Back on Track
It's been a good three months since I've updated this thing and I am way overdue for it. We are well into summer, well now I guess you would say it's technically Autumn, but in my eyes Autumn doesn't start until one of two things happens; The leaves change color, or it gets so cold that I require a hoodie or Jacket. The summers here in Japan are unbearably humid. Being an island nation means that our next door ocean buddy keeps us plenty sticky! You can take a shower, get out of the shower and within probably five to ten minutes feel sticky enough to warrant another shower. Another thing notable about Japan's summers, or more about the people actually is that they don't sweat. The Japanese have this distinct ability to not drop an ounce of sweat. There are days when you'd swear the entirety of Honshuu has turned into the surface the sun and yet not a single bead of sweat is anywhere to be found. I must discover the secrets of the Asian magic.
Last I left off was a nice long rant about some things I'd been encountering here in the land of the rising sun. I think now I know where all of my negative emotions were coming from. You see, up until about a month ago I had never considered the long term affects of being away from things that were so familiar to me back home in the US. I don't feel comfortable saying that I necessarily took things for granted, but I do know that I surely could have appreciated them more. In mid-July I was told that my grandfather had passed away suddenly and without warning. This came as quite a shock to me as he was always really very healthy and showed no indication of illness whatsoever. It took me four days, but in that time I was able to book a flight home and get there safely just in time for the funeral. It was a lovely service and everyone who ever met my grandfather showed up to pay respects. We laid my grandfather to rest and said our final good-byes. Rest in peace Papa.
The remainder of my times in the States was spent catching up with friends and family. I didn't even realize how badly I needed to go home. It had been one year since I had been back and everything was just so refreshing. Everything I did felt so real, so uplifting. I was able to drive 140 kph on a 5 lane highway changing lanes at my leisure. I could order things the way I wanted them at Subway. I could buy real cheese and not have to mortgage my parents house. I could find lunch meat other than fifty different fucking kinds of ham. Actual music played on the radio, not just constant talk shows about concerts and which school did what that weekend. I could have a beer or two and drive. I could talk about things deeper than how the weather was or what group in town was going to be doing what for yet another small bureaucratically dictated festival. ... See what I mean, I really needed to just go home for a bit. I saw my nephew all huge now and walking around making everyone smile. I got to see my doggies, one of which I wish I could take back with me, but I know she would never survive the summer here. I also helped my sister move into a new condo. It was a good stay all around.
I got back to Japan and found out that I had passed the N2 with about a 77%. It's higher than I thought and I know not the best grade, but hey I'll take it. I also started another diet since I gained some weight in the states, but I am happy to report I am getting down again! Woot!
Well that's it for this update. Hope ya'll have a good one!
Last I left off was a nice long rant about some things I'd been encountering here in the land of the rising sun. I think now I know where all of my negative emotions were coming from. You see, up until about a month ago I had never considered the long term affects of being away from things that were so familiar to me back home in the US. I don't feel comfortable saying that I necessarily took things for granted, but I do know that I surely could have appreciated them more. In mid-July I was told that my grandfather had passed away suddenly and without warning. This came as quite a shock to me as he was always really very healthy and showed no indication of illness whatsoever. It took me four days, but in that time I was able to book a flight home and get there safely just in time for the funeral. It was a lovely service and everyone who ever met my grandfather showed up to pay respects. We laid my grandfather to rest and said our final good-byes. Rest in peace Papa.
The remainder of my times in the States was spent catching up with friends and family. I didn't even realize how badly I needed to go home. It had been one year since I had been back and everything was just so refreshing. Everything I did felt so real, so uplifting. I was able to drive 140 kph on a 5 lane highway changing lanes at my leisure. I could order things the way I wanted them at Subway. I could buy real cheese and not have to mortgage my parents house. I could find lunch meat other than fifty different fucking kinds of ham. Actual music played on the radio, not just constant talk shows about concerts and which school did what that weekend. I could have a beer or two and drive. I could talk about things deeper than how the weather was or what group in town was going to be doing what for yet another small bureaucratically dictated festival. ... See what I mean, I really needed to just go home for a bit. I saw my nephew all huge now and walking around making everyone smile. I got to see my doggies, one of which I wish I could take back with me, but I know she would never survive the summer here. I also helped my sister move into a new condo. It was a good stay all around.
I got back to Japan and found out that I had passed the N2 with about a 77%. It's higher than I thought and I know not the best grade, but hey I'll take it. I also started another diet since I gained some weight in the states, but I am happy to report I am getting down again! Woot!
Well that's it for this update. Hope ya'll have a good one!