So this weekend is ’spring break’ at JCMU. Its ’spring break’ in quotes because they gave us a Monday off. And that’s it. :( Although, I guess it all evens out since I will actually be done with my classes 2 weeks before everyone at U of M. So what are my exciting spring break plans?? Well, I have none. Unfortunately my monthly budget is around $0 right now (actually I just added in my purchases from yesterday, and I have 1260yen remaining (~$10)) because of my trip to Sapporo in the beginning of the month. That and everyone at JCMU that I would normally do things with are either at weekend home stays, visiting Tokyo, or busy with other things. And I’ve already gone everywhere that is a day trip from JCMU. So, since I didn’t want to sit around doing absolutely nothing all 3 days (and trust me, there really is nothing to do at JCMU unless you love playing ping pong) I finally got up the motivation to go ride my bike to Caines to do some grocery shopping and buy some puzzles. Luckily, the weather was FABULOUS at around 60F, so the bike ride there was almost enjoyable. I’m a big puzzle fan, and in Japan, they do puzzles seriously. Inside of each puzzle box, there is a little pouch of glue because its expected that after you finish the puzzle, you generally glue it together and then hang it on your wall (in a special puzzle frame, which they sell in every store next to the puzzles). The two puzzles I bought (one 500-piece and one 1000-piece) are both by the same artist, and feature gorgeous paintings of women in kimonos. You can see a picture of the one I’m currently working on here (see more like it here). They are so pretty and I would love to buy a bunch of these and bring them back with me, but since I already foresee myself leaving things behind, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.

Besides doing my incredibly exciting puzzles, I had also wanted to maybe go to Osaka this weekend, for the sole reason of visiting an Outback Steakhouse. This has first stemmed from my desire to find a Pizza Hut somewhere in Kyoto, but locating any near train stations was not possible, and since I have no way of getting it delivered here at JCMU or to anywhere else, I decided to scrap that idea (it may be revisited if I go to Tokyo in 2 weeks) ((And before you ask why I’m so fixated on Pizza Hut lately, its because pizza in Japan is really horrible and not having an oven in my room makes it hard to make my own pizza, and so after 6 months I’m feeling a little deprived.)). I knew that Tim had gone to the Outback in Nagoya, but they had stumbled upon it by chance and so he wasn’t sure how to get back there, but I was able to find out that there is an Outback in Osaka right at Umeda station, which would make it very easy to find. The only problem is now, that I haven’t found anyone to go with me. Going all the way to Osaka for some awesome food would be great and all, but not very enjoyable if I’m doing it all by myself. Maybe when some certain people get back from their homestays, I can convince them to go with me. Maybe…

In a contrast to yesterday’s perfect weather, it is of course pouring out today. And generally when it rains in Japan, it rains all day long without stopping. Add to that that I am coming down with some illness. So far it has only manifested itself in a sore throat, and I’m hoping that is where it will stay because two of my classmates have recently had horrendous illnesses, causing them each multiple days gone from class and visits to local doctors. They also sit next to me. I’m nuking myself daily with 1000mg of vitamin C in the hopes that might save me. I will not get sick!!!!

P.S. Only 49 days till I’m back in Michigan.