Fourth post! Nagoya!! 名古屋!!!

I've done a lot since my last post- gone to Nagoya to visit a friend, gone to Osaka a few times, wrote exams, been a tourist here in Kyoto, had family visit, etc etc...

Nagoya was so much fun! If you don't already know, I spent a year in high school (2004-05) living in Konan city, about twenty minutes outside of Nagoya, near the border with Gifu prefecture. I didn't make it to visit Konan this time, though. We spent a lot of time, the other exchange students with Rotary and I, in Nagoya on the weekends, generally shopping and going to karaoke and concerts and having fun and speaking English...

Going back after more than four years (five since I lived there; I went back for a visit in 2006) was a strange experience. It hasn't changed; everything is pretty much the same. But my memories aren't as sharp and it was almost surreal to be somewhere I knew so well but had been relegated to a fond memory.

I ended up taking the bullet train from Kyoto; it only took around 45 minutes, which was awesome. I planned to meet Allison in Sakae, so I wandered around mei-eki (Nagoya station- in Japanese, Nagoya is 名古屋. The first character, 名/"na", can also be read "mei" and station in Japanese is 駅, "eki," thus "mei-eki".) which hasn't changed but it's a lot more confusing when you haven't been there in so long!

Nana-chan, near mei-eki. Often dressed to celebrate/mark various things, such as the Dragons winning, or in this case, child abuse prevention (Orange ribbon campaign).

Meeting Allison again after so long was awesome :D We were very close when we both last lived in Japan, but we've both changed. But we still had a great weekend, just like old times! Also the first time we'd been in Nagoya for the whole weekend- it was usually just one day. Nagoya isn't really the most exciting city in Japan, but we hit up most of our old spots, like the fountain in the park, shopping in Sakae, Osu (ELL! Trying to find the curry restaurant! ) and of course karaoke :)

In front of the fountain! So many memories!

I kind of knew that I would fail at keeping a regular update... But almost two months later is a little ridiculous. I also don't know what to talk about- been there done that...?

The countdown's on. I have seven days of class left (of my bachelor's degree!) and a month and a half until I go back to Canada. I'm not ready to think about this being over, I'm really not. Everyone's starting to talk about departure dates and life back "home," wherever that is. I don't want everyone to go/stay, either way I won't see these people every day ever again...