どもども。
Hello everyone!
皆様、いかがお過ごしでしょうか？
How's everything going today?
さて、今日もひとり帰国日記でございます。
Okay, let me continue to talk about my Japan trip today.
日本滞在も半分が過ぎた頃、2月9日に親友あきさんに会いに行きました。
On February 9th around when the first half of my stay was over, I went to see my best friend, Aki.
前回帰った時もお家に遊びに行かせてもらいました。
I visited her on the last return too.
今回の滞在の事を事前に家族以外には知らせていなかったので、あきさんには日本に着いてから連絡を入れました。
I hadn't announced my return to anybody other than my family, so I let her know that I was in town after I got settled down at my parents' house.
久しぶりに一人でバスに乗ります。
It'd been a while since I took a bus alone last.
いつものように、最寄り駅まで車で迎えにきてくれたあきさん。
Just as usual, Aki kindly came to pick me up at the station near her house.
Hit-chanがランチにリクエストをしていた場所に連れて行ってくれました。
We directly headed to grab lunch from the station and I asked her to take me to this place.
そう、マクドナルド。
Yup, McDonald's.
当然だけど、ミネソタにもマクドナルドはあるのですが、日本にしか無いメニューが結構あるので帰国の度に行きたくなるのです。
Why McDonald's?? You might wonder, but they have stuff served only in Japan, so I always get cravings for those limited items every time I return to Japan.
２年振り～！LINEではたまにやりとりするけど、実際に元気そうな顔を見られて嬉しかったです。
Reunion after 2 years!!! We talk on LINE (app) sometimes, but it's much better to be able to see her doing well in person.
あきさんはクーポンがあったので、期間限定メニュー。Hit-chanは日本にしかないてりやきチキンフィレオを注文。
Aki ordered a seasonal burger since she had a coupon for it. I ordered Teriyaki Chickin Filet Sandwich which was Japan only.
侍マックと悩んだんですが、侍マックは一度食べた事があるので、今回初のてりやきチキンフィレオに決定。安定の旨さでした。
I was debating between the sandwich and Samurai burgers, but I'd tried a Samurai burger once before, so I chose the Teriyaki sandwich this time. How was it?? As you know, McDonald's is always yummy anywhere in the world.
美味しいランチを楽しんだ後は、奈良にある、あきさんお気に入りのカフェに連れて行ってくれました。
After the casual and yummy lunch, Aki took me to this lovely cafe in Nara.
外観からすっごくお洒落。
The exterior design was so cute.
本店は西大寺にあるようですが、Hit-chan達は支店にお邪魔しました。
The main shop is in Saidaiji, but we went to their 2nd shop.
Hit-chanはブレンドコーヒーを注文。
I ordered their blend hot coffee.
綺麗なケーキが並ぶショーケースからHit-chanが選んだのはこちら。
From their beautiful display case, I picked up this one.
あきさんのはこちら。
Aki got this one.
サイズも丁度良い大きさ。
The size was perfect to me.
店内も素敵なデザインで、Hit-chan達がお邪魔した時は空いていましたが、週末などはかなり混むみたいです。
The interioe design of the shop was very fancy, but relaxing as well. It was not busy when we're at the shop, but Aki said they're so busy on weekends.
ケーキのお味もやはり洗練されていて、アメリカのあまーい重たいケーキに比べて本当に食べやすくて美味しかったです。
The flavors of the cakes were very sophisticated too. Compared to very heavy and super sweet cakes in the US, they're very light and yummy.
お洒落なお茶タイムを楽しんだ後は、あきさんの次女、ななちゃんの幼稚園まで行って一緒に体操教室を見学させてもらいました。
After the fancy tea time, Aki took me to school where her 2nd daughter, Nana-chan went and had a gym class that day. So, I enjoyed watching Nana-chan having fun in the gym class with Aki.
あきさん、「実はHit-chanが来るのを内緒にしてんねん。良いサプライズになると思って。」と言っていたんですが、ななちゃんの反応は至って普通だったので、「え？私の事覚えてる？」
とちょっと不安になったのですが、「うん！」とそこはちゃんと覚えていてくれてたみたいです。（良かった～。
）
Aki had told me, "I actually haven't let my girls know that you're coming because I thought it'd be a good surprise." So, I was kind of looking forward to seeing Nana-chan's reaction when she saw me, but she didn't look surprised at all. Her reaction made me worried and "Do you remember me??" I asked her. Then, she said, "Yes!!" which made me relieved. (Phew!)
帰り道ではこんな仲良し写真もちゃんと撮ってくれました。
On the way to Aki's car from the gym class, she opened her heart to me and let me take a picture of us together like this.
そして、この後、今度はあきさんの長女、さっちゃんの小学校へそのままお迎えへ。
After that, we directly drove to Aki's oldest daughter, Sat-chan's school to pick her up.
「今日はサプライズがあるよ。」とだけ伝えていたらしいのですが、さっちゃんの方はHit-chanの顔を見つけて「！！！」
という最高のサプライズ表情をしてくれたので嬉しかったです。
Aki had told Sat-chan, "I have a surprise for you after school today." in the morning, so Sat-chan already knew that something special was waiting for her. Still, she showed a big happpy face when she first found me, which made my day.
帰宅した後は、ゆるーい時間を一緒に過ごしました。
At their house, we just had a calm and fun time together.
ななちゃんは自分で作った箱の犬、ももちゃんを見せてくれ、さっちゃんは学校から支給されているタブレットで作った動く絵の作品を一杯見せてくれました。
Nana-chan showed me her handmade craft work, Momo-chan, which was a cute puppy. Sat-chan showed me her digital moving picutures which she made by a programming soft with a tablet supplied by her school.
最後にいつもの記念写真。
At the end of the fun reunion, we took a picture as always.
めいがいたらもっともっとたくさん遊んで賑やかな時間を過ごせるのですが、そうなるとあきさんと二人でゆっくり喋る事はできないので、今回は本当に久しぶりに二人で色々と近況報告をできて良かったです。
It'd have been much more joyful and full of laughter if May-chan was there with Aki's girls, but in that case Aki and I wouldn't have been able to just sit and enjoy chatting. So, it was still really nice that Aki and I had some bestie time by ourselves for the frirst time in probably more than 10 years.
離れて住んでいるのでなかなか会えませんが、また機会ができた時は必ずこんな風に会いに行きたいなぁと思います。
We live very far from each other now, but I'd definitely want to visit her and her family as often as possible when I get chances.
という訳で、今日はこの辺で～！読んで下さってありがとうございました！
Okay, this is all for today. Thank you for reading again!!!
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