SAKURA, THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS ARE BLOOMING...

I blame my academic life for my 25+ days of non-posting busy-ness. One 15-page anthropology paper and experiment, hundreds of kanji sentences, a media editing exam and numerous extracurricular events later, I'm still alive.

The best part? I suddenly find myself only 24 - yes, twenty + four - days away from 23 hours of "airport fun." (I don't really understand why people don't like airports. Sure, you can have long lines and PMSing customs officers, but I like airports because I get a thrill from others' excitement and energy. Besides, the airport itself is only temporary - that's kind of the point, right?)

STORYTIME!

Jessica, excited from getting more Sapporo information from her Japanese professor, called Sarah yesterday to share the news. Excited Jessica told her that a few days after they arrive, they will be joining their classmates to *drumroll* SEE THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS!!! Needless to say, Excited Sarah then began to talk very fast and loud, and together Excited Jessica and Excited Sarah talked for 40 minutes about what to pack, how to celebrate Sarah's birthday, and just how excited they were for the cherry blossoms.

END.

But first, we'll have to recharge from a 13-hour time zone difference, move into our apartments, and take a Japanese language placement test to see whether we will be in the language classes taught mostly in English or entirely in Japanese (which could mean we're not in the same class - EEK!).

I can't wait.

Maybe it's not a coincidence that I had been listening to one of Remioromen's newest singles on repeat, appropriately named Sakura (the Japanese word for cherry blossoms). (I've been obsessed with this group for awhile. Expect a blog post about them later.)

Click here for Remioromen's "Sakura" music video. Even if you aren't a fan of the music, the video's graphics are beautiful. (Watch the dancer's silhouette transform into a bird!)

さくらの花を見るのを楽しみにしてるよ！(I'm looking forward to seeing the sakura flowers!)

BLOG SOUNDTRACK: anything by Remioromen