So that flew by. Doesn't seem possible but it's already been a year since my arrival. And what do I have to say about Japan? Truth is it's like living on another planet most of the time. Many pleasant surprises but many disappointments too, watch for my I Love/Hate You Japan series.
I like to think I've used this year to work on me-things I never had the chance to before. But I'm lazy too and I'm pretty sure I just got lazier over the last year. You know that saying "When you want something done, ask a busy person"? I'm the opposite of that person now.
In an attempt to give myself some credit anyway, and do an annual check-in of sorts, here's a list of things I have, and have not, accomplished in the last year.
Goals I've reached:
+ Lived in Japan (okay, there's a LOT to that one all on its own)
+ Learned how to travel in Japan
+ Lost weight and got in better shape
+ Learned to cook fish (sort of)
+ Posted more here in blogland
+ Bought a good camera
Goals I could possibly still reach:
+ Read lots more books
+ Watch most of the movies on my lists
+ Build shelves in the kitchen
+ Learn how to use my new camera
+ Visit Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and/or Cambodia
+ Travel to Hawaii or Guam
+ Spend more time in Tokyo and Kyoto, and travel more around Japan
Stuff I wanted to do but now I know probably won't:
+ Really learn Japanese (no thanks, I don't have a decade of my life to spare, and I just don't care that much)
+ Ride the bullet trains all over Japan (shinkansen are only affordable for people with tourist visas, I have a resident visa so it's significantly cheaper to fly)
+ Watch more than three of the scary movies in my lists (I'm turning into a wuss)
+ Learn about Japanese gardening (what was I thinking? I'll never be a gardener, in any country)
+ Establish genuine friendships with Japanese people (it seems they'll never stop gawking like I'm an exotic zoo animal)
Things I had no idea I'd be doing here:
+ Building Wordpress websites
+ Living in a home that's one step away from camping
+ Learning so many difficult truths about Japan
+ Having a hell of a time finding anything well-designed
+ Watching way too many TV shows
I'll try to remember to check back in here once in a while – but can't make any promises.
Love that graphic!!! It's so you. Still can't believe you aren't fluent yet in Japanese, 'Ms. Berlitz.' :)
ReplyDeleteWell I do know enough Japanese to get by. Sadly, one does not simply "become fluent in Japanese" and once I saw the baffling intricacies of how their language actually works, I decided not to waste a decade of my life learning something in which I have minimal interest. I'd equate it to learning neurosurgery and NOPE, I ain't got time for that! Sometimes you just have to cut your losses, you know?
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