さようなら、日本。

日十九と二十：Day 19 & 20

Saturday was our last full day in Japan. It was a free day so my group decided to take a tour around Tokyo, gathering up last minute gifts for friends, family and ourselves.

Our first destination was Ikebukuro, because Corina wanted to find a Toys R Us as in Kochi she had seen a large Spirited Away jigsaw puzzle at one, which turned out to be quite an adventure when it came to finding our way out. After almost a full loop around the building, we found the main street leading from Sunshine City and then hopped into an arcade so us girls could take some プリクラ photos.





We had a lot of fun trying to find our way around the booths and then deciding on the decorations. It gets a little difficult when it comes to getting four people into the frames.

A lack of photos today because since we planned on heading out to Harajuku, I had an excuse to dress up. So instead of taking photos, I spent the majority of the day having photos taken of me insead.




After Ikebukuro, we headed to Harajuku. I gleefully ran around the stores, happy as can be. We attempted to go visit KiddyLand, but it was shut down for remodeling or something of the sort.





Second to last menu item… We could not figure this out.

After Harajuku, the group returned to the hostel as some members of the group wanted to change shoes/coats and then separated. Lina and I headed to Shinjuku to get her Japanese textbooks and then to Shibuya as she wanted to see the statue of Hachiko.



Once all was said and done, the group rejoined in order to go out for our last dinner in Japan:


What better way to end than with a delicious bowl of ramen.

Overall, it’s been yet another wonderful trip to Japan.
Although, I must say that I am genuinely disappointed and even appalled by some of the students in the group, their disrespect and their sheer disregard for a culture different from their own, despite this being a culture study class.

However, I convinced myself not to dwell on that, but on the good experiences I have had in this country once again. I do love being here, I love having the opportunity to visit this country.

For the those people that I spent time with on the trip, Corina, Lina, Sarah and Jason, thanks for being amazing people that can appreciate such a thing.

And Sensei, I am very glad that you were our instructor for this course and for tolerating us.
どもありがとうございました。<(_ _)>

I did have an amazing time.

Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess

日十七と十八：Day 17 & 18

The third (and final) university trip had us taking a tour of Waseda University, one of Tokyo’s most prestigious private universities. One of the students at the university greeted us and showed us around, talking about the different buildings and the history of the educational establishment.

















I had previously glanced over the exchange program at Waseda previously, but did not take interest to it, however the campus is very beautiful and the area seems wonderful. However, since the focus is not in my major, I still intend to do a different program in 2012.









Afterwards, we had reserved tickets to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka.





I adore Ghibli, but admittedly I was not expecting much from the museum after the disappoint of the manga museum in Kyoto and was actually opposed to the trip initially.


<(*____________________________*)>　ワアアアアアアアアアアアアア～ 　すごい！

























We wandered around the museum for almost three hours, watching a short film called “Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess.” It was both frightening and adorable.

I love Ghibli… That place was rather amazing, all and all.







Our sensei and a couple of the girls reached over the cat bus restriction ropes to pet one of the soot balls.





Then this morning, we headed out a city bus tour.

The first stop was Tokyo Tower, Tokyo’s television broadcasting tower. Personally, I love nightscapes so whenever I’m somewhere with a view of a city I wish I could be there at night…









This followed a short stop by the outside of Tokyo’s Imperial Palace before we moved onto Sensoji.























The sunlight was shining bright the full day and after traveling back to Tokyo station, the group split up. Mostly everyone headed back to the hostel, but I returned to Shinjuku in order to drop by the Angelic Pretty at Marui One again because I had my eyes set on the Vanilla-Chan coats they had on sale, mostly because I have deeply wanted a Loli coat all winter long and partially because I plan to spend my last day out tomorrow decked out in Sweet ^_^V And it’s pretty cold in Japan right now, plus I refused to go out in Lolita if I did not have Loliable coat this time around. In addition, Marui was having its winter Sparkling Sale so I bought a $500 coat for about $200

Getting up early to do my hair and make-up for my last day in Japan tomorrow. It’s sad to think I am leaving again already.