See Me Go!

[wararoundtheworld]

Gravesite of the 47 Ronin. Visit requested by Oscar.

[wararoundtheworld]

[wararoundtheworld]

Let me tell you guys about this "flower". When I first came back to Japan after graduation, I found this flower on my desk from one of my 1st graders. It was one of their school projects, and I don't know if this kid really wanted to give it to me, or just didn't want it. Either way, it was special for me, so I decided to keep it for as long as I could. I bought this vase for it, and cared for it. It sprouted more flowers and grew taller than the chopsticks I have there to guide it straight and give it support. One day, try as I might, the flower began to wilt. Too much sun? Too much water? Too much heat? I couldn't figure out why it was dying. I decided that my room was doing it harm and I left it on my balcony. Outside it faired marginally better. As time moved on, it wilted completely, but the root was still in tact. I decided to give it a looksie when I returned from E3. I had forgotten about it until yesterday. However, when I came around to looking for it, it was pretty dark, so I figured I'd look at it and examine what I could do with the pot when there was more day light. On the way in from work today, it slipped my mind again. As I went to throw out some trash, I decided to bring it in. I was very happy to see that it had budded again! It is so weird to see it again. New life man. So crazy. Glad I can continue to look after the plant.

[wararoundtheworld]

Sports Day season...

Has come and gone. It is a first time that I see something of this sort. It reminds me of a track and field meet, but it is all day. It was very fun as a spectator, and it looked as if the kids enjoyed it as well. These kind of events makes life worth living. It indeed was good times. Keeping these memories for sure.

[wararoundtheworld]

[wararoundtheworld]

Graduation...

is a pretty sad time of the year. You get used to these faces, but after what seems like a short time, it is time to move on. However, most people forget, these fleeting moments are actually give meaning to life. I may not see some of these kids again. I may have taught them very little and maybe even mattered very little. However, if just one is happy to have met me and is happy to have had me around, that will be fine. I was here for some portion of their life, and whether it was memorable or not, I did my best. Graduation in Japan doesn’t seem too celebratory. This may be because most of the kids are anxiously waiting their high school entrance exam results. I hope these kids celebrated their accomplishment and they go on to prosper in their new lives. Fight on kiddos.

[wararoundtheworld]

Thank you...

All my life my mother taught me that saying thank you (and writing it in a note even better) was very important. As a child assuming my parents knew what was best, I mindlessly followed directions and did as I was told. Some of those notes held pieces of my heart, while others were just ink on paper. The full circle has come around. With every single kid from my 5th grade cohort writing me a thank you note, I see where my parents got their wisdom from. It feels great. Kids saying you changed their minds, kids saying you helped them learn, and other kids just saying thank you for the good times, they are all valid. I appreciate each and everyone of them. I am glad their teachers didn't hinder them by making them write it in English. I may not understand each and every one at 100%, but the amount that I can understand completely humble me. There are many things you learn on and off the road. This is one of those things that just happens and you are glad you were there at the right moment. With that, thank you. Thank you kids for being marvelous, and sharing your childhood with me.

[wararoundtheworld]

Snowboarding at Ishizuchi, Ehime. My body will be in pain shortly.

[wararoundtheworld]

Today...

I caught a kid playing games in my class. It wasn't the first time, but due to the language barrier I could never ask him what he was doing (because he would feign innocence). This time, I just lifted the flap to his pencil pouch (where he was hiding his phone) and I saw that he was playing Puzzles and Dragons. I couldn't help but laugh. The expression on his face as he got caught was all too familiar. But I did exactly what I wished my teachers would have done to me, and just walked away giggling. Sure enough he put it away and looked scared as hell for the rest of class.

I walked back alone after class. He was surrounded with his friends and I could tell he was so scared at what was going to happen to his in the next hours. I went to him for the sole purpose of telling him, "I don't care that you were playing games. I too was young, and played games in class. The only difference between us is, my handhelds got taken away. Well, now, have a good day. I have another class next." I walked away. His friend was translating for him (since he was still scared to understand my words). She kept telling him, "Thank him! Thank him!"

Hahaha. Oh the joys. Man it reminded me of my younger days. I hope that kid continues to play games (maybe not in my class though hahaha).

[lemmepetyourdog-deactivated2016]

[decommissioning-blog]

The cause of racism is often fear of the unknown - lack of knowledge about other cultures. Travel, explore and learn - open your mind.

[nguyenthimichelle]

I will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, reblog this every time it comes up on my blog. This is the BEST statement, I’ve ever seen. 

[silvermoon424]

I really love this. So many are dead-set on the view that people cannot better themselves but that simply isn’t true. Everybody deserves a second chance and everybody has the ability to better themselves. 

[wararoundtheworld]

Truly a motivation to travel!

[wararoundtheworld]

Part of Kyoto, as seen from the bullet train.

[wararoundtheworld]

Shibuya, Tokyo

[wararoundtheworld]

GoGo Curry

[wararoundtheworld]

Jimbocho, Tokyo

[wararoundtheworld]

Tokyo night

[wararoundtheworld]

Harajuku, Tokyo

[wararoundtheworld]

"Home"

After hours of planes, hours of buses, and hours of waiting, I have arrived at the place where I can lay my head. The current form of the word “home”. Took so much out of me, but I can finally begin to look back on the last couple of days. In a familiar place, I walk into the residency I left sparkly clean and everything nicely stowed. It felt so easy to drop everything, take a shower, and walk back out to get something to munch on. With most of the new stuff vaguely positioned where their final resting spot may be, my residency has finally ran out of space. New arrangements for a new year, right?