Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!

Happy New Year! Wow, 2009. It is hard to believe. And even harder to believe I have been here 6 months! I am excited to enjoy the next 6 with my friends here in Japan and truly cherish every moment like its my last. Because guess what? It is! The events that is, not the actual moments. That sounds kinda morbid...

The year started out with some wonderful and amazing adventures! We returned from our glorious trip in Thailand and made our way across the little island of Japan. Thailand was everything I thought it was going to be and more. It was such a beautiful country with such compassionate people. We traveled from Bangkok to Chang Mai to Chang Rei and back to Bangkok and the experiences we had were truly unforgettable. We had wonderful tour guides that showed us Temples, ruins that were thousands of years old, the countryside and its people, tribes (including the infamous Longneck tribe), took us elephant riding (which was just as peaceful and glorious as it sounds), tiger petting/ holding/laying on (just as scary/exciting as it sounds), boating, biking and gave us an excellent insight to the culture and rich traditions that country has to offer. We ate delicious meals and stayed in amazing hotels. I have never learned so much about Buddhism and the rituals that go with the elaborate and interesting religion. My family and I were able to see the countryside and the "uglier" side of life where people weave scarves, make silk and farm to earn a not-so good living. We were able to venture "backstage" to see the factories and saw how Jade, silk and carpets were made. I even got to try my hand at weaving a scarf, and let me tell you, it is not a job for the faint of heart, especially in that heat! My eyes were opened to the poverty of the country and the heartbreaking lives these people have no choice in living. You are born where you are born and you live and work where you are supposed to. I knew already how fortunate I am, and that just furthered my realizations. I cannot express how thankful I am to be where and who I am.

Each thing we did was the ultimate tourist vacation, and at times, I have to admit, I felt a bit silly. But I never forgot that they like tourists for the most part, and that is where their profits come from. So I never felt bad about being in their country and I was always willing to buy "just one more souvenir". As I said, it was hot, but not too bad. It is their winter there, but of course that is nothing remotely close to winter. We biked, swam and laid out in the sun and I enjoyed every minute while I could. Apart from being in such a wonderful country, I was extremely happy to be with my family and be able to catch up and see them for as long as I did. I was really basking in that. And once again, thankful they were able to come over. It was definitely a vacation that I will not forget. Of course there are about a million pictures below, but as usual they don`t do the experience justice in the slightest, so it is just one of those things where you just had to be there.

After our adventures in the tropics, we made our way back to the freezing Land of the Rising Sun. We flew into Fukuowka and headed to my neck of the woods, Kumamoto. Because it was the New Year's holidays, things were quiet and the streets were empty. The Japanese celebrate New Year's Eve with their families, so on actual New Year's Eve we were some of the very few people wandering around the city. The night before was crackin though, we were able to meet up with some of my friends and their families for a delicious Chinese dinner. Good spirits all around! The New Year was uneventful, as Grant, me and some friends went to the shrine by the castle only to be mostly disappointed in the anti-climatic event of them making a wish at midnight.

After we finished our time in Kumamoto we headed to Kyoto, but not before stopping in Hiroshima to see the Atomic Bomb Dome. I could not wrap my brain around the fact that this building, out of the entire town, was still standing after the blast. And that people for miles and miles were instantly killed. They left the site how it was when the bomb exploded over the dome, and as much as I stared at the rubble, I could barely fathom the horror those 50 plus years ago. The museum was closed, but even the one picture I saw was unbelievable, just piles of ash for miles. The sorrow just grips you.

After our brief stop in Hiroshima, we ventured to Kyoto where you could barely move. Honestly, I have never seen so many people. But I guess it should be expected, I mean it IS Japan and it IS the biggest traveling time of the year. The train station is a stop in itself, it is massive and filled with everything you would want to buy or eat. We spent a few rainy days exploring downtown Kyoto, visiting shinto shrines and temples, walking around the city in our gloves and hats. We had been lucky with the weather for the whole trip, so we couldn't complain much when it was raining a little one day. We tried some new foods (well, my dad preferred to stick to Ritz crackers and Italian--better to be safe than sorry is what he probably thought) and went up to Kyoto tower to look at the city at night. We were able to see the light up temples with the viewers they had for us, which was amazing to see such history in such a modern city.

After Kyoto we took the Shinkansen or the well known bullet train up to Tokyo for the beginning of the end of our adventures. We walked around the famous shrines and temples, pushing our way past the masses, stopping to take pictures when we could. We visited the place where the `64 Olympics were held and headed home exhausted from the crowds upon crowds. Before deciding on place to eat that night the mystery of the crowds was no longer as my dad discovered that the Mei-ji Shrine, the one we went to, is the most popular in all of Japan around, guess what?! Yup, New Year! Some 3 million people visit it the same weekend we did. So that explained a lot about not just the temple, but the masses of people pretty much everywhere. It was just travel time in Japan! One day we got to go on a tour of Tokyo, which was probably my favorite part of Japan because we were able to see so much of Tokyo in such a short time. We also got to go on a boat ride around Tokyo bay which was relaxing and gave us a great view of the city. That was our last big day and before I knew it I was hugging goodbye and getting on the bus back to the airport.

My journey home was easy and peaceful (well, as peaceful as it could be leaving a vacation with your family who you haven`t seen in 5 months)--the plane ride was lovely as I could see the outer edge of Japan, the ocean and, when entering Kumamoto, the smoking volcano caldera of Mt. Aso. I made it home safe and sound (obviously) and enjoyed looking through pictures and getting myself together before I had to go back to school later that same week.

After two pretty boring days of school (opening ceremony and no classes for me) I met up with my friend, Cassandra and her mom and we took the train down to Oita to visit the famous monkey park and `7 hells onsens` where we could see red, baby blue and mud onsens (hot, sulfur springs) along with crocs, flamingos, hippos and even an elephant. Monkey Mountain was crazy because they just let the monkeys roam free and they feed them so they stay there. There were monkeys running in between our legs, fighting, sleeping, and climbing all around us. They seem used to people all around but they surely aren't afraid to warn you when you get to close by running at you or shaking the trees. Needless to say, I took way too many pictures of those crazy primates! Even though I was tired from my trip, I was really glad to have gone because it was a really neat place. Later that night I was able to catch up with friends as we exchanged stories of our trips and discussed our plans for whether or not we are staying another year.

This week has just been school and more school. Classes are back in session with Jessica's Thailand adventures and New Year`s Resolutions as our topics of choice, or mine rather. They don`t have much of a say in a topic. Although I should take a poll and see what they want to learn...Humm... Anyway I am starting back with a bit of a lighter attitude compared to when I left, and I am making it my main goal just to have fun with the students. That will save me many a gray hair in the future as well as stressful times in the present.

I have made a few tests and worksheets, but besides that, things have been relatively easy going. I am also trying to get back in the swing of things with the gym and I actually made it to the pool twice this week! It`s been a while, so although it felt good, I felt terrible. My fellow swimmers know the feeling. I have a bunch of resolutions that I intend on sticking with especially since I am a BRIDESMAID at my old roommate`s wedding in July!! So I need to get out of these bad eating habits and into good shape.

Other news on the menu is TODAY is my BIRTHDAY! Another year older and wiser. And this time it`s true, I actually do feel wiser. Wiser in what sense I don't really know, and the more I think about it, the more questions rather than answers come to my head, but we will just say I am wiser about something and leave it at that. So we are going to our favorite restaurant in the city and perhaps some karaoke afterwards. Who knows where the wind will blow us. I am just glad that all my peeps are coming to celebrate with me. It should be a lovely time. I only wish my Colorado crew could join in the fun. They will be in my heart at least :)

So there is the update from the other side. Right now I need to make my motto, 'take it a day at a time' (kinda lame, I know) because before I know it time will be up here. I am excited for the comfort and familiarity of home, but I am not ready to leave yet. So I will be enjoying each day, doing my best each day and thinking about all of the things I can do to make this experience as good as I can.

As usual, life is pretty good over here and I am enjoying the bliss of this low stress, easy going lifestyle. I know it won`t be like this forever. I am not enjoying the cold weather, however. My apartment seems to get colder each night, and I am finding myself wearing my full on ski outfit to bed much too often. The heat works, but its just that cold that when I am not in the heated area of my apartment, I am putting my gloves on and getting ready to brace the dropping temperature in the kitchen. The cold should last through February, but apparently it starts to warm up in March and before I know it, I will be complaining about the humidity. So I guess I should just shut my mouth.

Nothing really special coming up in the near future. Just trying to stay warm and healthy. I am also going to keep up my reading. I want to get it to an all time high. I hope all is well with people back in or around the motherland and that everyone else is keeping warm and enjoying 2009!

Pictures from the Japan portion of the trip will be up shortly, so keep checking for updates!

明けましておめでとうございます (Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! Happy New Year!)