Jane comes to visit!

One of my dear friends that I met in Japan came to visit me this weekend. Jane and I are having a great time- doing lots of sightseeing, chatting and enjoying the Boston weather!

On her first night, we went to the Seaport Bar and Grille by the harbor for some Boston seafood and Sam Adams.

At Boston Common

The Granary Burying Ground

Quincy Market

The Old North Church where they put the candles in the window to announce that the British were coming- One, if by land. Two, if by sea!

Housewarming

Matt's friends, Jim and Thad, just moved into Matt's apartment so they had a housewarming party on Saturday night. You would think that now that we are a few years out of college we would be finished with college party games. But NO! There was plenty of beirut to be had (a game where you throw ping pong balls into beer-filled cups on the other side of the table). And I am the lucky girlfriend of THE beirut champion of the night!

Housemates, in height order: Jim, Thad and Matt

Me and Matt

Faneuil Hall

On Friday night, Matt and I went to see Jamie Kaler from the show, My Boys, at the Comedy Connection in Faneuil Hall. Jamie Kaler was really funny and he reminded us a lot of our friend, Jarred, which made it even funnier.

Me and Old Man Statue

Matt and Me

in front of Faneuil Hall

Wagamama means selfish in Japanese

Faneuil Hall

Still here!

I have made it a goal to continue with my blog. A) It reminds me that I have survived, and conquered, another day (or week or month as the case may be) and B) it reminds me that if my life has not been interesting enough to post for a little while then I had better spice it up a bit. On previous posts from Japan, you will notice random trips to gardens and shrines in Kanazawa. Those posts were a product of those times. C) I really enjoy really other people's blogs so I figure that someone must enjoy mine too.

Incidentally, here are a few of my favorite blogs either because they are written by some of my favorite people or they are funny and/or insightful. And most of them have pictures and I like pictures.
http://zachandjane.blogspot.com/
http://editorialass.blogspot.com/
http://travelingrant.blogspot.com/
http://www.michaelpanda.com/blog/

You will notice that most of my posts from Japan centered around pictures. This is more difficult to do in law school since most of my life revolves around the library hours and ABP and DD coffee.

At Northeastern, we are separated into law offices. These are groups of 10-15 students led by an upperclassman called a Lawyering Fellow (LF). We have all of our lecture classes together and have a writing/research class together and a discussion type section with our LF. In short, you had better hope you like these people because you see them A LOT. Luckily, I do like all of the people in my group (and not just because my blog is not anonymous).

Our LF sent us an article on surviving law school the other day (http://www.slate.com/id/2069512) and part of it resonated with me. The author writes, "Someone in my One-L class rendered me semi-autistic in the first semester of law school by suggesting that I'd probably flunk out because I used an orange highlighter. The only person stupider than the moron who said that was me—I changed highlighters." I am taking a Japanese class with the Boston Japan Society and on the first day of class I was chatting with another girl. I soon found out that she was a second year at another Boston law school. I told her that I was a 1L at Northeastern to which she replied, "WHAT? You are a 1L and you are not in the library? You need to go home and study RIGHT NOW." I responded to this by saying that I thought I would be able to carve out a hour and a half in my week for Japanese class (for goodness sake!). Incidentally, she was not in Japanese class today. Maybe the stress of the semester is getting to her already. Some people need to chill out.

Around Boston

I am so lucky to be living in the middle of Boston, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. On Thursday, we had no classes. I tried studying in the library but it was just too beautiful of a day to stay inside. I started a Japanese class on Thursday afternoon so I walked from Northeastern to Downtown Crossing, passing lots of the wonderful sites of Boston.

Prudential Center and some tall buildings.

Christian Science Center

Boston Common

Fountain in Boston Common

Massachusetts State House

Arexis, still at Raw school

To publicly answer my father's question (that I just received by email): Yes, it is now too late to get a 100% refund on my tuition.

Looks like I am sticking with it, folks!

Things I learned this week:
1. One can never have too many highlighters.
2. Contrary to what one of my professors suggested, I do NOT want foot deep legal dictionary for Christmas. It may be, according to her, the gift that keeps on giving but that is a gift that I do not want (yet).
3. Some things about law. But you don't really want me to tell you about it, do you?

Arexis at Raw School

Well, I am officially a law student. I have the ID to prove it AND have only 6 more days to withdraw from classes before becoming ineligible for a 100% refund on my tuition... so I have time to decide still.... (just kidding, Dad!).

So far, so good. Moved into my lovely apartment on Huntington Ave (an apartment which I could never afford to live in if it were not owned by the law school. so lucky me on that one!). My bedroom is bigger than my main (and only) room in Kanazawa and the kitchen is about the same (which is to say, very small). The bathroom is double the size of my bathroom in Kanazawa (but that is really not saying much). I have one apartmentmate, a fellow law student, and we should be getting another one soon.

Today was the first day of orientation. (Do not worry. These pictures were not taken today. I am not dorky enough to take pictures on the first day. I am dorky enough to take pictures the day before though.)

Me and the Northeastern map

I was shocked to discover not one, not two, but THREE Dunkin' Donuts within a block radius of my apartment.

I was also elated by this news.

I am a serious law student! (With a picture-peace-sign-ala-every-Japanese-person problem)

This is the view from my apartment. I live RIGHT next to the Northeastern subway stop and I can see the Prudential Center from my front door!

Last night in Kanazawa

On my last night in Kanazawa, all of my good friends that were left (and not home already or traveling) came out to the beach and then for dinner at an Indian restaurant named Rubina. It was a really nice night and I am going to miss them all a lot!

Everyone, in no particular order- Phill, Jess, Fiona, Amanda, Caroline, Nori, me, Travis, Mayumi and Yoshiko

Mayumi, Yoshiko and Yuki

Me, Yuki and Travis

Nori, Caroline and Me :)

Back to the USA

I am going home to the US on Tuesday, August 14. I may continue to post on my blog and I hope you, oh faithful readers, will continue to tune in.

Out in Fukuoka

At the bar called the Happy Cock there was, of course, a chicken.

On the tallest ferris wheel in Japan

Fukuoka continued

Museum of Contemporary Art

Robosquare

This is not a real seal; this is a robot seal!

Beach!

Fukuoka

We had a fabulous time in Fukuoka and were on the go non-stop the whole time. I am uploading these pictures right after having arrived back in Kanazawa so I am too exhausted to detail exactly what we did but it was a lot! Museums, beach, Fukuoka Town, food- you name it- we did it!

Canal City

Fiona, Queen of Crap

At the Fukuoka Tower

Yes, we went to the Hard Rock and it was amazing.

Yes, I am wearing a t shirt that has a picture of a banana and a picture of a rubber duck and says EVOLUTION.

Yanagawa

After Beppu, we headed to the "Venice of Japan"- Yanagawa! It is a small town with canals throughout and Fiona and I took a lovely canal ride and then went to a museum to celebrate the life of a famous Japanese author named Kitahama. Neither of us have read his works, nor plan to, but it was something to do and a way to get out of the heat of the day.

Beppu Continued

Some great translation here........

Fi and me

In Beppu we stayed in a Japanese style inn and they served us a delicious Japanese dinner.