Day 39

7-21-08

Today was probably the best day I've had so far. I'd have to go back and check all the other ones to be positive, but I'm pretty sure.

Like many of the days in the last five weeks, I was mistaken in my assumption of what we were doing today. From what Noriko told me, I understood "YFU," "BBQ" and something about other YFU people, so I figured it was like the regional meeting I had back in Seattle, except, of course, more awesome, because there was a BBQ and swimming.

So it was to my great surprise then, to come over the ridge and see Monica, my fellow Fukuoka-based YFU-traveler and Poke-bus rider. I was so caught up in joyful reunioning that I didn't even notice there were others until Kelly yelled at me. Kelly, who is in the same Japanese class as I am, at Shorecrest, way back in Seattle. And there were others from my YFU group, and some I didn't yet know. And there was tasty food, and swimming to escape the heat and plenty of time to talk--in English.

It was amazing to have people with who to share experiences, a common language, and a hatred of mayonnaise unlike anything else. We chatted about all the oddities we had experienced and all the weird things Japanese peopel do--like constantly complain about the heat, like it's surprising, even though it's always hot, or how they eat dinner so late. There were things from home we could finally talk about--AP tests and movies and Halloween costumes and books assigned for school. We laughed about how we had all professed our love for Avril Lavigne and Johnny Depp, because the actors and artists we really like are too obscure to be known in Japan. And everyone was a little excited to be going home soon.

There were only two bad things about today. The first was that the sun, through some magical skill I didn't know it had, managed to bend its rays around the wide brim of my hat and burn my face to a crisp. All except my forehead, of course, because that was covered by my hat.The other thing was that I forgot my camera.

Still, I collapsed exhausted and joyful into my bed at the early hour of 9:30, with my batteries recharged and ready to fully enjoy my last nine days.