spring break 25

25.tuesday
i woke up and realized (thanks to facebook) that it was my friends' graduation day. when i did study abroad in college, i made a lot of friends who were younger than me and they finally graduated. i met up with a girl friend of mine and her parents. there were thousands of people. graduates, parents, siblings, friends, and professors. all the girls had on beautiful hakama.
they are so colorful and worn by women only at graduation ceremonies, so it's really a special occasion outfit. all the boys had on suits (and who doesn't love a man in a suit?!) and everyone looked so happy. i just wanted to take photos all day. we had sushi for lunch. i only gagged once. that's progress right?? after the ceremony, everyone stood around taking photos and talking. i ran into some people i hadn't seen in a while, and exchange numbers with a bunch of them so we can all hang out in the future.

another group of graduating friends were getting together for drinks so i hurried there and was super surprised to see a guy i hadn't seen in over 2 years. i talked to him for a good long time at the first party. it was really great to catch up. then there was a second party. and a third. i went to the third party because everyone else was, even though i knew it meant i'd have to be out all night because it was just after midnight and the trains would stop running soon. but then, at the last minute, i realized i really wanted to go home. one of the guys walked me to station and i made it home on my last train.