花火大会 (Fireworks convention)

All the exams and other school works are over and what would have been a better way to celebrate it than a fireworks event on the first free day! The organize a big fireworks show in the biggest park in Fukuoka on the first of August every year. For a Finn, it is something very extraordinary to sit among thousands and thousands of people watching fireworks for 1,5 hours in a row. We were told to go early to the park to get a good place but after all we only got there 45 minutes before the show. I had not seen that many people in one place (except during the Yamakasa festival) and walking speed was somewhat slow when we headed to the area that was recommended for us by our teacher. But we got lucky before reaching our destination when one of our Japanese teachers from the university noticed us in the crowd and invited us to join her and her friends. They had reserved a great viewing spot already on the previous day. Me and one of my friends dressed up to our yukatas too because it is very common to wear a yukata for summer festivals and especially for fireworks.

These days I am not really cooking myself because I have agreed to so many appointments before returning to Finland. Yesterday's lunch I enjoyed with the nursery school teacher thanks to whom I got to visit a Japanese nursery school and for the dinner I went for the last time to Sushiro (to eat two pieces of the cheap but super delicious chocolate cake that I will miss). Today I went with a friend of mine to a restaurant nearby the university where we were invited by one of our "students" from TA class. And in the evening I am going to meet a teacher of the University whom I have ever met before but who will travel to Finland and wants to meet me before it. I have different plans for the rest of the week too so seems like I don't really need to fill my empty fridge.

What it comes to my life here during the last days otherwise, I let the following photos to tell it.

During the exam week Japanese students become really diligent
and study in the library and at the dining rooms of the dormitory.

Our studying table at the dorm.

The most delicious ramen I have ever had. A self-made candy version.

I said goodbye to some of my friends in an interesting restaurant
that looked like a zoo with lots of animal toys.

Farewell gifts I got from my lovely friends

One can collect Minion stamps at the subway stations and get free Minion stickers.
Maybe this is meant for children but it didn't stop us.

After our last volunteer Japanese class
we stayed downstairs to have a curry lunch with the teachers.

The spiders at the university are back to say goodbye too.

Ice cream that is easy to eat even when it melts a bit.

After all I ended to go to a McDonald's in Japan even though tried to avoid it.
But since I was offered a free meal... Pretty much the same as in Finland.

Shopping...