On Monday April 6^th, after my morning practice, I went to my guidance class, during which we purchased the two other textbooks I need for class. After that, we were free! Since we already knew the rest of the information, we didn't need to attend the other two guidance classes. And so Miguel invited me to go to the sea with him and Shingo. I wasn't too sure I wanted to go since I did have a practice later that day, but in the end I decided to go.

We all grabbed our bike and headed out to a part of Hiratsuka (the city where I live) that I had never seen before. There were still sakura which made our journey there and back gorgeous. After about a 30 minute bike ride, we arrived at the beach. There were a few people surfing in wet suits. This day had been the warmest day since the end of winter, and so those crazy for the waves had taken the chances to get out there. Miguel had brought a bathing suit, but I had not. But it was really warm, and so not too long after that, Miguel, Shingo and I were all jumping into the waves. This was my second time seeing the ocean in my life, and my first time here in Japan.




I don't know if it was the accumulated stress, or the pressure or being responsible all the time but after about 5 minutes of playing in the waves, I lost myself in the moment. I can honestly say I became a child again, jumping into the waves and letting them carry me back to the shore. I laughed, and laughed, and screamed, and laughed again. Miguel and Shingo were there with me, being smashed by the strength of the waves. I think the waves just helped me wash away the big stress I had been carrying for a while. In that moment, I felt free, which is something I had not experienced in a while.









We ran down the beach, climbed up the side of a small creak leading to a river, started a sand fight and ran some more. Finally, we washed ourselves off, and headed back to the Kaikan. I really have to thank Miguel for that because he always takes me on these odd excursions, but I enjoy them very much. It's something that I wish I could do more often, but going there once was a great experience.