closing credits...

2 days and counting until I leave Japan. The anxiety and stress of moving is settling in. The sadness of goodbyes is in the air. I'm sitting in my apartment, surrounded by a pile of clothing waiting to be put in suitcases, gifts from students, my camera, a photo album and other bits an pieces.

The last few weeks in Japan have been so meaningful. Travelling around Japan, spending time with the people I love here, numerous lunches and dinners spent together and alot of special moments that I want to keep in my pocket. Among the most special moments this year have been recieving an antique kimono from a student; standing on Mt. Fuji; witnessing a wedding march in Kyoto; seeing a geisha for the first time; partaking in a tea ceremony; being alone in an onsen, at night, in the rain; feeling leaves crunch under my feet in Kyoto; being treated for a beautiful meal by a stranger in Shirahama; sitting next to my friend Emi at the Yodogawa fireworks in Osaka; wearing kimono; talking with all ages of Japanese people; saying goodbye to a student and hearing her say "I enjoyed learning English because of you". These moments have been beyond me.

Everything just feels like its coming to an end so quickly. Its overwhelming. The something that I have found in Japan...is now being uprooted. All of Japan - its people, places, quirks, quiet moments, busy moments, and mysterious moments. Everything has made an impression on me. A part of me will always be here.

I guess this is just all apart of life. Things change, surprise you, encourage you, frustrate you, make you cry, make you laugh, give you courage, sober you, and inspire you. My experience in Japan has made me realize one of my new found passions is working abroad. This passion will now take me to China, starting in January.

As I'm wiping the tears from my eyes now, I think of what has been, what is, and what will be to come in the future.

your love, oh Lord, reaches to the heavens...Your faithfulness, stretches to the sky...You righteousness is like the mighty mountains...

Visiting Mt. Fuji recently, reminded me of the majesty and grandness of God's creation. Not only did I see it from a distance, but I had the chance to drive up the side with a couple friends. As we drove up the 3000m climb, we got out of the car periodically, to take in the view and to feel the ground under our feet. As we got closer and closer, making it to 2000m, we realized we could not go any further -due to slippery road conditions and intense fog. But, as I stood, and gazed at the snowy peak above me...I realized that my time in Japan is much bigger than me. I think I'm just beginning to realize that I can't fathom what kind of impact this will have on my life. As I felt the cold air on my nose and saw the clouds at eye level, it was almost as if I had arrived somewhere. Not only Mt.Fuji. If I looked away for a mere 2 minutes, it would be covered in thick clouds. Then, I would look again, and it was as clear as anything. A small window of time allowed for a fantastic view. And even though the clouds covered it from time to time, I knew was lay beyond them.

Mt. Fuji was a part of my trip to Tokyo last weekend. And while many things in Tokyo were eye catching, strange, beautiful and neon...it is the image of the straight slope of Fuji that permiates my mind today. I feel lucky because I not only had the chance to see Mt. Fuji 2000m up, but I also saw it in the distance from taking the bullet train back to Osaka. I was told that the mountain is often "shy" - hiding itself with its variable sky conditions. But, as I looked out the window of the Shinkansen early Monday morning to my right...there it was. Almost as if the clouds perfectly parted for me to see it.

Seeing such a famous landmark and symbol of Japan, in such a small and perfect window of time, was a gift. A gift I want to carry with me as I leave this country in 5 days.

I just don't think I will ever get over this...

the setting sun on shikoku island

My recent travels took me to the island of Shikoku, one of Japan's four main islands. It is known for being a place where my people go on spiritual pilgrammages to 88 temples around the island. And as I walked throug the streets of one city, Kochi, there is evidence of such people wearing the traitional cone shaped hats and white clothing, carrying a backpack and a walking staff. There is something different in the air on this island.

Getting out of Osaka, and taking the overnight bus trip across to another island, I immediately noticed the mountains became more visible and now that the leaves are finally turning in Japan, its as if someone has taken a paintbrush over the hills here. I arrive early in the morning to see the sunrise over the city of Kochi, which is over 80% mountinous.

I meet my friend living in Kochi and am instantly struck by the lack of concrete and tall buildings. I can see the faces of people and can smell the fresh mountain air. And the ocean in the distance.

During my 2 day stay in Kochi, it was as if time stood still. We walked through a famous market - filled with the freshest of fruit and vegtables, fish and local hand made crafts. The day is sunny and the peoples faces are equally so. I look around and notice there are more elderly people around, keen to make eye contact and show their sometimes toothless grins. Many people offer us pieces of fruit and welcome us to try some of their special sweets. We then make our way to Kochi Castle, where a local woman, Masako, gives us a tour of one of the oldest orignal castles in Japan. One thing I love about Japan is its people and how they seemingly adopt you for a day. We mention to Masako that we are interested in going to the beach Katsurahama, known for its shrine on the edge of a cliff. She not only tells us how to get there, but she drives us in her car, just in time to see the sunset.

As we made our way down to the beach, and it was getting dark. We walk up the set of white stairs, and come to the torrii gate and the sun is setting on the other side. At this moment, I thought to myself, I have entered a new season. The sun is setting on this experience in Japan, and I am about to enter into a new one. Among my experiences on Shikoku Island for the two days, this sunset remains imprinted in my minds eye. I look infront of me and there is only sea and sky. I look behind me and there is a shrine. I look even further behind me and there is a set of stairs leading down to the sand. I make my way down the stairs, wanting to soak in everything sensory thing I feel around me. The sound of the ocean, the first star in the sky, the smell of the ocean air, and somehow God placing His strong hand on me...and whispering in my ear...

Knowing that I'm leaving Japan at the end of the month, has seemingly made things more rich. I can't articulate it really. I remember during university, one of my professors saying to me that it is often the most the meaningful things that are the hardest to articulate. We are taken beyond. And met in a new place. A place that is deeper and richer. A more mysterious place, and yet somehow more familiar at the same time. I don't really know about mysterious things, but I know that this country has left its mark on me. I don't really even know in what ways. But, I feel its weight and significance.

reflections on uji

The other day, I visited a place outside Kyoto called Uji. If you have read "The Tale of Genji" - this is the place where the story is situated. The town is peppered with elements from the story. Seemingly making it come to life. What struck me most about this lovely place was not its claim to genji's tale, but its unusual calmness. You walk across many parts of Uji and you are greeted by many reflections along the water. Its as if you are walking on a mirror. At some points its hard to tell which way is up or down.

Byodoin Temple, situated just a short walk from a lovely little shopping street, was once a villa and now converted into a temple, is one of the oldest temples in Japan, if not the oldest. About 1000 years old to be exact. As you approach the temple, your eyes are drawn to the surrounding pond that gives the most incredible reflection. In fact, when you walk around Byodoin, it seems to look different from every direction. And from inside the temple, you can see a Buddha made entirely of cypress, which looks out onto the surrounding pond and the mountains. The water is unusually still. You almost feel you would walk on this water its so still.

The day I visited Uji, it was cloudy. And, as I looked passed the temple, onto the cloudy mountain scenery, there was some sort of mystery that became evident. In the cloudiness and unusual stillness...I could see myself. All the cloudiness and unusual stillness, as if waiting for something. Quietly waiting for something. Not expecting anything. Just waiting. And wondering.

I had a conversation with a good friend recently, and we talked about being called into the wild. Before, the wild meant for me - something messy, loud, and so many obstacles that need to be overcome or worked through. After visiting Uji, the meaning of wild kind of changed. Wild is kind of now the unusual anticipation. Before something great happens. Like the temple at Uji, from far away, its difficult to see any of the details and its hard to see through the cloudy day. But, as you approach the something great, and you begin to study the intricate and divine details. And, if you are lucky, you can go inside the something great and look from the inside out and see a new reflection in the water.

Maybe life is a series of reflections. One thing can be viewed from so many different directions and perspectives, but becasue of its reflection...it changes how we see it. I thought about when a person usually sees a reflection - on a lake, a small pond, after the rain, and looking in the mirror. Maybe the reflection is just something pretty to look at, but then again...maybe its something else...

ps. the pictures are best viewed if you click on them, to see them upclose...

new photo website...

just attempting to post my photos to a new site...feel free to check it out over the next few days

www.flickr.com/photos/risingsungirl