One Down ??? To Go

So when I woke this morning from my futon in the future I checked my Facebook as one does. There, in popping text, was a button telling me to check my memories. There it was, on May 8th 2015, I left America for Japan. It has been a year since I left my home. It has been a year since in Japan. Holy shit.

Sounding as cliche as humanly possible, where did the time go? How has a year passed? It doesn’t feel like it. I feel like I’m still but a babe in this unknown and foreign country. Unreal. Though my Japanese is still pathetic at best, I know enough to get around, order, and to survive. Can I hold a conversation, hell no, but I’m confident enough to live. I’d say I’m doing alright. I miss you all like hell, but that was never going to be in question.

Work is work. To put it mildly, we’re in a ‘transitional period’ right now. What this means is my eyes are filled with tears as coworkers I adore leave and my responsibilities increase exponentially. So yea, good times. If I didn’t make it aware or the fact that I’m still here, I renewed for another year. So I’ll be Japan until at least May of 2017. What will the future bring? Unknown. I sort of like having my future so open. I’m sort of terrified to have my future so unknown. Fun.

I’ve seen a bunch of Japan, there is still a lot to see. This year, I want to knock out some more of those key Japan areas and maybe even some neighboring countries. Korea? China? Australia? Who knows. I’d really like to see the Great Wall. Apparently it’s cheaper to fly to Korea than Hokkaido. Crazy. I want it all!

I finally ran out of US dollars which is a bit of a headache. Also, doing your taxes in another country is super cool. One day at a time. It will all work out. I got a ‘to do’ list that I add checks to quite frequently. Language, reading, and simple tasks is still hard. Japan is still the most beautiful country I’ve ever been in and don’t regret my decision at all. The people here, the friends I’ve made, and the memories I’ve made are truly priceless to me. Oh, I've also lost 50 pounds. Here is to another year!

Lastly, who the hell leaves a country on Mother’s Day?