Goodbye, Asahikawa!

Today was our last full day in Asahikawa. Masashi's friend (and friend's mom, Ritsuko's friend) spent most of the day with us. It was a beautiful day, too. We played in the park, went for a boat ride on the pond, played inside, had our old stuff taken away by the recycle shop (2nd-hand store), sold some old books, went and at sushi, and did fireworks in the park.

Masashi is now going to bed (maybe). Ritsuko and I have a few things left to squeeze into one of the six suitcases/duffel-bags and a little cleaning to do, but most everything is ready to go. One week in Sapporo, and then it's goodbye, Japan! It's a little sad to be leaving (especially since I haven't been working for the past month!), but we both agree that it is time to move on.

No pictures today, but I'll try to post some images of our last days in Japan when we get to Sapporo.

Ai's Wedding

More pictures from our trip to Tokyo and Kamakura. Most of these pictures are of our friend Ai's wedding. She had a Shinto wedding, which is nowadays very rare. The marriage ceremony was Shinto, but the party afterwards was much like Western wedding reception. You'll see that Ai and her husband even changed out of their kimono into a dress and tux.

Three more weeks

In exactly three weeks from this hour we will hopefully be getting off a small plane from Atlanta in Fort Wayne. Ritsuko and I are at the height of your moving preparations, clearing out old things we no longer need and test-packing the things we do intend to take with us. Delta's new checked-baggage weight limits should help us keep from bringing too much. Even with less baggage, trying to fit a couple of suitcases, backpacks, stroller, etc., plus 5 people (Ritsuko's parents will drive us to the airport) into a mid-sized family sedan should be fun!

It's hard to believe that I am finally coming back to the United States. So much has happened during my staying in Japan, it has really been an exciting three and a half years. It is a little difficult leaving a fairly easy life to go back to the US and poor student again. In the end, though, I feel pursuing a new career in mechanical engineering will be just as exciting as anything I've done in Japan. It will also provide a level of income and stability that very few foreign English teachers (or professors) in Japan ever receive.

As equally interesting as my new life as a student are Ritsuko's new life as a non-student in America and Masashi's new life as an American citizen. Ritsuko is very exciting about the job possibilities open to her in the US. Maybe the Japanese market is much more difficult for musicians, but it seems like there are many more opportunities for Ritsuko to put her master's degree to work in America. Her operation unfortunately left her temporarily unable to sing (she has a master's degree in vocal performance), but she should have no problem finding work as a piano teacher and accompanist in the Fort Wayne area. Hopefully her singing voice will return after awhile, and then she will be able to pursue that, as well.

Now, Masashi has been an official American citizen since we registered his birth abroad at the US consulate in Sapporo last summer. This will be his first trip, though, to the other country he is able to call home. As a small child, Masa will have no problem adapting to a new lifestyle, language, and culture. Ritsuko and I see that as both a good and a bad thing. Moving to the US now will be much easier on him than moving when he is older. Unfortunately, exposing him to the language and culture in Japan that he was just coming to be aware of will be a real challenge. There will probably be a lot of Japanese spoken (or attempted, in my case) in our home in America. And, undoubtedly there will be a constant flow of Japanese things being sent from his grandparents and relatives in Japan. Of course, nothing can substitute living in another country. As Masashi grows I can imagine Ritsuko and I wanting him to spend a month or two of his summers in Japan, that is if we are not living and working in Japan already!

Well, we are all excited about coming to America, especially after the snow we got last night!

Tomorrow's Weather

Just had to share this. Even if you can't read Japanese, I'm sure you can figure out what most everything is. If you forgot, 0º C=32

Enoshima Pictures

More pictures up of our Tokyo-Kamakura trip. These pictures are from Tokyo after we met our friend Ai, of Ai's place, and of our day trip to Enoshima (Island of the Bay?).

I was also reading some cool stuff about flying machines and advanced technology in ancient Hindu mythology. Pretty cool stuff, check it out! Sounds reasonable to me, what do you think?

Tokyo Trip: Part I

Some pictures from the first part of our trip to Tokyo and Kamakura. More to come.

Back home

We are back from Tokyo and in Asahikawa getting ready to move. Things are really busy, but I'll try to find some time to get pictures of our Tokyo-trip up soon. I did have time to study some Calculus (preparing to test out of 1st semester Calculus at IPFW) and rant a little bit. Will hopefully get pictures up soon and emails out to all of you I haven't written back to yet.

Visa process finished!

Ritsuko had her visa interview yesterday, and everything went fine. She will be getting her "green card" in about one week. We are enjoying the rest of the week here in Tokyo and then Saturday in Kamakura. The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, so even the most urban parts of the city are beautiful. We'll go to Asakusa today. The weather is wonderful!