it's not life that matters but the journey...

This is my last post from Japan! Of course I feel sad to be leaving as I look out at the tea fields and the koinobori blowing in the breeze. Today was a beautiful, warm spring day, and I took some time to look at my surroundings and put those images to memory. I know that my decision to move to Chicago has been a tough one, and it will be a challenge with some difficulties, but I have to believe it's the right decision. Many people I've met in the last few days have asked me, "why don't you stay in Japan and live in a bigger city?" Of course that was something that we had considered, but it just wasn't in the cards right now. I do feel that I will be in Japan again - in the future. Not for awhile, I hope, but I will return here. I have a deep bond with this country and it's people, and I will always treasure my Japanese friends, family, and experiences.

As soon as I post this, I will be packing up my laptop computer and the rest of my carry-on things, then having a last dinner with M's parents (until I visit Japan again, of course). His mother is preparing a nice sushi dinner, and we will take some time to talk and say sayonara. After dinner I need to get to bed very early since my travel will begin very early, and be very very long!

Tomorrow, we will leave the house at 6 a.m. and drive from Fuji to Narita airport (probably about 3 hours without traffic but we are allowing extra time since we don't know what kind of traffic we will meet). Of course I'm taking my cat, so that will be difficult - I'm sure he will cry all the way to the airport. I have to check in three hours prior to my flight - Leo has to go through a very short medical examination, after which they will give me a health certificate that will allow him to enter the U.S. Then, after I've checked my bags, and said goodbye to Masahiko (who will join me in Chicago in the middle of May), I'll check out the last minute shopping and wait for my flight. My UA flight is scheduled to leave at 2:20 p.m. and arrive in Chicago almost 12 hours later at 11:49 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25th. My friend Sarah will be waiting for me on the other side to take me to my new apartment, and to take me shopping! Then I will rest up, fix up my apartment, and start working in a couple of days! My sister will come to visit me next week, so it will make my adjustment to Chicago a bit easier, since I will be alone for about three weeks.

I had meant to write more about Japan before I left (another chapter for my book), but I'm just not sure I have time. I did a lot of reflection on my train ride to Saitama this weekend, and I plan to write some of that on here after I'm all settled in Chicago and have some time to really think about my experience in Japan!

I do hope everyone has a nice week - I will be back online after I get some sleep and hook up my internet in my new apartment back in the good old U.S.A.

But before I go...
I want to write a very brief synopsis of my weekend in Saitama (and write more later after the photos are developed - I didn't take my digital camera). ( cut here for more on my weekend and on my upcoming travels )