Celebrating my birthday!

Last week was my 24th birthday. I was very excited and nervous to be spending it in Japan. I was excited because I'm in Japan! I thought I had some fun potential! Although, I was very nervous since I really don't know anyone here. I started the day off very well! I got a call in the morning from my boyfriend who showed me my presents over Skype! Then, I had to go to work. I had a FULL schedule! I literally was supposed to work from 1-8 straight. That's 7 50-55 min lessons in a row. Luckily, one of my students canceled right in the middle so I got a break. Happy birthday to me! I got myself a great lunch of sushi and finished off my day. Cleaning went by very quickly and I had the rest of the evening to myself. I couldn't really go out because I had work the next day. The first thing I really wanted was just some American food so I treated myself to McDonalds. Then, I went to an arcade, where the real fun started. Japanese arcades are amazing! They have everything. The most popular machines are UFO catchers, purikura, and rhythm games. I, however, had a mission. I came to play the Gundam POD game. The Gundam PODs are mobile suit simulators. You hop into a giant pod that a full projection system with all of the same controls as a mobile suit. You have two levers to steer and fire and two pedals to jump and boost forward. Here's a shot of the inside:

Amazingly sweet!

A screen shot as you push into battle

The pods from the outside

 I was really geeking out! Check out the video I took: (be warned, the following clip contains Heather being a fangirl which includes odd noises at times)

After playing the game a couple of times and using the rest of my money on rhythm games, I went home satisfied at my low key but fun birthday.

The real fun came a few days later on Saturday. My co-workers (and friends) took me out to dinner for my birthday. They asked what I wanted and I knew immediately: Pizza! We went to a nice Italian restaurant and got a couple of pizza and pasta dishes and ate our fill. We also had a nomihodai which means all you can drink. They had the restaurant staff surprise me with dessert and they surprised me with a gift!

My dessert had a sparkler on it!

Their gift to me was a yukata (summer kimono!)

I was so excited and floored that they gave me a kimono. This is one of the best birthday presents I think I may have ever gotten. It was a fantastic way to end my birthday abroad!