Trip to Itami

As Maroondah was coming to Hyogo prefecture's Itami for 2 weeks, I thought I should pay them a visit and also catch up with all the people I knew from Itami. I was told that I was welcome to stay at Takeshi's house (Takeshi who stayed at my house in Australia, and I stayed at his house when I went to Itami 2 years ago). I wanted to get as much time as I could there, but since I also had school, I couldn't take too many days off. So I left the Thursday night with a terrible cold to go on the shinkansen to Osaka. I felt really horrible on the shinkansen and couldn't sleep. Luckily, Takeshi's family came and picked me up and we drove back to Itami. I had school the next day (where I would meet everyone from maroondah) and so I would have to get up early to ride there.

The next day was going to be a trip to Himeji castle, and I was allowed to go with the students there. Himeji was much like it was two years ago, but it was still good to be able to catch up with everyone. Later on we decided to go bowling and I didn't win... But I wasn't as bad as Wozza :P

Wozza was going to go shopping with his host mum on the Saturday morning, and I had no plans (as takeshi had an exam) so I went with them. After eating lunch, I just stepped outside the station and saw all these children all dressed up in uniform and about to cross the road. I took a little closer look and on their blazer was 'National Boys Choir'. I looked around and sure enough, there was everyone from the choir (that I used to be in about 5 years ago). Japan is a huge country, and we just happened to meet like that... Very amazing. So I got their details and when they would be having a concert next and it turned out to be the day I was going home.

On the Sunday, Takeshi and I went to Universal Studios Japan. It was a lot of fun, and I think the best ride was the Jurassic Park. That ride looks very calm, and you get into this little boat thing and float past all these dinosaurs and then the raptors escape. Then suddenly you start climbing this huge slope (which seems to go forever) and then finally there is this huge drop.... And lots of water in the boat! We stayed at USJ for the whole day and had an excellent time!

Monday was back to school and we had another excursion. This one was a trip to the Town Office and it was quite boring. We had a tour of the library (which was closed when we got there) and they explained from the outside what kind of books there are there and also how many books they have. Then there was a look at another building to see their computer room and their science room... We then escaped and went off to a insectorium which had a butterfly house. After eating lunch we then went on this wild goose chase to the beer factory which ended up being in a different spot to where we went, and so we had to walk a long way to get there. Once we finally got there, we saw the way they make the beer and also the tanks and all sorts of things.
We had all organised to go to karaoke after the trip and that was when I got to meet some people from 2 years ago. Erika, Noriko, Mariko and (someone who I forgot his name)... Along with Takeshi, Michael and Wozza. We sang songs from 'Land Downunder' to Japan's Smap. Afterwards we went off to take more Purikura (the photo stickers).

Now we come to the last and final day of my stay in Itami. I had to get to some far away place for the choir concert by about lunch time, but first I wanted to see a little bit of my host-sister's sports day. After spending a little while there we rushed to the station and were on our way. About 5 minutes before the concert started we got there and were just in time. The choir sang most of the songs I knew and also some new Japanese ones which they sang with some other choirs. Since Melbourne and Osaka have a sister-city relationship, the choir was there on behalf of the city and apparently last year some Osaka choirs came to Melbourne to have a concert too.
Thus brings an end to my trip. I then went off to Shin-Osaka Station to catch my shinkansen back to Hamamatsu. I was very happy to have Noriko, Erika and Takeshi to come and see me off. Maybe one day I can get back there again!!