There's people staying here now. They're counselors who are using our apartment as their "homestay." We're leaving with them when we go back. I have one more full day in Nagasaki, tomorrow (the 13th.) After that I'll be leaving to spend a night in Fukuoka and then going home.
I've believed it for so long intellectually, and been excited for it, but when you're faced with the reality of it, it feels weird. Like it won't actually happen. Like I'll wake up the next day and still be here like always. That's how it felt when I left CA, too.
I'm almost finished with all my omiyage (souvenir) shopping. I hope it's useful and appreciated. I stressed myself out over it so much and ended up procrastinating until the last hour because I was so stressed about what to buy. Gift-giving is so stressful for me. I just don't want my money to be a waste if the person doesn't like their gift. :/
I was gonna get myself a backpack because they are SO cute here and nothing like what you see in the states, but I can't find one that's perfect. But I want to get myself something...I'm just not sure what.
As I was walking to the shopping arcade today, the sun was shining and the breeze was blowing, not a cloud in the sky. I was walking next to the river, on the cobblestone street, passing stone bridge after stone bridge. The water was greeny-blue, with the sky's reflection mottled by dumbass koi sticking their heads up out of the water. I was listening to the music, and walking to the beat, and life felt so good. Except that moment felt empty, because I didn't have anyone to share it with. That's what I've longed for here, in all my moments of cultural appreciation and awareness and self-growth: someone to share my experiences with. I have you all, but you'll never know my experiences the way you would if you were here like me, so our sharing will be one-sided and not the same.
Time to start packing.
TODAY'S CULTURAL TIDBITS
1. Walking. When Akira visited early this week, she told me how in America, everyone drives everywhere because they are lazy and busy. This is true. She told me how people in her hall in Arroyo Vista would drive to Albertson's when it is a 10-to-15 minute walk, and how once they even drove from their hall to the housing office (literally a 3-minute walk) to drop off their key, because it was quicker. Not having had a car during undergrad, I can't say I did the same, but I can attest to the pure temptation that having a car induces: why walk when you can drive? In Japan, gas prices are higher, city roads are traffickyer, and laze is much lower, from which is born a culture of walking. People just walk everywhere. They might walk everywhere in NYC and Chicago too, for all I know, but it's a stark contrast to Irvine's sururban sprawl. Today, I walked from home to Hamanomachi to Yumesaito to Amu Plaza and back to home, thus encircling nearly all of lower Nagasaki. The total walking time was probably about two hours. My feet hurt and I was sweaty and tired afterward, but hey, if you've got more time than money, it's the only way to go.
2. Things which you frequently find in America which are almost impossible to find in Japan:
*Public bathrooms (not in a store)
*Trash cans on the street (you either throw it away in the store, because you don't eat while walking, or save your trash for when you get home and can sort it properly into burnables and non-burnable recyclables.)
*Drinking fountains (YOU BUY FROM THE VENDING MACHINE OR YOU GET NOTHING!)
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