Originally published on 29 July 2006. This post is part of a series of “e-mails to home” from my time living and working abroad in Japan!

Is it really the last day? Yes! Yes it is! The past 3 days since I got back from Tokyo have been relaxing, wonderful, and memorable. On Thursday, I turned in my paper and uniform to Yuri at 9:30 and immediately biked to Futami, my most favorite place in Japan. I think I’ll miss this place the most. I love the beach. I could sit and listen to the waves crash against the rocks and feel the sand between my toes all day. And that’s pretty much what I did!

I was laying out and this little man came and checked on me, but I was fine. A few minutes later, another little man came around and asked if I was hot (well, I’m pretty sure that’s what he was asking). A few minutes later, when I was getting my stuff together to leave, the first little man came by with a can of grapefruit juice for me. How sweet is that?

I had one last Takonezushi for lunch at one of the resturants there and walked around the coastline till about 3.

I found a place on the back of the shrine at the Rocks (should I fear the Japanese shrine gods?) where I sat for about an hour or so just looking at the ocean. The Rocks were just a few yards away. It’s a popular place for photos, but the people didn’t bother me, and no one said I needed to get down or anything. I took some pictures for some people while I was up there. It was the only place to sit in the shade. The view was just so pretty.

The next day, Friday, I used my last day-ticket for the train to Nagoya. I wasn’t really sure what I’d do there, but I knew there’d be something! It’s very much a modern city with lots of skyscrapers and historic sites alike. I walked to the Noritake China Factory and Gardens. Didn’t go in the factory or museum, but the gardens were pretty and the gift shop had lots of beautiful china to look at for free.

After that, I sucked it up and braved the subway by myself. I had to buy a ticket out of one of those kiosks I had trouble figuring out last week, but apparently I did it right because I got a ticket that took me where I needed to go! I went to the Zoo, which was lots of fun. I saw all kinds of animals, and they have lovely gardens there, so that was nice.

I walked around for a while until lunch time, then went back to the train station and ate sushi… of course! I took the 2:30 train, which got me back to Ise at 4, and then I worked on packing until supper time.

Yoko had called and asked me to go by school between 6 and 8. I was nervous about it at first. I thought Yuri wanted me to rewrite the paper or I’d done something else offensive that I didn’t know about, but when I got there, I found out it was Yuri’s day off, and Yoko and Mami only wanted to give me a gift! This was all much to my relief, I assure you. They gave me cute little stuffed monkeys. Very cute and very sweet. I gave Yoko some Bath and Body Works lotion for her birthday, which is today. I’ll miss her and Mami a lot, but they have an open invitation to stay with me if they ever come to America!

Talked to Mom online when I got back to the apartment and packed some more. I have so much to do before I leave!