出会えたこと、それは運命。

Oh man. Time is flowing around me and by like a river. It's already been 10 days since the last time I wrote in this thing? I can't believe - a lot has happened since then. I went to the funeral in Tokyo, and cried as I heard a letter from Makoto and Akira read at the funeral (they couldn't attend because they were in England). The tears were a combination of emotion and shock that they wrote something so perfect for the occasion (if you knew them, you'd understand). I returned to Sendai thereafter. I've spent the last two weeks running as fast as I can - working on my research and handbook for hours at a time, spending my nights dancing and drinking with people I may never see again, and only pausing long enough to breathe and worry about what I should be doing with my time next.



The other day, the Fulbrighters were here. Well, four of them, and a good group: John, Dave, Katie, and Laura. They had gone hiking in Akita and came down to Sendai for a night in kind of a "let us stay at your place but also let us bid you farewell" kind of thing. I was really tired the next morning (we went to Karaoke til late, and then John and I stayed up talking outside together), especially because Dave and I went to return their rental car at 8 AM and walked home (nice because we got to talk, bad because I didn't get to sleep). John left early in the day to go back to Hokkaido, and after he was gone, I took the remaining Fellows out to eat gyuu-tan (cow tongue) at good ole Rikyuu, which like all the times we've gone to eat yaki-niku was once again hard on vegetarian Katie. Afterward, I said goodbye to them. It was really hard leaving them when I had them there in front of me; these kids really helped make my year here wonderful and I wish we could have spent more time together. But I am thankful for all the times we did get to spend together.

Changing topics, I finally figured out how to hold a handstand for a few seconds this week while breakdancing, which was a nice little victory. Fulbrighter John Kim, who is pretty much good at everything, helped me out when he was visiting because he used to breakdance in college and can do all sorts of crazy things. He continues to surprise me everytime I spend time with him. This Saturday is the last event I can attend, a huge one that has some of the best hiphop dancers in the country performing. Some of the kids in my club are performing as well, and are pretty worried about the whole deal. I can't believe that this Saturday will really be it for me and this club.. it's hard to accept I guess.

A lot about right now is hard to accept. Today, I finally went into some professors' offices in the economics department to tell them I'm leaving (I hadn't reminded them recently) and it was really bizarre. I remember walking into those offices nine months ago when Sendai was new to me and I was confused as to what I was supposed to do and where I was supposed to go and my ears weren't adjusted enough to understand everything that was being told to me.

After finishing that up (Fujii sensei is coming over Friday to take most of my furniture off my hands, thankfully), I took a short nap and then went out for an early sukiyaki dinner with Teruko and Sachiko (the woman who works in her bar that also came with us to the onsen last weekend). The sukiyaki used beef from cows raised in Sendai and was incredibly good. Really, some of the best sukiyaki I've ever had. Immediately afterward, I had an appointment at Ungu to get my haircut at 7, after which I was supposed to meet Takako, Mayumi, Hina, and Masayuki in front of the Disney store at 8. I figured time wouldn't be a problem since I was just getting a cut, but as usual, it took an extra 30 minutes longer than I expected too meaning I was incredibly late for my own going away party. Yoshiko (my stylist .. haha saying that is so metro) had like 4 customers going at the same time, which obviously makes the process much slower :P ... This other girl, who was really cute and sweet, washed my hair and did the massage rather than Yoshiko, who I wish wasn't so popular with the customers. When I finally got to the Disney store, everyone, especially Takako, was pretty visibly annoyed (though I told them I'd be late) and I can't blame them. It was pretty embarrassing...

But the whole night was just great. Probably for my sake, everyone was in really, really high spirits, and we drank together for 2 hours at this bar I've gone to a couple times before. Towards the end of the time limit, they gave me my gift - a tshirt they had bought and put pictures and writing all over. It was pretty much the perfect present - I can't wait to put it up on my wall at home. It really truly made me happy. More on that later.

We then went to karaoke for presumbly the last time in a long time and were going crazy, and Mayumi and I of course sang "A Whole New World" together since that's the group favorite, and I finished off the night singing "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi, which is usually what the Fulbrighters finish the night with, so it added extra weight to perfectly cheesy song.

Tonight was supposed to be the last night I ever see them during this trip to Japan, but I decided I would come back right before leaving the country to see them one last time. So parting tonight wasn't that hard. On the way home, I stopped off at school, and Ono-kun and Hiroko were still dancing, rehearsing for the show this Saturday. I talked a bit with Ono, who is a really nice and great guy, and danced a bit while he rehearsed before coming home.

Once I got home, I remembered that Takako and Mayumi said there was a secret hidden in the shirt, so I looked for it and found it. On the back on the picture of Takako and I, Takako had written this sweet message to me, and the moment I started reading it, I started crying. The first time I've cried about leaving Japan and probably not that last (I know, I'm a cry baby, but hey - it's tough okay). I really have so much to thank Takako and her friends for, ESPECIALLY Mayumi and Hina, and reading that goodbye note just hit me right in the gut. This year wouldn't have been half as good if they hadn't been there for me. They really were my bestfriends here in Sendai when I needed them to be, and I can't wait til they come to Chicago to visit in August. It makes it easier knowing that I definitely am going to come back to Japan one day, and that we'll meet again then.

This country and this city are just as much my home as anywhere I've ever lived. Life here in Sendai has become so wonderfully fun, happy, and comfortable. If only I could continue on like this forever I really think I would. It became great late (in the second half of the year), but it was better late than never.

Takako, Mayumi, Hina, and Masa - here's a song I should have sang to you tonight:

Yesterday & Today
by Do As Infinity

Dear friends, so long
忘れない
くり返す出会いの中
小さな傷跡を
両手に抱えてる僕等
彷徨うばかり
この果てしない世界を見つめる
旅人よ

It's so precious when you have good wishes
Open eyes and see inside of your heart

孤独という鐘の音が
祈りの言葉を誘う
過ぎ去る現実と
やさしく息づく明日は
あなたのすべて
許すでしょう　迷うことはない
歩き出そう

It's so precious when you have good wishes
Open eyes and see inside of your heart

彷徨うばかり
光り目指し歩き続けてる
旅人よ

愛しい友よ　力無くしても
駆け抜けよう　こんな時代を
愛する人よ　やがて互いに
この街に　永遠（とわ）を咲かそう
そして私は　いつの日か又
歌うだろう　旅立つのだろう

la la la la