Sayonara party

Most expats tend to have a huge sayonara party when they leave Japan... a great reason for a nomikai (all you can drink party) at a local restaurant followed by intense all-night karaoke. I didn't want that. Not only because I was pregnant, but because that just wasn't me.

I wanted a small get together with my girlfriends. Seemed like the perfect excuse to get dressed up, leave the kids at home, and indulge in an all-you-can eat dessert buffet at the elegant Sir Winston Hotel. So that's exactly what we did.

It's hard to find good dessert in Japan - it just doesn't satisfy a U.S. sweet tooth. But the Sir Winston Hotel did not disappoint. You have 90-minutes to eat unlimited cakes and a variety of sweets. Each month the restaurant has a theme and they start you out with a sample of their monthly specials. This month was strawberry --- perfect!

Thanks ladies for a beautiful ending to such an amazing adventure. Life in Nagoya wouldn't have been the same without you.

"The beautiful thing about moving away from your home country is when you meet new people they truly meet the real you, no strings attached. They have no preconceptions because of where you come from or who you are related to."