Uchideshi Experience

The flight from Japan to the UK had one transfer in Beijing.  This little initial flight was small enough that I mostly rested (it also didn't have electricity available for me to get work done).  I remember that after the uchideshi experience I'd had, the plane seats did feel luxurious (as one friend said they would), and I did greatly enjoy the in-flight food and the general experiences of the flight. In Beijing, I had several hours of layover, so I spent the time walking around the airport, debating whether to buy a Chinese power converter so I could type/get work done, and getting work done on my phone (there were USB chargers).  I also did the usual things--refilled my two water bottles, did some stretches, made sure I was at the right gate, etc.  Since I didn't have data in China and the airport WiFi wasn't working, I had to wait until I landed in London to communicate with anyone.  The airport was nice, and I did get a kick out of a sign by a fountain (I don

Back to the timeline--after we all left Hombu Dojo for the last time, shopped near Shinjuku Station, and ate, Lin-san liked the idea of going to Ueno Park together with her friends instead of shopping with them.  We ended up meeting them, randomly running into Kato-san at the station (in a city that large, running into a dojo member on a subway platform 45 minutes from the dojo is unlikely), and then heading to Ueno Park.  At Ueno Park, the cherry blossoms were mostly finished.  We took some photos as a group as we wandered the park, then I opted to head out as I had to get several projects done yet that afternoon before the final uchideshi going-away party, and it was already quite late. Once back to the dojo, I packed, did some other preparation work for my departure the following day (final projects like translating, buying drinks for the party later that night etc.), and eventually ended up heading to Kodaira to Shun-yi's house for the uchideshi-only party for me an