wow. i can’t believe it came to a rearing conclusion. it was way harder to say goodbye than i thought it would be. i was able to see a bunch of people off which was nice, but i still felt like it wasn’t enough. i lived and traveled with these people for two weeks. we know the weirdest most insignificant details about each other, yet half of us don’t know our favorite colors. i wanna say that we became like a family, but if that’s the case we were a pretty dysfunctional family. but i wouldn’t have changed a thing.

i mostly just kicked about all day, saying goodbyes here and there, wandered around various stores, ate lunch at a decent hour. nothing much to really report. and then me, katherine, sten, and sj were off to the airport. we all conveniently had the same flight, so we were able to cop a ride paid for by rit. sweet!

once we were at the airport it was checking in, checking bags, going through security, waiting at the gate. all the classic and standard airport procedures. but eventually it was time to board the plane, and it really hit me that i was going home. my time in japan had come to a close before i could even fully process that i had gotten used to it. but then i was sat in my seat, where the next thirteen hours of my life would take place.

while on the flight i watched some movies, was able to fall asleep, and also read to pass the time. once i finally landed it was breezy going through customs, and after a slight mishap while trying to get my luggage, finally, i was back. i waited for my mom to pick me up outside of atl airport for maybe five minutes before i saw her pull up. of course we had a forty minute drive back to our house, but that didn’t matter. as sad as i was about leaving japan, i’m just going to use it as motivation and fuel so that i have to go back someday.

i can’t believe all that i saw, all that i experienced! and i’m so glad i got to share it with the group of people i did. this trip was absolutely amazing, and i know i’m going to look back on it fondly.

japan, we will meet again soon. until then.