Okinawa highlights

Well, on the first night, we didn:t go to Chizuru`s home - we stayed in this little cabin on a mountain side - very cute, but it didn`t have a door! (It was free!) I wasn`t stressed, cuz, hey, it`s Japan! In the middle of the night, tho, I half woke up and was concious of someone standing in the doorway... I was trying really hard to wake myself up and open my eyes properly, when I noticed him looking in our backpacks!! Boy, did that wake me up! I sat bolt upright, pointed at him, and full-on yelled - `Hey, don`t take that!!!` Suddenly, I realised I was pointing at the wall of Chizuru`s house, and she was sleepily staring at me, going, `What the...?` Oops! It was just a dream!! What really happened was...

Sunday:
- leisurely start - 11am bus to Fukuoka to catch my plane
- Chizuru had hired a car to pick me up from the airport and take me to Shuri-jo (Shuri Castle)
- very funky castle!!!
- ate Baskin Robbins icecream while watching some awesome street performers - teenage drummers and break dancers
Monday:
- met some other Nova staff, Tomoko & Maki, and went snorkling at the beautiful beach
- went out for tea with the above staff and some Nova teachers - out very late
Tuesday:
- slept in, then watched Japanese daytime soaps (suprisingly fun! I loved one called Wedding Planners, and watched it Wed morn as well!)
- went shopping in Naha - fun, fun, fun - bought a sarong, elmo couch blanket and some jewelry
- Tomoko works in Naha and drove us the 40min home so we didn:t have to catch a bus
Wednesday:
- went to Big Dip for an icecream sundae for breakfast :)
- caught another ride with Tomoko back to Naha, then the monorail to the airport
- home in time for tea and a video with Rachel

Memories:
- Shisa everywhere!!!! (A lion/dog dragon thing that is on all the roofs and verandahs for protection, and available in every imaginable form of souveneir - kinda cute, kinda ugly
- childhood flashbacks - surrounded by hybiscus and bouganvillia flowers, juicy wonderful delicious pineapple, and perfect weather (even when its raining!)
- trees all propped up with little logs to help theｍ withstand the yearly typhoons
- yelling in middle of the night and scaring both Chizuru and myself half to death!