Final Week

First I need to qualify the statement, "final week." In this context it means my days in Japan are numbered and I'll be departing this Saturday. I'm grateful to skype and web cams to tide me over while I've been separated from Vyda, Arielle, and Ryosei since July 15th. My last week will consist of work, packing I can't put-off any longer, and saying plenty of good-byes. I actually remarked yesterday to anyone who cared to listen that I'm really tired of saying good-bye at this point. It takes its toll. It has been a wonderful 10 months in Toyama, Japan. I can't imagine how it could've been any better. Our previous three years in another country that shall remain nameless were tumultuous, to put it mildly. We've learned how to be grateful for any good thing, no matter the size, that happens to us because our previous three turbulent years still are anything but a distant memory. Hopefully, I can write a little more about Japan before I leave.

Vyda's Odyssey

Vyda left Toyama Japan at 7:10 a.m on Wednesday July 15th with a four year old and six month old and several suitcases. She arrived in Boston, MA on Thursday July 16th 11:30 a.m Japan time, or 28 some hours later.

Luckily, Arielle is an amazing travel companion.
My own Odyssey is less than two weeks away. My employeer was only willing to pay for a ticket to Hawaii, so my route goes Tokyo-Hawaii-San Franciso-Boston. I leave Japan on August 1st 7:45 p.m and finally reach Boston Aug. 2nd 8:00 p.m, Japan time. I read once how Donald Rumsfield read voraciously on long flights so I plan to do likewise until the uncontrollabe head nods win-out.

But 24 plus hours on an airplane and waiting in an airport sure beats one month on a ship, eh?

still don't have a good answer to the query, "why do so many Japanese people make a v-shape with their second and third finger during a picture?"

Arielle and her good friend Hikari

random embrace

Gazing upwards

Arielle's knees jutted out at 45 degree angles in her trademark riding style

I overheard an Australian here say, "Japan has a festival for everything." I think you could also say Japan has a ceremony for everything. This picture was taken back in April at Arielle's pre-school entrance ceremony, which I know sounds strange translated literally into english.