A few things

A few things i am expecting when i return to the states, just so you know

The day i arrive

taco bell on the way home from the ariport

a blockbuster video newer than two years ago

mommy homemade lasagna or deep dish dominoes pizza for dinner

and the ability to crash right inside the front door, aka bed ready

and the luxury/privilage of being able to call my friends in japan and let them know i got home safe

day 2

go to walmart and buy pants that i haven't had to take in myself or belt up

and new shoes (cuz my shoes are all kawaii sou.)

again, sleeping ability. that's important.

and going to a libaray/barnes and noble

light off my nihon de katta hanabi in the street

Week 1

gym membership, (possibly including a new swimsuit and sneakers)

the luxury of walking around houston, cuz i don't think i want to get settled back into a sedentary lifestyle

big lots and/or international market, cause i think i'll be missing some stuff

my old american cell phone or a new one

month 1

I want to look for a job OR go about and visit babies and dad. either one is good because i know money is harsh.

and from the moment i step off the plane, i reserve the right to fall asleep everytime i'm in a vehicle, use the peace sign in every picture, and do karaoke whenever/wherever i can. it's a japan thing.

and i really want to find cheap calling cards because i'll miss my friends.

and the #1 biggest thing i will be looking forward to........NOT having to carry so much coin currency with me!

and now things i'm going to miss.

1. going to the convini and buying bento

2. speaking in my bad japan-glish, aka the ability to say Dude, i'm going to benkyou like there's no manana and be understood completely. or the ability to say, Oppa, chugule? and be understood.

3. my friends/teachers/classes

4. the beauty standard (guys here are born in silk shirts with perfectly styled hair)

5. trains and bikes

6. izakaya's and shibuya clubs

7. hanami- flower viewing

8. the festivals

9. the ability of speaking english and not being understood

10. commiting faux pas and getting away with it by saying oh, well, i'm a foriegner.

11. being able to leave my dorm anywhere from 11pm to 5am and have all sorts of fun things i could do instead of sleeping

12. that things don't close here, ever. everything is 24 hr pretty much.

13. the safety, it's a really safe country

14. phone email-ing in japanese

15. the food, rice especially

16. that the food over here is so low fat

17. signs in bad english, and shirts/hats in bad english

18. weird fashion

19. harajuku and shibuya and shinjuku and ikebukuro

20. intense smells from restaurants and people staing outside yelling 'Irasshyamase!'

21. being cute cause i'm differnt. Otaku bait.

22. teaching english

23. people saying, "you sound so cool when you speak in english." "Eigo kakkouii!"

24. 1 dollar onigiri

25. the phrase 'Sou ka?' because it has really no good translation in english

26. The phrase 'Mah ne....' for the same reason as above

27. everything else