My 100th blog entry for Japan arrives on my final day in my house. I am allowed to sleep here one more night which is a relief because I don’t know what else I would do just yet. I cleaned like crazy only to find I could stay a little longer. That just means I can do a little more. There were some areas that I passed over. So lets see…work is finished, enkais are finished, packing is almost finished. Tom, Tom, Luke and Dec have all headed home and Gisela has moved to Ono. I feel like the last man standing so to speak. Seeing my friends go one by one has been really difficult. I wish that I had left first instead I will be here meeting all the new people. I would rather not be doing this because I don’t want to meddle in their lives too much. Its better when people just turn up and figure things out for themselves. I have a new neighbour now. All comments withheld on that one. I have had a 6 day nose bleed for some reason but I got it cauterized which was a sweet relief. I was getting so tired all the time. I just wanted to close my eyes all the time. It could be the heat, who knows. Anyways, it’s stopped now. It’s hard for me to remember what has been happening recently. I have been to Kiso a million times visiting Dec before he left and celebrating my birthday. I had a good one by the way, although I have been informed that I am now slightly pasted marrying age prime. Haha! We drank champagne and dressed as pirates. Good memories. Thanks for the party! There were a few festivals and some lunches with students and friends. I had a birthday dinner with the Dental Hospital people, which was nice. Ever since work finished, I have been really busy. It doesn’t feel like a vacation. It has also been really emotional with everyone leaving. I hope I can keep in touch with all the important people. I am trying to gather addresses and emails and such. I am also trying not to spend all my money so I will have a bit to take home. Moving from other countries is expensive! I may need to seek employment when I arrive home. Speaking of my arrival home, I am thinking of reactivating the Lent foods ban. I don’t want to start eating all that fatty stuff again or I will get horrible heart burn everyday. Therefore, the following items will once again be illuminated: pop, chips, chocos, and beer. I think a month of sobriety when I arrive home wouldn’t be out of line either. Let’s go out for tea people!

I haven’t written for a while. A quick update. I’ll be hone next Friday. It is hotter then belief here right now. It was about 37 degrees today. Sweat runs through my hair constantly. I am desperately trying to get the last of minute stuff done. Here are a few pictures of recent events. Too much time has passed for me to give an accurate update of what I have been up too. First picture is of my junior high school enkai. That's my crazy drunken staff. The next few pictures are of this crazy pets places I have been recently. There was a crazy cat house where you could pay an admission price and sit with a bunch of cats in a house. There was also a dog rental place next door. I think that is so weird and wrong. Then there is a picture of my town festival with my students. We all wore yukata and hung out on the street. Then there is a picture of atara ravine where we like to go swimming. The last photo is of the nice sunset I saw at the Suwa fireworks festival. The show was amazing. I have been doing loads of homestays and such. I went out to that one with my co-worker. I'll try and do one more before I leave but I don't know if there will be time or anything to report. See you all soon!