Like I said before, June was a quiet month. It was something I needed after an exciting month. The weather started off cold (mid to low 60s during the day). It’s hot (high 80s/90s) and humid now. Since July and August will be a little busier, I decided I would stay in Mito during June to see what else this little city has to offer. I don’t remember the last time I was in Mito for this long without escaping to Tokyo. I’m pretty sure I was going at least once or twice a month. I miss the big city, but this month of rest was needed.
I would say the highlight of the month was in the beginning when I ran in a 5K fun run. Mito is famous for melon (honey dew and cantaloupe) and hosts a melon run every year. Participants run around the big lake and park in Mito, stopping at the water stations to pick up a small piece of melon. I was skeptical about it since you’d be running and eating, but it was amazing! I wish more races were like that. At the end you get a shirt and there are various food stalls set up serving delicious food and delicious melon ice cream. So far, I am two for two in races this year. Who would have thought I would enjoy them? If anyone would have told me before I would voluntarily sign up and enjoy running races, I would have never believed them.
Japanese people may be serious when it comes to their job, but they are fun people to run with. People dressed up in costumes with their friends to run the race. There were minions, Olaf, sake and sushi costumes, and then various other hand made costumes. It really made the environment fun and relaxing.
Now that it’s July, the countdown has begun for my next adventures Closing ceremony is quickly approaching and to say I’m excited is an understatement. It’s crazy how fast this first term went. With summer coming up, everyone in the program needs to start thinking about whether or not they will stay in the program for another year, or, if they will leave. We have to have our final decision by the beginning of September so the clock is ticking for most people.
