Day 15: Nagoya-Tokyo-San Diego

I woke up at 4:30am, left home at 5:25am, got on 5:54am train, caught 8:20am flight.

JAL 777: From Nagoya to Narita

My mother already left for work before I got up so I could not see her. My father gave me a ride to the train station. My aunts woke up early to see me off. It was very sad... But now I am ready to work hard for another year until next summer. I am fully charged.

At Narita airport I enjoyed looking around shops. Among many choices, I decided to go to tempura restaurant for lunch. I had soba noodle with mountain potato, tempura, maguro sashimi, and rice. Very satisfying last meal in Japan. It completes my trip.

mountain potato soba set: only 1,220 yen!

Day 14: Last Day with my family

It was last day to spend time with my family in Japan. I did not do anything special but everything was special.

I watched sumo match on TV for about an hour with my family. It was fun. It looks like almost a half of sumo wrestlers are non-Japanese now!!! Amazing. Mostly from Mongol, others come from Brazil, Russia, and Egypt!!!

Day 13: Silver Week

This weekend is a long weekend in Japan, called "Silver Week".
It's a new tradition I think. Traffic jam everywhere... So I took shinkansen, fast train from Kyoto to Nagoya. It was a comfortable ride as usual.

Day 12: Family Sunday in Osaka

It is already Sunday... last day to spend time with my host family.

I made Vietnamese spring rolls for dinner. Everyone liked it except Mariko :)

Mariko

Hanayo bought Halloween donuts at Krispy Kreme donuts.

Hana

It was very short but I had a great time with them. 

I will miss them already... 

Day 11: High School Festival

I went to Hana's high school in Osaka to see the culture festival. Hana danced very exciting dances with her  team mates. It was a very high standard performance! I was really impressed.
It is a private Catholic high school only for girls where Hana's mother went. Very different from the high school I went (the public co-ed high school in town). Anyway, it was a very fun family day!

Day 10: Viva Kuzuha Mall

I used to live in a town called Kuzuha when I was a college student. This is where my host family lives. There was a small shopping center near Kuzuha station called "Kuzuha mall" when I was here. Every time I come back here, Kuzuha mall gets better and better. Now they have a movie theater too. Wow... amazing.

I went to Kuzuha mall this afternoon and walked around for four hours. It was so great. I learned that it is the 20th anniversary for GAP since they opened a shop in Japan.

Day 9: Osaka

It was a rainy day. I finally came to see my host family in Osaka.

I also met my longtime friend, Kyoko in Nagoya for lunch on the way. We went to Yamamoto-ya, a very famous place for miso udon.

Kyoko saw me off at Nagoya station until my bus departed. Bus ride was very smooth today despite rain. No traffic at all.

Girls have grown up so much in two years! I cannot believe that Hana is as tall as I am, and Mariko is really tall as well!!! Where is Mariko who I used to change diapers?!?! But she is still so sweet.

Day 8: Family Sushi Day!

My nephew started working at a sushi restaurant this summer. I asked my parents to go there

together. My father does not like to eat out but he said ”yes” because it was my request, so we went! I think it is our first time to go to a restaurant as a family... as far as I remember.
Everyone was very happy, which made me really happy :)

Also I was very proud of my nephew! He was a great server.

Day 7: One week past

It has been one week already since I came back to Japan. Time flies. My mother keeps saying that my stay is too short this time. It is true. It is much shorter than previous years.
But I think I like it short because I feel like I can use my time more efficiently and also I can appreciate almost EVERYTHING.

One more week to enjoy Japan. I look forward to everything!

Day 6: Dentist and physical therapy

Medical system is very different between Japan and the U.S.
In Japan we can visit any hospital whenever we want and it does not cost much.
Since I came back to Japan a week ago, I have been visiting a dentist and physical therapy as much as I could. I pay around $10 at a dentist and $5 for PT!!! So cheap!

I used to work for this PT clinic as a receptionist when I was 18-19 years old. The doctor (therapist?) and his family know me since then. His son used to be a high school student back then, but now he works with his father at the clinic together. I love teasing him when I visit :)

Day 5: Sport Day

I went to a junior high school where I used to go to see a sport day event. My nephew, Yosuke,  ran for a relay and came in first. I am so proud of him. He is becoming a true athlete!

Day 4: Perfect Weather

I don't usually stay in Japan this time of the year, so I did not realize how comfortable it was.
The temperature (high and low) and humidity is almost same as it is in San Diego.
I sleep with a light blanket. I don't need an AC. I don't sweat very much.
Really unbelievable!

The only difference would be perhaps mosquitos... yuk! They attack me every day but it is not as bad as summer time.

It is almost 8 o'clock at night. I am sitting in my room with windows open. So quiet, nice breeze, crickets singing...
What a perfect night! I wish you were here!

Day 3: Back to the Future

Nothing is special... but everything is special!

I enjoyed spending time with the community.

It is such a joy to live in a rural area. 

I feel like I time travelled. 

Back to the future experience :) 

Day 2: Productive Day

It was a very productive day!
I went shopping with my mother in the morning. We both bought a lot.
Look what I found! When I was trying it on, old ladies came and talked to us.
One of them said "It is a good hat for a cold winter."

Funny...

After lunch I went to a bank with my father to close one of my bank accounts and then to a telephone company to help him find a new cell phone.

I also told my parents that I was planning to buy a house in the U.S.
Surprisingly, they were quite supportive.
In the evening I made pasta for the entire family (to feed 11 people!). They loved it.

Day 1: Typhoon Attack

Typhoon No. 18 followed me!

Most flights departing/arriving at Nagoya airports are cancelled this morning. 

All schools are cancelled. Kids are happy at home. I so so lucky that I can spend time with them just like summer vacation. 

They liked my presents I brought from the U.S.

2015 Labor Day: Going back to Japan!

Greeting from San Diego Airport.

First time flying directly to Narita from here with JAL065. I am so excited!
Also my first trip back to Japan with a green card!!!
I can't wait to come back to San Diego airport and use a Citizen booth.
I am no longer an alien :)