August 10, 2019

a r r i v e.

a r r i v e .

i have arrived in japan.
it feels like it’s been a long time coming,
but now that it’s finally here… i –

to study in japan has been a d r e a m
of mine since i was fifteen years old,
and now i’m here, living it.

there aren’t really words
for when dreams break through
and become r e a l i t y .

so instead, i asked God for a word:

arrive: latin: ad-ripa [to + shore]
to reach the shore after a voyage

i’m still transitioning
some moments i feel
h o m e s i c k,

stomach uneasy like the
sway of ocean w a v e s
and other times,

a t h o m e ;
like taking that first step on land
after a long journey: solid ground.

this last year since coming home
from the race, i’ve been on a boat.

a small space of all things familiar,
yet different.

places i knew, people i knew, a job i knew,
but still learning to navigate new
w a t e r s

that time was a blessing.
to spend with family & friends,
for redemption in my career
and to face my issues with depression & anxiety

a safe space.

when it came time to leave,
i didn’t want to go –
(as per usual).

it felt like a dream come true
turning into a nightmare,
the fear c r i p p l i n g
(yet, faith is always greater – )

all that time
traveling across the o c e a n,
a voyage.

that lead to h e r e.
to this shore.

it’s been a long time coming,
but it’s where i’ve been going
all along.

yesterday, i was s t r u c k
walking down the streets of tokyo
under the sunlight, dappled,
filtering through the trees
こもれびー

i’ve arrived.
it’s time to get out of the boat
and keep walking.

– – – –
here’s some practical information!

i arrived august 4th, and my rotary host counselor, emiko-san, picked me up from the airport. she is incredibly kind and i absolutely could not have managed without her. she helped me with my luggage – we had to take like three trains and transfers to get to my apartment, and she navigated all of it.

she also helped me once i got to my apartment with translating. my landlord, hayashi-san, is also incredibly kind, and helped me to get gas & electricity the first day i arrived. emiko-san was with me until after 8pm and even took me to dinner. i feel so blessed for all of her help, generosity, and kindness, as well as for hayashi-san. God has all ready put such warm hearted people in my path. i am very grateful.

school: i am attending international christian university in tokyo. seven of the rotary peace fellows, including myself, have arrived, three will come at the end of august. so far i have met: wisdom from ghana, lai yuen from malaysia, trang from vietnam, lorrie from the UK, elkin from colombia, and ibrahim from sierra leone. we have started our japanese training, which is great, but very intense! 頑張っている！we are all having a good time laughing at ourselves practicing japanese. we will officially start our first term in september after the matriculation ceremony.

weather: it is… H O T & H U M I D . very different from new mexico. i’m still adjusting. but i did get this little electric fan to carry around. it’s not so uncommon here. and t he best part is it is normal to walk around with an umbrella to protect yourself from the sun! i love it, and use mine all the time.

apartment: God provided the absolute perfect apartment. i have spent months and months worrying about this – even though months ago God told me: “I have a place for you.” and He was right. praise God because getting this apartment is a miracle and a blessing. it’s ten minutes walking distance from school and a little grocery store. everything about it is perfect and it came mostly furnished. i will put some pictures below. thank you God for this space.