Buon Viaggio!

So it may seem that I am neglecting this blog. In reality, I am simply a bit busy with school stuff and preparing to embark on my journey. If you have not been keeping up to date with it, it's tomorrow. Anyway, yesterday was a bit out of the ordinary. It al began about a couple months ago when I was asked to judge a speech contest in Koyama with Kaz. It was in a small rural school (I say that because Koyama actually has a big school). So, yesterday I headed to Kaz's after my lunch break. We had lunch together in her apartment, where we feasted on pumpkin soup and tuna sandwiches. After catching up for a bit and our afternoon tea, we headed to the school.

Kaz and I sat at a table in the back of the school gym waiting to hear the students give the same memorized speech. Kaz had written it, so at least it was a bit interesting. She included some sounds for them to do as well as lots of things that could be accompanied by gestures. Each student went one by one. First the first graders, then the second graders, then the third graders. There were 5 contestants in each category and a clear winner among the first and second graders. With the third graders it was a bit more difficult as three of them were extremely good at one facet of their speech. In the end, it was the girl that did the funny voices for the two characters that won. What can I say, I am a sucker for entertainers. At the end, Kaz and I had to give our concluding remarks. I gave mine in English and Kaz gave hers in Japanese.

Yesterday evening, I prepared most of what will go in my bag during our upcoming adventure. I have to say that I am finally taking my own advice and packing light -- extremely light. As a matter fo fact, I could probably pack even lighter, but don't for fear that Cristina may think I am weird. In any case, I am extremely proud of how light my bag weighs as of now. It is about half empty. It only gets about 3/4 full when I put my day pack in there which I will probably do for the air journey itself.

For those of you who don't know, our schedule is as follows:
(Please note that all times are local times to the visiting country.)

Dec. 17- depart Kagoshima for Fukuoka by means of an overnight bus
18- depart Fukuoka airport 10:35, arrive Hong Kong 15:05, depart HK 23:55
19- arrive in Rome 7:05
20- Rome
21- Rome
22- Siena
23- Firenze
24- Firenze
25- Firenze
26-28- Northern Italian Hill towns
29-30- Venice
31- Jan. 2- Vienna
3- Salzburg
4- Frankfurt
5- depart Frankfurt 14:00
6- arrive Hong Kong 8:00
7- Hong Kong
8- depart Hong Kong 15:15, arrive Fukuoka 20:55, take overnight bus to Kagoshima
9- arrive Kagoshima City 6:00

Wish us good journey. I love you and miss you all. May your Christmas be merry (and non-commmercialized) and your New Year be happy (and debt-free).