Return to the Golden Coast (Take 2)

As a big finish to the end of the busiest month since my arrival, the Takko Jr High group finally embarked on their trip to Gilroy. This trip marked the end of straight three months away from home - the longest period of time I have ever been away. Yes, I'm 23 years old, but I have never lived anywhere besides the Bay Area and Japan was my first big move away from home. For 88 days, I watched my countdown clock slowly tick away the days until it finally read less than 24 hours to go. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying my time here...it's just that some things are pulling my interest back home from time to time.

Just like the last trip, my time at home was being governed by a strict schedule. It was a reminder that even though I was home, my main focus was work. But unlike last trip, the group I was in charge of included ten 13-14 year old minors, eight of which were boys and crazy ones at that. The goal was to get them from Takko down to Tokyo, over to LA, then up to Gilroy, and then finally back to Japan all in one piece. I should have been more apprehensive at the beginning of the trip, but my excitement to return home was overwhelming and I didn't think twice.

Reunited <3

We got through Japan just fine, but ran into our first bump in the road when one of the students got severely sick on the airplane. It's always been difficult for me to relate to people who have travel sickness, since I'm that person who can read and sit backwards in a moving vehicle. Anyway, despite the glass of wine and one sleeping pill I took, I only got a few hours of sleep to LA, which was okay considering my excitement to get there. Once our plane landed, our group hit the ground running. After immigration, baggage claim and customs, we found our way to our tour guide bus and made the first necessary stop of the trip: In 'N Out (can you tell that I made the schedule?). The kids, of course, thought it was "cho oishii"...but what gets me with Japanese people and American food is that they always think that it's so much food! Okay people, news flash...have you SEEN what they serve at school lunch in Japan? I struggle to finish every time and yet, they can't get a cheeseburger and order of fries down in one sitting. One of the great mysteries of Japan...

We found Mickey!

A trip to LA isn't complete without a visit to the happiest place on earth. Well, we compromised with California Adventures, but it was still great. Japanese rides tend to be on the more mild side, so I knew that even though Disney rides are pretty tame by American standards, these kids would still get a kick out of them. I dragged them onto Tower of Tower, the giant ferris wheel and California Screamin'...twice. And not to sound sexist or anything, but it would have been a completely different experience had the majority of the group been girls. I'm going to pinpoint this moment as the only time it was beneficial to have more boys than girls.

Too good to me :)

We ended our first day in America (and second day of the trip...oh international date line) at the mexican restaurant in the park. Again, is it obvious that I made the schedule? And yet again, while I nearly finished my entire meal of tacos, rice and beans, most of my Japanese companions had trouble cleaning up their plates. After heading back to the hotel (which was located in Little Tokyo of downtown LA), we held our end-of-the-day meeting and everyone was sent off to bed. I, however, was lucky enough to have been greeted by the amazingly wonderful Patrick Foley. How did we spend our evening? Sleeping and then visiting the hotel bar, which turned out to be a very realistic Japanese hostess bar complete with karaoke and the standard wasted Japanese guy.

Yay Santa Monica!

Jessica Brewka:
Future Governator of California

After a brief tour of Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica and Dodger Stadium (which I promptly BEEP BEEP'd as we walked in), we were back on another plane headed to San Jose. Now, keep in mind that the only flights I've been doing lately are international, so I'm used to a good sized plane with at least 5-6 seats per row. You can imagine my lack of enthusiasm when we boarded the tiny island hopper-looking thing and became visibly shaken by the prospect of being propelled through the sky in it. I could tell than even Yasuyo was a bit nervous when she said "Oh shit" as we took our seats.

The freaking island hopper

Thanksgiving nom noms

Of course, we made it to San Jose, and eventually to Gilroy, safely. We met up with the host families at the local fire station and after making sure that everyone was comfortable, I made my getaway for my family's pseudo Thanksgiving.

Family :)

Since I had never truly moved away in my life, I have never missed a major holiday ever. I've always been with family and when I realized that Thanksgiving would be the first holiday I would be away from home, I decided that I couldn't miss out on the food. Because Patrick would be away as well, my family put together an early Thanksgiving meal for both of us. Thank you family!!!

Catch-up dinner

The rest of the time spent with the group was pretty standard. Our days were filled with school visits and tours and "sightseeing" around Gilroy. Of course, a trip to the Outlets is always in order and they all did some damage while we were there. When the official business of touring schools and giving presentations were over, we all took a day trip to San Francisco on Saturday and then enjoyed an entire free day on Sunday.

Sharks Game :)

My duties ended approximately at 6pm everyday. Besides Thanksgiving with my family, I also got to spend some time with my friends, watched some World Series games, met Patrick's grandfather and went on a real-life date with Patrick for the first time since...well, Tokyo! The entire evening remained a surprise up until the last few minutes before. I was instructed to follow the GPS navigation system directions as it lead me to downtown San Jose to the Crowne Plaza hotel. From there, I was told to bring a jacket as we would be out for a few hours. When I overheard him call for a taxi to take us to the HP Pavilion, I knew exactly what we were up to that evening. That night I enjoyed my first Sharks game on the lower level. Patrick said it was the only way to truly enjoy the game and he is so right. The lower concourse has way better food, nicer bartenders and shorter bathroom lines. Not only did we spend the game in style, we also beat the Ducks (but not without 7-8 fights throughout the game...it was a lively one!). The next morning I woke up to another surprise, but this one being far more beautiful...an ending to a very lovely date.

Thithtur stopped by Pier 39

And like all endings to great trips like this, we had a tearful good bye as the group loaded into the bus and headed to SFO. Eighteen hours of travel later, I finally arrived back in Takko in my very cold apartment. Apparently it had snowed in the mountains while we were gone and it sure felt like it when we returned. I had unwillingly traded in the 75 degree Californian weather for near freezing temperatures in northern Japan. I believe that I have been quoted as saying that it would never be cold in Takko. I knew I would be wrong and I'm living the proof right now.

So in order to be as predictable as possible, I've started the new countdown: 37 days until my return to America for the holidays. As Miranda of SATC says, I need an end point. It helps me to have limits. (Yes, I need new TV on DVD...please feel free to send them)

In Other News... Patrick leaves for BCT on November 8th, so Operation Daily Letter Writing commences next week. I'll be keeping a total count on this blog to help keep me focused. Japan Post and I are going to become great friends.

Coming Up... My daily Takko routine has slowly come back to order. Japanese dance classes, volleyball games and weekend invitations are back in the game, including two invites to "happyokai", or kindergarten school festivals. I've had the extreme pleasure of watching both of them practice (including a jump rope/hula hoop routine to a Japanese rendition of Livin' La Vida Loca...videos to come).


Fun Fact... While at a California Adventure gift shop looking at Nightmare Before Christmas souvenirs, I learned the Japanese word for back scratcher: まごのて, which literally translates to "grandchild's hands". Pretty cute, huh?