Saigo no Toki 最後の時

I just saw a gokiburi (cockroach) in the kitchen..... perfect time for me to leave. :P

I saw my best Japanese friends today (LEFT)-- it was hard to say goodbye. But I say "ja mata" (see you later), instead of "sayonara" (farewell/goodbye).

Had dinner with the host family at a Korean restaurant in Jiyuugaoka, a fancy upscale neighborhood, maybe like 23rd street?

I'm nearly all packed! I'll see you all soon!

Kitanomaru Park: Hanging Out

After the reception, we went for one last group outing to Kitanomaru park, near the Imperial Palace.










LEFT: me by the hefty gates guarding the Imperial Palace gardens

Graduation Ceremony

So we had a little graduation ceremony at school for all the exchange students. Afterward, the Gonin from Oregon and our Pakistani friends all posed for one last shot in front of the library. (LEFT)

After receiving beautiful certificates (prettier than my high school diploma) and having an akward "when-do-I-bow" issue, the reception was really nice. I got to see all my foreign friends!



LEFT: me and the host family! Aren't we cute?!!
BELOW: host dad talking in Chinese to my Chinese friend!












LEFT: my Japanese teacher, and classmates
BELOW: more Japanese class friends, from Hungary and the US

Graduation Reception Continued

LEFT: me and my Pakistani friends in beautiful Yukata- they look so pretty!!!

BELOW: me and a friend from the WIC circle/club. He is wearing the school's uniform, which he says cost about 40,000 yen (little less than $400). I gave him the English name, "Ted".

Kuzukiri: a new favorite dessert

We had a splendid "summer dessert" called Kuzukiri くずきり which is made from kanten (a gelatin made from sea vegetables). It comes in a plastic tube and you squeeze it out from the slotted/grid side, much like playdough, to make little noodle-like strands.

It also comes with a sweet liquid (either kuromitsu or clear sweet sauce, depending on variety) and then a topping (either matcha or sweet red beans). DELICIOUS!

LEFT: before eating with host family, upper right bowl is host dads, it looks architectural!!
BELOW: Kuromitsu and adzuki


BELOW: matcha

Tokyo Stock Exchange 東京証券取引所

So I went to the Tokyo Stock Exchange... on the basis of "why not". I don't really know why, but I expected to see something exciting. However, they replaced the trading floor with a computer system several years ago, and now it is just a few computers in a fancy room with a few employees calmly glancing at screens, while the computers do all the work.

I was told the Tokyo market works differently than other markets because it is a pure auction- computers matching buy and sell orders.


Most interestingly, the stock market has a LUNCH BREAK!! They are only open like 4 hours a day, but of course trading can happen outside those hours when a computer system monitors trades (instead of the calm people in the pictures).

Hanging out mischief

So some friends and decided to go out in the rain and hang out...

We went to Ueno for some shopping/browsing, and saw the Suica Penguin (LEFT) in the station! He is sooo cute!








Just to be stupid gaijin on the train, we all three whipped out our cameras and took mad pictures for a few minutes and then put cameras away... here is my best shot from inside the train on JR Yamanote.









Japan has this funny "manners campaign" or something... they have hilarious signs here and there.... click on the pic (LEFT) to see it up close and read the descriptions accompanying the diagrams!

Earthquake 地震

This morning I felt a small earthquake- my house shook for like 2minutes! Tokyo only felt a little bit of it, apparently it was a 6.6 in Niigata, which is up North somewhere.

We just get through a typhoon, and then have an earthquake! Wow.

Check out the news: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6900156.stm

Typhoon台風

There is a BIG typhoon here in Japan... not bad in Tokyo, we just have a lot of rain. But the news says the winds were at 216 km per hour, the video/pictures are crazy! Reminds me of the news of Hurricane Katrina. And, the typhoon canceled Hanabi (fireworks)! I was planning on going to Yokohama today for the fireworks, but not anymore!

Roppongi 六本木: Mori Art and Midtown

I had been wanting to see the Mori Art Center in Roppongi for quite a while, and easily persuaded my host dad to go with me. The exhibit was AWESOME: about the artist/architect LeCorbusier. We spent probably 2 hours in the exhibit, seeing architectural models, diagrams, paintings, furniture, a model car, and even experiencing some architecture in life size models of his "modular apartments". Absolutely fantastic... and reminded me of the architect-hero in Ayn Rand's Fountainhead, in the way that his buildings were designed around man's proportions (LeCorbusier had an elaborate system) and for maximum efficiency, especially in housing projects/apartments. LeCorbusier also did urban planning, and designed some fabulous looking churches... very modern.

Link to Mori Art Center's page on the exhibit

Admission to the museum also grants permission to "Tokyo City View" (like so many other Tokyo "views") on the 53rd floor of the Mori tower. However, being situated in Roppongi gave a vastly different look than say the Tocho in Shinjuku or the Tokyo Tower near Tokyo Station. We saw the Aoyama Park 青山公園 and several parks.





Host dad had to run errands, so my friend L joined me and we wandered around another of my favorite places, Tokyo Midtown. I really like this sculpture out front (LEFT).










I also like the basement food courts in Midtown, and the Preece Supermarket that sells all sorts of imported things... like German sparking Cassis fruit wine! (LEFT, a tribute to Gramma's Thanksgiving picture!)

Kimono and Haori 私の着物とはおり

Just to give y'all a better look... this is my newest fancy outfit! The blue part is the kimono, showing the crane on the sleeve. The orange/pink color is the new coat (haori) that I bought for less than $10! It perfectly matches my obi (sash) and is beautifully embroidered with metallic thread!

I can't wait to wear this to the symphony or something!

Weekend Sampou

Another blissful Sunday hanging out with M. We went to Hibiya park, which actually had roses!!!
And a fountain, and an amphitheater... reminded me of my hometown!








First we went to sushi at our favorite spot in Ginza, called Tamasushi! I saw these weird "taxis" there...










And, another trip to Asakusa!! I can't seem to help myself! They have maybe a dozen used kimono/yukata shops... I picked up another "haori" (kimono jacket) for less than $10, and bought a "himo" (belt) for my yukata/kimono that will be more comfortable than the one I have.

LEFT: M's suggestion... cool pic! The praying/paying spot at Sensouji Temple in Asakusa. Everyone throws coins in (5 yen is most lucky) and then prays.