (it was very crowded), and then came back to the Computer Lab.  CLB from 2:30-3:50.  Back to the Computer Lab, and then hung around in the lounge with Kat.  Left about 6—took the bus to the station, went to the Keihan bookstore, the Nomura bookstore, and then walked home.

Friday 11/26

Woke up on time again!  Caught the bus to the station and then to school.  Speaking at 10, RW at 11.  Went to 7-11.  Got lunch and went back to the lounge to eat.  Bonnie was there.  Lit class from 1-3:15. Watch Nausicaa in class.  Immediately walked to the Bank of Kyoto, but it was closed.  Caught the bus from Nakamiyajuutakumae to the station and tried all the banks around there but it was no good.  Tried the post office about 4:15 (they stop exchanging money at 4), then walked back to the station, got on a train and got off at Kyobashi.  Transferred to JR Kyobashi.  Rode the loop to JR Osaka.  Walked to Yodobashi Camera.  Finally was able to change money there.  Stayed there for a little while anyway.  Left and walked around Umeda.  Walked around the area around Hankyu Umeda and had dinner in a ramenyasan called Kotan.  Walked back along JR Osaka up the pedestrian overpass, then past Hanshin Umeda to Book 1^st.  Stayed there for a good while, then walked down Midosuji back to Keihan Yodoyabashi.  Caught a K-limited express and got off at Chushojima.  Got on a express back to Hirakatashieki.

Saturday 11/27

Woke up at 9.  Woke up again at 11.  Ate lunch.  They left.  I got ready and left.  Caught the bus to the station and then to school.  Went to the Computer Lab.  Stayed there from about 2-ish to 4.  Left with Bonnie, Michele, and Andrew and went to Bikkuri.  Afterwards, walked to Hirakatashieki and I went as far as the gate.  Went to the Bookstore for a little while and then walked home.  Watched the Best Hit Music Show after dinner and then went to bed early.

Sunday 11/28

Woke up at 4(!).  Got ready and left the house about 4:45.  Walked to Hirakatashieki.  Got on the 5:18 express to Yodoyabashi.  Albert got on the train at Kozenji, and we rode all the way to Yodoyabashi.  Transferred to subway Midosuji line to Shin-Osaka.  From here, tried the ticket machine.  Didn’t work.  Went upstairs.  Was able to get Shinkansen tickets there.  Got on the Shinkansen Kodama.  Rode from Shin-Osaka to Himeji.  From here, we got confused.  Stupid signs.  Left JR Himeji and walked across the street to Sanyo Railway.  Bad idea.  Had to turn around and return to JR Himeji and get on the JR Sanyo line.  Got on the train from Himeji to Yoshinaga.  Got on the free bus outside the station and rode into the mountains up to TI Circuit Aida.  Stayed at the Nismo Festival from around 9:15 to 3:30.  Rode the bus back to JR Yoshinaga.  Had a slightly difficult time getting tickets there.  Returned from Yoshinaga to Himeji.  Tried to get back on the Shinkansen but couldn’t.  Discovered tickets would only let us on a shinkaisoku (rapid express).  So we rode that from Himeji back to Shin-Osaka.  Got on the Midosuji line fro Shin-Osaka back to Yodoyabashi.  Back to Keihan Yodoyabashi and rode from there back to Keihan Hirakatashi.  Rode the bus home and got back about 7:45.

Monday 11/29

Woke up on time.  Got on the bus to the station and then to school.  RW at 10 (test).  Lounge after to finish HW, then lunch with Zack.  Speaking at 12.  Went to the Computer Lab, then the library.  Didn’t get online immediately, but did soon enough.  Stayed in the library until 7:15.  Caught the bus back to the station and then back home.  Got home just before 8.  Had dinner.  Showered.  Tried to read but was too tired, so went to bed a little early.

Tuesday 11/30

Woke up a little early today.  Bus to station, bus to school.  Studied some.  RW at 10.  Speaking at 11.  Lunch at 12 with Josh.  Got McDonald’s food but ate at Cafeteria 1.  Went to the library afterwards until 2:30—test in CLB.  After, went to Computer Lab from 4-6:15ish.  Caught bus to station.  Made reservations for the overnight bus.  After that, went to the bookstore for a bit, got a shake and a burger from McDonald’s and walked home.

Wednesday 12/1

Woke up, got ready, bus to school, bus to school.  Speaking at 11.  Went to Computer Lab, but left soon after.  Bus to station.  Bus home.  Got lunch (bento) at Family Mart.  Went home and ate and watched some TV.  Tried to start on paper but took a nap instead.  Woke up and started on paper.  Ate after they came home.  Worked on paper more.

Thursday 12/2

Woke up on time.  Woot.  Caught bus to station, caught bus to school.  Had Speaking at 9.  Went to Computer Lab after that.  Then to Bikkuri for lunch.  Then to library for a little more girigiri research.  Then to CLB 2:30-3:50.  Went to McDonald’s with Colin and Josh.  Then went to the library again.  Then went to the Computer Lab.  Then went home.  Worked on paper.  Ate dinner.  Showered.  Worked on paper some more.  Didn’t finish.  Went to sleep about 2:30.

Friday 12/3

Woke up a little early.  Got ready.  Bus to station, bus to school.  Oral final for Speaking about 10:15.  To Computer Lab.  Lunch with Bonnie after at Cafeteria 1.  Sat with Meredith and Lloyd, ate.  Left to go to Lit at 1-2:20.  Left to go to Hirakatashieki.  Met Coyle.  Bought overnight bus tickets.  Bus back to Kansai Gaidai.  To Computer Lab, then to Bookstore, then back to Lounge, to Computer Lab, to  the phone—talked to Kristine for a while, then got stuff out of the Computer Lab.  Met Zack and Colin and Josh in the library for Akira.  Fell asleep.  Was woken up after it was over.  Left the library.  Zack left.  After talking to Kat for a while, Josh and Colin and I walked to Hirakatashieki and got on a train to Korien.  Ate at KFC, then walked around the Korien shopping district.  Stopped in at one bookstore and one bar.  Walked back to Korien and tried to take a bus back but since none seemed to be going back to Hirakata, I just took the train back.  Walked home from the station.  Started reading Howl’s Moving Castle.

Saturday 12/4

Woke up at 10.  Woke up again at 12.  Finally rolled out of bed at 1.  Ate lunch.  Tried to finish reading Howl’s Moving Castle. Nope.  Got ready and left the house at 5.  Took the bus to the station and then got on another bus to go into Takatsuki.  Got off the bus and walked in the rain, ending up at a kaitenzushi place.  Ate there and then walked to the movie theater.  Saw Howl’s Moving Castle!  After the was over, caught the bus from the closest bus stop back to Hirakatashieki and then caught the bus back to Hendenshomae.  Stopped in Family Mart before walking home.

Sunday 12/5

Woke up about 12.  Ate lunch.  Stayed in all day to finish paper and study.

Monday 12/6

Woke up about 11.  Got ready quickly and got on the bus to the station and then the bus to school.  Got to school just before RW final at 12.  After that, went to the Computer Lab.  Printed out paper and turned in in.  McDonald’s for lunch.  Went to Library afterwards.  Was there from about 3 to 7.  Caught bus to the station and then home.  Ate dinner, then tried to clean up room some.

Tuesday 12/7

Woke up about 10.  Got ready, caught bus to station, caught bus to school.  Sat in lounge with the others.  Went up for Speaking final at 12.  Came downstairs.  Went to Bikkuri with Bonnie and Andrew and Michele.  Came back, spent time alternating between the Lounge and the Computer Lab.  Left when Josh came and pulled me out.  Walked to Hirakatashieki.  Took the train to Korien.  Went into an arcade for a while.  Played lots of Gundam.  Walked back to the station. Rode bus back to Hirakatashieki.  Was walking to bookstore until I got approached by two Mormons (ack).  Talked to them, THEN went to the bookstore.  Then walked home.  Ate dinner.  Cleaned up room.  Mostly.

Wednesday 12/8

Woke up at 10ish.  Got ready, caught the bus to the station, then caught bus to school.  Went straight to the Computer Lab.  Sat next to Bonnie and did all the emailing I needed to do.  Left school about 12, a little late.  Bus to Hirakatashieki.  Train to Kyobashi.  Transferred to the loop from JR Kyobashi to JR Tennoji.  Met Danny, a little late.  Went to lunch with him in the station at a place called KYK.  Had tonkatsu.  Went with him afterwards to the store, Ben Franklin!  Saw the store, saw the office.  Met his wife and his employees.  Very cool.  Left after that, walked around a bit in circles around Tennoji.  Caught the subway Midosuji from Tennoji to Umeda.  Played around in Yodobashi Camera for a bit, then walked literally in circles around Umeda trying to do Christmas shopping.  Eventually got it all done (Yodobashi Camera, Kinokuniya, Studi Ghibli store).  Walked back down Midosuji to Keihan Yodoyabashi.  Caught the train back to Hirakatashieki.  Caught the bus to Katahoko.  Walked to Seminar House and had a brief meeting with Coyle about Tokyo.  Left, walked back out to Katahoko, caught the bus to Kansai Gaidai, had dinner at Bikkuri.  Ramen and karaage.  Caught the bus at Kansai Gaidai back to the station, and then caught the bus back home to Hendenshomae.  Went home.  Showered.  Cleaned room and packed.

Thursday 12/9

Got up about 9:20.  Got out of bed at 10.  Left the house about 11.  Caught bus to the station, and caught the bus to school.  Got to school, and headed straight to the Computer Lab.  Did some emails, then went to lunch with Josh about 12 in Cafeteria 1.  Went back to CIE, then to the library to study.  Went back to CIE—CLB final from 2:30-3:50.  Back to Computer Lab for a little while.  Left, walked out to Ichigosen.  Up to the Daihatsu dealership, turned around, and walked all the way back down to the Hoshigaoka Nissan Blue Stage.  Kanatani-san showed me the Lafesta.  Left after this, caught the 5:34 bus from the hospital (waited in Tsutaya for a little while) back to Hirakatashieki.  Got straight on the bus back to Hendenshomae.  Walked home.  Showered.  Finished packing.  Ate.  Finished packing.  Left at 8:50.  Walked all the way back to the station, with all my bags.  Met Coyle at the station about 9:30.  Waited for the overnight bus together.  Got on just before 10:20.  Left Hirakatashieki.  Also stopped at Keihan Kuzuha.  Now at Kintetsu Okubo. Right now it’s about 11:15.

Friday 12/10

Arrived at Shinjuku bus terminal about 6:00.  Immediately emerged in the middle of Tokyo and had to find our way.  Finally found an entrance into JR Shinjuku and found the Yamanote line to Ikebukuro.  Luckily the trains were still pretty empty.  Once at Ikebukuro, we waited around for a bit until Taka arrived(!).  Together we transferred to the Tobu Tojo line and rode out to Tokiwadai.  Walked to Taka’s house so we could put our things away.  Met her mom and planned out a route for the day.  Once this was done, we left, walking back to Tokiwadai.  Rode to Ikebukuro, then made our way to Ueno/Asakusa, where we went to Sensoji, and then made our way over to Ueno Park. Walked through a shopping district called Ameyayokocho. Had lunch.  Made our way over to Ryogoku, home to the Edo-Tokyo Museum and the National Sumo Stadium.  Then made our way back to Shinjuku, where we met Kotaro, Yuji, Sumiyo, and Nao-san at 6. Had dinner at an izakaya and went to purikura and karaoke after.  We all rode on the Yamanote afterwards—Taka, Coyle, and I had to get off at Ikebukuro.  Went home after this.

Saturday 12/11

Bonnie arrived in the morning! Coyle and I slept in, only Taka went to get Bonnie from JR Tokyo.  We all left together afterwards and headed for JR Harajuku to go to Meiji Shrine.  After there, we walked through Harajuku, eventually ending up at JR Shibuya.  Stayed around that area for a while (including lunch at a Yoshinoya), then met one of Taka’s friends, and walked down Aoyama-dori towards Aoyama.  Found Roy’s, and then hung out for a while in Haagen-Dazs.  The others left, and Coyle and I walked around Aoyama for a bit.  I inconvenienced him a deal by finding a Cornes dealership, but then we headed back towards Roy’s.  We got there a little early for the Iolani party, but eventually everyone showed.  I’m glad we went.  It was a great party, and we met some nice guys there.  We headed back to Taka’s house, but only with a little help from the Tokyo Iolani contingent.

Sunday 12/12

Headed to Ikebukuro and waited for Howard, who met us there.  Took the subway to Kasumigaseki and emerged at the Ministry of Justice building.  Walked to the Imperial Palace and took pictures.  Then walked around the Chiyoda area and saw the Diet Building, the National Theater, the Supreme Court Building, the British Embassy.  Ended up walking all the way to Yasukuni Shrine.  After going there, made our way over to Ginza as it was getting dark.  Walked around the blocks and made our general way towards JR Tokyo.  Howard left in the meantime, so Taka, Bonnie, Coyle, and I walked up to the station and took pictures of the station and the National Post Office.  Turned around and headed home.  Had dinner with the Kamata family and watched the finale of Shinsengumi.

Monday 12/13

Got up and headed out to Yokohama.  Once there, walked around Chinatown and had dinner there, at a Chinese buffet (tabehodai).  After leaving Chinatown, we walked through a shopping area and walked up a hill to where the original foreigners used to live.  We ended up coming around to the bay.  After coming down from the hill, we walked up to the bay and walked through, ending up at the Red Brick Warehouses. We walked around there for a bit and picked up some souvenirs.  We ended up coming back to a station called JR Sakuragicho.  From here we came back to Ikebukuro and Taka took us to a monjayaki restaurant.  We did some walking around the local department store and scouted out the road that led to Amlux Toyota.  After this, we headed home.

Tuesday 12/14

Headed out to Ikebukuro.  Coyle and I had to find a coin locker before we did anything else.  From there, I headed to Amlux Toyota and Coyle was off to find arcades and restaurants.  After staying in Amlux for a good five hours, Coyle and I met up again and headed from Ikebukuro to Shinjuku, then onto the Odakyu line to head out to Sobudaimae station, where Kenneth picked us up in his dark blue Toyota Corolla Ceres.  Rode down the street where he got us on to base at Camp Zama (US Army). Walked around the exchange and had dinner there.  Handed over stuff for him to mail home to me, then he took us back to the station.  From Odakyu Sobudaimae, we took a local (after some very heavy thinking!) to Shinjuku, where we met Bonnie and Taka and her family.  Taka’s parents headed home, but since Bonnie was leaving tonight, the four of us hung out in a kissaten inside JR Shinjuku until it was time to head out.  Bonnie got on the bus, and then Taka and Coyle and I headed back to her house.

Wednesday 12/15

Since Taka had class, Coyle and I packed up and left by ourselves.  Walked to Tokiwadai and caught the Tobu Tojo line for the last time to Ikebukuro, met Howard there.  Together, headed to Shinjuku and found a coin locker for my stuff.  Went over to Akihabara and walked around for a bit.  Eventually stopped for lunch at McDonald’s.  Headed back to Shinjuku and retrieved the stuff.  Went to karaoke for about an hour.  Dinner at Wendy’s.  Howard left to return home and then Coyle and I walked around to find the Shinjuku bus terminal where we had arrived the other day.  After much walking, we finally found it and decided to just wait there.  Took turns browsing in a Yodobashi Camera across the street.  Eventually got on the bus and returned from JR Shinjuku to Keihan Hirakatashi.

Thursday 12/16

Arrived by bus at Hirakatashieki, 6:30 am.  Caught bus back to Hendenshomae and walked home.  Saw Chika and Mone.  Accidentally took a nap for three hours.  Woke up and showered.  Caught bus to station, and then to Kansai Gaidai.  Met Maya at Cafeteria 1 for lunch.  Stayed there for a while, then went to the library.  Plugged in and stayed there for a few hours.  Left and caught the bus back to Hirakatashieki, and then caught the bus home.  Had dinner and then spent the rest of the night trying to pack.

Friday 12/17

Woke up, went to school.  Went to the Computer Lab for a little while.  Then went to Bikkuri for lunch for the last time.  Went back to campus to fill out the refund form, which I had forgotten about.  Then went to the Kansai Gaidai bookstore for the last time for a little while and bought some stuff.  Caught the bus back to Hirakatshieki and went to the hyakuenya at the station.  Caught the bus home but got off 2/3 stops late.  Walked back home.  Tried packing.  Everything didn’t fit.  Went to Family Mart to ask for some cardboard boxes.  Went back home and packed it up.  Then put it in my black suitcase and rolled it all the way to the Hirakata Post Office. Bleh.  Once I got to the Post Office, I had quite the time trying to mail the damn thing.  Eventually did, went back home for dinner and more packing.  Afterwards, set out on the bus to Kansai Gaidai, where I met Josh and Colin and Mark at Mono.  Stayed there for quite a while.  After leaving, walked with Josh and Colin back to Hirakatashieki and said goodbyes there.  Walked home.  Packed a little, gave up and went to sleep.

Saturday 12/18 (T_T)

Woke up.  The three of us had lunch.  They left.  I went to Family Mart again to get more cardboard boxes.  Packed those up.  Walked once again to the Hirakata Post Office to mail these boxes.  It took a while because I had to carry both boxes from home to the psot office.  At least I knew how to mail them this time, so it didn’t take very long once there.  From here, quickly walked home and then got the last of my stuff together.  Took one big suitcase and a couple of carryons with me on the bus from Hendenshomae to Hirakatashieki.  Met Chika and Mone there.  Together, walked to Raporu Hirakata.  Found a place to stop and rest.  I then dashed back to the bus stop, went back home, got the rest of my luggage, brought the futons all in, rushed back to the Hendenshomae bus stop, got on the bus again and then quickly made my way back to Raporu.  Met them and then waited for the bus. I had extra time, after all. Argh.  The bus came a little after 4, and it took us straight from Keihan Hirakatashi to Kansai Kokusai Kuukou (Kansai International Airport).  Once there, checked in, took some pictures, and waited around.  Finally, after making a call home, we said goodbye and I went through security, customs, called Kristine, and then went to the gate, where I called Kristine again to drain the yen on my keitai, then waited some more to get on the flight. At least I had made it.  Boarded the plane just before 9:00 pm.  Pulled out of the gate but had to go back for more fuel, so the flight was delayed a little.  Even with this, we still arrived early in Honolulu.  Took the Wiki-Wiki to Immigration, cleared that, and once through, waited outside for a while for father and mother to arrive.  Then picked up grandma and went home.