It's so hard to imagine that after two years, we're getting on that bus to Narita tomorrow. It's exciting and scary, and happy and sad all at the same time. We'll miss all of you dear ones that we found here in Japan. Osewa ni narimashita.
.: posted by Zander Cannon 12:33 PM Tokyo Time
Fuji San
Yesterday we played in Hakone...riding up the mountain in a cable car, sailing across the beautiful lake in a pirate ship, and drooling over the beauty of Mt. Fuji.
.: posted by Zander Cannon 12:32 PM Tokyo Time
 Farewell Speech 7/2/2004
A few short weeks ago, I found myself on a bus, pulling into the Sano truck stop. I think most of us stopped there on our first trip into Tochigi. Walking into those bathrooms reminded me of how shell-shocked, excited, vulnerable, and yes, how scared I was those first few weeks in Japan. A million thoughts raced through my mind. Will I be able to make new friends, will I be able to stand this heat, will this be fun, am I going to fall into this toilet?
Well, we've come a LONG way since way back then, huh? Just think, when we first got here, we could barely buy a cup of coffee on our own. Now look... We survive monster cockroaches, typhoons, earthquakes, winters without insulation, loneliness, hang-overs, and a somewhat consistant feeling of being at least a little bit incompetant. So yes, sometimes we have a few struggles living as gaijin in this wonderfully strange, new land. But those struggles are just one small piece of the big and tasty pie that we call Japan. The rest of the pie is filled with people. Tasty people. People pie. It's the people in this room, and the many, many people who aren't here tonight. People that laugh with us, listen to us, wrastle with us, cry with us, challenge us, open up their homes to us, and most importantly, open up their hearts to us.
So next year, many of you are staying on to continue your adventures here in Japan. I hope you have a wonderful year filled with lots of memories and friendships. I know you'll take great care of the new ones coming in just a few short weeks.
There are also a few of us leaving Japan. I wish for all of you a soft bed that you don't ever have to fold up and put in a closet again, lots of friends and family to surround you, a new adventure that challenges you, and the warmth that comes from knowing that you are loved and remembered by so many of the people here tonight.
.: posted by Zander Cannon 6:12 PM Tokyo Time
Last night we had some yakitori with the lovely Kanuma ladies, Nicole and Kim. I've never really been a fan of yakitori, due to the cartilidge that is so often part of the feast. However, last night's was some of the best food I've ever eaten...green peppers stuffed with chicken, cherry tomatoes stuffed with chicken and cheese, chicken wrapped in bacon...oishi! The sake was also quite delicious, but today's not a good day to talk about that aspect of the evening.
.: posted by Zander Cannon 1:03 PM Tokyo Time
Zander's been really busy lately with creative projects galore. This one I especially like. Joolie Doolie should be up and running sometime around the time we get home. I'm excited to bore you all to death with my crafty-girlie-sporty-cooking-madness! Wah, ha, ha, haaaa.
.: posted by Zander Cannon 8:02 PM Tokyo Time
This week has been a tough one. Yesterday I crashed into a car with my bike. I thought I'd be really hurt. I'm bruised, I'm a little shaken up, I've got a fractured sternum. I'm fine. Right now it seems like things happen so randomly. I called home this morning, it was wonderful to get a hug over the phone from my Mom.
.: posted by Zander Cannon 11:00 PM Tokyo Time
Last Sunday night we had a little farewell party with the Matsumotos. We had a lovely dinner, chatting with them while eating wonderful Korean barbeque. As time goes on, we're realizing how REALLY, REALLY ready we are to come back home. But it's times like these, spent with dear friends, that make us realize what a precious time this has been. Zander has been tutoring their son, Ryo, for about a year now.
.: posted by Zander Cannon 10:47 PM Tokyo Time
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have a pop-up window.