Owari, The End.

Thank you to all my loyal readers. This concludes “the sound a rabbit makes.” I am happy to say though that I have started two new blogs. If you enjoyed following me here, I would invite you to read my new blogs!

I am Rabbit http://somethingaboutrabbit.tumblr.com

A personal blog. I will continue observing the world around me and reporting through photography and brief essays. I will continue my focus on nature, food, and Japan, but now in my New England home. 

Before Hitting Send  http://beforehittingsend.wordpress.com

A guide to doing email better. I offer concrete advice and tips on improving your email correspondence. I will also post emails from my own outbox along with a critique, so you can learn from my mistakes.

Good-bye Japan. The final glimpse.

I keep intending to write a proper end for my year in Japan.

But there is no tidy conclusion. Yes, I left Japan and I am back in the States adjusting to life here. However I am not sure of the next step. I am not sure where to take my love of biology. And I am not sure if or when I will ever be back in Japan.

All I can say is- it was a wonderful year. Many thanks.

なぜアメリカ人は傘をささないのか

Culture Re-Shock

When I first arrived to Japan, the abundance of umbrellas was almost overwhelming. Umbrellas seemed to be everywhere I looked- in stores, in racks in front of stores, in plastic bags inside of stores, in lockers outside of museums. As soon as it would start raining, everyone would seem to magically have an umbrella even children.

Now arriving back to the States, I am shocked in reverse. Today although it was raining steadily, few people were carrying umbrellas. Many people were not even wearing raincoats but instead just walking down the street getting quite soaked.

Interesting.

Traveling back.

Gate North 5, Kansai International Airport, Osaka.

My final steps in Japan.

Kyoto Tower, Kyoto.

An unconventional view of Kyoto Tower. Looking up from the underground Porta shopping mall.

Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end?

I seem to have made it. I still feel a bit disoriented though.

Let the over-dramatic last’s continue. My last meal in Japan. 

(I will be fasting for the next 24 hours to help reduce jetlag.)

Coming full circle. The morning of the last day in my apartment.

Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple, Kyoto.

Across the street from my hostel is the stunning Higashi Honganji temple. I visited shortly before dusk, my favorite time to visit temples. Aside from a group of German tourists and the occasional security guard, I was the only person there. 

The heavy floorboards muffled the steps of my bare feet as I walked through the enormous wood frame buildings and thought- this is it. Sayonara Japan.