~:[CH13 - Day 172]:~ By Plan & By Chance

 
~:[CH13 - Day 172]:~ By Plan & By Chance

I'm a planner, however, I do not mind wandering to see what happens. With such a tight schedule, I had to plot I out my days, but still didn't mean things didn't happen by chance. With my flight being later that night, I planned to meet my friend and Korean tutor near my hotel and was able to also see an alum before then. Just the day before, I was talking about how I didn't run into anyone on this trip so far. The day before (right after that conversation), I did and this morning, I did again. It's always a fun adventure when this happens, even more so when they live closer to you and you never see them at home. Regardless, it was fun and so was the last stretch in Seoul. On the way home, I barely made the last train to Shinjuku, but I made it as I watched numerous people sprint as the gates were closing or some giving up altogether as they sat down on the side of the street. Whether by plan or by chance, I hope everything in your life works out for the best.

~:[CH13 - Day 171]:~ Music Unites All

 
~:[CH13 - Day 171]:~ Music Unites All

I was a little worried as I got a heat wave warning early in the morning. It would hit 95F with humidity. Despite the heat, I was able to find a cool spot and lounge out. That's when I heard, "Jason!" Someone recognized me from a previous show and it was great to reconnect. They coordinated and event so it was fun to be in the center of it all. In the end, it was fun to connect with people around the world uniting with one language - music. It was enjoyable being surrounded with such enthusiastic fans despite my ears thinking otherwise. As I headed out, I said my goodbyes as my phone shut off since the battery died. Luckily, I knew the route home and could enjoy the memory of our worlds united. When my phone charged and I began uploading the photos, I was once again reconnected with those I had met, as we shared memories of a night we'll remember for a long time coming.

~:[CH13 - Day 170]:~ Ditching the Storm

 

~:[CH13 - Day 170]:~ Ditching the Storm

As I headed out of Tokyo, the storm came rolling in. I was lucky to have great timing and the ability to leave. It made me think of the thought of priviledge which soon connected to a discussion I had later that evening. As we caught up over tea, we discussed the opportunities we had that others may not. Do we soak up these opportunities? Should there be guilt when we do? Whenever you watch an "end-of-the-world" movie, those whonare priviledged seem to have the best opportunity to survive while those who aren't have to face the storm. Does facing the storm make us stronger or does privilege win out? Our conversation left me with the simple thought of appreciating the opportunities we have and lend a hand when we are able. As in the movies, the privileged leave and don't look back, we can write out own stories when we have a chance to leave the storm behind. I was glad to find blue skies when I arrived and even happier to be able to be priviledged enough to reconnect in a place so far away. It's something I won't take for granted.

~:[CH13 - Day 169]:~ Just Chill

 
 ~:[CH13 - Day 169]:~ Just Chill

I haven't had a single day where most of my day was chill. Even today, I had a quick shoot later in the evening. However, the entire morning was blocked, dedicated to laundry. There's no way that I could pack enough clothes for the trip, so I always try to plan around a laundry day halfway through. This year, it fell perfectly between two off-site journeys. Of course, my hesd must have been a little mad as I accidentally dried my clothes first, however, the machine doesn't allow you to stop once it starts, so I waited. It was nice to not have to worry about my next schedule as I wandered around, ate, relaxed, then put away my laundry when done. Even during the most important of stretches, don't forget to hit the spin cycle, kick back and just chill, as we all need a refresher so we can be ready for what's ahead. I spent the evening with my friend after work, as I felt ready for the busy days ahead.

~:[CH13 - Day 168]:~ Life with a View

 
 ~:[CH13 - Day 168]:~ Life with a View

You don't always get a view like this, so when you do, soak it up. We headed over to Shiga to explore the area including Lake Biwa and I got to eat lunch near the lake. It was a wonderful view and it was a perfect day to enjoy it. It was one of those days were Inwas gifted this view and a wonderful day, thus I soaked it up and made the most of it. I was a bit sad that today would be my last day in Nara. Catching up is something I am always grateful for, however, saying goodbye never gets easier. I left from the local station and transfered to the shinkansen. I must be a pro at this, as I quickly navigated there and was sitting in the train heading towards Tokyo. I appreciated the fact that I had these wonderful memories and despite the long trek, I enjoyed it, knowing how precious the moments we had together were. I may long for another day like this, a life with this view, however, for now, I'll appreciate that I even had this chance. 

~:[CH13 - Day 167]:~ Following an Illuminated Path

 
 ~:[CH13 - Day 167]:~ Following an Illuminated Path

As we walked along the lighted path heading into TeamLab Osaka, I already had pleasantly enjoyed the day. Earlier we had completed our annual bowling outing, them we stuffed ourselves to a wonderfully delicious meal just before they closed for lunch, and then headed to Osaka. After enjoying a beautiful art exhibition, we headed towards Nagai, We were pleasantly surprised to see a sea of pink as we were looking for something to do and their was a packed crowd around the stadium for the Cerezo Osaka game. It was incredible to see the spirit that I normally witness as a Japanese baseball game in soccer form. They faced an energetic crowd in the Urawa Reds. I loved see how the visiting crowd had such a following as well. We ventured along realizing there was also a regional track and field competition as we ran into one of the coaches that we knew. It was definitely interesting to see how things went and enjoyed a quick sit down before we parted ways. I was a little worried as a storm briefly rolled through the area, but was happy that it didn't last long so we can enjoy the beautiful illuminations of the botanical gardens. We ended with a solid dinner, which left me completely and utterly full, but the same goes for my joy and appreciation. It was overflowing. Life will sometimes leave you in darkness, but remember that in your darkness moments, the lights that will illuminate your path will be much brighter. Do your best to survive through those moments so that when moments like today arrive, you can soak in all the wonderful moments that will become even brighter in the darkness. Trust that life will guide you to where you need to be, just be patient, stay strong, and find that illuminated path that is awaiting you. 

~:[CH13 - Day 166]:~ A Grand Welcoming

 
 ~:[CH13 - Day 166]:~ A Grand Welcoming

I learned my lessons from last year as I put my bag in the coin locker then headed to Kindai. It always seems like it's the hottest day of the year when I venture here as the 1.6km walk from the station is grueling. It was nice knowing where I was headed this time as I calmly walked into the classroom rather than struggling when I walked into the door. While I have to make sure to choose the write words to describe everything to these students, even discussing complex issues related to the United Nations still seems to get through to them. We started off with a fun topic of talking about ramen. Instead of just saying, "I like ramen," we tried to expand it so they could describe in more detail. It was fun to see them work towards trying to find the write words and vocabulary to use. In the end, it was a great group of students to work with and I truly enjoyed helping them prepare for their upcoming conference, I only hope that I helped them in some way. With a tight schedule, I decided to cancel one of my plans and head to my next location as I took some time to shower and relax a bit before heading out for a reunion meal. Overall, I truly appreciated the grand welcoming by all, as everyone has left such a great impression on me through this wonderful journey. 

~:[CH13 - Day 165]:~ Survival

 
 ~:[CH13 - Day 165]:~ Survival

I heard a comment from a little boys saying how the mom was eating all the food. He kept telling the baby not to let his mom take the food. The reality is, in this world, the sooner we can learn to fend for ourselves, the stronger we will become when we are older. Sure, it's great to be provided for and taken care of, but learning to survive is a trait that is key when it comes to the road ahead. I often try to encourage parents to have their students be the one to contact me and take care of various situations, as it will teach them the independence they need to survive. It was enjoyable to watch the monkeys play around, especially this cute one who left his mother's protective arms and began to play on the barrier. There were definitely some interesting encounters at the park as they all protected their own territory, yet there were still some who were as playful as every, not worrying about a thing. At some point, these young ones will become those adults protecting their territory and their kin, but for now, they can slowly learn the things they need to in order to prepare for that day. Much like my students, this process takes time, but the earlier they start, the better off they'll be. I left the peace of Arashiyama just as the tourists began to roll in and headed down to Osaka to prep for my lecture. It was a nice little getaway, but I am ready to head back into the city, venturing on to the next adventure ahead. 

~:[CH13 - Day 164]:~ Time to Reflect

 

~:[CH13 - Day 164]:~ Time to Reflect

Arashiyama is a place that has been overcome by tourists. Still yet, I like to stay overnight and enjoy the serene beauty of the area after theybleave and before they return.  It's always at a midpoint of this journey and a good getaway from the city life. While I tend to get a special souvenir (mosquito bite) everytime I visit, it still has become my mecca to relax and reflect a little bit before picking the pace back up. While tomorrow I will have to navigate through the crowds of people swarming into the area, I will have had this momentary tranquility. Where is a place you find that escape?

~:[CH13 - Day 163]:~ Precision

 
 ~:[CH13 - Day 163]:~ Precision

I took a train early in the morning to reach Niigata. Due to a slight change in schedule, I could have taken the train that left about an hour later, but I was glad I had some time to relax. I thought I would have to route to the shoot location, however, they offered to pick me up, even on a busy day. They took me to Starbucks and a bread place before going to setup. I was so worried about how things would turn out, but they ended up going so smoothly. They were also so welcoming and grateful as I got a group welcoming and send off. The CEO even had someone take me out to dinner before my trek home. Of course, the best part was seeing the incredible dancers as they had their last rehearsal before they flew to Spain for Spain's Got Talent. Their focus on precision is what grabbed my attention most. I saw how I could adjust things in my own life watching them as they focused on every detail and worked incredibly hard, even on the day they would pack up and start their journey to Spain. They dropped me back off at the station as I was exhausted, but also so elated to have such a wondeful experience. My stomach fluttered as I was excited for them to perform this piece on television and forever will I have a place for Chibi Unity in my heart. As while they are incredible dancers, I think their success began because they are incredible people.