August: A month of visiting the Philippines, of beautiful sunsets, delicious breakfasts, and snorkelling in turquoise waters for days on end.
September: A month of saying goodbye to my home, Japan.
October: A month of China, Mongolia, and Russia, of trains and more trains, of homestays, gers, hotels and, finally, a flight to Canada.
November: A month visiting the Grand Canyon, Halifax, and Toronto, of family and friends.
I haven't uploaded any photos of December to my computer yet (I'm always behind on those kinds of things), but it was a month of finally getting to my hometown, Winnipeg, spending time with family, and drinking way too much eggnog. See January to July here.
Overall, it was a very good year. There were ups and downs, but mostly ups, and really, what more can you ask for? I hope that you, too, had a good year, and that 2011 brings you everything you desire.
Happy New Year!
January: A month of leaving Malaysia, gold domes in Brunei, sumo in Tokyo, and saying hello.
February: A month of good friends, and of sad goodbyes.
March: A month of sumo in Osaka, otaku festivals, and more sushi than I could handle.
April: A month of cherry blossoms and love.
May: A month of Tokyo visits, birthdays, and plum wine.
June: A month of shopping in Kobe, putting things behind me, and trying to figure it all out.
July: A month of Tokyo, Hiroshima, Miyajima, and more okonomiyaki than one person should ever eat.
2010 brought many trips around Japan, as well as trips to Malaysia, Brunei, The Philippines, China, Mongolia, Russia, America, and Canada. It brought great food, great friends, much laughter and a few tears. More than anything, though, it set the stage for the next few years of my life, and for that, I am so thankful.
(photo taken by my mum)
My Last Days In Japan
Tokyo, Japan
My last days in Japan were unusual in so many ways, mostly because I wasn't totally sure if I was leaving indefinitely. It turns out that I was. And although I know I will forever have a strong connection to Japan, and that I will be back eventually, there is not one day that passes without me thinking of it, loving it, missing it.
My last days in Japan were spent in Tokyo, a second home to my place in Osaka. The days were filled with sojourns in Yoyogi park, greasy ramen and fancy sushi, rockabilly dancers and kabuki performers, shopping in Harajuku, and trying to soak it all up, smell it, see it, remember it. I'm so thankful for those last days in Japan.
And then, the journey I've done so many times before. The journey to the airport or train station, the journey that will take me away from a place I called home or a place I loved dearly; this year, I've had those journeys to the Osaka train station, to the Tokyo airport, to the St. Petersburg airport, to the Halifax airport and to the Toronto airport, all places I don't know when I'll see again. I never like those train or car rides, the ones when I stare out the window feeling lost, the ones when it always seems to be raining.
Perhaps I should smile on those journeys, happy and grateful to have had such amazing experiences in such amazing locations. For some reason, though, it still hurts me so much to say goodbye.
November: A month visiting the Grand Canyon, Halifax, and Toronto, of family and friends.
