Goodbye parties and beyond

Since Rachel is leaving this Friday, the nice Japanese girls put together a "little" shindig for her last night. We went to some sort of resturaunt had ate some and drank some. The usual Japanese party. Although at the beginning of the meal, they brought out a salad. And it was a real salad. Like with croutons, proper lettauce and cheese. Topped off with a ranch-like Cesar dressing. It was possibly the most satisfying food expirience in the past week. I'd be willing to leave so they can throw another going away party and serve a real salad. Originally we had thought that the party was going to be a few friends that Rachel knows really well. But when we saw who came, we realised this is Japan. Their word for friend 友達 (tomodachi) doesn't even require actual friendship. So there ended up being people there that I don't think Rachel had even met before. And a few that maybe she met once or twice. They probably still gave her a message in the card saying "I will miss you so much. Do not forget me". One such fellow was this guy "Ken". Who introduced himself to Holly and I as a "small Japanese man". And then asked us what we thought of Japanese men. Later on he told us that he cannot drink too much without getting really drunk. Big surprise there. He kept on asking us when we would come to his house. Something about someone cooking. Good times. After the party I went with the guys for a few more drinks at a place nearby. Had some manly conversations in Japanese. The usual.

Today when I was changing trains at a station to get home I was thinking about how strange it was that I am actually used to Tokyo subways and trains. I don't know what I will do without them next year. I think I may have to make the inside of my car resemble the Yamanote line complete with ads. Then I can annouce stops I will be making and the transfers available at those stops. And of course I will have signs up discouraging Japanese men from groping women during rush hour.