親友よ

親友よ- Shinyuuyo - Best Friend

I've been thinking a great deal about my loved ones recently. It's apparent to me that the longer one spends away from his or her loved ones, the more he or she begins to realize the importance of these people. The more I spend time away from my friends and family, the more I think how unbearable it would be for me to not have these people exist in my life. Certainly you could argue about the "what if's," like "what if you hadn't met them in the first place?" or, "what if you went your own separate ways?" I would counter those arguments by stating that all of those what if's are legitimate possibilities, but not realities.

With four weeks remaining in Japan, time is flying and remaining stagnant at the same time. Some days go too fast, and some days seem to never end. With the thought of returning home in four weeks on my mind, I can't shake this wild mixture of emotions. With the thought of seeing my best friend, my 親友よ, again in three weeks, some days are excrutiating. It's being able to see it, and being able to reach out and almost touch it, but knowing that there are still 21 days standing in between points A and B, that make these excrutiating days seem like the hardest days I've ever lived.

In the thirteen weeks I've spent away from my family (家族), my friends (友達), and my best friend (親友よ), I have come to understand the importance of these people in my life. So, in this case, there are no "what if's," because this is reality. You, and you, and you, and you, too, are important. Thank you for standing by me this entire time. I am grateful for your presence right now in my life. It may be unclear right now, but in time, whatever sediment remains suspended, clouding up an otherwise clear view, will settle, and my love and gratitude will be realized to their fullest extents.

I'll take this for what it's worth and use all that crosses my criss-crossing paths to strengthen myself and grow. I love my family, I love my friends, and I love you, so much. I am a fortunate person.

旅- Tabi - Journey - As it is, the journey continues moving forward, onward and upward...

Solitary

In the course of a significant journey, it can be expected that there will be many legs that are traveled in solitude. For if this was not the case, then there would be no time to reflect upon the foundation of the journey: growth, experience, learning, acceptance, tolerance, and so on. What if, however, each leg traveled becomes more solitary, and each significant person seems to become more distant? How should one account for all of the conflicting emotions that arise?

I have decided that growth cannot be experienced without conflict, and at times, great conflict signifies a growth spurt. My conflict arises right now from the thought of my future, which is more or less terrifying to me. The thing that scares me most is returning home to significant change, which I am not sure I will be able to handle after experiencing a sensory overload, so to speak, while living in another country--another world.

In the past three months, I have watched from a great distance so many people undergo significant change. I am pleased to see this taking place, as change is one of the greatest essences of life. I have undergone a great deal of change as well, particularly within my own personal realm. It comes at the thought of all of this change that I wish I could have remained with all of you to experience it. It is a frightening prospect to think that I do not know what I will return to in five weeks. I am struggling with this right now, because for the first time I get to view it from this side of the glass. I find this to be a solitary conflict right now.

I am not sad, as I understand that I am in the middle of growth. I feel that in five weeks time, my view on this subject will have changed considerably. I need you all to remain with me right now, through the rest of this journey, and beyond. Please don't doubt my strength and love.

Now the home-stretch begins. In five weeks, this experience will wash up on shore and dry up, but the memories will never fade, and the lessons learned will never disappear. Knowing full-well to make each passing day count, let's continue to aim onward and upward. Life is a two-way street, so let's continue to keep it flowing both ways.

As the journey draws closer to the end, so a new journey begins.

桜

...And with great expectations, I faced a new day and felt the wonderful sensations of living. Was it ironic that on this day, the sky turned grey and the city of Osaka was ensconced by a torrent of rain? Perhaps the answer lay in the 桜 that traversed the landscape and stole attention from every perceivable corner of the mind.

Is it ironic that beauty is enhanced by gloom? Today, the 桜 was the sunshine that warmed the earth. It softened the harsh chill that gripped every inch of flesh and bone.

It was the guardian of inconceivable wisdom.

I let the 桜 take hold of my spirit. I'll be damned if it ever lets go.

We enter into a new chapter of this journey. Let it continue to flow down an undetermined course into an unforeseeable future. Gather wisdom from its path, and stand with pride in times of shame and sorrow, humility in times of great achievement, and honor each and every day.

We'll grow and love.

With love in my heart, my journey continues on...

三月

じゃあ、ごめんなさい。三月、僕は忙しい人でした。四月、僕は暇です。元気な人ですよ。

March was a busy month for me. In addition to midterms rounding out the month, and traveling to 長野 and 広島 at the beginning, there was 春休み and various other expeditions to contend with. March was a month of growth. March was a month of adventure. March was a month to enjoy the company of friends, and March was a month of loneliness. At times, it seemed like it was flashing by, and at times it seemed like it was moving at a snail's pace. I look forward to seeing what April will bring. At the very least, I am hoping for warm, sunny days ahead.

春休みはよっかたですよ。東京に行って、日光に行きました。東京は迚も大きいでした、でも日光は奇麗でした！！There were so many sights in Nikko that I wished I could bring back home, as I was humbled by everything that surrounded me. Nature did not miss a beat with natural beauty. I particularly enjoyed the sight of large mountains sloping down into a beautiful, blue lake. Countless waterfalls rushed down every mountainside. I could have jumped into a fast-flowing stream and followed it all the way to the great Pacific Ocean.

In Tokyo, I was awed by the nighttime view atop Tokyo Tower (東京タワー). Never had I seen such a vast, sprawling display of lights and roads, twisting and turning in every direction, reaching beyond the horizon. How could an inspring display of man and an inspiring display of nature coexist? That is what I thought. How could they be located within such close proximity (within 75 miles) of one another? That, too, is what I thought.

And how, in the span of four weeks time, had I done so much? How had I traversed so much of 日本? I'll leave all of that for you to decide.

It's the home-stretch now. Ten down, seven to go. What possibilities exist for the future?

April promises to be good. April promises to flash by and move at a snail's pace. Let's ride the wings of April and see where we can go.

Let's continue this journey together, ne? We've only grown stronger.

The journey continues on...