Well I have been here 8 months now... time has gone by, I don't know whether to say it was fast or slow. Some days seemed to zip on by, while others lasted what seemed like forever. Its now the holidays. Made it through Thanksgiving, of course it helped going to Italy. Yup that is right, I went to Italy. Italy was good to visit and was described to me like this, "Italy is like a woman with a beautiful face, but ugly feet." I laughed when I first heard this. However the 2 weeks I spent there, I understood what it meant. As long as you look up around you, Italy is beautiful and full of art and brilliance, but as you glance down, you see the garbage surrounding the beauty. The graffiti that marks almost everything in sight. It is sad how many historical things there are in Italy that have been unkempt and or destroyed.
So yes I did enjoy my trip to Italy and I saw so many amazing and beautiful things. I was able to go see the Colosseum, Trevino fountain, eat pizza Margarita, heard Pope Francesco speak at St. Pietro's Square, saw Micheal Angelo's artwork at the Sistine Chapel. Which for the longest time I thought was called sixteen chapel. I saw the Spanish Steps, Castle Nuovo, Went and visited Mt. Vesuvius. Rode a gondola in Venice, and saw some beautiful and creative masks of art. I took at least 1,000 pictures. As the time came to an end though, I was glad to be coming back to Japan, my home.
I say Japan is my home because the home I knew when I left the U.S.A. is now gone and everything is changed, I don't know where I would go, or what I would do if I were to come back home at this point. That scares me. I like knowing my future or at least having a sense of what I want and where I am going. At this moment I don't and for me it is unsettling. Of course for the last 6-7 years I thought I was getting married and moving to Colorado which then would have been my home. Funny how fast things change. There are times where I wish someone would call or message me saying. I need you, please come home. When I first said I wanted to do this people were hesitant about it but still supportive. No one came right out and said I couldn't leave them. No one said I don't want you to go. Most told me I should go. While I know it was all coming from a supportive and good place, I can't help but feel a little hurt. Part of me wonders was it even hard for anyone having me leave? I know for me it was and is still difficult to be away.
In my small apartment I have put up some decorations for the Christmas holidays. Here in Japan the holidays, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, are not fully celebrated. Thanksgiving is a very weird idea to them. Understandable because they did not have the same history as us. Christmas is known and things are sold and kids talk of presents, however work does not stop people will continue to work on the 24th and 25th like any other day. I too, shall go to work and teach my students. Better than sitting at home alone on that day. I much rather be with my students laughing and playing.
The big celebrated holiday here is New Years. This coming year for Japan is year of the horse. I know a little girl back at home who would find that exciting. :) I am the year of the snake so dang not my turn. I am also amazed that it is now the 2nd week of December and there is no snow. All over Facebook there are pictures of peoples houses and streets filled with snow. Including beautiful brag about warm no snow St. George!!! It can no longer claim no snow because it has from what I can see several inches and even had the highway closed for a while!!!
I am nervous about the crazy weather and being so far away from home. I think of my family and others I love and pray that they stay safe and out of harm. It would hurt me more than I dare express should I lose anyone while I am over here.
Other than my trip to Italy and working away the only other thing I can think to write about is the St. George/ Ibigawa Marathon that happened!! Students from St. George were able to come here and meet some of my coworkers students as well as mine. They were able to travel and see some of Japan and we participated a little in the marathon by doing a mayors walk. Unfortunately it was a little cold and rainy that day but we made good memories. During this time I was interviewed and had my picture taken for the Ibigawa newspaper. I made front page! I luckily was given a copy and many people read it and approached me to talk about some of the things I said in it.
The mayor has also enjoyed hearing my BIG TEACHER VOICE as I would use it to get the large group to quiet down and listen. Many people laughed as it soon became routine to listen up when you heard my voice ring through the group. I felt a little bad for the Japanese people who are not use to hearing such a loud voice. Some would give a little jump or cover their ears. Gomenashi (Sorry) to those few.
I do enjoy my days here as long as I can stay busy. It is when I have too much alone and down time that I begin to really miss what I left behind. Well that is all the update for now. Tootles.
