Wednesday was such a lovely day. I spent most of it half-heartedly studying for my Japanese final. At this point, I was ready to take it immediately because I just wanted it to be over with. Went to bed around 1am with the intention of getting up at 6:30am to continue studying (aka ‘cramming’) for the final. So naturally, I turned off the alarm when it went off at 6:30am, and….went back to sleep. Luckily, I woke myself up at 8am, just in time to take a shower, eat breakfast, and read a couple more kanji flashcards. The test was a brutal 2.5 hour affair, and really I can’t say how I did on it. But really….I don’t care, because…

As of 10 hours ago, the semester is now OVER!!! I’m currently feeling relieved, and yet kind of sad because now……I have absolutely nothing to do. During the semester, the fact that there is nothing to do at JCMU or in nearby Hikone was avoided by the fact that we were studying for 3 hours a day (or, should have been…). It probably has to do with the fact that almost 1/2 of the people I’ve had to live with for the past 4 months are going to be going back to the US. For the past semester the only person I’ve been hanging out and doing things with is Cassidy, and she is leaving as well. Once all the new students get here in January, it will be day one all over again, and I’ll have to get to know people again. Add this to the fact that my mom and sister are currently in the Bahamas (lucky…), so I won’t be able to talk to them for a week. Because of all this, I’m feeling a little homesick right now.

On the bright side, my roommate moved out today!! Which is good because she was starting to drive me insane. And, next semester, no new roommate will be moving in! What does this mean? Two space heaters for moi!! I will not freeze this January after all. I have the entire tiny fridge now too. That and, no more being woken up at 7am on Sundays! Yippie. On the downside, she took most of the plates, and all but one fork with her. I guess a trip to the dollar store is in order once again.

After the test was over, Cassidy and I went with Hiromi to Castle Road, because Cassidy wanted to buy a ‘chasen’, which is the traditional bamboo whisk used to make macha, in a Japanese tea ceremony. I also wanted to buy one, but neither of us knew where to buy one. So, Hiromi showed us to a nice little shop where everything related to tea ceremony could be purchased. The shop keeper even brought us out little cups of tea when we walked into the store. (The tea had a very strange taste however…..I didn’t really like it.) I was able to buy a chasen and also a little tea scoop. Afterwards, we went to a shop owned by Hiromi’s neighbor, where we bought very cool matching tea bowls (its part of tea ceremony that you must admire the bowl you are served by turning it in a clockwise fashion in your left hand).

After finishing our shopping, we browsed a couple cool cake shops , that I have actually passed on my bike a number of times, but never knew existed. Hiromi treated us once again, as we each had the ‘cake set’ which was two pieces of gorgeous cake, and a side of tea. Japanese cake is soooooo beautiful and soooooooo delicious. Why doesn’t the US have cake shops where I can buy one slice of fruit tart, and have it given to me in a nice little box with a disposable ice pack inside? Is that really so much to ask??

Coming back to JCMU, I was able to sit around and do nothing without guilt. So I sat around in Cassidy’s room for a while, while she packed and I surfed the web looking for places to go in Tokyo. Coming back to my room, I found it to be emptied out of my roommate’s things (despite the fact that she never bothered to tell me anything), so it was party time! Well, not really. Instead I made some pizza and for the past 4 hours or so I have been vegging out on my bed, two space heaters blaring away (its soooo toasty right now), watching anime and eating chocolate. An excellent way to end the day.

In 4 days, I will be on a train heading for Tokyo!! I can’t wait to go (despite the fact that it will be a fairly boring 8 hour train ride), and I know I will have sooo much fun with Nick. I bought my special Seishun 18 ticket today, and I can’t wait to use them. The fact that I can go on a 9000yen train ride for 2300yen, well, it just makes me happy.

Tomorrow is the closing ceremony for JCMU, during which time I will sit in the back and get NOTHING. Yes, since I’m still here next semester, I get squat. I was going to dress up with Cassidy in our new kimonos, but maybe we will do it after the ceremony for picture purposes only.

And now I will continue my eating of chocolate and watching of anime……..and tomorrow I’m cleaning this place from top to bottom. Fun fun.