I'm not sure how many people are still checking this blog on a regular basis now that my exciting time as a minor celebrity in Japan is over but I thought I was still way over due for an update.
I arrived safely in New York a couple weeks ago and spend a few days in Scrhoon Lake with Kazu and Amy before making the 24 hour trek to Florida. For those of you who don't already know, I spent two years in Florida before I went to New York so this was a bit of a home coming for me. I have lots of friends here and its a familiar environment so I'm very glad to be back.
Now that its been a few weeks and life is once again returning to normalcy I am really starting to appreciate my time in Japan all the more. I miss the people the most, but also its just a different life style. Its very easy to get used to the kind of convenience one enjoys while living in Sangenjaya. I loved being able to walked to the grocery store, video store, and Starbucks, do all of my shopping, AND be back home in 15 minutes. Here the shopping mall is 15 to 20 minutes away by car and I consider that pretty close.
Being in Florida comes with its own special circumstances too. You have to remember, for instance, that it could rain at any time, even on the sunniest of days, and who knows when the power is going to go out because of a storm several miles away that you can not even see. Even though I love it here its hard to feel totally at home however...
I'm sure that growing up in Canada but being an American gave me a slightly (very slightly) more multi-national view of the world. I always found myself defending the American point of view when I was in Canada and vice versa when I was in the U.S. Perhaps one of the reasons why I was able to adjust to life in Japan so quickly is because I have always considered myself to be without my own country. Don't get me wrong, I am very proud to be an American and I love America. Still... I find myself (when life gets a little overwhelming) longing for the comparatively simple life I lead in southern Ontario. I don't unnecessarily feel 'home sick' , but if I were to feel 'home sick' I suppose it would be for the little town where I grew up and not for Florida or New York.
I'm very much looking forward to going back to Japan. My three months there went by too quickly. I think the pace of life in Florida is about half speed. I don't know if that will encourage Emi or not; to know that her time apart from me will go by twice as fast as it will for myself...
1 year ago
4 comments:
I guess one of the reasons why it went by fast is that we were actually super busy. We were doing something ALWAYS. We went to Karuizawa almost every week and we even went to Aomori. Kids church, English classes, and office work while at home... And what made it even faster is that we actually had fun. The fun time goes by fast. And you know, life here without you is totally different for me. It seems slower for sure but definitely less exciting. I don't want to focus on the sad things and be a sad separated couple all year long. I think we should both remind ourselves that we can't meet each other's deepest needs but only God can satisfy our true deepest need. We should focus on how great God has been to both of us when we become sad to be so far away. In order for us to do that, we must communicate well even though we are on the other side of the world. And also, "read our bibles, pray everyday." and live as a Christian who actually make time to sit and meditate on His words and pray. Well, that is what I think right now. As I said before, we can do this.
Yes, you can. And may God bless you two all the way through the year and beyond.
And Dave, it's always great to be a man without a country. It makes us more like Abraham and reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven. In fact, now that I'm getting old, I HATE not being a foreigner :)
Dave, my thoughts and prayers are with you you. If you keep posting, I'll keep reading!
I hope everything goes great in Florida.
-Stephen
oh, I'll keep posting Stephen! And Luke, you are so right. you just reminded me of the very Bible verses that I put on the sidebar of my blog!
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