I have decided to try to keep a log over my activities in Japan so that my friends and family can keep track of what is going on in my life. Also it might provide an intresting introduction to Japan and its culture for people who haven't been there. I will try to update once a week and complement the text with pictures taken with my digital camera throughout my intended year-long stay in Japan. 
March 05 2001, Gothenburg - ProLog III
The party on Saturday was mostly great. First we got together in Hansī apartment and talked and listened to music and had fun. It was great to meet those friends one last time before I go. The only downside of the event was that when we went out to go to a bar or a nightclub we ended up in a line to a nightclub where they apparently had a lot of VIP guests who came and went while we stood in froze in the line. We never got in actually. After getting to the door but still kept waiting for a long time we didnīt really want to get in there anyway. So we went to the place we always go when we get cold walking around in the city - McDonalds. The good thing about McDonalds is that you can sit there without eating and nobody will come and bother you and demand that you order something.

Yesterday my friend Kikuyo from Tokyo came to my sisterīs apartment and we ate together and in the evening me, Kikuyo and my sister Anna went to a restaurant and then played some pool. But first we went up to the Masthugget Church from where you can see most of the city. I took one long last look at the city, and some photos of course. It is a quite different view compared to that from the skyscrapers in Tokyo. Unfortunately I had a headache all day (I pray it was a hangover and not me getting sick now...) so I was slow in mind and felt like a bore but I had a good time anyway.

I have realized that I have a disability to grasp the situation when big changes occur. I cannot grasp the fact that I wonīt be back in Gothenburg or at my parentsī place in a year. I feel like I might be back tomorrow. I cannot appreciate it more than usual until I actually am away. It all feels so casual. And saying good-bye to friends and family also feels like when I go from Gothenburg to my parentsī place or something. It feels so strange when I am saying good-bye to somebody who is really sad that Iīm leaving while I myself feel just as casual about it as ever. I get moved by the fact that somebody cares so much for me but I cannot get that feeling myself. I donīt know, maybe I can but then it happens very rarely. It is good because I donīt get anxious about going but somehow I feel that there must be a downside to it somewhere.

I leave you with this last picture. I just love the colors and the single bright star in the night sky.

Đ Erik Andersson 2001