I'll Remember You, Wild Horses

I'm so very very tired.  Finals are progressing nicely I suppose.  As nicely as finals can progress, anyway.  I've got 5 more finals and 2 papers (one in English, one in Japanese).  I'll be glad when it's all over.

Jen and I made a tough call today.  We decided not to go to Aomori.  We both got sick recently and it's making getting everything-that-needs-doing done rather difficult.  If we tried to get everything done before Aomori I don't think we'd still be living by the time we reached departure day.  Plus, because of timing with finals and having to be back in time to catch our flights, we'd only be in Aomori for like a day and a half.  Not really worth the $150 and 3 days it would take to get there and back.

We told taiko people today.  It was really sad.  Tonight was the last we'll be seeing of some of the people in taiko.  I said bye to them.  It was rather hard not to cry.  I was getting all choked up.  The rest we'll say goodbye to on Sunday.  I'm not looking forward to that.  Not one little bit.

Panna and Pikumin said they'd like to see us off.  I'd really like that.  I hope they can.

In our extra few days, Jen and I will be packing and finishing up whatever business needs doing.  I've got a bank account to close, insurance to stop, stuff to throw away and sell, luggage to pack and ship, a bike to sell, a key to turn in, a cell phone to cancel, omiyage to buy, and goodbyes to say.

This officially sucks.

Those of you back home, feel free to email me and get me jazzed about coming home.  I need to keep my eyes to the future to keep my spirits up, but right now it's kinda hard.



I feel icky.

o_o

Poo.

Caitlin D.

Minerva

I learned a new kanji:

胸 (むね：mune)

• bazooms〈卑俗〉（女性の）
• bazumas〈卑俗〉（女性の）
• bosom〔【用法】bosomとbustは単数形扱い〕
• breast
• chest
• heart
• pectus〈ラテン語〉
• windbag

Paradise Circus

I think it's high time I posted all that's been going on.

The days are counting down.  Less than 3 weeks and I'll be back in the states.  I can't honestly say I'm ready to go back, mentally or physically. I still have a lot of packing to do, but beyond that, I'm not so sure I want to leave this place yet.  As the end approaches, I remember so many things that I still want to do.  In this last little while I've had a shift in perspective.  

I wonder if that's what it feels like when you die...

There's never enough time.  

At any rate, I've been cramming lots into this last little while.  Enough that I'm sick. Figures I'd get a cold right around now.  It's manageable, but I generally feel like poop.  

I'll start with today and work backwards.  Today was the last day of Thursday classes.  Finals start next Wednesday.  I've got a lot of studying ahead of me and I don't really want to do any of it.  What I really want to do is play!   (>_<) 

Jen and I went up to the 学生リサイクル (Student Recycle) shop.  It's where students can sell their used goods.  They're going to come down a week from Saturday and check out my fridge, rice cooker, and iron and see if they want to buy it.  In that case, I'll be receiving the money.  In the event that they don't want to buy any of it, they'll be hauling it away to dump it for me, which I'll have to pay them to do.  Either way, that will all be taken care of.  

This past Sunday was 新人公演.  It was supposed to be a week ago Sunday, but it got cancelled because of the rain.  It was torrential that day.  Rainy season has since ended, so we were able to perform.  The performance went well, as you can see from the previous post.  Hide was the only one to stay for the whole time, though.  Taka came for half of it and that was it.  No Lily.  No Henry.  No Kevin.  No Jeremy.  No one.  That kinda hurt.  

No changing that now though.  

The day before that, Saturday, Hide came into Kyoto and we all went for Gion Matsuri.  The actual parade is kinda boring.  Just a bunch of dudes pulling huge floats with people on them playing rather repetitive music.  It was a good experience, though.  Lily, Jen and I dressed up in yukata.  I got so many compliments.  They all said it matched me.  

When I was standing in line for the bathroom at a Starbucks, these 3 older ladies started talking to me.  They complimented me and I replied in Japanese.  Then they complimented my Japanese and a conversation started up.  They were really sweet.  They were super amazed that I put on my yukata by myself.  So amazed, in fact, that they took a picture with me.  I got one too.  Sometimes it's fun to stick out.  You meet some cool people.  

The day before Gion, I went to my Spitz concert.  That was fantastic.  They're better in concert than they are on record.  I'm in love.  Masamune Kusano has the most beautiful voice.  I got a t-shirt and a lot of good memories.  Unfortunately no pictures.  They took my camera as I was going in.  That's alright though.  When I have a camera I tend to watch life through it instead of taking it in for myself.  

So now you're all caught up till now.  

This coming weekend I've got a few cool things planned.  

Friday (tomorrow), Hide is going to come in the evening and we're going to play with some fireworks down by the river.  I'm excited.  You can get big packages of fireworks and legally set them off.  I think for the most part, though, they're sparklers.  I'm alright with that.  

Saturday there's an 大川平 practice with taiko.  We're preparing for the trip to 青森.  That trip, by the way still feels really unsettled.  We are, however, meeting with まゆ春 next Tuesday to work it all out.  Looks like we're going to be departing 8/4 in the evening and coming back 8/8.  It's going to be the last sha-bang.  

Sunday Jen, Sarah, Sam, maybe Henry, and I are going to the beach in Kobe.  Hide is going to drop by if he's got the time.  It's a proper beach! With sand and swimming! I'm curious to see how it compares to Amino or a SoCal beach.  Sam's been a few times before and says it's awesome, but he's English.... I'm not sure if I can trust his interpretation of a "proper beach." hahaha

In between there, there's studying and sleep and packing.  

It's almost time.  

18 days.  

Gross. 

Love until later, 

Caitlin D.

新人公演2010

Big Red Machine (still)

I realize that taking pictures off my wall makes me less homesick.  I haven't been so blegh about it lately.

That's not to say I don't still miss you all!  You're all still in my heart and I can't wait to see you.

It's just not such an obvious feeling anymore... if that makes sense.

Also, Doctor Who rocks.

Love until later,

Caitlin D.

Big Red Machine

Today was a long practice.  We ran through the whole of 新人公演. It's one week away and I feel so unprepared.

Stress to the max.

Jen's sister is here now, as well.

So much to do.  So much to DO!  >__<

Also, I like this idea-

We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.
(Sam Keen, from To Love and Be Loved)

Love until later,

Caitlin D.

This Moment

It's starting to feel real.  I'm going home soon.

I spent the evening pulling down the photos off my wall.  Feels weird to not be surrounded by the familiar faces.

Kind of surreal.

There are a couple reasons why I took them down:

1 My Oral teacher asked us to bring pictures of home to class.  I figured while I was taking them apart for show and tell I might as well pack them all up

2 I need to start packing early.  I have a plan and it's kinda crazy....

Every summer Don goes to Aomori for the Arauma festival.  (毎年の夏、ドンは荒馬祭りのために青森に行く。)  This summer they leave August 4 and get back August 10.

I finish finals August 3.

I don't leave for home till August 10.

I see a 可能性...

I'll be getting my last JASSO right around then, too.

To pull it off I have to be packed up and have my luggage shipped before I leave for Aomori.  I'd take what I need with me in my carry on and leave the rest in my room.  Jen and I might come back a day early just to have a day to close up stuff.  Then I'd leave the morning of August 10 on the shinkansen for Narita and fly home.

Crazy?  I think so.

Worth it?  Most definitely.

Love until later,

Caitlin D.