Kelly had a party of her first photo exhibition on the 21st in Fukusaki. It was at a local cafe place that was small but nice. There were more than 10 pictures that she took. It was so nice. I knew she liked taking pictures and wanted to be a photographer, but I didn't know she is so good. I like her works, especially nature photograghs. It was really really good, and I understood why she was so good when I visited her place. Her fatehr is a professional nature photogragher. She had many his works in her room. His photos were so good and she leaned special skills from him. So I think she will be a good photographer. :)

The party was also her goodby party. We can meet again when she is back from her trip, so I was not so sad, but I don't want to think she is leaving. That night I went to another goodby party. It was Mac's at Tiger. I didn't know he was leaving so soon. He was the first gaijin who I talked with outside of my English school. It was a long time ago, but I still remember it clearly. I feel I say goodby every month, still I can't get used to do it.

On July 16 Shell organized a party for me. It was my birthday! I had no idea who was coming and where we would go. (I knew only one person because Brandon sent me a mail saying 'See you on Monday.' haha) I met with Shell, Miki and Kazuyo in front of a station and they took me somewhere. On our way there I could guess. It was Okinawa bar. I had been to the place, but it was always full and I couldn't have drinks, so I really wanted to go. Good choice Shell. When we got to the place, Reza, Brandon and Kyosuke was already there, soon Makoto also came. The place was so nice. We could have nomihoudai drinks and a lot of food. I love Okinawan food. And the BGM was The Boom, my favorite group! It was perfect for me. I LOVE that place.:)

One hour later one peoson was still late. I had no idea who was coming, and when I heard the name, I was really surprised. It was Igor. He came all the way from Kyoto. Unfortunately JR was late because of the earthquake and some train accident, and it was national holiday so he had to go back earlier. He apologized for being late, but he didn't need to worry. It was good to see him there. Thank you for coming, Igor.

The party was great. I got many many nice presents! Shell made a brithday cake for me! She made it by herself at Reza's place. Thank you! And we got a botlte of sparkling wine from the people of the bar. I hadn't opened a bottle of wine with a cork, but a birthday girl had to open it. I tried and did it, and at the same time Kazuyo said 'ahhhh!'. I didn't know why but I realized the cork hit her after hitting the ceiling. Sorry! I wanted to eat and drink more, but I was too drank, so I couldn't eat Shell's cake. (Reza ate my cake instead of me. haha)

It was a wonderful night. Thank you for coming. Love you all!!

Here is another fun trip. I went to Hiroshima with Jennifer, Kanako and Brandon July 1st. I was worring something happened during this trip, and it happened from the very begining. I got to Reza's place to pick them up at 9 am, just on time for our meeting time. I rang the bell but no one answered. I opened the door, there was onlyTsuyoshi at the entrance, Brandon had just woke up because of the door bell, Kanako had not arrived there, and Jenny was missing! Her sandals were there but Tsuyoshi said he couldn't find her in the house. Few minites later she appeared, she had been taking a shower, so Tsuyoshi couldn't had checked it. haha I drove all the way for Hiroshima. Jenny and Brandon slept in the back sheet. Kanako and I was excited to talk about gossip, then we noticed the sign that said Miyajima. Miyajima is to the west of Hiroshima. Ohh, we passed through Hiroshima! No one noticed. We lost one hour. Sorry.

In Hiroshima we checked in the hotel first. It was a nice Japanese room which had a small garden, far better than Tokyo one that I booked. Well done Kanako. After we had a rest for a short time, we walked to Peace Memorial Museum. It was the 3rd time to go there for me, so I thought I knew many things about the museum, but acctually I could'nt answer the questions from Jennifer. She asked me about Sino-Japanese war, Russian-Japanese war or many other stuff that weren't explained on the notice. I don't know anything about my own country. Ashamed! As you know the place was depressing, so we didn't talk anything after we left there., and we had another reason why we didn't talk. We were starving!! So we went to Okonomiyaki restrant. It was nice. We got full and recovered from the sadness.

After taking a nap at the hotel, we went out for drinking. That night was so fun. We went to 3 bars and got drank. I tryed Irish wisky at an Irish pub, it was nice, of course with water for me tho. I tryed straight just one sip, the taste was much better than the one with water. I was so drank and really needed to sleep because I had to drive next day. But the song "one more drink!" started, then Kanako and Jenny went to another bar. They didn't come back until 4:30 am. It was a heavy rain with lightning and thundering. I was getting worried, but I didn't need to worry. When they came back, they were laughing and saying 'I don't know what I am doing!' They were totally FINE.

Next day it was rainig, Jennifer had a hunover and Brandon had a bit too. They slept in the back sheet on my car on our way to Miyajima. But Kanako was so genki. I had no idea how she could deal with alcohol. We got to Miyajima and took a boat to Miyajima Irand. When we got there, it stopped raining. It was already 1 hour late for the highest tide time, but the gate was still floating on the sea. Phew! 4 hangover people went to Itsukushima shrine, prayed there and then went into the sea and walked to the gate!! haha I had been there 3 times but never had done like that. We maneged to jumped into other tourist's pictures. We would be introduced as crazy people. haha

It was a fun and nice trip, thanks guys. It was also the last trip with Jennifer. She flew for London 3 days later. I wanted to talk about this trip with her but didn't have enough time. It was sad, but still good we went there togather. Take care Jennifer and see you soon.

Tiger had Jennifer's leaving party on last Friday. It was the last time to say good by to her for most our friends, because the leaving party that we had been planning for her on Saturday secretly was canceled. We knew she didn't like being the center of a party. It was her decision, so we should agree with her, but we just wanted to do something for her! (or for US??) Anyway we gathered at Tiger and had a nice time. I couldn't believe she was leaving here soon.

At that night Reza invited us to go to a beer garden next day, so shell and I went there after seeing Japanese arts at a museum on Saturday. We thought Jen was working, but she was at a beer garden with Reza and Tsuyoshi. Reza convinced her to have drinks at a beer garden instead of working on her last weekend in Japan. Kanako and I tried to convince her to have her leaving party many times, but not conpleted. Well done Reza!! Kyosuke and Branden was also there. (Poor Kanako didn't know the plan. Sorry!) Drinks and foods were nice, and we talked about many fun stuff like a polar bear, a penguin and a crocodile. haahaa It was a really nice time. I wanted to go for another drinks with them, but I gave up because I was going to Hiroshima with Jen, Kanako and Brandon next day by car, so I should sleep well. I decided to go there in that week. I knew it was gonna be 3 years in a row. I went to Hiroshima too often, but still like it. So next my blog is about Hiroshima. :)