With a sink full of dishes and an apartment which I recently described as "an explosion" - I have spent the night listening to my new crush, Josh Kelley, and sending introspective e-mails. (And when I say "listening" what I actually mean is listening to the same song on repeat...I'll get to the rest of his music later.)
About two weeks ago, my manager stopped by my classroom to briefly go over my six month review. During our conversation all I could think was "SIX MONTHS?!" After she left, I went to the calendar and counted the months just to make sure there wasn't some sort of mix-up.
I seem to waver between feeling like I've been here my whole life and I've only just arrived. The experiences I've had, the friendships I've developed...it's a lifetime's worth. But...somehow, it just doesn't seem like six months have passed. I could swear I was just carting my suitcase through customs and stepping into Japan.
Yet...even despite the exotic setting and the fervent passage of time, a feeling of homogony is beginning to set in...and it's time to get away and break things up a little. This weekend, in attempt to 'creatively' travel (creative=cheap), Dawn and I are going to spend the weekend in the big city of...Nagoya. It's not quite a trip but it's certainly not a weekend of, well, same-old same-old.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Tragic reply
My pile of "e-mails owed" was already growing ridiculously long before my birthday arrived AND I got lost in the haze of yet another deadly cold. Now I am just resigned to the fact that I am a terrible friend, daughter, granddaughter and cousin and am temporarily assuaging my guilt with this all-encompassing blog entry until I can start writing people back....
To describe this week as a 'haze' is putting it lightly. A slightly stuffy nose quickly escalated into a raging head cold that made it difficult for me to do anything besides push through work and then come home and pass out. Until yesterday, my apartment was buried under a mountain of dishes and tissues...
Somehow, I managed to perk up long enough to enjoy my birthday, though. Yes - yes, 24 is here, despite my best attempts to suppress it. Do you know the most repeated comment I've gotten is that my age is the same number as the TV show '24'? You're all freaks, you know? ^_~
Anyway, Dawn brought me flowers in the morning and my co-workers surprised me with a birthday cake in the afternoon. My phone beeped periodically throughout the day with birthday wishes from friends from around the world and several gifts/cards trickled in as well. All in all, it was a a very nice day...though I will never cease to be amazed at how one absent birthday wish can put a slight damper on all the rest...
Alex Monroe pointed out that living in Japan allowed me to celebrate my birthday for an extra half a day...however, Dawn and I are stretching it all the way to Sunday. Tomorrow we are off to 'celebrate' at a spa in Nagoya. Since I've arrived in Japan I've had many weekends off and several vacations. But tomorrow I intend to do what I haven't done during any of those: bid farewell to my perpetual cold, relax my aching muscles and rest my weary...weary self. That way, I can get started on writing some long overdue e-mails!
To describe this week as a 'haze' is putting it lightly. A slightly stuffy nose quickly escalated into a raging head cold that made it difficult for me to do anything besides push through work and then come home and pass out. Until yesterday, my apartment was buried under a mountain of dishes and tissues...
Somehow, I managed to perk up long enough to enjoy my birthday, though. Yes - yes, 24 is here, despite my best attempts to suppress it. Do you know the most repeated comment I've gotten is that my age is the same number as the TV show '24'? You're all freaks, you know? ^_~
Anyway, Dawn brought me flowers in the morning and my co-workers surprised me with a birthday cake in the afternoon. My phone beeped periodically throughout the day with birthday wishes from friends from around the world and several gifts/cards trickled in as well. All in all, it was a a very nice day...though I will never cease to be amazed at how one absent birthday wish can put a slight damper on all the rest...
Alex Monroe pointed out that living in Japan allowed me to celebrate my birthday for an extra half a day...however, Dawn and I are stretching it all the way to Sunday. Tomorrow we are off to 'celebrate' at a spa in Nagoya. Since I've arrived in Japan I've had many weekends off and several vacations. But tomorrow I intend to do what I haven't done during any of those: bid farewell to my perpetual cold, relax my aching muscles and rest my weary...weary self. That way, I can get started on writing some long overdue e-mails!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
In Hiding...
The onset of another cold, an icy bedroom, a nightmare that left me shaking and not enough sleep was how I began my day and my work week. Had it not been for Dawn banging on my door to check on me, after I sent her a message entitled "panic," I probably would not have gone in to work today....
It's January, and even with the daily splendor of being in Japan, I am still affected by the cold and the lack of sunlight. Winter just makes me tired. It's too cold to travel or even explore my own town. It's too dark to be industrious. I scurry to work and then hurry home, finishing my chores as quickly as possible so I can hide under my blankets.
I wake up each morning and ache for spring to come. I never seem to tire of walking out the door and being instantly greeted by warmth, bright sun, cool breezes, endless sky, bustling animals and all the colors of nature. It doesn't matter how tired I am...a sparkling, warm day enfuses me with energy and hope, making it impossible to just sit home. I even love the rain when it's warm....more often than not, on a warm day I'll opt to walk home without an umbrella...
I'm holding my breath until that first warm day greets me again and I'll know that my adventuring spirit will come out of hibernation soon.
It's January, and even with the daily splendor of being in Japan, I am still affected by the cold and the lack of sunlight. Winter just makes me tired. It's too cold to travel or even explore my own town. It's too dark to be industrious. I scurry to work and then hurry home, finishing my chores as quickly as possible so I can hide under my blankets.
I wake up each morning and ache for spring to come. I never seem to tire of walking out the door and being instantly greeted by warmth, bright sun, cool breezes, endless sky, bustling animals and all the colors of nature. It doesn't matter how tired I am...a sparkling, warm day enfuses me with energy and hope, making it impossible to just sit home. I even love the rain when it's warm....more often than not, on a warm day I'll opt to walk home without an umbrella...
I'm holding my breath until that first warm day greets me again and I'll know that my adventuring spirit will come out of hibernation soon.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Once more, please...
At around noon on New Years Day, after hours of meandering through Tokyo had already passed, it occured to me that my friends and family back in the states still hadn't even reached 2007 yet! What a strange feeling...
But now that everyone has entered the next year, I can officially say HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Tokyo, as usual, did not let me down. The New Year was rung in as unforgettably as the last...only this time it was with three amazing ladies, one boy and drama right to the last second (literally). We were forced to make impromptu plans at the last second and ended up running to Tokyo Tower just in time to see it light up with the delightful news that we had in fact made it to 2007.
On New Years Day, I was invited to join my friend Lisa at her family's house for New Year's Dinner. Honestly, I was too amazed to take pictures...which I am regretting now. The food was beautiful displayed (and delicious) and the family was...unforgettable. They welcomed me in, made a toast to me (in English!), gave me New Year gifts and made me feel like part of the family.
The next day was shopping with Lisa, Dawn and Yuka down in Shibuya. And then yesterday, after spending the entire afternoon with Yumi, I went out with Lisa and her Mom to the first Kabuki performance of the year at the Kabuki-za theatre! I've used "unforgettable" twice already to describe my trip, but really...that's the only word I can use now. To be sitting in Japan, in Tokyo, watching an ancient art form be performed was just...mind blowing. Many of the women were dressed in kimono, including my dear Lisa, who looked like a Japanese princess.
My vacation isn't over just yet, I have a few more days and I intend to see it out to the last. But I wanted to quickly update and say that I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years and is excited to see what 2007 holds. I know I am. I have a feeling I'm in for quite a ride...
<3
But now that everyone has entered the next year, I can officially say HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Tokyo, as usual, did not let me down. The New Year was rung in as unforgettably as the last...only this time it was with three amazing ladies, one boy and drama right to the last second (literally). We were forced to make impromptu plans at the last second and ended up running to Tokyo Tower just in time to see it light up with the delightful news that we had in fact made it to 2007.On New Years Day, I was invited to join my friend Lisa at her family's house for New Year's Dinner. Honestly, I was too amazed to take pictures...which I am regretting now. The food was beautiful displayed (and delicious) and the family was...unforgettable. They welcomed me in, made a toast to me (in English!), gave me New Year gifts and made me feel like part of the family.
The next day was shopping with Lisa, Dawn and Yuka down in Shibuya. And then yesterday, after spending the entire afternoon with Yumi, I went out with Lisa and her Mom to the first Kabuki performance of the year at the Kabuki-za theatre! I've used "unforgettable" twice already to describe my trip, but really...that's the only word I can use now. To be sitting in Japan, in Tokyo, watching an ancient art form be performed was just...mind blowing. Many of the women were dressed in kimono, including my dear Lisa, who looked like a Japanese princess.My vacation isn't over just yet, I have a few more days and I intend to see it out to the last. But I wanted to quickly update and say that I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years and is excited to see what 2007 holds. I know I am. I have a feeling I'm in for quite a ride...
<3
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