it's the new year?
Doesn't really feel like it.
I guess I am not really feeling the transition between years so much. To my mind, it has become more like three "mini-years" out of 2007 and 2008 - 2007 pre-Japan, Japan, post-Japan 2008. Those are the transitions in my mind right now. And I'm still not exactly sure how I'm going to handle the return to America yet... grad school is still the idea, but I'm not sure about the timing. It's always the timing, isn't it?
I've been off on vacation for about a week and a half now, which is nice and relaxing. I had pondered going to Kyoto, but realized that it would be fairly ridiculous to pay $150~ish each way just to visit another city where all I could think of to do is visit some shrines. All I could see myself doing is riding over there, looking at some shrines, then staying at a hostel and going back the next morning. Instead, I've mostly stuck around here, occasionally going to Tokyo and Omiya.
I got Christmas presents from my family - way awesome. Phantom Hourglass is a ridiculously fun game, and my sister is a master cookie chef. I'm not going to lie, though, it felt weird missing Christmas. I was pretty down about that, missing family and good friends. I talk to some of them on AIM plenty, but that's not the same, is it? Luckily, I've made some good friends over here as well; I usually see them once or twice a month regularly but thanks to the break we've been hanging out much more often. We've found a British pub in Omiya that we hit up for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Honestly, I think good times with my friends beats out Kyoto any day.
In about 4 days I start up work again, and then there's something like 9 or 10 weeks before I head home. It seems shorter when I think about it in weeks. It's not that I really hate it here or anything - I quite like it! - but one thing I've discovered about myself while I'm here is that I function best when I have a net of support of friends and family, and sitting in isolation in a town where I don't understand the language (and most likely never will) is not really doing wonders for my happiness. Plus, I miss using a dryer to dry my clothes instead of hanging them out to dry, and knowing what the hell I'm actually buying at the supermarket. So, I'm looking forward to coming back to Georgia.
No real resolutions. Oh, I will make drinking an only-social activity, that's one. Not having anything to do in this tiny town usually leads to me sitting in front of my computer with cheap Japanese beer. And Japanese beer is not good. So, there's my resolution.
Hope everyone's doing alright over there.
I guess I am not really feeling the transition between years so much. To my mind, it has become more like three "mini-years" out of 2007 and 2008 - 2007 pre-Japan, Japan, post-Japan 2008. Those are the transitions in my mind right now. And I'm still not exactly sure how I'm going to handle the return to America yet... grad school is still the idea, but I'm not sure about the timing. It's always the timing, isn't it?
I've been off on vacation for about a week and a half now, which is nice and relaxing. I had pondered going to Kyoto, but realized that it would be fairly ridiculous to pay $150~ish each way just to visit another city where all I could think of to do is visit some shrines. All I could see myself doing is riding over there, looking at some shrines, then staying at a hostel and going back the next morning. Instead, I've mostly stuck around here, occasionally going to Tokyo and Omiya.
I got Christmas presents from my family - way awesome. Phantom Hourglass is a ridiculously fun game, and my sister is a master cookie chef. I'm not going to lie, though, it felt weird missing Christmas. I was pretty down about that, missing family and good friends. I talk to some of them on AIM plenty, but that's not the same, is it? Luckily, I've made some good friends over here as well; I usually see them once or twice a month regularly but thanks to the break we've been hanging out much more often. We've found a British pub in Omiya that we hit up for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Honestly, I think good times with my friends beats out Kyoto any day.
In about 4 days I start up work again, and then there's something like 9 or 10 weeks before I head home. It seems shorter when I think about it in weeks. It's not that I really hate it here or anything - I quite like it! - but one thing I've discovered about myself while I'm here is that I function best when I have a net of support of friends and family, and sitting in isolation in a town where I don't understand the language (and most likely never will) is not really doing wonders for my happiness. Plus, I miss using a dryer to dry my clothes instead of hanging them out to dry, and knowing what the hell I'm actually buying at the supermarket. So, I'm looking forward to coming back to Georgia.
No real resolutions. Oh, I will make drinking an only-social activity, that's one. Not having anything to do in this tiny town usually leads to me sitting in front of my computer with cheap Japanese beer. And Japanese beer is not good. So, there's my resolution.
Hope everyone's doing alright over there.