Just changing islands

Listening to: random background music at the Black Drop
Currently drinking: Finally... my favorite drink ever: Level 10 Fireball


This is from last week, but I didn't have time to publish it ^^

Sitting on the island right now, just finished a delicious omelet breakfast with the Captain, now just relaxing, drinking mimosas, and getting a little bit of my blog on. As many of you know, I had my final day in Japan this last Sunday and then flew back home at four in the morning on Monday. Julia and Amanda (well mostly Julia) pulled an all nighter with me and helped me to stay awake for the following 23 hours of travel… yikes.

The departing flight was actually set to leave around 9:20am, but we had to get to the airport about two hours early to get through customs and check baggage and all the other things that accompany international travel. On a side note: I was actually a lot calmer this flight because I was actually flying part of the way home with friends from school instead of making a complete solo trip. Holly was set to travel with me for the first flight, and then we were to split off for our respective country flights. Both of us had chosen Air China for just one reason, the flights were incredibly cheap, and boy did I, at least, figure that out. The flight from Nagoya, Japan to Beijing, China was surprisingly uneventful. Of course, there was a tad bit of turbulence, but in comparison to my flight here, it was like a whole other world of travel. The food wasn't bad either…. just kind of average.

We landed at Beijing airport right on time, and were expected to once again go through security and customs for our longer international flights. Honestly, the impression I got of China was less than fantastic. The air was completely smoggy, I could barely see anything, and everything seemed very closed up. Security was tighter than Kirstie Alley's spandex and employees were about as friendly as a pack of hyenas. The wait for my second flight got extended by about two hours due to "traffic" on the tarmac. My flight was supposed to leave around 3:50 and didn't actually take off until 7 o'clock. But, you know, I was expecting a lot worse. The actual flight itself was, although full of screaming, crying babies, quite nice. We didn't have our own personal televisions like when I flew with ANA, but the plane was huge, and service was… alright. I was fortunate in the fact that I didn't have to sit next to anyone weird or any obnoxious children, just a really quiet teenage kid from Canada. I brought several things to do: movies for my laptop, a nice, thick Japanese magazine to read, sudoku, etc… but mostly I just slept.

I finally arrived in Vancouver around 1:30pm, I was supposed to get in about 11:30 but oh well, got off the airplane and headed down to grab my checked baggage. I had to wait, yet again, a ridiculous amount time. It took about forty minutes for my bag to come out (it actually ended up being the second to last one). Needless to say, I was a little aggravated, but I made it. I got through 23 hours of traveling without any major incident, my bags made it home, and I was mostly in complete health (a little sick from jet lag though). I made my way throughout the greetings door and the first person to meet me there was the Captain. I won't say it was like some romantic comedy greeting, you know, where the girl runs and jumps on the guy and makes out with him while sobbing as he gives her this giant bouquet of flowers, but it was really, REALLY nice.

I'm happy to be home, I already have a little ache in my heart for Japan, but it makes it easier being out on the island. For my friends from NUFS, here are a few pictures of where I've been for the past few days =D

Hot chocolate, not coffee, but still delicious! 

Canadian geese

In other news, I have reason to believe that Life, Love, and Lattes might not be over just yet... I will keep you posted <3

Thant's all for now and Lattes of Love!

... and back again

Listening to: A Very Potter Musical by Starkid Potter
Currently drinking: zomg had a giant four shot mocha to stay up T.T thanks Starbucks!

As promised I am writing one last blog post for everyone :) Here I sit, just about two hours left until I'm on my way to the airport and eventually home. This last week has been a blast, we did lots of fun things around Nagoya and school, but mostly I just relaxed. I'm always really bad at goodbyes, I basically just spend the entire time blubbering and wishing I didn't have to, so instead I'd just like to say goodbye to all I-house and Proxy people via my blog:

To all of the wonderful friends I've made at NUFS,
These past five months have been so amazing. When I first came here I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to stay, but with everyone's support, I made the decision not to leave. I've had a fantastic time, all the excursions, all the study nights, parties, and just sitting around... it's all been great. I want to write about each and every individual person, but I don't have enough time, so instead I'll just say thank you, seriously. I feel like I've grown so much these past five months, and it's all due to you. To my special ladies on the upstairs floor, I will love you always, you are my bebes and I can't wait to come visit you!

Soooooo here are just a few pictures for the rest of you. My last few days in Japan, I will miss it greatly.... *tear*

Here's to my ladies <3 I love you all so much, I am actually going to post one more about the flight back and give an update from home, so this isn't the final goodbye ^^

Lattes of love ~ Shawesome

One week

Listening to: Judas by Lady Gaga
Currently drinking: had the usual this afternoon with Amanda


Argh! I promised you I would blog over the weekend, but technically it's now Monday... I'm so sorry! I've been trying to go over what I want to write about over the past few weeks and pretty much been coming up with nothing. I think part of the reason I haven't been able to write is because my mind refuses to acknowledge the fact that I will be leaving Japan; it's not happening... it's not happening.

So anyway, here I sit with two of the best girls in the entire world, listening to random music and giggling at Rage Comics while pretending to study, the usual night in I-house. I've done quite a lot over the past few weeks, mostly in and around Nagoya, and have been thoroughly enjoying what little time I have left here (seeing as I finished all my major school projects about three weeks ago). Mostly, I've just been eating as much delicious Japanese food as possible and heading out on random shopping excursions for last minute "must haves" for friends and family back home.

This last Saturday I headed out to Gifu, about one prefecture over from Aichi, with Amanda and Jessica to visit our friend Yayoi and her family. To tell the truth, I'm a little ashamed that this is only my first visit to a Japanese friend's hometown, house, work, etc... but at least I got to experience it once before I leave the country. The schedule consisted of: eating delicious Hawaiian food, good ol' fashion bargain shopping, visiting Gifu's fire station, purikura, mall time, and a delicious (and free) traditional Japanese dinner at Yayoi's restaurant. Pictures ensuing... enjoy =D

Finished the night off with some DE-LICIOUS Starbucks of course ^^

Well, my time is almost up, and I really, REALLY don't want to think about it... it's just too sad. Everything has flown by in a flash, seriously, one semester is just not long enough and I would strongly advise anyone looking to study abroad to go for a full year. Thankfully, I do plan on coming back to Japan, most likely as an English teacher, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the years to come. 

I don't really plan on updating this week (I may if I get bored at some point), but I do plan on giving one last update the night before my flight, and possibly on my layover in China. I don't really want to say it (tears might be welling up in my eyes right now), but after that, LL&L will be no more.... *sigh* 

Here's to a bittersweet goodbye... love you lattes <3 Shawesome