Farewell, Nagoya

Never have the stained gutters in Tokaidori Station looked so pretty, nor have the buildings outside the station with rusting windows, peeling paint, and yellowing signs looked so friendly. Sleeping right now is out of the question, since my last few hours in this house would pass without me even noticing it. Even the obnoxious thing outside my window is a little quieter tonight.

Tonight we went out to eat okonomiyaki where you actually grill it yourself. Knowing my host mother I assumed that she would brig a present, so I brought my present too. Sure enough, she pulls out a bag full of a pair of gorgeous chopsticks in a cute little carrying case, a card that everyone signed, and a picture CD, Stitch mug, and Stitch memo pad from my host sister.
So, I pulled out my photo album. My host mom was the only one who had actually seen the pictures at all, but I added a few more photos in at the end of me and my host family. It was all very fun, talking and exchanging presents and stuff, until I read the letters inside the card; especially the one my host sister wrote in English. I almost cried. Tomorrow is going to be bad, I can tell.

Things I will miss (in no particular order):
Japanese food
subways and trains
my host fathers weird habit of bringing bugs home
speaking Japanese well
my fluffy comforter
the ￥100 shop down the street
running in the park and seeing cute old people playing croquet
vending machines
breakfast (cereal, fruit, yogurt, some various bread or pastry, coffee, and a Japanese newspaper covered in Kanji)
my host dad's dorky hats
cute Japanese guys
the cleanliness of construction
my host family (of course)
sitting down at the table for dinner
being able to recycle absolutely everything
Mr. Donut
matcha flavored things

Things I am looking forward to (in no particular order):
speaking English
seeing my friends and family
cuddling with my pets
Mexican food
wearing short shorts and tank tops
being barefoot
public trash cans
being able to use a fork and spoon
being able to snack whenever I want
climbing
lotion that isn't weird Japanese lotion
showering whenever I want
not being that tallest person in a crowded room or subway
not being stared at when people walk past
seeing the Austin skyline as I drive home from the airport

Very bittersweet.

I'll see everyone 'tomorrow.' I don't know if time is really going to exist for me for the next 24 or so hours. I am arriving in San Francisco in the 22nd earlier than I left Tokyo on the 22nd, and I'm arriving in Austin 6 hours after I left Tokyo. Tomorrow is going to be the longest day of my life. Literally.