Greetings from the new decade!
Yesterday I went back to work, so my winter holiday is officially over, but I'm feeling ready to get back to work. There's a lot to be accomplished, learned, taught, explored, eaten, seen, and much more this year. I had a lovely break, spent time at home time to family and friends back home, had a Christmas party, did some Japanese style pre-new year cleaning, took care of an insane kitty for a couple friends that had the great timing to go into heat while staying here, had a great delicious dinner with Seiji Christmas eve, spent a relaxing Christmas day at a friend/teacher that I teach with and her sons, went to a second end of year dinner party with some Miato junior high teachers and the principal, and got to experience a wonderful and very Japanese New Year's by staying with a teacher from Miato Elementary and her husband and son for New Year's eve through New Year's day.
I began the vacation a little disappointed I wasn't traveling anywhere what with so many JETs going on awesome trips or just getting to go home for the holidays and be with their family and friends, but in the end, I had so many lovely experiences, learned more Japanese and more about Japan, and had some fun times out with friends. Altogether it was everything a break should be.
I began 2010 at Toshodaiji amidst many people, all wishing for good things to come for ourselves and our family and friends in the coming year. As we all crowded through the temple and back out in the freezing cold and home to baths and beds, I thought of 2010 and what is to come in this year in Japan. I look forward to moving through the seasons and seeing more sides of Japan. I look forward to learning more and more Japanese, seeing more of the country, and getting to know my community here more. I look forward to improving as a teacher and becoming more integrated in my schools. I look forward to learning more about myself and the world. I look forward to figuring out my post-JET plans and continuing on this journey. I look forward to Jon's time here with me, and all my friends and family that will hopefully make it to visit, and sharing with you my new life here!
I hope that you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday break as well and that 2010 brings you happiness, health, and the fulfillment of your resolutions!!!
If you'd like to check out pictures of all I've been up to, go to my flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/katiecaminadora/collections/72157623143693108/
There are lots of captions!
Also, I just realized I never posted pictures from our Kinosaki trip...promise I'll get around to that soon!
Cheers,
Katie
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
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