2 weeks in Japan

２週間のお休みから戻って参りました。

I am back from my home leave. This time I decided not to see any friends and just focus on "me" and "healing". But, as usual I ended up filling two weeks with quite a few things.

Some of the highlights:

• Went to Ishikawa for a hot spring/spa with my family (minus my middle sister)
• Firework festival with my youngest sister (I love love fireworks! Canadian ones are never good enough as far as I am concerned)
• Had some sort of reunion barbecue party with my NGO internship friends after 10(!!) years.
• My parents 60 year (Kanreki) celebration dinner at a lovely restaurant which was the only full family member event (my middle sister is always busy)

Other things include, going to a swimming pool, art exhibition, cinema, cemetery, shopping and hair-cut (I had my hair permed this time!!)

こんな物を買ったコーナー：

シンプルなワンピース２枚（秋口にも着られるようなやつよ）

文庫本７冊とマクロバイオテックのお料理の本

ルスポの旅行カバン（過去３年くらい悩んでいて買わなかったけど、今回は友達にあると便利よ〜と言われてついに買った）

日本食４千円相当-もっと欲しかったけど重量オーバーが懸念され我慢

梅酒

バーゲンで遅ればせながら夏のサンダル（ゴールドメタリックな色でも大人しめのデザイン）

５本指靴下６足！（現地スタッフの友人へのお土産）

お化粧品多少（美白エッセンスも）とランコムの香水

ユニクロと無印良品の品（無印は好きでNYでもイタリアでも２割増の値段なのにいつも何か買ってしまう）

１９００円のiPodのミニスピーカー

今回はあまり買い物するつもりなかったのに、日本には可愛くて綺麗なものがたくさんで誘惑が多いな〜と思った。でも円高なのでお金はあまり使えませんがね。

It was extremely hot in Kyoto. Around 35-37 degrees everyday and it felt like I was in a mild version of sauna. We had to make an emergency visit to my grand mother who lives in Okayama, because she was hospitalized due to a severe dehydration. She is already released from a hospital but it is worrisome. (she was physically weak when we saw her, but she was luckily mentally quite strong- she asked my youngest sister whether she will get married or not. My sister answered "we should let M go first" and then my grandma said "I can't count on her (oh no she has already given up on me!!)"

I was still dealing with a residue of things and could not relax completely. However, it is always nice to see my family and spend time with them. I am a bit scared of going to the office in Monday but I will (try to )stay positive!!

日本のお友達、連絡もしなくて本当にごめんね。次回の帰国時には是非会って下さい！