Ogenki desuka? How are you?
Genki desu! I am well! I am good!!
Not exactly the case for me this last while… I'm really struggling. It is not easy to sell everything and move to the other side of the world. Who knew? Naive, much?!!
I miss all things band… I miss teaching band - the excitement of starting fresh! The anticipation for planning trips and registering for festivals…. Choosing music… all of it. I don’t miss Pioneer (no offense) but I miss the BAND CULTURE!!!
In anticipation of coming here - there was discussion of observing and helping out with the band at the junior high school… None of that has worked out for a variety of reasons. So I am also feeling that loss - not hanging out in the band room… at all…
And let’s be clear - Mark misses it too!
Covid really took a bite out of guest conducting, clinicing and adjudicating for me… it’s been tooooo long and I can’t see it changing if I stay in Japan. It’s all slowly coming back now in Canada and that ship has sailed for me - literally…
I miss BAND.
I also need to embrace another Japanese word - daijobu - it’s all good - no biggy - no problem! I HATE not having things go perfectly or lessons land the way they are supposed to. But at Kamikawa High School - not everyone is going to get excited about English. Can I live with that? Can I just roll with it? I honestly do not know yet if I can change the way I am wired? The jury is still out…
I also thought I would be chilling with some junior high and elementary kiddos and that is not the case - I LOVE the enthusiasm of that age group… I feed off that enthusiasm and that energy…
SIGH…
BUT - I have adult private English students and I LOVE it! It is almost like “Hey! I’ll teach you some English if you’ll be my friend!” LOL! English private lessons are basically “chats in English” and I am really enjoying “chatting” with these women!
I LOVE Infinity Global School! And - I get to hang out with junior high students!! I have the utmost respect for Japan, but I do not love the education delivery system... Infinity is a breath of fresh air for sure!!
And I really like the high school English teachers at Kamikawa high school… and most of the students are lovely… but when I look at the horizon and think… 2 and a half more years? I don’t know…?
At the end of October we are off on a 10 day Japanese adventure and again for another 10 days at Christmas… So - maybe? Maybe I will be okay?
Aside from thinking I would be able to still have band in my life, I also thought I would be able to share this adventure with people I love… my boys… family… friends? Not so far… I mean - you can come to Japan - if you book through a Japanese travel company and stay in hotels? I don’t think it’s possible to book and come and stay with us? But - it’s also SO confusing… I spent 3 hours wrapping Christmas gifts only to find out that I can’t send a package to Canada! Arghhhhhh!!!!!
I miss Canada… I miss sour cream (LOL)! I miss the day to day being “easy” and familiar… I miss Frankie!!
I am sitting in a hotel room at Lake Toya in Japan (where they held the G8 in 2008)… sipping on wine with my hubby and looking out at a MILLION DOLLAR VIEW and I know I am lucky. And also brave…
I am LUCKY to have some incredibly supportive and helpful people in Kamikawa without whom I would not be making it past the 6 month mark! And of course - my adventurous husband and loving friends and family back home…
I just have to decide what I can do (and do without) - what I can handle…
NO BAND for 3 years?
Maybe no family and friends visiting?
Not even the chance to send Christmas gifts to my kids and my mum?
It seems so small when I write it down here - but I assure you it is not!
SIGH… Stay tuned…
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