I'm Going Home for Christmas!

Finally, after wrangling with various booking companies and airlines, I've managed to book some tickets back to the UK! It's such a relief! Quite possibly the best Christmas present from my parents ever...

I'm going to fly with JAL (Japan Airlines), leaving from Tokyo Narita Airport at 11:45am on Wednesday 21st December (2 weeks from the day I'm writing this, eeee :D), arriving at London Heathrow at 3:25pm, before switching to a BMI flight to Manchester, leaving at 6:40pm, and arriving at 7:45pm! I'm then going to get the Transpennine Express train to Leeds, so I should arrive there between 9:30 and 10pm. From there I'll get picked up by my parents and Ayu and go back to Otley :)

I can't properly express just how excited I am to be going home! As much as I'm enjoying Japan, I still feel like I need a couple of weeks back in Blighty as a little respite from this crazy, crazy country! It'll be so amazing to see everybody again, too. I don't have loads of plans crammed into every day, I just want a nice, quiet Christmas with the people who mean the most to me :)

I'm flying back to Japan on Sunday the 8th of January, leaving Manchester at 4pm, and eventually arriving in Tokyo at 4pm the next day (it's not a 24 hour flight; time difference...).

うれしい〜!

James

Tomorrow I Leave For Japan

Yes, it's come.  It's been a few years in the making, but the time has finally come.  Early tomorrow morning, my parents and Ayu will take me to Manchester Airport to meet Ash, and then the two of us will fly on to Tokyo.

My bag is (nearly!) packed, the goodbyes have been said, I've been out for a last drink at The Junction with Mum, Dad and Ayu.  All that is left to do now is have The Last Supper.  I requested a full roast, with chicken, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, cabbage and gravy.  As usual, Mum has delivered and I can smell it now; it smells delicious.

It's been a strange day.  I've felt a mixture of excitement, nerves, and sadness.  Ayu came over at about 9 this morning, and we've been out to shop for some last bits and bobs, had my passport photos taken, as required by ICU, put some money in my account, had my hair cut, packed most of my bag, and printed off some photos of us to take.  

After dinner we'll hopefully have a relaxing evening after such a hectic day, as well as pack the last few things into my suitcase.  

This will be my last post in England, so the next time you hear from me on here will be from Tokyo!  I look forward to seeing some of you in Japan, but most of you next year...have a good one!  I'll be on Facebook (most of the time, as ever) so I look forward to being able to keep in touch with the people who are important to me!

For now, goodbye; speak to you from Tokyo!

James