Older Sisters 姉

After spending four days with my sister in her new desert home before flying to Japan,

here are some of the thoughts that struck me. I started writing this article in the airport after she dropped me off at in the A.M... and it has just taken me a while to finish it. 

  

1. I miss my sister so much! What I think I missed the most is how different we are  - how well we contrast and compliment one another.

2. A goobery dog and a fluffy, moose-feather cat makes her home a wonderful, happening place.

3. I am so delighted that my flight plans were delayed because it let me spend more time with my strong, funny, beautiful sister. God always knows what He is doing.

4. Despite the tiny size of her town, there is a surprising quantity and variety of good food.

5. Most shocking of all, I discovered that hiking can be fun with beautiful scenery and cool weather and an companion along for the adventure... so long as we go at a walking pace without a backpack. The above picture is my sister, Bonnie, pointing to the Chynna rock - so called by a friend who wanted a rock to call her own. 

On one of our hikes we discovered an cactus. Actually, we found a lot of cacti.This particular purple prickly pear cactus seemed not to have thorns... but it lied to us. Now we call it the  嘘つき (uu-so-tski) cactus (liar) because it is full of lies. One is pictured below.

Come Fly with Me

       My flight to Japan this weekend was the longest flight I have ever been on, and ended up being a very looong day. Leaving my sister's house at one A.M. on Sunday morning and landing at four P.M. on  Monday. After that there were several hours on a train... All in all, it was  a 30 hour trip 

Yet I only got to see the sun rise and set once....  

On the long portion of my flight there was a count-down timer to tell me how much time was left in the air, which made me think of several Cabin Pressure  moments. Cabin Pressure is a hilarious, British radio show that is, in a word, brilliant. The most notable quotes beinge:

"World record attempting flight around THE WORLD""

  "I...Am...Bored."

"Rubbish sunset."

Below are my last view of America for a year (Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco)  and my first view of Japan (just north of Tokyo).

During the flight, the plane tinted the windows since there were no screens to slide up and down. It gave the plane a peaceful, dark, bluish hue, as you can see by comparing the above and below photos.

That first day I basically did nothing but arrive and sleep.

Then next morning work began,so there was not a lot of time to adventure and sight-see, but I have still managed to have a few adventures. I'll tell y'all about them as soon as I can! 

See You Soon 行ってきます

  

          Saying so many goodbyes these last couple weeks has been so lovely. At times it has been lonely and stressful because I am reminded that it will be a while before I see all of you in person again. Mostly, though, it has given me a chance to remember good memories and make new ones. Goodbyes really are bitter-sweet: bitter when we realize that our seasons of life are changing, but sweet as I realize how much blessing God has brought into my life through friends and fellowship. It is also sweet because the distance between us does not mean that we cannot stay connected.

         
     I am so thankful for the way that I have been sent off with so many well wishes and notes and prayers and reminders and gifts and chats over coffee and the list goes on. I have been lavished with love.

       The phrase 行ってきます(ee-te-kee-maw-su) means to go and come back. In Japan the phrase is often used when someone leaves home in the morning and a common response is 行ってらっしゃい (ee-te-ra-shai … the last part is pronounced like the word “shy”) which means “Please go, then come back”. Instead of goodbye, I think it is better to depart with this.

行ってきます

  

       

The Seven Stages of Relocation

1. Denial

As preparation begins but the reality is still too far out, the prospect of moving to another country falls onto the back burner where "I don't have time to think about that right now..."

2. Excitement

Anticipation builds as the big day gets closer and reminders become more frequent. It is time to begin planning what I will do when I arrive. How will I spend my time? What do I want to taste and see and do?

3. Logistics

Paperwork and planning and packing... three of the many things that must be done but which are not nearly as fun as daydreaming.

4. Panic

I can't possibly do this...

5. Peace

God is in control of this whole fiasco, so I will trust that He is in control and knows what He's doing.

This will all work out somehow. 

6. Butterflies

They're not a bad thing, they just won't go away...

7. Adventure

... ... ...

Here I come.

Traditions

"You may ask, how did this tradition start? I'll tell you. I don't know. But it's a tradition.

 And because of our traditions, every one of us knows who he is, and what God expects him to do." 

Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof

          One of the hardest parts of deciding what to pack and what to leave behind over the last month aside from not knowing exactly what to expect from Japan since I have not been there before was deciding what traditions to maintain. How am I going to celebrate holidays? In some cases where Japan does not celebrate American holidays I would need to bring decorations or supplies with me. In other cases, Japan celebrates holidays differently so that I would still need to bring things if I want to continue to celebrate the American way. This, of course, forces me to consider how much of the celebration I consider to be essential, how much is important to me for sentimental reasons, and how much I am willing to give up for a short adventure in a foreign land. 

Obviously, I determined that I wanted it all. Then I considered the size of my suitcases and thought I might take another crack at it. What is really essential?

    

  

What memorabilia and comfort items should I bring for when I am thousands of miles from home and alone in a foreign land?

I felt like both of these question were ones that were not highly addressed in any of the packing lists I found online, yet seem to be very important when traveling away from home. Also, having to ask these questions forced me to consider what I find value in and how I prioritize. The chance to move is such a great way to evaluate and reconsider the important things that fall by victim to the mundanity of everyday life.

 I think that this exercise is a really good one and not just for the college student leaving the country. Re-assessing the essentials forced me to get rid of a lot of stuff that I did not use or need. In many cases this was extremely painful to admit that I did not need it. So I got rid of it a little bit at a time over a period of months which was a lot easier than getting rid of it all at once would have been.

These are some of the essentials that I chose for my Christmas traditions:
- a fold-able nativity set - string of colored Christmas lights - three Christmas ornaments - 

There were, of course, more logistical considerations as well:

       I won't find anything in English, what do I need in English (for teaching, letters home, or for myself) over the next year?  What clothing should I bring? I have the misfortune of being too large to fit Japanese shoes and probably other clothing as well. What multi-use items can I bring to function over the widest range of seasons? What American comfort foods will I want access to in Japan? Unique cosmetics goods (I expect that they won't have shampoo for blonde hair). How am I going to spend leisure time? What supplies do I need for that...?

Theses thoughts are back on my mind as I pare down and repack my suitcases for the last time before I fly out. Hurrah!