Amigos – Page 8 – Kaori Square Feet

The Flight to Chicago

International flights are always really interesting.

Not that domestic flights in Japan aren’t.

But people are a lot more chatty on foreign flights.

On this flight from DC to Chicago

I got to sit next to a pilot in uniform.

He had just gotten off his shift in DC

and was heading home to Chicago for the weekend.

Always interesting meeting new people 😀

The flight was really short

and before I knew it

we were landing in O’hare

and Tennyson was outside waiting for me!

He was looking all handsome

because he came to pick me up after work.

Tennyson is the best.

He’s practically family the way

I can pretty much tell him anything.

Or maybe it’s just him.

I think he has that affect on a lot of people.

You know you can always count on him.

And I finally got to meet Remy!!!

Isn’t he so beautiful?

He’s the sweetest dog on earth.

And I don’t speak dog but…

I think he liked me, too.

When Cesar got back home

all three of us went to go get dinner.

Good ole American junk food!!!

The Good Bye in DC

DC is such a pretty city.

I love the old town houses.

Or any building built by brick, really.

It’s not the type of houses we build in Japan

and that makes them all the more special.

What is also special is that

I got to spend time with this cutie pie!

I feel so blessed to have such great friends

who live so far away but still treat me like family.

Technically we did grow up together.

But in a world where people tend to grow apart,

I love that we were given a chance to grow closer as adults.

Who knew?

Fifth grade best friends really ARE forever!

I just love this sweet familia dearly.

Cannot wait to see them again!

xx

That Afternoon at Seibuen Pool

Summer should always include a day at the pool.

Even if you’re an adult.

Reading books and relaxing by the pool is the best.

Is it weird that I packed a lunch?

I made the world famous Jumbo Onigiri,

(it’s onigiri with croquette, shiso kombu, and cheese!)

and chips and cookies.

I am not into healthy at the moment, apparently.

Whenever we come here, my bestie D and I usually

grab a float and just bobble along the lazy river.

It’s like sitting in a cafe and chatting

expect even better because we in a pool!

Seibuen Pool, we’ll be back! x

That Weekend with my BFF

*Throwback Thursday: I’m slowly (very slowly) going to be bringing my old posts to this blog.

My bff S came to stay with me this weekend!

We talked non-stop

and didn’t stop until 3am.

This is really nothing new though.

Even in our high school dorm, once we got started

pretty much nothing could shut us up.

Just like old times. x

ヾ(●´∀`)ﾉ

S’s husband and another high school friend

came to Tokyo the next day.

So we all met up for brunch in Harajuku!

It’s always like this

when I meet up with old friends.

So many years have passed

but it only seems like yesterday we were together.

And so much has changed in all of our lives

but it seems like we’re still the same.

So odd.

At the same time

something I weirdly cherish.

That Year End Kyoto Walk in a Kimono

What do you do when your BFF is in Kobe

when you’re in Osaka?

Go to Kyoto together, of course!

We’ve always talked about renting a kimono for a day.

So we did exactly that…and had the best time!

Our first stop was Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺).

We were walking towards Gion when we spotted

a beautiful path with colored leaves.

It was Kodai-ji (高台寺).

It was freezing outside

and at one point, it started snowing.

But we had such a great time in our kimonos.

We are definitely doing this again. x

That Thanksgiving Dinner with the Girls

Happy Thanksgiving!

D and R came over and we all

made our first Thanksgiving dinner together.

All of us born in the land of the rising sun

but have spent part of our lives on the other side of the pond.

Thankful to have friends who understand.

Thankful we can share this tradition together.

That Wedding in Kagoshima in Other Photos

I know, I know.

I already posted photos of my BFF’s wedding.

But I had these too and I love them so

on the grounds that this is in fact my blog,

I am going to post away!

Someone is excited to be married!

Weddings really are a sort of reunion.

Loved seeing old friends, too!

The guys did great.

And I love how the stage looks so 50s.

Smiles at the table after I finished my speech!

The bouquet toss was done out on the terrace.

N caught it with just one hand!

How classy is this rose-shaped sugar?

After the after party

some of us went to eat ramen!

Kagoshima ramen is especially delicious around midnight.

We had a great time celebrating the whole day!

That Day Before the Wedding in Kagoshima

Can I tell you how excited I am to be in Kagoshima?

It’s been years since I was last here.

But back again for the same reason as before.

My bestie is getting married!!!

Here they are…

no wedding jitters here!

I love these two together.

So glad that they found each other. x

Here are the boys practicing their song
for the wedding reception.

Their voices are so loud
I was sure the windows would crack.

This is what happens when your classmates
go on to study music in university.

And you know you’re in Kagoshima

when there’s a garbage pile specifically for volcano ash.

That Wedding in Kagoshima

*Throwback Thursday: I’m slowly (very slowly) going to be bringing my old posts to this blog.

The special day is finally here!

My BFF’s wedding!

S was so beautiful.

Everyone saw how she shined

especially her husband. Aw.

The wedding reception was fabulous, too!

S had asked me to do the speech at the reception.

Ended up taking over a month

writing it, fixing it, and practicing it.

Somehow I got through it.

My speech instructor in college used to always tell me

“Speak slowly, don’t cry.”

Well, I tried to speak slowly

but couldn’t help crying here and there.

I mean, it was my best friend

and this was my first ever wedding speech!

(Cut me some slack here…haha)

But I made S cry, too, so it wasn’t just me 😉

Happiest of marriages to this amazing couple!

That Weekend at the Tennis Tournament

Back at the tournament again this year!

I always think it’s going to be my last year

but then they invite me and I can’t seem to say no.

I really love my peeps.

My sister Y was here again this year, too.

So much fun seeing old friends back here every year.

This was the finals match.

A beautiful Sunday afternoon.

A full house always gets us all pumped up.

The final match was between

Nadal and Murray.

Somewhere along the way

I started rooting for the Spaniard.

Maybe because he smells so good even

right after finishing his match?

But he lost 36 62 60.

Aw.

Hope he comes again next year.

And I really hope our team

can get together again net year, too!