Highlights from the "Between Time"

Good GRIEF! It's already been over a year since I posted to this blog?! I know I'm bad about keeping in touch, but this is terrible even for me. Sorry to my friends and family, who have probably been hoping for pictures and news all this time....

Anyway, I AM ALIVE! No worries, everyone!

But it HAS been a long, crazy year in Japan - earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear plant explosions, Chinese sand, and various adventures across this incredible island nation. I don't even know how to start catching up!

Until I figure out a way to put this all together sensibly, here are some photos of the highlights from the "Between Time"~! Enjoy!

Last Fall, I visited a beautiful campsite in Susa, on the coast of the Sea of Japan. If you look far enough into the sunset, maybe you can see Korea! (Or so I've been told.........)

 

I spent last Christmas in Hokkaido, the northern-most island of Japan. It was really, really cold. 

 After Hokkaido, I headed back south to more the more tolerable climate of Tokyo! Here's the newly-built Skytree, the tallest TV broadcasting tower in Japan (possibly the world?). Maybe it's the tallest now, but I still think Tokyo Tower is way cooler.... 

 

New Year's Eve at an End-of-year concert in Shinjuku, Tokyo! I was able to meet my favorite singer, Tusk!!! He was so rockin' cool!

This Spring brought the most beautiful Cherry Blossoms I've ever seen! This festival was to celebrate the rare-ish "Weeping Cherry Blossoms," which grow in mountainous areas.

 March 3rd is "Girl's Day" in Japan. Families celebrate with traditional hina doll stands and mochi rice-cakes. I attended an international festival that day, where I was able to make origami crafts, watch a children's dance performance, and try a kimono! It was a little small...........

 Bored on a Sunday! Leia and I took a trip to Oshima (lit. "Big Island") to take pictures and pick seashells. The weather was gorgeous that day! Perfect day for an outdoor adventure.

 Even on busy work days, I occasionally get treated to an awesome sight like this! I should also point out that while I was indeed driving at this time, I'm pretty sure I was stopped behind traffic ^_~ 

In an attempt to bring some culture to our area, we decided to throw a Cinco de Mayo party! Complete with an amazing hand-made pinata. It took over a week to make, and 20 minutes to smash to bits. But it was totally worth it. 

More posts to come soon! If I take too long, please feel free to hassle me!

Until next time, 

Mich   v(^w^ )

A Day at the Beach

So. Yeah.

I'M IN JAPAN! 8D

After a long, looong journey by plane, subway, and Shinkansen, I arrived safely in my new home town in the south of Honshu (the main island). It's beautiful! By Japanese standards, it's rural, quaint, some might say "boring." But to me, it's my first introduction to Japan, and everything is new and exciting!! (Plus there's electricity, which is a step up from the African bush).

To be sure, this is a crazy place. Old, traditional culture still seeps through the modern facade of paved highways and high-rise buildings. In the grocery store, one can find green tea next to "CUP NOODLE," and packaged steak next to fresh fish. One of the best examples I've encountered so far was on the Shinkansen bullet train; a state-of-the-art veritable rocket, designed for both comfort and efficiency, so punctual you can time it with your own wristwatch. And yet, amidst all this technological glory, a bit of the old world shines through: as the middle-aged steward moves between the cars on his rounds, he stops at the doors and bows to the passengers before entering and leaving, showing respect. Truly, a sign that the Japanese are wizards at blending the past and future, creating a strange window on the present that is uniquely theirs.

Yesterday, I had the chance to visit the local beach with my friend. Yet another incredible sight! For this part of the story, I'll let the pictures describe the scene for me, since I'm not sure words could do it justice. (Also, I'm lazy ^_^)


The entrance to the beach through a cute evergreen forest.


The small mountains that surround the left side of the inlet.


More distant mountains, with the glory of the late-afternoon sun glistening on the smooth water. Gorgeous, ne?


My friend's favorite beachy past-time: collecting seashells!


On of the private fishing boats parked along the beach.

As you can see, I'm already having a blast here, soaking up the new sights and sounds of the city. And this is only my second day! Stick around for more exciting adventures and (not-so-exciting) ramblings as I get settled into my new apartment, job, and way of life. And thanks, as always, for the loving support :)

Until next time,
~Mich <3 ミッシ

One Small Leap....

It is time, once again, to set out on a curious journey. In three days, I will find myself in another foreign airport, dragging my earthly belongings behind me in the only two suitcases I own, feeling overwhelmed by the newness of everything in sight. On Sunday, I will take my first steps in Japan.

Unbelievable, really, that almost exactly one month ago I was still in Niger with Peace Corps. A tiny little village in the middle of West Africa was the center of my whole world. Days moved at a leisurely pace, and my spastic kitten kept me more entertained than a Television and video games combined. No electricity meant the night sky was a blanket of stars. I learned that indoor plumbing is entirely overrated.

Then the evacuation happened, and I was transported to the most elegant hotel in the bustling metropolis of Rabat, Morocco (city Moroccans, by the way, don't consider themselves African; they are Western Europeans, with better food). As a discombobulated group of depressed, miserable American Volunteers, we had nothing better to do than shop, sight-see, and eat, eat, eat away our troubles. After a week, it was Casablanca-Frankfurt-Chicago-Home for me.

And now, thanks to a spur-of-the-moment job opportunity (thanks, Torrie!), I'm off on another new adventure for a year, probably longer. At least I was already packed, right! Perhaps moving to Japan is an impulsive move...but sometimes, we just have to trust our instincts and grab on to good luck when it happens by! I'm excited about this new leap into the unknown, come what may. So I invite you to join me on this next leg of my crazy journey around the world - you never know where I may end up next!! ^_~