Thank you EVERYONE!
The last few months have been really hard. A friend of mine wisely reminded me that in December I had a nice long vacation at home and spent almost every waking minute with people I absolutely adore! I had lots of attention and I felt very loved by lots of people. And then I came back to Japan, back to my cold apartment, back to work, back to studying and back to being that friend or relative that lives on the other side of the world--far far far away! Out of sight, out of mind. Or that's how it felt! It was a bit shocking and I hit an all time low. I won't get into the details, but there was lots of random crying for no apparent reason. And a lot of self-pity!
An impending birthday didn't help! Actually it just made me fall into the hole even further. I thought I was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but as the big day approached...it got worse and worse and worse! And then, thanks to lots of family and friends all over the world...it got better!! On the big day, I got lots of calls from family and friends! I was surprised to hear from so many people because I never get calls and because these particular people have never called me. It turns out, it was the first international call many of them have EVER made! It was great to hear from them, even if it kept me running out of the staff room and into the storage room every 15 minutes. Thanks MOM...you educated people and got them to make an international call! Hurray!!
After work, I had a dinner planned at a nearby restaurant! Luckily, my friends had a much better plan! In the end it wasn't a total suprise, but it was a good one! And much better than anything I could have thought of for myself!! Thanks guys and gals!! I'll keep the picture books forever...love that idea!!! It was great!! I really really appreciate all the thoughtfulness and planning that went into it!
And then I treated myself to a weekend in Tokyo with a few friends! It was a much needed escape from rurality! So...here are a few pics from the latest adventures!
Hina Matsuri (girls day) Dinner with my teacher's family! It's not exactly international women's day, but it was close....dinner, cake, singing and dancing with three generations + me!
We finally got snow last week!! It was beautiful!! I needed it! I was craving snow and winter and a white snowy expanse! I finally got it!
My friends and neighbors are great!! They threw me a very sneaky surprise party. The perfect kind...a potluck at a friend's house! They know me too well!! It was delicious! Lots of chocolate and lots of wine! Thanks for planning L, I heard you behind the whole thing!!
And of course there was a cake made by Chica-chan!! Thanks!!
Next, I was off to Tokyo! My good friend, Shinji, took me to dinner at an African restuarant. We had fabulous African beer and enjoyed live African drumming!
Kanako, the guys, and I explored Yokohama and ate Thai food!! Delicious!!
Happy Birthday girls!!
A reminder of what's really important...yesterday I said good-bye to "Star wars" teacher. She taught her last day, there was no farewell, no goodbye speech, no announcement during the teachers meeting..she just packed up her desk and left at lunch. She checked in to the hostpital to start her chemo today. She'll be there for a few months. After that her future is unknown.
