An Open Letter To Japan

Dear Japan,

I wasn't so sure about you. Okay...that's a lie. I was pretty sure I wanted absolutely nothing to do with you. My career was skyrocketing and, you, a meteorite dead ahead. If Alaska was Siberia, you were Mars. Strange, unchartered territory.

Alaska, the beautiful.

And we joked. Said I would be some kobe beef massager, a women's basketball player...the careers as far fetched as the thought of calling you home.

We stepped off that plane into the arms of what would be our friends, our family. But I didn't know. It was all too much, frankly. The sun was blinding, air so thick you could drink it. How will I ever call this inhospitable planet, home?

Our first year together wasn't perfect. Far from it. You tried, really, you did. And I? I was still rereading the last chapter, savoring every word, every syllable. But you kept trying, boisterously coloring my vision with scenery fit for the likes of National Geographic. In late August, you finally broke through.

Maybe it was all the chanting, or the lights, or perhaps the chu hi, but at that festival, on that humid night, you wiggled your way into my heart. My eyes were opened, wide, to the beauty, your beauty, sitting there all along.

You gently tugged me along, showing me a whole world I had been blind to until then. You wove the right people into my life, the people willing to explore with me.

We went everywhere that year - Bali, Tokyo, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam. And when we weren't filling our passports, you were dazzling us with colorful autumn leaves, set against mountains and castles; pure, white snow, perfect for learning how to ski; pink showers of sweet cherry blossoms; and royal blue tides, lapping a shore littered with sand dollars and sea glass. For the first time in a long time, I was content. Happy.

But you weren't done just yet. It was just the beginning, really. Each passing day, each perfect bowl of ramen, each ohayo gozaimasu, led me further into gratitude. And we continued down the path together - Australia, Sapporo, Thailand again.

Three years later, we've come full circle. Except this time, I'm a Martian. And you? You're...home. 

My heart holds on to the belief that someday, I'll actually be ready when it's time to go. Someday...but not now. Not today.

Sayonara, Japan. 

Viva, Las Vegas!

Leaves, Rockstars & Reunions

Fall was crazy this year; the blur that was October through December felt about a week long. We got a ton of shows from the USO and Armed Forces Entertainment, which meant that my office was shuttling around all of the talent. It started right before Sara and I went to Akita with Trey Songz.

Sara and I had to squat so that we were shorter. Tall girl problems.

The concert was phenomenal, and was a great way to kickoff an eventful couple of months. A lot of people have asked me what he was like, and I can honestly say not only was he amazing, yet very shy, but his crew was dynamite. This was the most difficult show we had because he got stuck in Okinawa an extra day due to a typhoon, so our itinerary was blown to pieces. Our team pulled it off, with only a few hiccups. After we got back from Akita, Daughtry came to Misawa.

Another great show, and another great group to work with. They did a meet & greet for everyone, which is atypical, so around 300 people got to talk with the band. Just like Trey Songz, they were in Misawa for less than 24 hours, so we didn't get to show them a lot of Japan. Halloween was about two weeks after Daughtry, and this year we decided to take our shenanigans to Sendai for the weekend!

Not sure what the guy sitting on our lap was dressed as, but he sure was fun.

Sara and I went as Thing 1 & Thing 2, which is my favorite costume to wear with another Sara(h). When we first left our hotel, we didn't see a lot of people dressed up, since Halloween really isn't a thing in Japan. As we got closer to the bars, we saw a lot of people dressed up, and for some reason, we got stopped every couple of yards to take pictures.

"Picture, picture, picture!"

And right after Halloween, the best part of fall happened. After being deployed for seven months, Mark finally came home! It was exciting, and weird adjusting to sharing the house with someone again.

As soon as Mark got home, we went to the Hirosaki Chrysanthemum Festival, one of our favorite festivals.

So many colors - it doesn't even seem real.

We went the last weekend of the festival, so there weren't very many vendors or crowds. The leaves were still amazing, and Mark had a great time seeing something other than dirt. On the way back to Misawa, I took him to the 100 torii gates in Goshogawara.

Fields on the way to the 100 torii gates.

This was my second visit to the shrine, as I had taken Grant when he visited in May. Most of the leaves had already fallen at the shrine, but it was still cool to see it in a different season.

Mark was home for a few weeks before our next round of shows started. This time we had Five Finger Death Punch.

Five Finger Death Punch was one of our favorite groups. They were so down to earth, and ready to do anything. Luckily, they were in Misawa for a few days, so we got to talk with them about music, Japanese culture, and what it's like living in Misawa. While they were here, they ran drills with the K-9 police on base, wearing the attack suit and everything. The last group we worked with before Mark and I left for Australia was the Harlem Globetrotters.

And for once, Sara and I felt short.

The Globetrotters game was another challenging show, purely because there were so many people. They travel with the opposing team, so we had to wrangle a total of 26 people for a few days. Fortunately, they were all great to work with and had a lot of fun out in public.

Click here to see how many Globetrotters we could fit in a Japanese photo booth.

Once the Globetrotters left, we had a decent break in our entertainment hosting, which was kind of nice since we had been going non-stop for so long. The weekend before we left for Australia, we had our second annual Ugly Sweater Party.

So much delicious mulled wine!

Even the pups got in on our reindeer games.

We basically cleaned up our party, and hopped on the plane for one of my top bucket list destinations - Australia. Australia was the perfect vacation for such a busy fall.

Happy Japanniversary!

Living it up in northern Japan - no questions, no life jackets, no worries...

It's hard to believe another year has passed, and even more amazing is how much one year can really change everything. As you may recall, or if you speak to me on a semi-regular basis, year one was rough. I was missing my friends, my career, and the comforts of the states.

Then, something just...happened. Suddenly everything didn't seem so bad. In fact, everything seemed amazing. Here I am, young, able-bodied, actually living in a foreign country, and what I am doing about it? Nothing. Starting last August, I decided to make this year count. To see everything, truly see it, and allow myself to get lost in my surroundings.

Explore.

Akita Kanto Festival in August

And explore I did. I found likeminded people, as willing and eager to travel as me. At the end of August, I traveled to Bali with a good friend. We had a blast taking in the local culture, petting the monkeys in the Monkey Forest, and day drinking at the beach.

When we returned, Mark and I spent a lot of time on the water. When your house isn't air conditioned, you might as well just be outside.

Jackson at Lake Towada

Big Buddha during Obon, one of the major Japanese holidays

And as the summer cooled off, and fall started, my parents arrived. We got to show them a bit of our world as the leaves slowly started to change color and reveal the most beautiful season in Japan.

Osorezan, a major holy site

Trying to get the hang of chopsticks at CoCo's Curry

After they left, the festival season was pretty much over. Though I did get to face my fears and catch a salmon with my bare hands at the Rokkasho Salmon Festival.

Since Mark was gone for Thanksgiving, I spent it with friends.

With sweet potatoes as big as your head.

To celebrate his return, we spent Christmas in Tokyo. It was our first official visit, and our virgin Robot Cafe venture.

Inside Tokyo Tower

Robot Cafe, the best place in Tokyo

Since winter was in full swing by that point, we spent pretty much every weekend on the slopes.

We weren't the only ones loving the snow

Before Mark left on deployment, we had one last hoorah in Thailand, the coolest country I never even thought I would want to visit.

And pretty soon spring came in hot and heavy, with more flower festivals than you can even count.

Yabusame Festival in Towada-shi

Azaleas in Shichinohe

Nanohana in Yokohama

In May, my baby brother came to visit, so I met him in Tokyo.

Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo

Shibuya Crossing - the busiest intersection in the world

Yoyogi Park on a Sunday

After spending a few days in the city, I took him up north, and used it as an opportunity to go all the places I hadn't been yet.

Feeding the wild horses of Cape Shiriya

Feeling so small in the big world at the Hotokegauara Cliffs

Getting spiritual in the land of 100 torii gates

Just when things seemed like they were about to slow down, I traveled to Cambodia.

Banteay Srei, the temple of women

Ta Phrom

And on a whim, we added Vietnam to the trip.

Looking like locals in Hoi An

The Halong Bay

Thankfully, I got back to Japan for 4th of July. We celebrated with chu his, fireworks, and camping in Fukaura.

The dogs got to come with

And before I knew it, year two was over, with my heart and my passport more full than the previous year. Cheers to year two, bigger and better than year one. Here's to hoping year three, the final year, can keep up!