when waited,

Hello again,

This week I hope we can make due with a short reflection.
At about this time and season here in Japan for those of us who are participating in JET (this Japan and Exchange Teaching) program we are at present faced with the soon decision of whether or not we hope to recontract for another year of sushi, fun, snow-plowing, snow-playing, travel and fun (Yes, I said fun twice in this list because life here is well, fun). Well, it’s not all a big festival out here. Mind you there is the odd day where we actually have to work.
*I can just picture any JET reading this just smirking or staring in disbelief over that last comment*

Yes, some of us are rather busy while at other times some others of us are sitting on our hands waiting to warm up, or just waiting for something to happen. Which bucket do I fall into? Well, things are usually pretty busy. So busy some days that I wonder when I’ll ever have time to myself again. Haha. But no, work and life has been most agreeable lately.

So with the prospect of recontracting on the horizon, and again that horizon is zooming into view by February at the latest, I am prompted to reflect.

You know how sometimes, okay well, years ago when we watched vhs tapes and you would hit rewind and after a blur and squiggle of images you would stop to see if you had found the part of the film you were looking for? Well every now and again usually during my workdays I am hit with the recollection and excitement of why I came to Japan and just how it felt the first time. You know, how arrival here in this country was. (Come on people, keep your heads on straight)

I remember that in the smashing heat of summer on a late July day our plane, Tokyo-bound from Vancouver was hovering just over Narita Japan. After surviving a near-drenching airplane ride with several other wild and roasty JETs (it really felt like we had the plane to ourselves) we were about to land atop the tarmac.

I remember after having a resourceful conversation with the rather amicable JET next me that we for some reason caught the attention of an aged Japanese lady sitting across the aisle us. After squabbling with this JET-friend about what Japanese resources we could use to study once we were landed and established in Japan, the Japanese lady called out to us -probably because one of us had dropped something in the aisle or something like that.

In that moment, all the emotions, excitements and flashing lights within me that were just waiting to burst out of me upon my arrival in Japan were brought to life -again. The JET whom I was talking with burst into moderately conversational Japanese with the lady thanking her for pointing out our silliness and ‘item-dropping’ etc.

Right then I was awash with excitement. The excitement of one waiting to hit the ground running. To get to teaching, living, eating all the food up that I could in Japan. Hearing that JET speak Japanese made it all so real. Like when you’re dreaming about breakfast and then you wake up to find breakfast ready-made on the table (ready-made by a loved one, a lover, or an expensive hotel -it matters not).

From then on, parading through the airport and security and the like I was able to find myself. Only long enough to make it through the days of orientation in Tokyo, business suits, people trying to lookg important, or people acting like they were just so they could fit in and hide the wild craziness they were feeling themselves.

After those three days of orientation came the wham-bam flight to Hokkaido. Arriving in yet another airport we were all of us participants faced with saying goodbye to the happy/safe group we had travelled thus far with, and then one by one we were plucked up and collected by our supervisors and flung into a world of Japanese and work-life like we never expected. Or at least I never did.

I think I was forced to go from using next to pittle-bits of Japanese at home, to communicating in a daily level buying groceries, planning lessons, buying cellphones. You name it I’ve had to try it.. so far.

Gosh, I get all whispy in the head just thinking about this all again.
But yea, every now and again, mostly on tired mornings, it serves as a good reminder of what it was and IS all like being abroad and doing all this fun stuff. Really. I find I can go from an unplanned week (that is nothing extra curricular in the calendar outside of a taiko practice or two, and me having to swash around some laundry) to after school events, sudden travel plans, surprise lessons, or just a lonely friend calling on me to go and visit on onsen together. Onsens are not a crime, by the way. They are heavenly bliss.

Well, let me replace the stopper here and thank you for perusing with me. Golly. There is still so much to be had with snow tours on their way and friends to meet. Mind you there is work to be done.
I am still in awe every time when I stand in a classroom and watch what my students do as we teach -the teachers and I. I count myself lucky, and you should, too.

Today? Well today and this evening for instance I was plodded to partake in a sudden dinner engagement. Which is all nice and warm considering I won’t have to scramble up a dinner myself. And just when I was looking forward to using the new laundry detergent that I got yesterday on my ripe pile of laundry.. oh well.
Plans are plans and I am glad to have them.

In the meantime, thanks for the read and if you have a chance, buy someone a cup of coffee -a good friend or your mum or something like that. Recently, though my trips out of town to any nearby metropolis are few and far between, and I know I often look forward to a steaming cup of joe myself. I take mine black, thank you.
Hope you’re enjoying your Fall. And with that,

Ciao

(p.s. no, this is not a picture of a napkin)