One Week Away

Tomorrow marks one week until my departure to the Land of the Rising Sun. I have gotten beyond the great feeling of sadness at the thought of not seeing so many people for a while. It comes and goes, but it is not as pronounced as previous days. Tonight, I feel great excitement at the thought of the coming four months.

Today, one of my blogging buddies, Carolyn Frantz, left for London, England, on a journey that will last her until the beginning of June...well, I imagine quite a bit longer than that. Reading her latest blog entry gave me such hope for my journey. Understand that my journey began months ago; in fact, about eight months ago, in April 2008. Actually, I can trace my journey all the way back to the very moment that the first thought of studying in 日本 ran across my mind—around the time I met Emma Nagasawa, about one year ago. I'm sure it can be traced even further back to another journey that stemmed from another journey that stemmed from another.

In one week, this journey will all be a reality. How exciting! What an experience I have ahead of me.

Good luck in England, Carolyn!

[Believe in Yourself:
Look your chances in the eye—
it's "you" you have to satisfy!
You can never dream too big
or set your sights too high!

If they say you can't,
if they say you're not strong enough,
if they say no one has ever done it before,
you always say...
Just watch!]

-No Limits But the Sky

Here is to everyone who has doubted me. Here is to everyone who has supported me.

Take a look:

I'm really doing this!

I'm really doing this.