blog backup

a bit late, but nonetheless...

Happy (late) St. Patrick's Day yall! Don't forget to eat your corned beef and cabbage.

" We don't just have one language and one history. We sleep in German and dream in Irish. We laugh in Irish and we cry in German. We are silent in German and we speak in English. We are the speckled people."

A friend that sticks

Life is made up of many people who come and go. I once had trouble understanding that, but now I take it as one of life's many beauties. With all those people coming and going you get a little lost sometimes and think you're in this life alone. That's when those loved ones come in right where they left and without a word bring the world right back in grasp. For me those friends who stick are my family. It is my family who is my constant. They are there no matter what. The week of March 6-14 I was lucky enough to have my little sister visit. She and a friend were able to join me for three days at school- two days at elementary and a day of junior high graduation. We spent time delving into Japanese culture through puri kura, karaoke, sushi, and an onsen trip, but most of the time spent, unknowingly, was providing me with an overwhelming comfort in my life here. I am learning to be thankful for family at all stages in life.

Laughter

Much has been said about laughter. But reality and laughter here are one in the same. Lucky for me, laughter seems to be one of the few things that truly is universal. In the modern globalized world we may share the same clothes and food, but culture is not easily assimilated. One can blend in (unless you are a southern girl in japan. you wont blend) but one can never lose their culture. We can learn language and speak the words of the people but communication is still not natural. Each country has its differences, but through travel I have found one constant in communication: laughter. Thanks to laughter I can communicate with my students here. True, they could easily be making fun of me and laughing at me...but chances are even if I did understand them I would think it was funny too!

all my arkansas love

sakura!

wow. its been a while. due to my lack of computer suave and an active school life...but I am back now...hello again blogger world! I have written many mock entries during my days at school these past few weeks but then I forgot my password to log in. but regardless, I am back--really!

life in japan is revitalizing itself with spring. the sakura (cherry blossoms) are arriving! I couldnt be happier! this means hanami season has arrived! hanami is what the japanese people live for during the spring. it is a nice picnic under the cherry blossoms. life doesnt get better than that. I brought flat stanley along for a short hanami today. shannon is in the hospital so I went to pick a few cherry blossoms to bring spring fever into the hospital.

all my arkansas love...