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Okay Sarah this made me cry! Enjoy your next adventure and cherish the memories. They will be with you forever.
PSTC K | 08.19.07 - 7:24 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Wonderful! You were well liked and loved! My daughter's experience in a small city there was so similar : the kindness, generosity, helpfulness, friendship, care and concern (and love) she experienced there was like nothing else! As you know, this is why she returned to Japan 3 times.
What I am wondering and maybe you can answer this eventually, is : can you (and did you) find a similar experience, of a people enfolding you so warmly into their lives? In other words, is your Japanese experience unique? And, I also wonder if you will be satisfied with whatever you end up being involved in and part of, back in Canada. Will it be enough after your wonderful people experience in Japan. Maybe , it is better to have such close and fond relationships now and then rather than always. Maybe it is all the more special because it comes to an end?
Julie | 08.19.07 - 8:10 am | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ Hello, I came across your blog and, more specifically, this post via DarrenBarefoot.

I lived in Nagoya, Japan for a year back during the 2001-2002 school years. After that I traveled a bit doing odd-jobs around the country (Gifu, Hiroshima, Tokyo) before moving back stateside.

I'm happy to say that I've been happily living again in Japan (Okinawa this time) for the last 2.5 years. It's great to be back!

Your time away can be rough, especially if you really love Japan and want to stay here. But I believe the first time around it can be a drain and it's important to recharge a bit and get some more perspective. The second-time around if you want to make it a longer-term experience or even move here permanently (as I have), it's a lot easier to do. It also helps when you meet the person you'll marry who also lives and wants to stay in Japan as much as you! ;)

Keep up the good blogging. I'll have to scout around now at the rest of the posts.
Michael DePaula | Homepage | 08.22.07 - 4:51 pm | #

$\"Gravatar\"$ I miss it terribly. I'm having a good time travelling but I would trade it all in for another year in my little Japanese town...
Sarah | Homepage | 08.25.07 - 9:29 pm | #

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