Okay, I know it’s a bit late, but I just wanted to say it.
The holidays were great! I was so happy to be able to see everyone, and as always, I didn’t get to spend enough time with anyone.
One of the questions that came up a lot is, “When are you coming back?” I always answer that with, “Maybe next year.” But it seems like that answer never changes. It’s always the same answer.
I never really know how to answer that, so I stick with my canned answer. The easy, yet ultimately unsatisfying, answer is that I just don’t know. I think one of the main issues is that I have no idea what I would do if I came back. I’ve been out of the states for a while, and even when I come back to visit, I feel a little lost. Almost everything is as it was when I lived there, but there’s this burning feeling that something is different, and I just can’t put my finger on it. And I just can’t get really comfortable until I figure it out. It’s probably just me though.
Secondly, I’m really enjoying myself here. Japan is an amazing place, and I’m never at a loss for something to do. The size of this country is one of the things that makes it so convenient. I still don’t have a car, because I just don’t need one. I can take trains or buses almost anywhere. I have beaches and mountains all around me. I can go snowboarding in the winter, swimming, surfing, and scuba diving in the summer, and hiking in the spring and winter all within a few hours from my home.
In short, I’m loving it.
Don’t get me wrong. I still plan to come home. I just don’t have any date hard set.
Anyway, you’re all in my heart and thoughts. No matter what distance separates us, I’ll always be here for you, and that will never change.