Come....and Gone

Good morning everyone. I have just finished my Saturday, my day off. I feel... kind of sad, to tell the truth.... I didn't do anything today. I was too tired. If I wasn't asleep today, I was wishing I were. I don't know why I'm so tired. I suppose this is what happens if I don't have anything I want to do by Saturday.... I just don't do anything. Part of it I think is that it's too hot to go outside, and if I don't want to stay in the living room with everyone else, I stay in my bedroom... It was nice to have a completely quiet day, though. Sometimes I wish I could just sit and talk to someone (in English, without having to slow down or translate) for hours, about anything and everything that pops into my head. ...Sorry... I'm just sort of rambling... I really do enjoy being here, and being able to experience all of these wonderful things myself! But I do have a bit of advice for anyone who plans to live in another country for more than a few weeks: make sure you know more than a handful of words in the national language!!!!! :)

Well, last night I said I would tell more about the festival we went to yesterday. This festival, in Hamacho, is one of the biggest held in all of Tokyo. If you look at the pictures I have of the past festivals I've been to, put them all together as far as size, and multiply the people attending by about two and a half, then you might can imagine this festival. Most of the things were set up inside a baseball field. The whole field was literally packed with people, so that you could hardly walk! Then there was more on the outside of that!!! The dancing was held on a huge stage, with the drummers about 30 feet up, and the dancing deck below that, and everyone else danced around that in giant circles. I had lots of fun. I also wore the shoes that came with my yukata. I learned that walking in the wooden shoes was easier than walking in my flip-flops when wearing a kimono. They are a little small, but they look better than my black and white polka-dot flip flops. :) It made me feel nice.

Tonight we all watched a Dr. Who episode. Isn't it funny how some things are funner with people who have done them before, and some things are funner with people who don't know what's coming next? It is so fun to sit and listen to all of the guesses as to how a particular episode will end! :D Well, I just finished my cup of hot tea, and tomorrow is Sunday. Do you know how really comforting a cup of familiar tasting hot tea is? A cup of tea, your favorite iTunes play list, and writing (or some other thing you enjoy), are a wonderful combination when you're feeling down. Anyway, I hope you all have a good day! May God bless and keep each one of you.

All my love,

Hannah