Counting Down the Days

So things are somewhat shaping up- ish.

I am still rushing to get things, I am working too (4am shifts!!!) And talking with current, leaving, and past JETs to get a good idea of things.

I still have to send 3 packages to people (Sorry for making you wait so long guys T.T)

And it is like a neverending list.

But I am not as frazzled as I thought I'd be.

The Continuing Story

So...

It has been a while. I really haven't blogged all that much due to a lot of things going on in life. Last entry was in 2013 before I graduated later that December. Yea, I graduated :)

Japanese and International Studies along with a concentration in Journalism. I transferred back home with Target and have been working there since. It doesn't pay big bucks- but it pays bills. I also got a small job with the Berlitz Corporation- as an English Teacher.

In the meantime- friendships grew, waned, I grew, I've changed. I've lost family members, gained some... It has all be a whirlwind of two years and it is shocking that it has only been 2 years.  I am an admin over a writing website based off the Guardians of Childhood/Rise of the Guardians series. I sing, and saw Newsies. I started writing poetry again.

I saw more of North Carolina.

Saw Newsies! Loved the musical and still listen to the soundtrack almost everyday!

Saw the Biltmore Estate too!

And now- a new adventure will begin soon.

I am returning to Japan, there I will live in the Shimizu area of Shizuoka, and teach English as an ALT on the JET Program. Exciting right?

Right now I am both terrified and excited. It gives me a chance to go back to Japan- restudy what I've learned and solidify my base so I can further my career- where-ever that may be. In the meantime, I am going to attempt to write, sing, and create. I am going to try to keep up this blog so that my loved ones can know how I am. Who knows- maybe it will be fun to look back on as well.

A New Semester

You thought I was done with the last post. Yes it is true I am back from Japan and I have a lot to tell you and show you. (Don't worry! I plan on adding pictures and more stuff tomorrow!!)

So today after much trouble (mostly for my poor parents) I was moved into my new dormroom at UNCC. I have managed to make it very homey. Adding some Japanese pictures, postcards, and a calender. I have finished unpacking and drinking my tea for the night. And Now I am all set and ready for bed.

What is in store for tomorrow? Mostly organization. My goal is to be super organized this semester so that I can stay on top of things and make a good impression. I think I can do it. But yes UNCC will be very interesting this semester. Really a lot of Japanese classes. Almost intimidating to think about really but I am sure I will be ok.

Overall I think the only thing that will annoy me about my room is the noise. There is the heating or air or something but whenever it goes off it makes a loud *THUMP* noise that makes me jump. I think i may be able to get used to it considering where my room is at home. Anyways I just wanted to update you all on what is coming up next.

Dwindling Time

Hey,

So... it's been a long time hasn't it? I doesn't seem like too long ago I was just starting this blog and so many things have happened to me since then. I know I haven't updated it. Especially all those major trips I took. Right now I am packing to go home, not really much time to write about all the many trips I took, all the random things I saw or learned. There is so much to tell you but... I know I will write it all down.

It may be later, when I come back to America as I tell everyone of my experiences and remember I will probably post about them. Kinda like flashbacks maybe.

I want to share so much with you. I want to show you all I've seen. Even if it didn't happen at the same time there are things I didn't know then that I know now, or ways that time has changed my perceptions.

I will write about these things, I know once I am back home, things will fall into place once again. I won't be rushing around trying to accomplish seeing the world in a couple months.

Something I've learned here is that you can't.

There will always be something going on, somewhere you won't see. But something you can treasure is what is happening to you now. Whether it is relaxing at home on a rainy Japanese day with a cup of tea and a bowl of soup. Or you climbing a mountain in the hot Japanese Summer. Either way the things I have seen and experienced I will share, and I will tell and I will post.

And maybe even more. What has happened now is I've pulled the thread, that stitch is complete. It has brought together and shown me so many things about myself and my life. I've learned more about another language and culture, I've met people who have become close to me. I've found something very much close to a life here. Something I really treasure. Packing up is hard, leaving is hard. Seeing the faces on my friend's face as they realize I am leaving. As this class is my last class, it hurts. I even cried at the farewell party. However I think I have learned so much about myself.

I've learned to cook and eat healthier. I eat more vegetables now, and I actually like some good sashimi, whether I can find that in North Carolina remains to be seen. I love love LOVE Miso Soup which isn't all that bad for you.

Okra? Boiled and a bit of salt please. Asparagus? Garlic and some pepper and pinch of salt and roasted or boiled with a bit of spicy pepper. Green Beans? Boiled, and later sautéed with garlic and myoga. I even know how to make Risotto or a makeshift Spanish Rice.

 I haven't eaten too much beef since coming here... mostly chicken and eggs. Mostly my diet consisted of stir frys with a lot of onions a vegetable I used to HATE. Lord knows how many times my parents and grandparents had to deal with me picking every visible onion out of spaghetti sauces and chili. However now I eat it raw.

Or a form of chicken, sauce paired with rice or potatoes. Always enough to enjoy seconds. And amazingly delicious. And don't believe me on the health? I lost about 31 pounds here (According to a scale anyways). I want to preserve this habit.

Anyways I should get back to packing and letter writing. Love you all <3

See you soon America!

Nervous Energy

This isn't going to be a long post, although I suppose when I return to America I will continue to blog of all I missed including the crazy stories and memories I have made.

Overall I have been trying to study for the JLPT N3. My teachers expressed a concern.

"Oh but our textbooks we've been going through only prepare you for N4"

Ah yes, the N4 the one I probably should be taking but am not out of a wild attempt to get my major classes finished. And if I don't pass we'll see about sticking around for another semester.

I hope that doesn't happen. Overall I am happy with how things have been on this trip. I am probably going to be broke by the time I return to America. But it was money well spent!

The memories I've made on this trip are irreplaceable. And I know I will return to Japan someday. Anyways tomorrow will be rough

So off to bed I go.

Night

Stargazing

I know this should probably be a post about the Lantern Festival...

I dunno I guess sometimes I just want to write about what I am feeling instead. Tonight there were supposedly a meteor shower.

It was strange... I went to get my laundry and a girl was there watching the sky. After I gathered my clothes I sat down.

The air was cold... it's starting to cool down now since it is fall. To be honest it has been a while since I sat on the roof, not since they barbed wired it. And I haven't just sat there and looked at the stars either.

I really forgot how stars look. How they glitter and shimmer. I guess it is kinda strange. Just how like nice it is to sit down and look. It made me happy.

Strangly enough an Owl City song grew stuck in my head. When I looked it up it was Meteor Shower. I actually did see one...

Before I came to Japan I saw one... I heralded it as a good Omen. Maybe this one is the same.

Sick and Current Thoughts of Life and Such (LONG POST)

So I looked it up, chances are unless I really pack it in I will not be able to do all 3 of my final trips.

I decided I wanted to go to the major places I have missed. I will not go to Okinawa, or Hokkaido. Hiroshima is probably the more complex one, in November it will cost over 140 dollars one way in order to make it there in a timely manner (Aka at 8pm or so on Friday) then to make it back in a timely manner.

I would love to go to Hikone, that is a day trip I can do that easily which makes my life easier. That town is the last town I need to visit to see the last of the 4 national treasure castles of Japan. Inuyama (Near to Nagoya), Himeji (Visited 2 times), Matsumoto (visited two times), and Hikone. I might revisit Inuyama since that day my camera wouldn't work so I was unable to get pictures. It is not that far from Nagoya making it a simple trip.

And Nara which would be a full weekend trip letting me go to Kyoto as well. I need to talk more with Leah about that.

I would love to have hiked Nakasendo again but that will probably perhaps be during my next adventure here. Home is nearing and I will probably not have a chance like this again... it makes me sad... I really wish I could stay here longer and have more adventures.

I also have decided to preserve some of my weekends for friends and for Kimiyo. That way we can still all hang out so things like cooking parties going to the ninja village with Airi.

Agh... I don't want this to end. At least this weekend will be chill.  Saturday I am going costume shopping for the School Festival, most cosplays cost over 100 dollars... ouch. I just can't afford that so many other good ways to use money!

Sunday is Leah's Birthday Party, and Friday is a long Karaoke event that I probably won't stay until 7am for haha.
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Right now I am sick with a cold which is strange cause I was sick with a stomach bug before the school trip to Nagano. I have many pictures I need to share with you as well as many adventures. Right now I am just torn. While I want to leave Japan, see my friends and family again, I don't want this adventure to end. I feel as if there is still so much for me to do. Still so much for me to explore and enjoy. However I think it is just a beginning.

I've made a couple decisions, some of the things I have yet to decide but I have been offered a place at my friend's Aya's apartment provided I pay rent, or I could stay at the Apartment my parents told me about. It is really all up in the air right now. I could stay in a dorm again but that is somewhat miserable after this. I would love to live in Charlotte after this. I need to focus on getting that job or if I should go to Grad school. If I do I think I want to concentrate in more language development courses and perhaps either politics or business. I want to keep taking the JLPT exams until I get a N1 certification. Right now Kanji is where I fall flat and I will be sure to pick myself up for it.

I want to study and take the State exam that would allow me to enter into embassy work. Just to see if it is a chance I want to take. I will probably have to take it more than once. Overall I am not expecting on finding work directly after graduation but at least an internship and a parttime job would make me happy enough.

I have a job in Greensboro to return to, probably should look up the Academic Calender for UNCC and see how much I can work and tell Steve about it see if I can get on the schedule. Overall I am excited. I've even been offered the chance to return to Sweden come summer.

Coming to Japan has made me realize so much about myself and about life. I want to travel, I want to see the world and I want to learn more and dedicate myself more to the Japanese language. Before I came here I was afraid of not being able to understand and learn the language. That when I returned I would have learned nothing.

That is not so. I feel as if I have unlocked Japanese further. I can understand things I could not understand before. My speaking and listening have improved further my Vocabulary expanded. Many people have commented on my advancement and I can feel it as well. I can feel that difference.

I have learned more about cooking, I have new dishes up my sleeve and new ingredients and foods I love. (Hello Sashimi!!) I want to continue to cook in my spare time. Sad thing is I won't have access to great fresh Seafood like I do here. I want to continue to try more seafood and more foods in general.

Traveling. In Japan I traveled to so many cities, yes some of my weekends were me in my room. Chilling, and watching things but others was filled with adventure. It makes me wonder about America. Why don't I travel there? Yes it is my home but what about weekend trips to some place or day trips to another? I have decided now I want to go to - The Mountains, a Pick Your Own Farm, A Festival or two if I can find any (Oh hey look http://www.sherpaguides.com/north_carolina/mountains/appendixes/special_events.html) , Ocean, Gemstone mining, and other places. Just in North Carolina there are many places I could visit and see. Also I should be there right as Summer hits.

I know I should work hard to earn the money to support this. But I am 22 almost 23. Eventually I will get older and while that is not a bad thing admit it I could do well learning the things I learn here and now as I am young.

I will probably make a similar post later on my last couple days here. For now I won't dwell on Dwindling time but make the most of it by having more adventures!

By the way I love this song it completely sounds like I feel. The Chorus means-

 Life is an Adventure! 

Even if there is no map, let's search for the treasures. 

Believe in the compass of your heart.