After a long day of farewells I have safely reached Osaka, where I will stay for the next two days.
When you think of Osaka, what comes to mind? This is the first time I’ve stayed here, so not much comes to my mind. Kansai dialect, I suppose—occasionally it shows up in anime, so I can pull out a few basic constructions if I need to get some laughs. I suppose it’s a little like a southern drawl in the States, only this is Japan. And of course who can forget Osaka herself from Azumanga Daioh? Osaka is, after all, the single best reason to watch that series.
It’s only half past five in the afternoon here, but I already feel tired. I probably haven’t eaten enough today—on days that I get up earlier than normal my stomach hurts and I can’t seem to eat much (part of why I dislike getting up early). I had a bit to eat at the farewell party after the service today, but other than that I’ve only had one melonpan, which I just ate after getting to my hotel.
As I anticipated, the finality of it all has started to hit me. Until I stepped on the train I was still in cruise mode—I made it through the last Kids’ Adventure, my brief speech during worship, the farewell party that followed, and saying goodbye to the twenty or so who kindly came all the way to the platform to see me off. But then the train started to move, and reality began to sink in. It’s feeling very surreal right now. To leave the city that has been home for the last 13 months and in two more days fly to the other side of the planet… the circle of awareness I wrote about a while back is once again expanding. After reaching Texas I’m certain I will be acutely aware of the distance that separates me from friends here.
If I truly want to come back (and right now I’m sure I do), the key will be to not lose that feeling, like there’s always a red string tied to my finger, gently pulling me back to Japan. It may take a while, but I’ll come back, and hopefully for forever. There’s too much of my heart here to not come back.