Month 12 in Review - Reflections and Growth Words

Month 12 brought with it Christmas, New Year, and our first Japanniversary (the term I've heard others use and totally loved). Kaz's mom and Bill visited - so we were able to do some sightseeing and spend Christmas with them. We rung in the New Year from "The Land Down Under" (about 16 hours ahead of family and friends). And, now we are back and settling into Year Two. Kaz is starting a new position for the next year - taking a break from Toyota North America and supporting Europe and South Africa (which will be a new and exciting opportunity for him). I am beginning the second half of the school year...and taking some time to think what I want Year Two to look like for me! 

I've been thinking a bit about my blog - and trying to think of an alternative for my Monthly Reviews for Year Two. I really enjoy sharing what we've been up to, as well as reflecting a bit on the sunny and cloudy moments; however, I'm thinking it might be neat to do something different for Year Two. I haven't pinpointed an idea yet, so I'll keep thinking. In the meantime, if any of you have ideas...or types of posts you'd like to see...feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

And now, here's Month 12 in Review...along with some reflections from the past year...and some guiding words moving forward! Enjoy! 

Places Visited and Activities

Expat Christmas Celebration: One of the biggest challenges of moving to Japan has been being so far away from family and friends! There have been so many moments in which I've wished I could spend just a few minutes with people who "get" me. I'll admit that during my first few months in Japan - I struggled with putting myself out there and getting to know people. For the first time in my life, making friends did not feel like it was coming naturally to me. However, over the past month or two, I feel like I've been settling in a bit...and feeling like I have more of a network of friends (than just people who are here as expats too). We celebrated Christmas with a Mexican-themed potluck followed by an evening of karaoke. And this coming weekend, Kaz and I will be celebrating our Japanniversary with the awesome group of friends who arrived in Japan with us! It's Mexican-themed too...notice a trend?! 

Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology: This museum is at the top of almost every "Top Things to Do in Nagoya" list that I've looked at since moving to Japan. So on a cold and rainy day, we finally went. The museum had two major exhibits - one that focused a lot on cars and how they are made. And, another that focused on looms! Toyota actually started out making looms before they moved to cars. We entered the loom exhibit about an hour before it closed - and were given our own personal tour and demonstration by the staff members. It was really neat - they literally tag-teamed and moved us through the exhibits - all the while speaking in English...which was so appreciated! I have to say - this exhibit was one of the coolest I've ever experienced!

Kyoto: We took a day-trip with Kaz's parents to Kyoto. The day started out sunny - however, we ran into some unexpected rain. Regardless, we had a lot of fun and even explored two new sites for us - Ninnaji Temple and Ryoanji Temple.

Shirakawa-go: About an hour northwest of Takayama is the quaint village of Shirakawa-go, which is known for its collection of traditional gasshō-zukuri style buildings. Even though there wasn't snow on the ground in the village - we still enjoyed its beauty. We spent some time wandering through the village, explored two of the largest houses in the village, and hiked up a steep hill to take in the view of the entire village. Interestingly (and sadly), due to the increase in tourists to this area since it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site...many homeowners have converted their homes to hotels, shops, and attractions and it has lost a lot of its "authentic feel."

Bali & Australia - see previous blog posts!

Kit Kat Flavors Tasted

-Butter Cookie
-Ginger Big Bites

Reflections of Year One

The thought of summing up this past year feels like an almost impossible feat! Which is actually one of the reasons that I started blogging - so that I could reflect on a much more regular basis! 

Instead, here a few lessons that I've learned...and that I'm hoping will help me a bit in Year Two! In no particular order:

*Learning a new language is DIFFICULT! And, phew...there are so many components!

*Struggling is one of the most humbling AND most frustrating experiences of my life!

*Kindness is definitely the universal language!

*Menus with pictures WILL make your life easier...unless of course you don't know what the pictures show. 

*Oshibori (hot towels/hand wipes) given to one before a meal to clean her hands are both useful and appreciated!

*Squatty potties are not quite as scary as they initially seem...unless of course, you're on a moving train! 

*No matter how hard I try to "fit in" - I can't and won't. So, I might as well just put myself out there and try. What do I have to lose, anyway!?

*Organized chaos does exist - and Japan has perfected the concept! 

*Accepting any and all emotions that arise on this journey is waaaaay more challenging than it sounds. 

Words for Year Two

A few years ago, my friend Scott introduced me to the idea of picking three to five words that I want to move towards in the coming year. I absolutely loved the idea and have made it something that I do, think about, and meditate on at the beginning of each year...and throughout the year as well. So, after some reflection - here are my words for this year...with a "short and sweet" thought process for each! Or as "short and sweet" as I am capable of being! 

Health

Health is something that is very important to me. Not only physical health, but also mental and emotional health as well. So, this year, I hope to continue to focus on running consistently (I even joined a gym last week - for those really cold and really hot days); eating healthy and cutting back on some of Japan's numerous carbs; joining a yoga studio; and, making time for daily meditation. 

Love

Japan has definitely shown me that "absence makes the heart grow fonder" is a very, very true statement. Throughout the past year, I've had tons of moments in which homesickness has completely taken over...and has also made me realize just how lucky I am to have such amazing family and friends in my life.  This year, like every year, I want to continue to strengthen my relationships with those I care about...even though distance can sometimes make keeping in touch a tad tricky!

Living in Japan has been one of the greatest and also most challenge experiences for Kaz's and my relationship. The highs are higher and the lows are lower. And, since we are so far away from our "support network" - we tend to be each other's only outlet about 99% of the time. Moving into Year Two, I want to listen more and judge less; forgive easier and move slower; and, make sure to tell Kaz more often how much I appreciate him and all he does!

Living in Japan has also lead to me spending more time alone than I am used to (or ever have in the past). This has definitely been challenging for me - as I am (slowly) learning to love the "not so great" things about myself. Moving forward, I hope that I can continue to give myself the same love, understanding, and acceptance that I give my family and friends.  

Patience
Patience seems like such a simple word, doesn't it?! And yet...it's not. In many ways, there are aspects of my life now that are much less stressful than back in the US...and many aspects that are much, much more stressful. In the coming year - I want to practice more patience. Patience with myself, patience with Kaz, patience with my daily life, and patience with life in general. Sometimes I have a hard time trusting that things will work out in the end. 

Flexibility
Those of you who know me well - know that change is not one of my strongpoints. Especially the days, weeks, and months leading up to a change. My life over the past year has been full of almost constant change...and the coming year will most likely be full of just as much - if not more. Instead of running from the change - or immediately resorting to a "what am I going to lose/miss" mindset - I am hoping to instead approach change with more openness and flexibility. I also hope to practice more flexibility in the moment when things play out in unexpected ways - which is a daily occurrence! 

Present 
I've found that since I'm often in a world that doesn't quite make sense to me...I can easily get caught up in planning and thinking (and worrying) about the future and also ruminating about past events/happenings.  These behaviors are definitely not helpful to me (or those around me...poor Kaz). This year - I really want to focus on lessening the amount of time spent reflecting on the past and planning for the future...so that I can more fully enjoy the moment that I'm in! 

Sunniest Moment
There are SO many to choose from - but, I think I might have to pick...summiting Mt. Fuji!

Cloudiest Moment
Being my own worst enemy...and struggling with self-judgements, unrealistic expectations, and unhelpful patterns of thinking!

Wishing you all a 2017 filled with health, happiness, love...and of course way more sunny moments than cloudy ones!

~Jaime

Travel Entry - Happy New Year from the "Land Down Under"

From Bali, we continued on our way to Australia! Our first stop was Sydney! We had a "minor" hiccup at the Bali airport when we realized that we needed a Visa to get to Australia...and we didn't have one. Lucky for us it was more like a preregistration than a Visa and were able to apply at the airport. Luckily our flight went smoothly and we were greeted at the airport by the sweet sound of English! In an instant, I was in a world in which I could understand, speak, and read...even if the twang was a tad new for me! Moments like these continue to be important reminders of just how all-encompassing language really is! 

In addition to the language, I quickly realized that even though I was thousands of miles from home - being in the another "Western" country brought with it way more similarities than differences! For example, I enjoyed my first 7-11 slurpee in more than a year. It's not like I got them frequently in the US...but the thought of one totally brought me back to my Michigan days and made me smile! Plus it was over 100 degrees outside! 

Sydney had a neat vibe. The city was clean, safe, and buzzing with people. Even though, during its busiest time of year (summer/New Year's) - it was still way less busy than Tokyo or New York City.  The city is broken up into neighborhoods - each with their own vibe. And the waterfront/skyline is absolutely amazing with the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. 

Our three days in Sydney were spent exploring the city! In addition to ringing in the New Year is the coolest way possible! Here's a bit about a few of the sites we visited. 

Sydney Harbour

A large chunk of our day was spent walking around Sydney Harbour and enjoying the breathtaking views of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. We took an hour-long guided tour of the Opera House and learned a lot of interesting information.

I was surprised to learn that the architect of the Opera House, Jorn Utzon, never actually saw the completed structure in person. He resigned as chief architect in 1966 when the construction was halted. Other architects were hired when construction restarted - and Utzon wasn't even mentioned or acknowledged when the Opera house opened. In the late 1990s, however, amends were made and Utzon was asked to assist in updating the Opera House. Due to ailing health, he was not able to come to Sydney - but collaborated from afar.

Additionally, I had always believed the roof of the Sydney Opera House to be smooth and white in color. However, the roof is actually covered in chevron-shaped tiles, which are glossy white and matte cream in color. And, while the roof looks a lot like ship sails - apparently Utzon came up with the design concept while he was peeling an orange. Cool, huh?

The Rocks

The Rocks, located on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour, is the site of Australia's first European settlement - founded in 1788. From the earliest history of the settlement, the area had a reputation as a slum. In 1968, the government gave control of The Rocks to an organization that was going to demolish the buildings and build luxury condos. However, after years of battles and protests, a ban on knocking the buildings down won out...and they were restored and repaired. Although there are still issues with poverty and crime, the area continues to grow and change (with about half of it already having gone through the gentrification process).  

Darling Harbour 
Darling Harbour is a bay adjacent to Sydney Harbour. It contains the aquarium, some museums, and lots of new and hip restaurants. We enjoyed dinner at a lovely Turkish restaurant overlooking the water. This area is not as scenic as Sydney Harbour, but it's definitely the place to go to eat. There were also signs suggesting that they are planning to add even more to this area over the next few years.

Hyde Park Barracks
I knew that Australia had a history of being a colony for convicts; however, I knew very little about its history...so we spent an afternoon exploring the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. I have to say that I was very impressed with the museum. I found it informative, interesting, and I give Australia credit for their relatively recent decision to embrace their history and past.

What's really neat is that the museum is the actual barracks building which has been remodeled throughout time. The barracks were originally built as a place to house convicts that were sent from England by boat. Construction began in 1817. The barracks were not a jail (as I had originally thought) - they were instead where the convicts lived. Most of the convicts sent over from England worked and essentially established Australia as the country it is today. In the mid-1800s, the barracks were shutdown and the buildings were reopened as an immigration depot for single women. Then from 1887-1979, the buildings were used as courts and government offices before being turned into a museum.

I would really encourage you to read more about Australia's history - as there is so much more I could write about this topic. In 2010, UNESCO named the barracks along with 10 other sites in Australia to the World Heritage Site list as "Australian Convict Sights." There was also a sign stating that more than 20% of modern Australians descended from transported convicts.

Bondi to Coogee Beach Coastal
On the morning of New Year's Eve, we took a sunny walk along Australia's eastern shoreline from Bondi to Coogee Beach. The walk took us about two hours - with lots of stops for pictures - and offered up some pretty stunning views. If we'd had more time - we would have definitely stopped for a swim at one of the beaches or the crazy awesome infinity pools that actually extended into the ocean!!

Manly Island (and beach)
For dinner one evening, we took a 30-minute ferry ride to Manly Island - which is one of Australia's northern beaches. We enjoyed dinner at 4 Pines Brewing Company and on our way back to the boat...we stumbled across a penguin hatching area on the beach...and were able to get some quick glimpses of baby penguins.

NEW YEAR'S EVE
Celebrating New Year's Eve in Sydney was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Per recommendations from others who have visited during this time, we bought tickets to an event at the botanical gardens. This meant that we were guaranteed a great view without having to fight the crowds and stake out our spot early in the morning. Our event also catered yummy food and we were able to enjoy a relaxed evening with amazing views. Here are just a few pictures and videos to give you an idea of what the experience was like!

After enjoying our time in Sydney, we boarded a plane and headed about three hours north to the city of Cairns (which we quickly realized is pronounced - cans). Cairns is a much smaller and much quieter city that Sydney. It reminded me a lot of the lake towns up north in Michigan, which have only a few main roads full of shops and restaurants because most of the activities center around the beach or water.

Although the weather was overcast with occasional thunderstorms and downpours...it held off enough for us to be able to participate in all of the activities we had planned.

Swimming in the Ocean
During our first day in Cairns, we drove along the coastal road to the town of Port Douglas. The scenery was breathtaking and we stopped several times to take in the views. Once in town, we enjoyed some downtime at the beach. I was shocked to find that the water was at least 80 degrees and felt like bathwater! We also learned that many beaches have "netted" off areas in which people can swim - to protect them from sharks and jellyfish. You can swim in the other areas too - it's just at your own risk. 

As we were driving home, we noticed hundreds of birds (or what we thought were birds) flying in the sky. We soon realized that they were bats - huge bats! A little research revealed that they were fruit bats - also known as flying foxes - that are native to Australia and very common in these areas. As we looked closer at the trees - we realized that they were actually filled with bats...I wish I had gotten a picture...though I was a tad resistant to get too close to the trees. I did get a video of the bats flying though!

Snorkeling to Explore the Great Barrier Reef 
The next day, we spent about eight hours on a boat - with much of that time in the water, snorkeling and exploring the Great Barrier Reef. Because it was jellyfish season we found ourselves in some stylish full-body wetsuits. We stopped in two different areas - Michaelmas Cay and Hasting Reef and were given close to two hours to explore. Getting to see the reef was really amazing - and the pictures just don't due its enormity or beauty justice. We also saw a lot of bleached and dead coral, which was really sad to see. We learned that the reef is NOT dead - as  Outside magazine reported earlier this year. There are lots of factors - hot water temperature, pollution, fish and other organisms - that are killing parts of the reef but that is a normal cycle that they are hoping will shift in a few years. Additionally, lots of efforts are being made to restore parts of the reef; however, we won't likely see the fruits of these efforts in our lifetime.

You can see the bleached and dead coral here...

We also tried to capture a bit of video...sorry that it's a bit shaky. It's hard to swim and film!

Kuranda - A Village in the Rainforest

On our last full day in Cairns, we rode the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway to the village of Kuranda, which is located on a mountain in the middle of the rainforest. The train ride was about two hours and allowed us to soak in the beauty of the surrounding rainforest and Barron Falls. The Cairns-Kuranda Railway was constructed between 1882 and 1891 and even today is considered an engineering feat of tremendous magnitude - due to the terrain on which it is built.

The train stops in the village of Kuranda, which has a super touristy feel to it. In addition to a few shops and restaurants - it also houses a bird sanctuary, butterfly house, reptile house, and a koala garden. Since we only had a little bit of time - we explored the koala gardens in which I was able to hold a koala (they are SO soft) and see kangaroos up close. Although I am not one who likes to see animals in captivity - it was neat to learn about some of Australia's native wildlife.

We took the cable car back down the mountain, which was much faster and also allowed us to view the rainforests from above. 

Our trip to Australia was action-packed and tons of fun! I really enjoyed my time there and hope that sometime in the future I will be able to explore even more of Australia. Melbourne, the Gold Coast, and Ayers Rock are definitely on my list!

And...just for fun...here is my favorite new phrase I learned while in Australia! 

Sunny moments: Too many to list! :)

Cloudy moments: Some stormy days and high, high humidity is Cairns...if I had to pick something!