We spent our third and final Japanniversary showing Issac the sights in Kyoto. October 29. Three years. So much has happened since we arrived staring at each other in terror as the plane landed at Narita Airport. And so much has happened this year alone: getting sick in Cambodia and detained in Vietnam, a buy trip to Thailand, Japan’s catastrophic earthquake and tsunami, a surprise three-month separation and camp-out at my parents’ in Texas, a visit to San Diego, and—oh yeah—a baby!
I would not say the time seems to have flown by, but these days I certainly do feel like I’m living in some kind of jet lagged time warp of sleep deprivation. All of a sudden the time I had to finish things up in Japan is gone—our bags are packed; we depart in the morning.
“Are you so excited to leave?” several people have asked. No: I’m really sad to leave Japan—the best friends I’ve ever had, exotic ports of call, the bright lights of Tokyo. But I am SO excited to be heading back to the States—air filters and central air conditioning, being closer to family, counter space, the beach, sink disposals, English.
Three years ago we were unpacking and settling in for fall; here is where I first saw the glory that is the changing of the seasons. And now, back in temporary housing on base, I look around and find the season again has changed.
Sayounara, Japan. Hello, USA!