Day 9 - Kobe to Tokyo
N and I parted ways early this morning -- she on her way to Nanjing and me on my way back to Tokyo to stay with my "host mom and dad".
I flew to Haneda and made my way into Matsudo. T, A, and A's gf M picked me up at the station... it was so good to see my friends again! The station hadn't changed one bit. As we rode around the station to pick up T's wife, I looked around for buildings and stores that I could recognize. Of course there was Mos Burger and smaller stores I recognize, but the big difference was the new UNIQLO and the new family restaurant. But I think the biggest change was the digital screens in the trains of the Yamanote line! These screens showed you where you presently are, what line you are taking, how long it will take to get to the other stations on that line, AND it was written in both Japanese AND ENGLISH!
Its a bit easier now for foreign travelers to find their way around the city, but if you try to talk to someone, they'll still look at you with a blank face :P
I was so happy to see them that even though I was so tired, I managed to joke around with them with so much ease... the Japanese just came out without any effort. Everyone looked the same ... maybe a bit older. T got a bit chubbier. A looked a bit more healthier and not so tired... I found out later that he was still acting and being a comedian. It was good to see that he was still working on his dream and doing something he absolutely loves to do.
It was "on the desk" and "because I see you" and other strange jokes all the way home. We jumped out at いちご公園 and I hugged お母さん. I think I startled her... :P
We moved my suitcase to my room (S's room) upstairs and all sat down to dinner. T and M went out to pick up gyoza and we sat around the table catching up on everything and everyone.
お父さん came home and we continued to eat and drink :)
Tomorrow was our trip to Kusatsu so we ended the night with my おみやげ and a recap of the week to come...
