Day 91 - Going back to America

Going back to the Airport was a long journey. The bus seemed to get back to Nagoya pretty quick. However, when I got there everyone was on their way to work and many of the stores were not open yet so I waited around while everyone rushed to work.

First I had to go to take the bus to my co-workers place in order to get my luggage and then take the bus back to the train station to go to the airport.

The picture to the left is the plane I took back to the USA.


The above picture is from the airplane. This wasn't my seat but it proves the story true that I talked about a few weeks ago relating to the airlines and Japanese superstition. Apparently newly married couples are never suppose to be put in the HJ seats because it would be like saying there is no I between the two. And the pronunciation of "I" sounds just like "ai" (love) in Japanese. So we wouldn't want there to be no "ai" between the new couple.

This is the place I took back to Sacramento from San Francisco. I sat next to a United Pilot and we talked about becoming a pilot, Japan and religion. It was fun.

This is a picture of the Bay Area from my camera.

The Golden Gate bridge is swallowed up in clouds.

I didn't make a podcast for day 91, so here is a video clip from the train station in Nagoya as I was waiting to go to the airport.

Thanks for listening and reading my blog! Please leave a comment if you have questions or would like to contact me.

Day 91

Days 83 - 90 - Yokohama, Akihabara, Mt Fuji and Hakone

These are my kanko (sight seeing) and play pictures from my last week in Japan. During Obon I was able to stay with a friend.

Day 84: Seeing Yokohama
Last year a picture of this roller coaster was in our accounting text book so we made a promise that if I ever got to go to Yokohama then we will ride it together. We got to ride it!

The roller coaster is called the Vanish because it dives under ground while a fountain of water flies upward.

Land mark tower building in Yokohama.

Chukagai in Yokhohama, this is China town and very famous.
You have to get a nikuman if you go.

Visited a shrine that had amazing stone carved on the outside.

Day 85: Karaoke
I went to karaoke with my friend's parents in the evening. Her dad and I wore our yukata and geta slippers. It was a lot of fun.

















Day 86:

Made a trip to Akihabara. This is the first view of Akihabara after getting out from the eki.

We went to a Maid Cafe called めいどINジャパン(Maid in Japan - nice pun eh?). It was a long wait, about 45 minutes to get in. It was mostly guys that were there but including my friend there were 4 girls. There were a lot rules; like you couldn't take any pictures inside and you couldn't call the maid by her name. You could play a video game against one of the maids for about 400 yen or a little basketball game. You could also pay about the same amount and request a song for one of the maids to sing. We ordered parfaits and just talked. It was kind of a creepy atmosphere and I don't think I would ever want to go back again but it was fun to go once (I wouldn't go without someone).

Since we couldn't take pictures of the maids, I took a picture of the outside banner. They all wear these outfits.

In the evening we went out to kaiten zushi. This is my chawan mushi.

Fireworks during Obon.

Day 87: Going to Mt. Fuji

We went on tour bus to Mt. Fuji. It stopped at several places. The first stop was near the base of Mt. Fuji at a flower garden.

Tour bus ladies told jokes, history and kept us entertained during the trip.

Mt. Fuji from the halfway point, the bus only goes halfway.

Budogariya - all you can eat grapes (for 30 minutes)


Day 89: Going to Hakone
The above picture is a sign for Hakone at the Eki.

Another sign at Hakone showing times.

We took this picture on top of one of the mountains the rope way took us to.

This is a picture of boiled black eggs on top of the mountain. They didn't taste special.

We took one of the above ship across the lake.

Look! I see land!

There was a shrine in the water.

Day 90: Eel for dinner

A close up picture of the eel we all got. It was pretty dang good!

Days 83 - 90

Day 82 - Last day in Aichi Prefecture

This podcast goes over my last day in Aichi prefecture and leaving to take my journey to Yokohama. This the last recording I made in Komaki.

I talk about the last three days, what happened on Friday, Saturday and today.

The picture to the left is where I spent the last 3 months in the dormitory. It was a really fun place and I enjoyed it. Good food, good times and good buddies.










This picture to the left is at the bus stop right before leaving to take the bus to the kasugai train station.

The above picture is at the kasugai train station.

The above picture is my pita from McDonalds. After I bit into, I found two dark hairs cooked into the pita! It was gross, almost made me lose my appetite! I showed it to the people at the counter and they gave me a new one and the manager apologized.

Day 82

Day 81 - Catching Fish

Obon has started! One of my co-workers invited me to dinner with her friends. The traffic was crazy, it seemed like everyone from the city has come to the country. We went to this crazy restaurant where you get to catch your own fish.
The picture to the left is one of the fish I caught. The crazy thing is that it was still moving even after they skinned it and served it to us.

The audio where I talk about this place is on day 82.

Inside this restaurant there was a boat surrounded by water. Our room was on the side of the watery area and we could fish directly from the room.

We could choose how we wanted to the fish served. This plate has the sushi I requested. We also got sashimi, friend, boiled and fish in a salad.

This is me posing to catch a fish. I had actually already caught it. Those fish don't go easy, it was moving all of the place and got me nice and wet.

Here is the group of us. (and the poor fish)

Day 80 - Last day of work

Here are some pictures from my last day at Daifuku.

The picture to the left is the team I worked with downstairs. They are a fantastic group!

The audio for this is on Day 82.

We drove the above Prius (a company car) to Gifu. This was actually my first time driving in a Prius.

Went to lunch with with 2 people from the somu department and met my Japanese teacher from BYU. I am standing next to my awesome Japanese sensei from BYU.

Last picture of the building I worked in.

Day 79 - Last day of actual work, the beginnings of tsukemono, shabu shabu

In the podcast I talk about the place my Japanese boss took me out to dinner, the other kensyuseitachi helping me out with my essay and where tsukemono started.

My Japanese boss took me to a unique restaurant and we had what is called Shabu. I had never had this before. It sort of a yaki niku place but the meat served was very thinly sliced portions which could easily be boiled and eaten immediately.

You can order from this and get your fortune! Of course the fortune telling cost money.

The magical pot I talk about in my podcast which boils.

Last group of kensyuseitachi that I was able to make friends with.

Day 79

Day 78 - Darts Taikai, Sobetsukai, Japanese company stuff

This podcast like many others was done at 1 AM. I talk about the Darts Taikai and my sobetsukai.

The Darts Taikai was some thing they started doing last year. I talk about the tournament and how I did and my partner.

We used real darts. I talked about






My sobetsukai was a sweet experience for me. I wish I had more time to prepare a speech or some thing. I didn't take any pictures because my camera batteries died during the darts taikai. Almost everyone that had helped with my internship came. In the podcast I talk about what it was like.

Day 78