Regardless, we have made it back to Japan and we are all in one piece....well, relatively speaking.
As anyone who knows me, or anyone that knows I am here in Japan...knows I have been ready to visit home for, well lets be honest...9 months. Approximately the duration I have been here.
Not that I think Japan is a bad place to live, but simply put - - -
I miss my other life.
I guess you don't really realize how much you like, or love, something until you set it free - as the old saying goes. Which honestly until now - I thought was a load of hooey! But I am now a FIRM believer in this little saying.
As from a previous post - you can tell that I was bewildered by all I had forgotten in America. Everything from fast food (which here has a totally different meaning) to the wonders of a normal grocery store. I caught myself driving on the wrong side of a parking lot once while in the US too. Luckily, it was only a parking lot. Speaking of that - I had forgotten how much SPACE there are in parking lots in America. I know that sounds like - "Hey Yo, Jessica Simpson - what in the hell are you talking about." But I am serious. Parking here in Japan is like the scene from Austin Powers where he is trying to turn the golf cart around in that little hallway...slowly back, turn 1/2 an inch, change gears, forward. STOP! turn 1/2 an inch, change gears, reverse, STOP! and on and on and on. Seriously, I was so happy to actually TURN into a parking space, Stop and GET OUT OF THE CAR ON THE FIRST TRY! When I got out of the car I had to stand back and make sure I wasn't taking up two spaces.
I also cannot express the elation while seeing some of my friends. There were a few dinners to be remembered, a few cocktails that were LONG overdue and a few old stories that ALWAYS get brought up! The feeling of warmth that spread over me was glorious. Like an old T-shirt that you've had for years and every time you put it on...it fits you perfect. Or maybe the warmth was all the cocktails??? Either way - cheers to all of you who made my trip everything I had hoped it would be!
And as with almost every trip I take, I ended up having to buy a new suitcase. Usually it is because I buy too many things and they won't all fit into the luggage I brought. But this time it was a truly warranted purchase...all the zippers on my biggest piece of luggage had somehow all broken. And I mean BROKEN. The only way for me to get them open and closed was to use a coat hanger...remember like back in the 80s when you'd wear the skin tight jeans and the only way to get them zipped was to lay on the bed and have your best friend stand at the other side of the bed and pull the zipper closed with a coat hanger??? Yes, the zippers were broken and probably for just that reason - trying to stuff that baby full and then zip it when it was over capacity at is was!!! But that led me to shopping, which led me to all the lovely stores I have so adoringly missed. Which lead me to filling all remaining suitcases to coat hanger zipping capacity AGAIN!...even the broken one. And yes, I brought it back to Japan because I had too much stuff to fit into the new one!!!
Don't you know my husband loves me for dragging that damn broken suitcase BACK ACROSS THE WORLD! (love you honey!)
But alas, now I am back in Asia, and everything is exactly how it was when I left. Which is actually a good thing. God forbid ANYTHING had changed...then I would have had to start all over and re-learn everything I have already learned! I think that might have led to a SERIOUS high-speed-come-apart!!!!
My son is happy to be back at school, his friends gave him the welcome of a King back from a long journey! His teacher said they argued over who was going to get to play with him first!!!
Which filled my heart...sad and a little evil, I know.
All in all, even the 24 hour trek to get home, as much as it completely takes its toll, is always going to be worth it. The memories of watching my son get sick from the turbulence at 35,000 feet, the rude stewardesses (hey lady-not my fault you chose this job!), the crappy wine they serve, the jealousy that I am not the one in 'business class' snoozing away with a sleep mask, and the back and shoulder pains that last WEEKS after the trip...ALL WORTH IT, just to get to see a little bit of home!
Even if this one trip happens to be the only one I get until its actually time to move home - - - it was worth every cramped moment of the trip.
The day before we left my husband asked me if I was actually going to go back with him to Japan...I smiled half-heartedly and said Yes. I mean what is 18 months to sacrifice for a lifetime of happiness? RIGHT?
(plus he said he would handcuff my son to him and swallow the key - if I didn't agree to come back! - SO...here I am!)
xoxo
Deeds
2 comments:
Of course you enjoyed your trip home! the funny thing is, that very often, once you've been an expat and have learned so many new things and found the adventurous "you" inside yourself, life is never the same when you come home.
This happens to many people; they get infected with the travel itch.
I hope you'll continue to enjoy Japan. And who knows, you may find yourself in another foreign country again one day, and actually want to go there ;)
Glad you had a good visit. I imagine it is so difficult to be so far away and in such a different place.
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