Black Ark Dub, Our Delicate Midnight Opera

A little bit of Zechs Marquise and their funky sound is about how I'm feeling right now.

The last three weeks were amazing. I can't describe how awesome it felt to see everyone again and meet some new faces, too! I hit some drums, played some games, watched some movies, chilled at the beach, and ate all the typical American foods you can imagine. I really missed home.

But that time has passed now. I'm on the second leg of my year in Japan.

I hopped on a flight at 6am to Portland with a connection to Narita, Japan today. It was a little rocky getting out the door. The airline had some mix up with my ticket booking and it didn't register in their system that I was supposed to be on my flight. That was a bit nerve wracking. The plane had to wait for me, but I made it on.

I was dead tired, but that was fine. I ended up sleeping almost all 11 hours of the flight to Narita. I had to save up the tired through my 5 hour layover though. Ippo helped pass the time. I'm hooked on that show. After that initial mix up though, everything went smoothly. I got on the ground at Narita and shipped my luggage.

Killing 5 hours till my bus ride proved challenging though. I initially thought to find a Starbucks and just chill there, but I couldn't find one. Figures... the one time I WANT to find one, I can't. Anyway, I went to another cafe and drank some chai tea reaaaaallllllyyyyyy sllllloooowwwwwllllyyyyyyyyy, then went and got some gyudon and ate that reeeeeaaaaaallllllyyyyy slllllooowwwwwllllllyyyy, but I still had 3 hours to kill. On a whim I went down into this pedestrian underpass and there was a shopping center. Low and behold, there was the Starbucks. It had burrowed underground. I grabbed a Sakura Frapp and sat and watched some more Ippo till it was check-in time.

Miracle of miracles I was able to sleep even MORE on the bus ride. It was all bad sleep, but sleep nonetheless. Unfortunately all that sleep has left me quite awake. I say unfortunately because even if I'm awake, it FEELS like it's almost my bed time. The sun hasn't even reached it's high point in the sky over here and I feel like it should be setting soon.

I got in around 6am and walked briskly to Maison. When I got my computer on it told me that it was a balmy 2 degrees celsius outside. It's now peaking 7 degrees, but still! I thought it would be warming up. Quite a shocking change from the nice 22 degrees it is in Riverside right now.

Now I'm just waiting for my luggage. Jen is supposed to come by later. I was going to go to Gin and Kinkakuji with her and her friend, but I forgot I have to be here to accept my luggage. I can't let all that mac and cheese go to waste! So today is just gonna be chill. I'm gonna work on the t-shirt designs for Allen and watch some more Ippo.

I'm not quite sure if this weird knot in the pit of my stomach is from being back in Japan already, or from feeling like I never left. When I think about the 3 weeks I spent at home they feel like a million years ago already. Sara's blueberry and lemon custard cupcakes, "The cake is a lie!", Josh and Janelle's killer team, Ian's failed fishing, late night taiko practice followed by Good Eats...

All I can say is thank God for photos. I've already picked out the ones that will line my walls.

There's this really great one of Audrey, Cynthia, BB and Tiffani. The focus is on Tiffani and Cynthia in the back, but in the foreground you can see Audrey picking her nose. It's wonderful.

...

Yeah I cried a little coming back. It's hard leaving everyone, but I got an awesome pep talk right before I left. That helped a lot. I think if I just keep the frame of mind I had right then, I can do this.

Now I just have to get over the hug withdrawals.

I miss you all so much!!

Love until later,

Caitlin D.