Friday, July 29, 2011

Leaving on a jet plane...


Goodbyes are hard.  To say goodbye to people you love is never easy.  Last summer I said goodbye to my friends and family and got on a plane to Japan.  It was difficult knowing that I wouldn't see them for a year, but I knew that in one year I'd be returning with memories, stories and pictures I'd be excited to share.

Today, that time has come and as I sit here on an airplane somewhere between Nagoya, Japan and Detroit, USA, I know now that when I left last year, I didn't realize how hard it would be to say goodbye to Japan.  It's been an emotionally draining week as I finished up each portion of my work here.  While I'm just as excited to see my friends and family as I thought I'd be, it's an excitement that tempered with a sadness at leaving a city, community and people that I've come to love.  I do hope to come back to visit one day, but even so, it was difficult to say goodbye to people and places that I may not see again. 

I've had a wonderful year.  It wasn't always easy and some days I really had to work hard to remind myself of my purpose and reasons for coming to Japan.  However, the positive and the amazing far outweigh the difficult moments and as I look back over the past year, I find it hard to believe some of the experiences that I've had. 

I'm sure my fellow YASCers will understand how I'm feeling.  I'm sure that this year has changed me but I don't yet know how or in what way.  I think that I will be finding that out as I settle down in Virginia and begin my seminary career.  I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to go for a year abroad.  I am grateful for everyone who has supported me and helped me to get to Japan.   Thank You!

This morning as we drove to the airport, a typhoon came and caused the cancellations of all flights except, miraculously, Delta flights.  We were delayed for about 6 hours but we managed to take off and if all goes well with my connecting flight, I should get to Boston by midnight tonight. 

I've only been gone six hours but I'm already beginning to miss Japan.  While I am anxious and excited to start seminary at VTS in a few weeks, I think that a part of me will remain in Nagoya for a while. 

During a teary goodbye at the airport today, one of my friends here put it best.  "This is NOT Sayonara.  There will be Konnichiwa again".

Peace,
Christen

Catch-up

Children Memorial in Hiroshima
The past two weeks have been all about playing catch-up.  I returned to the US on July 19th and since then I've been catching up with family and friends, catching up with meetings and requirements for the ordination process, catching up on the Harry Potter movies and now, finally, catching up on my blog.  I have three more posts planned and after that I will be laying this blog to rest.  It was an excellent way to communicate my experiences with family and friends around the world and will serve as a wonderful memory of my year in Japan.  So, without further ado...

Travel:
Over the past year in Japan I have had some amazing travel opportunities, all of which I've documented on this blog.  I've be so blessed that I was able to do and see so much during my time in Japan.  During my last month in Japan I was able to go on two more trips.  First, a good friend from my hometown came to visit for two weeks.  While she was here I showed her around Nagoya and took her to my work for the first week of her trip.  During her second week here we were able to take a train to Kyoto and from there we jumped on a seven hour bus to Hiroshima.  Then, pretty much as soon as Carrie left, I took off for Matsumoto, Japan and Kamikotchi Park with St. Stephan's church, my "home parish" in Japan. 


Watch stopped at 8:15am-the time the A-bomb was dropped
These trips were both important for different reasons.  Since the beginning of my time in Japan I have wanted to visit Hiroshima.  I felt that it was important for me as a missionary to Japan and as an American to visit the city and see the museum and monuments.  I am glad that I had the opportunity to go.  My second trip, the "St. Stephan's Tour" was important because it was a last minute chance for me to spend time with the people who have been my friends and co-workers for the past year before I left for America. 

Now that I'm home it feels like these trips were years ago-not just a few weeks!  However, these two trips are proving to be two of my most important memories from my past year.
3-D movie about Nagoya!

Homeless volunteers meeting.  DELICIOUS tempura lunch.

Okonomiyaki-my favorite food in Japan (on the right)

Kinkakuji- the Golden Temple in Kyoto

The A-Bomb dome. 

Origami Cranes from Hiroshima
River at Kamikochi National Park

I was super excited to see a reference to Walden Pond in Japan!


Kamikochi


We were in the Japanese Alps.  It was so beautiful there.