Journey through Japan : Work Days of Summer

Tenjin Core, Tenjin, Fukuoka

Last summer I traveled back to the US. I visited my family in Texas for a week, and then spent a week at a beach house in Florida with them and my friends. It was such a wonderful vacation. I returned to Japan well rested and sun kissed. The beach is always a good idea.

[Life Update: My family has just moved to Florida full time. So when I return stateside next year, I won't be coming home to Texas. I'll be moving to Florida.]

This year was different, though. I didn't travel back to the US. I choose to stay here in Japan. At the beginning of the summer holiday, I took a trip to Okinawa. That trip turned out to be much more than I was expecting. It changed my perspective for the better.

Once I returned to the mainland, I had a few days to unpack and relax before I headed to Okayama for a training session. There's so much that I want to write about from that trip ... unapologetically honest conversations, self-introductions and insights into a new world ... but I'm still processing it all. I think I'll be processing it for a while.

After returning from Okayama, I had about a day and a half to relax and get ready for the English camps I was scheduled to attend. Both of the camps that I attended were for elementary school students. Since I teach junior high school students during the year, it's fun to interact with elementary students at the camps. It's a nice change of pace, and it really makes me appreciate my junior high school students --- like really! In addition to the camps, I participated in a teacher's training seminar, and training sessions for ALTs.

As busy as this summer was, I enjoyed it so much more! For the first time, I felt like an adult.

Now, the school year is back in motion. The weather will start cooling off and the holidays will be here before I know it. I have quite a few trips planned for these upcoming months, but I'm not spending my time wishing for them to come around.

I'm re-centering myself and will probably un-plug again soon. Since my perspective has changed, so has my 'to-do' list. I have new goals and new reasons behind what I'm working towards. The list is unapologetically honest and something I'm proud to have.