Home again, home again

Well, it's official, dear readers.  I'm home.  I have to say that making landfall in the states was...a bit less happy than I thought it would be.  If anything, I was a little sick to my stomach, having left the mystic land of Japan and the great friends I made to return to the land of grease and excess.  Granted, I have friends and my family living in the states, but I couldn't shake the sentiment.  Still, I've been here only 1 day and after getting some REAL soda and barbecue in my stomach, I can safely say, it's good to be back.

Perhaps I should explain a bit more about my trip and leading up to departure.  I had my hands full before leaving Japan.  I had to clean up my room, the kitchen, basically get rid of the traces that I had been there...then go.  My flight was in the morning, so I was allowed to stay the night, but it was somber, getting ready to leave.  My friends were very kind though, giving me gifts to send me off and spending as much time with me as they could before I left.  It was sad, parting with these people I had come to know so well.  We stay in touch through skype and facebook but...when I was hugging my close friends at the bus stop, I felt an unbearable desire to just stay...even if that would be impossible.

Once I was on the bus, I had to carry three bags and my laptop all the way to the planes, and beyond.  In total, I was in the air about 18 hours, which in truth spanned almost two days since we crossed the international date line in my flight across the pacific.  I took one bus, three trains, three plains, and a long car ride to get home.  I was tired, broken, and a bit ready to just die by the time my parents found me.  Strangely, my depression had subsided somewhat.  I knew that I'd meet my friends again. I'd make that happen.

Still, the trip gave me a lot to think about.  How Japan was different than the states, how my life had changed in the last few months, how I had changed in the last few months...I intend to do some more reflections on them, but suffice it to say, I've been thinking a great deal in the last day or two.

It feels like I'm battling a lot...Jetlag, this sudden loneliness of being separated from my peers, and the culture shock...it's quite a bit to handle.  Just for an example, today I got my first taste of North Carolinian BBQ in almost 4 months.  I was astonished by the taste, by the amount, the size, and by the soda.  In Japan, soda costs almost as much as beer or wine at restaurants.  And NO refills.  This was a good shock, but...seeing the congested roads, I also had a bad shock, pining for the time when only bikes and scooters really crowded the streets.

I'll recover soon, and when I do I'll post more about my reflections.  Suffice it to say, I miss Japan terribly, but I recognize that the states aren't so bad.  I'm glad to be home.  As for my trip?  Well, it was a struggle at first.  Adjusting to the classes, the pop culture, the customs, and especially the food of Japan was tough.  I had problems making good friends and fell in with a few jerks.  But, I got to see some amazing sights and experience the whole of Japanese culture.  That, on its own, would make the trip worthwhile.  But, I also got to meet a number of wonderful people, both Japanese and from other countries.  I forged some great memories.  Obviously, my reluctance to return home should show how much of an affection I gained for Japan.

On the whole, my trip had a few snags getting started, but about halfway through, it picked up and I found a happiness I'd not experienced in a long time.  Traveling to see the sights with my friends was a wonderful experience.  I would do another trip like this in a split second.  I recommend everyone give it a try, actually.  Japan is a wonderful place to visit, even if I couldn't imagine living there...not that I didn't try.

That's all for now...I'm tired and still trying to adjust, so I'll be absent for a few days.  After Christmas though, I'll wrap up this trip with my reflections on, culture, sights, travel, and Japan as a whole.  I'll also give a brief reflection on my most treasured memories.  Look forward to it, dear readers.

Fushimi and Departure Blues

First, a thank you to all my readers who decided to stick with me through this odyssey.  I hope to see and speak with all of you when I get home...assuming I can make it home without getting lost.  Anyway, I have one last story before I go, then departure woes.

My story relates to the grand site of Fushimi Inari, a set of shrines that are placed on a massive mountain, with a hall of Tori gates leading up to each.  It was a long, hard climb with one of my dearest, closest friends I've made here along for the right with me.  We both got tired and sore and lost, seeing several unseen and hidden shrines that were off the beaten path, but there wasn't much to it.

For those who don't know, Inari is a rice deity and his helpers are mystic foxes.  We went because A) I wanted to go and B) my friend wanted to go and had a ton of 1 yen coins to get rid of.  The trip was uneventful, save for how much fun I had just being around my friend.  We did get lost going off the beaten path, but actually managed to cross the entire mountain, ending up in the next town over, to our surprise.  We got help from a Japanese man who spoke good English and found a zen gate repaired by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Japan's most famous Shoguns.  Though we were tired and exhausted, it was a great trip.

Pictures are as follows:

 The Tori Gate leading into the Fushimi area.

 The start of the shrine and its Inari guardians.

 Start of the Tori Gate tunnel.

 Just look at that...that is spellbinding.

 One of the Inari Shrines.

 Praying for Inari's mercy and aid in the future.

 Top of the world, Ma!

 The bibs and hats are really cute.

 The Zen gate.

Even the train station has Inari's guardians watching over it.

Okay, now for the heavy stuff.  I depart for America in almost 30 hours.  I'm depressed.  I've made many friends, but my recent traveling companion has moved me beyond mere words.  I know we'll keep up, but I'll miss her terribly.  I think meetings like that are what make life worthwhile...but it still saddens me, to the point where I wonder if I can get on the plane.  There's a lot of that going around and once again I feel like a man walking towards a noose and just waiting for the hangman to finish me.  Morbid, perhaps, but that's how I feel.  I'll survive, but the countdown has begun.

My time in Japan has given me many cherished memories, but beyond all the famous sites I've seen, it's the small memories I cherish the most.  My first REAL friends, because I did have fake ones here, my encounters with the crepe lady and the Takoyaki/yakisoba man, my clubbing experience and times with newer friends...and my dear friend.  All of these are precious to me, as precious as seeing the Ushitora show or going to Kyoto alone.  I think that's something important to remember.  The people around you make all the wonderful sites of the world even more wonderful.  It's all about the company you keep sometimes.  I won't let my friends forget me anytime soon.

And before I get too maudlin again, I do have some good news.  SOPA has been stalled, so at least I have one less thing to worry about.  The internet will still exist when I get home.  Speaking of which, I should go.  This will be my last actual post in Japan.  I'll try to post when I land, but it might be the next day.  I depart soon and should have all my plans in order.  I'll see you all in the states, hopefully.

Till then, be well, everyone.

Getting ready for the long goodbye

Life has been hectic the last few weeks.  I've managed to keep my head above water with my papers and exams, but my friends here have had trouble and I've been spending my free time trying to help them through.  It's led to a few sleepless nights, but I think I've really managed to help.  But, on top of all that, the looming day of my eventual departure has finally come into sight.  I leave Japan a week from tomorrow.  God help us all.  I've got my trip planned out and everything should be fine, I'll leave early and get to the airport with more than enough time for departure...but still, it's terrifying.  I have to say goodbye to my friends and the people I've spent the last half a year with.  Some I'll really be sad to leave.

For those who haven't found out yet, I have finally given into facebook.  While I still think it's largely a waste of time, it does help me keep up with people, which has been essential, since some of my friends have already moved out of the seminar house.  I grudgingly recommend it for those traveling abroad, as they can keep up to date about stuff happening at home.

I did make one trip this week, to visit Na-chan in her home town again.  We had lunch at Mister Donuts, which actually serves ramen, believe it or not, and got some takoyaki and pancake like bread in the shape of Hello Kitty and Doraemon.  I also spent my last frivolous dollar, buying a game that, in the US, would sell for a few hundred dollars, but in Japan sells for under twenty.  I feel lucky to be here.  I have a few dinners wit friends planned before my departure, but the day still looms over me.  Gonna have to try and have fun without worrying to much...while I pack.  Oy.

Ikebana is still fun and relaxing for me, so here is my latest composition.  It's meant to be a Christmas arrangement.

I do hope to make some commenatires about my trip on this blog after I get back to the states, so look forward to that.  But, because of my tight schedule, packing, and finals, I may not be able to make another post before I depart, though I will try.

For friends and family wondering, I will arrive in the states on December 21st, a little past midnight.  I look forward to going home but whether I fall into a miserable depression afterwards depends on if I can keep up with my friends still in Japan or in different states when I finally get settled again.

Only time will tell.  I'll keep this short for now, but know that I'm thinking about Japan and my experience a lot.  Started a journal chronicling what I did, still want to do, people I met and want to keep up with, and foods I have tried.  Just as a reference.  I don't intend for this to be my last time in Japan, after all.

Till next time, I hope all my viewers wish me luck for finals and for getting all my goodies packed.