I`m going to have the cake AND eat it

Hey strangers.

Expect me home on the 20th of November, but be nice cos I`ll need some sleep (as well as copious amounts of fish and chips and mutton).

Since last time -
I've had 3 all nighter's in Nagoya. Not pleasant. I saw a couple of people (homeless) doing various bodily functions in the early hours. Stuff you wouldn't see at home.

I had a vietnamese cooking lesson. It was OK, but was straight after an all-nighter, and it was all in Japanese, so not so fun. I was the only foreigner, and my group didn't speak to me in English until afterwards.

The following weekend, I went to a local river and enjoyed fireworks with some friends. A little dangerous though.

Last Sunday I made it to the Ninja museum, after freakishly waking up and being able to stay up. It was cool, I got to throw ninja stars, and I saw a ninja house with all its hideaways etc, and tools of ninja. Awesome.

This month I have been all over the place, the week before this one, I only had one day at my own branch. However this week wasn't so bad, 3 days, and I think next week is all at my branch.

In other news, following my last entry, I was about to write another, lamenting on my bad luck (a 0% success rate with girls in Japan, and how girls lead you up the garden path etc etc - jaded after an all-nighter), and then as I was writing that entry, I discovered a mate here had recently found out he has Lukemia. So I quickly pulled my head in, and stopped feeling sorry for myself.

Things here are changing - Anandia moves to Kyoto the end of next week :(
A workmate has just finished, and most of the other teachers are leaving soon, either before, or just after me. Kind of sad.
This week I finalised my holiday plans and plan for returning to home. I'm glad because it was becoming a real headache/Thorn in my side. My plan at this stage is this:
21 October (Saturday) Leave Nagoya airport for Beijing, China, 25th Go to Bangkok (assuming its all peaceful again,) 28th go to Hong Kong, 31st, back to Nagoya. Work the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of November (early half day on the 3rd, so I finish at 2pm) and then bolt to Tokyo, to mark it off the list properly (go to what I missed the first time, and go to Disneyland and DisneySea) come back on or before the 9th (which just happens to be the day I turn 27) I work half a day on the 10th, and a full day on the 11th, and then wave bye to the pink bunny. On the 12th I will head to Kyoto, to visit it again, and to see Anandia, and head to Osaka on the 13th or 14th, to jump on the plane to Singapore, where I have reserved about 5 days to try to nip into Malaysia as well. Leave Singapore on the 19th, and more than likely end up back in Auckland on the 20th... one year later... back to the future.

My feelings at the moment? kind of torn. Just when I start to really appreciate Japan I have to go home. At the same time I think the deadline has kept me efficient. Its just kind of frustrating that friends and fans come out of the woodwork just before you leave - ie you just get to know some people, or get close to them at the end, despite knowing them a whole year.

As for the immediate future - Tomorrow Im going to another Car show in Nagoya, with a farewell party for 3 friends in the evening, and hopefully Sunday I can make it to Nagashima spaland (third time lucky).
Other pressing matters include confirming flights, getting a visa for China, and generally visiting places I have left to last. Also something pressing on my mind is future employment back home. I need to start the ball rolling, so I don't waste too much time finding a job when I get home, as time is money, especially because it effects when I can do PCE2 in 2008.
Anyway, sorry these entries have become few and far between, but its not a priority at the moment.
Rock on