what amazing friends...

... i have!!! :) this weekend i went to visit covenant acres. we went out for chinese buffet (ew) and laid around camp. i started a fire, which the boys said was crappy, so they finished for me! at least i know HOW to build one, regardless of anyone else's opinions. i also hung out on the dock with some favorite people-- we saw FOUR shooting stars :) that's one of my favorite things about camp... golly i'm going to miss it like crazy this next year!!

THEN on saturday we had one final reunion/ housewarming/ see ya later shindig. most of my fav people were at ash's house; including a surprise of Lynz and Andy!! :) :) my friends are seriously too good to me... below is a picture of the cake ash had made. she asked the lady to do some research for a japan-themed cake! apparently it says "goodbye" and you can clearly see the outline of the country and a replica of the japanese flag.

ash also got my friends to contribute little notes/ cards/ etc. there are 100 of them in the bag they gave me; one a day to open and treasure. i'm soooooooo very grateful :) the day yesterday was filled with girl-time, enjoying the state park in ash's backyard and laughing together!!

new music fascination [obsession?]

i have listened to matt wertz "everything in between" about 24 times in the last 24 hours. it's absolutely wonderful and keeps bringing new significance to the lyrics each time i hear the songs. these in particular are amazing:

"i will not take my love away, when praises cease and seasons change. while the whole world turns the other way, i will not take my love away. i will not leave you all alone, when striving leads you far from home. and there's no yield for what you've sown, i will not leave you all alone"

yesterday i visited allen at oceanwood which was wonderful. friday through sunday is my last shindig with college friends. i'm spending the night at camp on friday [hoping to see some shooting stars from america to tide me over the next year :)]!! it could be a bit of a tear jerker to leave on sunday, but i know the memories will help as i adjust to life in japan.

Less than 3 weeks......... i've been packing and re-packing. weighing and re-weighing suitcases. and making list after list of stuff to take or that i still need to buy. the whole "indoor" shoes thing threw me through a loop for a bit, but i think we got it all sorted out :) perhaps the trickiest part still to come is figuring out where to exchange my dollars for Yen... i know i can do it in Tokyo, but i'm wondering if somewhere in the states would have less of a surchage.

speaking of Tokyo, i'm hopefully going to meet a new friend there during orientation. her name is Nana and she's almost definitely going to be living IN MY HOUSE for the year that i'm in japan. she called us the other night to work out details; it seems almost TOO ironic to be going around the world only to have someone come here from around the world to live with my family for a year!! i hope it all works out-- adventures for us all :)

this is my new gear-- Himi is going to be RAINY!!

less than 1 month!!

ahhhhhhh it's getting incredibly close to take-off... i can hardly believe i have 27 days before i'm gone from america for an entire year. i've added some pictures of my apartment, which i stole off linda (my predecessor)'s online site. i'm sure once i arrive i'll be taking lots of photos myself and will post pictures with my own decor added. for now, though, it's fun to have a basic idea of what it is going to be like!

a few random tidbits from my mind [i got inspired reading linda's blog and figured i better get in the habit of substantial updates now while life isn't so terribly busy yet!]:

*for an early christmas "present" :) from mom and dad, i ordered a pair of silk long-johns and some rain pants and a jacket. i hear it's super rainy in the fall and will be again next summer in july. i figured it's better to feel sort of goofy riding my bike in a rainsuit than to end up at school every day drenched to the skin. i'm sure it'll provide entertainment for others and make me a lot more comfortable as i travel...

*while in japan i have some international duties to fulfill-- this includes being maid of honor to my lovely college roommate ashley, who will be getting married 3 weeks after i arrive back in the states next summer. it's pretty nuts to consider the timing of everything. yesterday we (and lauren, our suitemate and my wonderful friend!) went dress shopping so i could pick a gown before i won't have access to david's bridal anymore. the whole time was FUN and i'm thrilled we could have that time together before i'm gone.

*i recently cut off 8 inches of my hair to donate to "beautiful lengths" which is an organization which gives hair to women going through chemo. it was quite a traumatic experience but i'm loving it now. i'm actually hoping my super strawberry blond-ness will be less of a japanese spectacle since it's not 2/3 the way down my back anymore!! :)

*enjoy the pics... my kitchen...

my living room...?? or something... :)