When Pigs Fly

So now that you've recovered from the shock of seeing an all new blog entry...you can sit back and relax while I attempt to give you a brief update of the past few months...

As you all know I've started my third year here in Japan (sometimes I question my sanity)...And after two years the parental unit finally decided to visit. We had a great time hanging out in Vancouver and then Tokyo. Definitly got to know Mum and Dad better during the three weeks we spent together. I'm proud of my parents for grabbing life by the balls. You rock parents. They loved seeing where I live, meeting my friends, negotiating the crowds and shopping at the 99 Yen Shop! It's weird to think now that they were even here! To me it felt like some weird alternate universe. Japan but not quite Japan.

My sentence in Japan is now half up. The past few months have been difficult. For a number of reasons...some of which I will not discuss here. Primarily they have been difficult because many of my friends have left...in particular my friend Michiyo - a Japanese woman I met a few months after I arrived in Japan. Eventhough we couldn't really speak to each other back then, we could always somehow communicate. A beautiful, rare thing that. She was always encouraging in my attempt to learn Japanese. She was kind and thoughtful. She would always ply me with tea - It was months before I realized that I needed to leave my cup full when I didn't want any more tea. I would come back from her apartment wired from drinking 7 or 8 cups of tea and pockets filled with chocolates and cookies she had stuffed in my hands before I left. In February she moved to Chile (yes Chile) with her husband. I miss spending time with her.

The biggest blow however, came only a few weeks ago when Kathy and Jeff returned to our home and native land. I sobbed. I did. Kathy and Jeff were my family here in Japan. Whenever I needed time away from Tokyo, I would jump on the train and head for the rice fields of Ota where Kathy and Jeff would take care of me. I would unload my problems on Kathy and force hugs on Jeff. (You know you love me.) Luckily, I was able to join Kathy and Jeff on their road trip of Japan during Golden Week (which you can read about here www.epps-in-japan.blogspot.com) . We had a blast. Japan has way more to offer than the lights of Shinjuku and the temples of Kyoto. So now as I sit and type this K and J are in the true north...enjoying time with their family and friends. And well that comforts me. That and the fact that I'm gonna crash on their couch the next time I'm in the St.Kitts area. Look out!

So that's where I'm at Ladies and Gents...until the next time pigs fly.