Graduation Party

Graduating students invited us all to this big graduation party at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo. Hundreds of students were dressed up and we had a good time over lunch yesterday.

Good company & good chocolate

Yuka and Ayako came visit today, and when they were in my office Tashima-sensei showed up with a box of my favorite See's Candies chocolates: coconut and almond clusters!

Soba at Tokyo An

I think that every year the closer we get to graduation day the more lonely I feel. I had dinner with two students who will be graduating on March 18th. Luckily, Maki is going to stay two more years as she decided to go to graduate school here at JIU.

Celebrating over sushi

My new mug

I used my new mug today and it felt heavy, but from the photo you can tell why.... I got it as a gift at the Homecoming in Riverside.

Oh Peanuts!

Shinta kept his promise and brought me peanuts before his graduation.... Ito peanuts are certainly excellent! Thanks, Shinta!

Back in Japan eating sushi!

Our flight was delayed, but we had a safe trip back. I went to one of my favorite sushi restaurants directly from the airport. I had dinner with my former boss and his wife. They now live in Barcelona and they are leaving Japan this morning. It was nice catching up with them over great food.

Leaving California

It's always very interesting for me to see the number of Japanese people who buy sushi at the airport before flying back to Japan. I am amazed at how they cannot wait 11 hours.... This time I found my favorite Haagen Dazs flavor at LAX: pineapple coconut. Guess who is holding the third waffle cone?

My favorite dessert

After the Homecoming event, we went to Mario's. They have the best dessert: ginger creme brulle. It's simply fantastic.

Homecoming

On Friday I participated in the Homecoming event of the UCR's Graduate School of Education with Dean Duffy and her husband John. It was held in this beautiful building downtown and it was my first time participating in that type of event. It was good to see some professors who were teaching when I was a graduate school and it was good to see how the school remains strong.