Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Old Man is Snoring
The Japanese call this season tsuyu. Meaning rainy season. A rather unfortunate season for people who only have a bike for their mode of transportation. Luckily, or rather unluckily, due to climatic differences in the weather, most likely the cause of global warming, the rain this year is rather tame. Not even in comparison (I would have nothing to compare it to anyway), just tame even for what I was expecting. From the stories I heard. Yes, there have been days where it has come down in sheets, but usually it is at a very convenient time. When I am indoors. Knock on wood. This past week it has been cloudy and the rain has come everyday in some way, shape or form. I have a love hate relationship with rain, so my weather emotions have been all over the place. This week I have been liking it much more than I thought I would. Maybe I will give it a second chance. It is just really inconvenient when I have to ride to school and I am wet as I start the day. Even with my cool rain slicker outfit. The other day though I rode in it to go swimming and since I was getting wet anyway it obviously didn't matter. I don't know if it is because I had that in mind, but it was invigorating riding to the pool. It felt refreshing and tasted like Japan. A little strange, but still pretty good. And I did taste it. While I was waiting to cross the street. At a big intersection. If I don't get stared at enough already...
Things here are picking up once again and I could not be more welcoming of the crowded schedule that awaits me for July. As much as I probably wouldn't ever say this when I am busy, I would rather be busy than bored. Last summer I had no time to breathe and I`m sure I complained about not having time, but after a year of more time than I have ever had before, I think busy is always the way to go. Sitting around thinking of things to do isn't for the young and free like me!
Because of that I will be adventuring to the prefecture a bit northeast of here for some good times and great oldies. Or great newbies I should say. I am going with two friends who are in the mood for a change of scenery like me, and I have no doubts that is what we will have. We will be heading out tomorrow night, taking a overnight ferry that docks at Yawatahama in the early morning. We will then step out onto Shikoku soil where our five day adventure awaits us. This road trip consists of visiting other ALTs, going swimming with dolphins, hiking, white water rafting, museums, shrines, good food, and fun exploring. Shikoku is straight inaka which roughly translates into country bumpkin land. It is not a high tourist prefecture but it is supposed to be beautiful with enough for new folk like us to do on our trip. So we will be packing the car full of tasty snacks, good tunes and high spirits as we take a drive around the beautiful Japanese countryside.
Upon returning from Shikoku I have a feeling the end of my journey will be quite the whirlwind. Not only am I going to have to pack all of my things (its amazing all of the stuff your acquire in just one year) and close out my accounts, but I am going to be going to goodbye parties, a train enkai, row boating in a gorge, visiting a Japanese friend in her home town, staying in a cabin by a waterfall, swimming in the ocean and of course just going to all of my favorite places one last time. That is all going to be done in only 4 weeks. And then the goodbyes will start which I can`t even think about. It is not going to be easy by any means. It is so strange to think that I will be back in Colorado in only one month and 2 days. With the days I am going to be gone, end of the year tests and closing ceremonies, I only have eight days left of teaching. EIGHT. I have really mixed feelings about that because the teaching this past semester has been better--I have really enjoyed most of my classes and all of the teachers I teach with. That will be sad, but I am more than ready to be finished sitting in the office. It is hard to get sad or excited right now because although the job has been challenging for me in so many ways this year, it has been such a positive experience. From the teachers I have met to the things I have learned, I will never forget teaching English in Japan. Even if there are moments where I want to...With that being said though, I am ready to move on to the next stage of my career. To the next stage of life. What will be difficult to move on from is the culture and the beauty of this place. I know I have said it time and time again, but it never fails to amaze me how gorgeous Japan really is. In so many ways. The hardest part will be bidding farewell to the people. I have carved out such big part of my heart for my friends here so the empty feeling will not go unnoticed. Here I am trying not to think about it, but writing it anyway. It hasn't fully hit me yet. I don`t think it will until the time comes.
I will post pictures of Shikoku when I get back and I`m sure I will find time to write about my last adventures in Kumamoto. Here is to the last month in Japan! No doubt it will be just as unforgettable as the previous eleven. Cheers!
Things here are picking up once again and I could not be more welcoming of the crowded schedule that awaits me for July. As much as I probably wouldn't ever say this when I am busy, I would rather be busy than bored. Last summer I had no time to breathe and I`m sure I complained about not having time, but after a year of more time than I have ever had before, I think busy is always the way to go. Sitting around thinking of things to do isn't for the young and free like me!
Because of that I will be adventuring to the prefecture a bit northeast of here for some good times and great oldies. Or great newbies I should say. I am going with two friends who are in the mood for a change of scenery like me, and I have no doubts that is what we will have. We will be heading out tomorrow night, taking a overnight ferry that docks at Yawatahama in the early morning. We will then step out onto Shikoku soil where our five day adventure awaits us. This road trip consists of visiting other ALTs, going swimming with dolphins, hiking, white water rafting, museums, shrines, good food, and fun exploring. Shikoku is straight inaka which roughly translates into country bumpkin land. It is not a high tourist prefecture but it is supposed to be beautiful with enough for new folk like us to do on our trip. So we will be packing the car full of tasty snacks, good tunes and high spirits as we take a drive around the beautiful Japanese countryside.
Upon returning from Shikoku I have a feeling the end of my journey will be quite the whirlwind. Not only am I going to have to pack all of my things (its amazing all of the stuff your acquire in just one year) and close out my accounts, but I am going to be going to goodbye parties, a train enkai, row boating in a gorge, visiting a Japanese friend in her home town, staying in a cabin by a waterfall, swimming in the ocean and of course just going to all of my favorite places one last time. That is all going to be done in only 4 weeks. And then the goodbyes will start which I can`t even think about. It is not going to be easy by any means. It is so strange to think that I will be back in Colorado in only one month and 2 days. With the days I am going to be gone, end of the year tests and closing ceremonies, I only have eight days left of teaching. EIGHT. I have really mixed feelings about that because the teaching this past semester has been better--I have really enjoyed most of my classes and all of the teachers I teach with. That will be sad, but I am more than ready to be finished sitting in the office. It is hard to get sad or excited right now because although the job has been challenging for me in so many ways this year, it has been such a positive experience. From the teachers I have met to the things I have learned, I will never forget teaching English in Japan. Even if there are moments where I want to...With that being said though, I am ready to move on to the next stage of my career. To the next stage of life. What will be difficult to move on from is the culture and the beauty of this place. I know I have said it time and time again, but it never fails to amaze me how gorgeous Japan really is. In so many ways. The hardest part will be bidding farewell to the people. I have carved out such big part of my heart for my friends here so the empty feeling will not go unnoticed. Here I am trying not to think about it, but writing it anyway. It hasn't fully hit me yet. I don`t think it will until the time comes.
I will post pictures of Shikoku when I get back and I`m sure I will find time to write about my last adventures in Kumamoto. Here is to the last month in Japan! No doubt it will be just as unforgettable as the previous eleven. Cheers!
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