Even though classes are over, I still find myself needing to go to campus almost daily. (It should be daily but sometimes you just need a break!) Between having to grade the many papers/tests of my students and proctoring exams school is keeping me busy my last days in Japan. But not busy enough to keep me from having fun!

Yesterday I went to Tokyo for one thing, to find a book for someone. Really I wanted to see the 4 story bookstore that supposedly had one floor completely devoted to English books. Well, Tokyo itself is big and a basic Jungle, that says nothing for the train station! If you have been there you know what I am talking about. Floor after floor of different train lines not to mention the many different exits you can take once you get out of the terminal! It is just crazy huge down there. Anyway, the bookstore I was looking for was supposed to be near one of the train lines so I followed the signs that said where that line went and then I just picked an exit! I ended up picking the wrong exit. So, instead of finding my way to a bookstore like I planned I found my way to the Imperial Palace instead. (Which happened to be a mistake all on it's own.) I have gotten in the habit (my last 2 or 3 weeks here) of carrying my camera with me wherever I go. Well, when I walked out of the station I didn't see any signs indicating where the bookstore was, but I did see this really cool bridge. (Pictures will be shown below.) This bridge just happened to lead to a fountain park where there were different fountains and little bridges all over (in the middle of Tokyo!) After walking through the fountain park I saw another building that looked interesting and wouldn't you know, it was part of the Imperial Palace. So I walked over took a couple pictures, thought that the path around the Imperial Palace (5km) would lead to better pictures, so I just kept walking around. Which eventually led me to the Eastern Garden where there were many other things to take pictures of. (I like taking pictures!) After I finished looking at the Eastern Garden, it was time for me to leave. I had already walked about half way around the Imperial Palace so I decided might as well finish the loop, so instead of back tracking and looking at the same things again, I kept going in the same direction I started and finished the loop. After that, it was time to look for the bookstore again. I walked back through the Fountain Park, back over the bridge, and then I saw the signs that pointed to Tokyo Station. So instead of going back down the stairs in the exit I took the first time, I kept walking. I walked into a building asked the information people for help - I was one building off. So I walked the rest of the way to the bookstore. Where, I found the book I was looking for, and was able to sit down enjoy some Curry and coffee. Looking for the bookstore ended up being quite an adventure, but in the end was well worth it. So even though I am busy with school and packing - I still have plenty of time to have fun!

Although, proctoring exams can be quite entertaining as well. When you walk into a classroom and all you hear are students gasping b/c their English teacher is walking in it makes you smile. It is also funny when they waive to you. That isn't the only thing that happens though. Today one student (he isn't one of my students so I don't know him too well) dropped his pen, raised his hand, I walked over he pointed and just sat there. He didn't want to get in trouble for cheating, he was that nervous, that he wouldn't even bend down to pick up his pen. It made me smile.