4.15.23
I've grown up hearing "April showers bring May flowers" but perhaps March showers do the same for April flowers. Aside from the Sakura waves, spring's blooms have suddenly burst through winter's doors with a huge "HELLO I AM HERE." And my, oh my, how happy am I to greet all these signs of new life! So, this week is another "a picture is worth a thousand words" episode, starring some of many flowers that dot the Yakage fields with color.
An additional what's been happening in the life of April 2023 Kai so that April 2030 Kai will remember and go "Wow! That happened? How natsukashii!"
- A former PiA fellow, Lulu, came to visit Yakage this past week. Taking her along my Kodomoen day as well as hosting her (and another PiA friend, Sophie) allowed me to get to know the konbu-onigiri soul that she is. I think what I took away most was how Yakage will always be here to welcome us home...the way the town consumed her return revealed to me how loved she was/is, and how perhaps I also can one day return saying, "I'm home!"
- Yakiyakiyakiyaki-yakiniku paaaarty with Machan, Norichan and Nanachan. Apparently Machan promised my mom she'd fatten me up before I left Japan, so I think this was her attempt...though I'm not the biggest meat eater, it means so much knowing I have moms in so many corners of the world looking out for me. I just have to make sure I look out for them too.
- When going to my preschools and passing the mountains, I never fail to think "I am in the world of broccoli"
- The spring vegetables are coming up! Shin-tamanegi, takenoko, asparagus...it is quite fun seeing the heads of such vegetables poke out like little gnomes, timidly seeing if the cold has turned to warmth. I find the spring vegetables come in such shy forms whereas the summer vegetables are all over with their vines and their stems, just soaking in the summer heat.
- Another weekend another date with the Komotos! This time they introduced me to a Ukrainian refuge named Alyona, who works in Soja trying to spread awareness aroundUkrainian art and culture. Yesterday we ended up making Motankas, traditional Ukrainian dolls, and it was just so warm being surrounded by people I've come to really care for, with some coffee in a retro cafe area, light conversation and nostalgic music in the background. It's funny...just as I was writing this (11:37AM) Komoto-san drove by and dropped off some sweet potato bread for me. How sweet is he...how sweet T_T !?
- I got the GSA position for Simmons' library program...wahoo!!! It's pretty set I'll be returning to Boston and starting my MLIS, which still feels so far away and fraud, especially since it's online. Maybe this will change to a hybrid form, but we'll see. I'm trying not to rush things! Yet another lesson learned from the bochi-bochiness of Yakage.
- Speaking of wahoos, mother harumi got a job offer to be an official registered translator for a French translation company! I'm so proud of her, and wish she was still here so I could shower her with all the chestnut desserts in Japan. Reason number #344949 that my mom is my hero and someone I look up to so much. She is a living example of sacrifice, care, diligence, determination, humility, and strength.
- I'm just amazed at how, after one year, I feel like so much has changed and so much has stayed the same...over both a zippity-zip and timeless 14 months. Here's to savoring all the remaining time I have here.
