Fare thee well

And so Heath, the last of the American exchange students left today to head back to America. Cody left on Monday and Brian left last Friday. So our little group of exchange students has been halved - now only the kiwis and the Aussies remain...

So what's been happening these last few weeks...a shit load has happened I can tell you that much. I won't go into all the details (as perhaps some of said details should be kept to myself...hehe) but suffice to say its been one helluva few weeks.

The official fairwell party for the Americans was two Saturdays ago...yes an emotional/drunken fairwell as is the usual. Nothing special really...just talking and drinking...here are photos as I can't really be bothered going into much detail here...


Here are the said Americans (Cody in the cap, Heath in the Ball State jumper and Brian in the black) making their heartfelt fairwell speeches...yes...twas emotional...not that I have any idea what was said because I was too busy drinking...


Many a Japanese friends...I know them all...I think...well...I recognise them anyway...

Anyway...despite that being the farewell party for the American guys, it was a relatively light night of drinking (relative being the key word there)...which is a good thing as well because the next morning...at abt 6am...the Americans, me, Hitomi and Takeshi were headed to Hakodate for a day trip. Suffice to say, I was quite buggered but...it was a genuine, fun, sober trip. Met up with Jeric as well, whom I haven't seen since his fairwell party in Febuary (where he was smashed beyond belief)...he's doing well...and his Japanese skills is pretty damn good I must admit...a helluva difference from how things were back in J4...haha...but then again methinks thats the case for everyone on ICS atm...anyway...enough chatter..more photos...


Some sorta landmark in Hakodate...birthplace of some famous dude...I dunno...pretty though...


Here's Hakodate tower...a lot of towers in Japan...hmm...perhaps this is the Japanese way of compensating for something lacking in the physical department...ne??


Here's us sitting in La Pierrot - a Hakodate exclusive burger chain and man...the burgers here...holy shit...rival anythin thats in America...from front to back we have...Brian, Takeshi, me, Cody, Jeric and Heath...


The "Futocho" burger...yes...it tastes as good as it looks...everytime you order one...a worker comes out ringing this cow bell, congratulating you on your purchase and gives this long winded, polite speech thanking you for taking on the 'Futocho"...and I will bow down and call anyone master if they can eat that monstrosity with their hands, keep everything in and keep clean as well...go on...I dare you...I double dare you...


Here's the crew (left to right - Takeshi, Brian, Hitomi, Cody and Heath) standing outside this huge ass christmas tree imported from Canadia (yes I realise what I've said and I stand by it...)

And so the Americans have gone back now...Brian and Cody to Nebraska...Heath to Indiana. We've had our ups and downs but all in all...it's been real...Life in Sapporo will sure be different without these fools around messing things up. And as sad as it is to see these guys go, the even sader fact is the realisation that my time here is almost up. The new year is almost upon us...and only about 2 months left before I return to Sydney. I better make the most of my time here while I still can...