Well, I took the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) last weekend (12/4)--not without any hitches of course. I missed the train going out to the city on Saturday (12/3), so I had to wait an hour and a half for the next one. Minor hitch. Had a nice time eating and hanging out with friends and not studying. Awesome. Middle of the night, not so awesome. Seems I caught some 24-hour flu. So I thought studying with a head cold during the week prior was rough. But sitting through a 4-hour test with flu symptoms is by far much worse. I survived the test (passing is a different story) and hopped on the train ride back to the village. I luckily stayed home and rested on Monday (12/5) as per the suggestion of my boss who also brought me lunch, dinner, and breakfast.
On Wednesday (12/7), I got back on the train for another trip to the city. I left my house at 6:30 on Wednesday morning and arrived in the city at 12:15. A long day. But my good friend and fellow Bible study friend in Wakanai (the northernmost part of our island) came in at the same time. We spent the day Christmas shopping and catching up and then met up with some other Bible study friends for dinner at our favorite restaurant--Emmy's. She makes legit Mexican food; not just legit for Hokkaido Mexican food, but real legit Mexican food. Because she learned to cook in LA. Thursday (12/8), we sat in a long boring meeting all day. But Thursday night a bunch of us headed out to the German Christmas Market for some dinner. A tad nippy, but it was nice to be outside and enjoying the city. We even met a girl from Mongolia who tagged along with us. An adventurous night and good fun. Friday (12/9) was another long day of meetings and then running to jump on the train back to the village. Not of course without a stop at Subway and Starbucks. Can't wait to get a real $5 footlong and a pumpkin spice latte.
Yesterday (12/10) our office had our bonenkai which is like an office Christmas party. We had our usual bowling tournament. If you've ever seen me bowl, well, you're one of a privileged few. I am AWFUL at bowling. And last year the office witnessed how awful my bowling was. Some of the other JETs went bowling a few months back. I was glad to not be the only one who couldn't get the ball to hit the pins. But yesterday, I redeemed last year's bowling. I ended the second game with a TURKEY (3 strikes in a row)! I surprised myself too. Our team still ended up getting fourth out of five teams, but we had a good time. The office went and enjoyed a fancy traditional Japanese dinner before heading out to nijikai, or second party. I don't like going to nijikai because it's usually at a hostess bar and I'm one of three women in our office. But the other 2 ladies said they were going, so I tagged along. Definitely not as awkward this year because we had a karaoke room (last year it was just hostesses...in a bar...super awkward). My boss made me sing a song in English (and if you've seen me sing karaoke, you're one of a privileged few), and the hostesses complimented on my English. The office guys had a good laugh. The ladies and I headed back to the hotel where we were put up for the night and headed up to the spa on the roof to check out the lunar eclipse. A relaxing way to end a hectic week.
Now it's Sunday (12/11), and I'm at home baking cookies to share with my office. My house is a disaster from all the packing, unpacking, and repacking that's happened in the past 7 days. My suitcase is sitting in the living room half packed, reminding me I only have 4 more work days until I'm on my way home.
Last year's countdown, I listed things I was looking forward to. This year I'm most looking forward to being with my family, laughing with my friends, and worshipping with my church. Of all the things I miss from home, I miss people. I miss fellowship. I miss having people to sit with in silence and have it totally be okay. I cannot wait to see my parents and my best friends when I step off that plane. I cannot wait to see my aunties and uncles almost as soon as I get home. But I'm most looking forward to walking into church on Sunday morning to worship my Lord Jesus and to hear the Word preached in English. And I have to laugh a little because I would not have said that just a couple of years ago. How God has changed my heart and my life in just a few years!
Thank You, God, for giving me family who wants me home, friends who want to see me, and a church to worship with. But most of all, Lord Jesus, thank You for coming as a baby wrapped up in a manger on a cold winter night for me. Thank You for giving me hope and a new life and a new a heart. I can't wait to see You.
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