15.07.13

Our 2nd year "in Japan" actually had less to do with Japan itself.  The big adjustments to washoku (all things fish, rice and noodle), crowds, prices, impossible language occured in our first year.  So that by year 2 we weren't necessarily accepting all things Japanese, but at least expecting them.  Perhaps this year, our culture shock manifest itself in that we were less willing to make the (too often futile, at the very least, absurd) effort to fit in here.  We opted instead to focus on our trips out of the country, mostly to the Philippines, and our painting and writing (respectively ;).  In the middle of it all, we went off to get hitched ;)  after a 3 year engagement, the time struck us like a prairie lightning bolt.  Now we are Monsieur et Madame, danna to okusan (although there is actually a complex appellation system for married couples in Japan that I don't quite comprehend but relates to respect, modesty, sexual hierarchy).

So the year's highlights:

- March 25, 2003  Heavenly day in Banaue, Ifugao, Pilipinas
- Dioso family tripS to the the homeland. Salamat Po.  Mahal kita.
- Aunt Cathy and Nikki O making it, on a moment's notice, to the Philippines.  Mille fois merci.
- Lola Rory's proof that life begins after 80
- travelling to Shanghai and Nanjing
- seeing Kyoto
- climbing big bad Fuji
- Temple U Creative Writing course
- Design Festa exhibits
- our Nihon no tomodachi.

the dims:

- not seeing everyone back home-- especially Dad, Joe, Blake and Lola Cherry
- still tough to deal with Japan's ethnocentricity
- the monotonous days as high school ALTs
- the winter cold, summer heat and all the rain in between

The year, overall, a heartwarming powerhouse of happiness.  The bad stuff's already fading from mind.  Deciding to recontract for a third took months of thought.  But now that the papers are all signed, we're both pleased with our decision to stay.  On our bad days that "chompin' at the bit gotta be a big somebody by 30" feeling takes hold and we resent the absence of any recognizable ladder rung to climb.  We shift between that feeling and pinching ourselves to make sure this is really what we stumbled into by taking a chance on life away from TO.  This is it, man.  There is no tomorrow.  Well there might be, but futurizing is the surest way to destroy it.  I feel like I've taken for granted so much of my time here, worrying about getting back to the chase.  Now we're looking at the end of the trip and I'm getting a little soft hearted.  Let's face it, if you can't seize the day living this life, it ain't ever gonna happen.

Sure we're getting older, aren't we all.  But this is where we're meant to be.  Taking up this strange and lovely space in a Tokyo suburb.  Teaching hundreds of young Japanese minds that love is bigger than language.  Travelling all over the continent.  Ignoring the critics, cuz you gotta do that wherever the hell you are.  The future is taking care of itself just fine, and we are living, baby, LARGE.

xo a la prochaine   keep rockin' all you crazy birds
 

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