Although the week passed rather quickly, it was rife with stress. Most of it was internal, since I’m getting used to some staff changes at my school. In one way it’s been a blessing, since the new guy took about half of my kids classes, but rough in other ways. I think I just need to get used to the new status quo.
Since moving, I’ve been wanting to start my own garden. However, I don’t yet know much about my work status past September, so I hesitate to accumulate yet more stuff. I still have my cactus Saboten (bought when I still worked in Tajimi), which I brought with me to Anjo. It was a pain to bring, even though I hired a moving truck, so imagine if I do get more plants. Also, I never really had a green-thumb, so to speak. Saboten is looking quite worse for wear, despite my best efforts. I will have to think more about this.
I arrived in Japan exactly one year ago on June 4th, 2016. I have not been out of the country since then. I have zero regrets.
In Gamagori there is an island, just off shore, housing a collection of old Shinto Shrines. It’s a small island, not even a mile across.
Besides the shrines, there are beaches around the outer edge of the island which are known for their shellfish.
After paying respects at the various shrines, it’s a quick walk back from the exit, though not necessarily and easy one.
There is an uneven path set between the hill the shrines are perched upon and the surrounding beaches. Some places are quite steep, especially for those wearing inappropriate shoes. The walk is only about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how many pictures you stop to take or shells you decided to collect.
My friends and I took about 40 minutes for obvious reasons.
We might be miles apart, but we’re always under the same sky, connected by the flow of the great oceans, and will never stop thinking about each other. I wish you all the happiness in the world.
It’s hard to believe that Golden Week is over. It went by too fast. My next vacation isn’t until August. I also can’t believe that it’s something I can find complaint about.
Back in the US, I never really had any holidays. If I was lucky, I might have Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and Easter off. Since coming to Japan, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to not only have two days off a week, but to also have paid vacations.
When I speak to people from outside the US, they can’t believe that vacations aren’t the norm for us, especially if we don’t come from a white collar – middle class family. I’ve lived here for just under a year and I already find myself wondering if I could ever go back to living as I did back home. Something tells me I wouldn’t. it’s startling, but I wonder if I’ve left my home country for good.
In Meijimura, there is a tall partial building, which was once part of a bank. It’s about four or five stories tall and afords one hell of a view.
