Yes!! I have finished yet another semester of school. I have gone through a lot of final exam weeks in my life, and there is nothing better than the end. This term was only a short one, so basically the final speech, report, and test came down to today. I had to make quite a journal for my Japanese Architecture class. I was up late last night making color copies down at the 7-Eleven. But it's all done now. It's playtime.
Of course, my idea of playtime has changed over the years. After some good hard finals in high school, I would probably go out for a drive in my car and listen to some good music. Maybe treat myself to a movie. Nowadays I head for the computer lab. It's a pretty pathetic existence when the number one thing you want to do is check your email. But that's what I did today. I had let my email and home page work pile up as the end of the semester neared. So I have spent the whole day in this hot 5th-floor room staring at the IBM P100. It is pathetic, but there are always other people sitting around here too. They are wasting the day just the same as I am, so I don't feel so bad.
Actually I already went out to play on Friday and Saturday. Friday was the last badminton tournament for the 4th-year students. All of the younger members of the club played against the older members all day long. It was quite an event. Afterwards we all went out for a drinking party in Shinjuku. It was your typical drinking party. Not quite as meaningful as the Hiking Club's fairwell party. Basically it was another case of paying US$25 or so for a bunch of beer and snacks that I don't even like. I can't think of anything more fun to do on a Friday night.
Saturday I went out with a friend and his friends. We headed down to this new island that the Tokyo government made out of garbage (like Tokyo Disneyland). It is now the home of a shopping mall, TV studios, and others. Inside the mall is one of these new Sega Joyopolis amusement parks. We road the oversized bobsled game. It was not much different than your usually video game, it just cost more. The place was busy, so we went out to a German-style beer hall (did I mention that Japanese people drink a lot?) in Ebisu. I didn't drink a drop, but I seemed to enjoy myself more than anyone. For no apparent reason I started to spout various opinions about life in general (this doesn't sound like me, does it?). I think I just wanted to hear myself speak Japanese. They seemed to enjoy it. You know you are bilingual when you can make a fool of yourself in more than one language. I finished the evening off by giving my name card to the ladies. I doubt they'll call.
But I have more exciting things planned for my playtime. This week is my free time for wasting on the computer. Next week Brica comes. I plan to take her over to the Hakone region so she can see Mt. Fuji. We definitely have to go to karaoke, eat some good tenpura and okonomikaki, and buy a CD player. Then we are off for our Southeast Asia Tour. I enjoy studying, but I enjoy my playtime too. And that is today's lesson: Enjoy Life.