Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Aint no mountain high enough...

Summer school is kicking my ass. I'm suddenly reminded of why I didn't want to continue on to higher education after graduating. Three classes within 8 weeks was not a smart move. Is it just my luck that all my exams are on the same day or a day a part? I cannot wait for this to be over. After a long day of classes and studying, it feels good to come home after and see my mom in the kitchen, making dinner. She sees the tired, expressionless look on my face, comes over and puts her arm around me and says, "It'll pay off one day." I smile at her and think, "how does she do it?" She works overtime and still comes home to cook and clean. I hope I can be like her one day.

Upon sissy's request, I've added Mt. Fujii to the tentative itinerary for Tokyo. She wants to make it a goal to climb it or attempt to. I'm not too crazy about the idea, but hey, seize the day right? Who knows when the next time I'll get the chance to climb such a monstrous volcanic mountain. Hopefully, the climbing conditions will be suitable. I've read that it's typically very windy and cold. At such high altitude, it's going to be hard to breathe. BUT I hear its views are breath taking. Good enough for me =)

I made a deal with sissy...if we climb, we'll have to go to one of the natural hot springs afterward in Hakone. (Hakone, a nearby resort town is known for its abundance of hot springs). Our conversation went something like this:

Sissy: Hell no, I'm not going to a hot spring with you! We have to get naked.
Me: It's okay! We all have the same parts, some bigger, some smaller, but it's all good.
Sissy: No.
Me: You better go, that's the deal or I'll be sad.
Sissy: No. I got a tat on my ass and I aint showin you.
Me: No way!!! Me too!!

=P

Monday, July 27, 2009

30 days...

Today marks 30 days before I head off to Japan. A lot has been going through my mind. I've been spending countless hours trying to prepare for this long awaited journey. Where do I begin? Who can I talk to? What resources can I use? My intent was to just leave to Japan without a worry or thought in mind. I would take each day as it is and go where the wind takes me. It's ironic how I did all of this on a whim to be spontaneous and carefree, yet here I am, obsessing about my schedule and making plans to fill up every day of my trip. I've purchased books, met with several travel agents, and spoke with a few experienced travelers, but I still feel uncertain.

There's so much to international travel. I still can't believe I'm going by myself. Granted I'll be meeting up with my sissy, but like she said, "I'm only here to supervise, you plan!"

I just need to take a deep breath and have faith that it will all work out =)