settling in,

it’s hard to believe i’ve been in japan
for one month now –

and i still can’t believe i’m actually here.

this month has been full of activity,
learning, and navigating a new community.

7/10 fellows took an intensive japanese
class for three weeks of august, in which
we spent 6 hours a day in a crash course of
japanese language – がんばって！

culminating in a speech we had to write and
memorize, to present to our teachers, the organization,
and at a rotary orientation event.

(… i wrote about takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
yeah. for real – it got its name here, after all).
japanese octopus pot? たこつぼをしっていますか。

we were also given many opportunities to immerse
ourselves in several cultural activities:
書道: japanese calligraphy,
和太鼓: japanese drumming,
wearing yukata & geta

(my kanji stands for こころざし -)
purpose. intention. r e s o l v e .
( a will for the future, ).

the class and activities were held by
JICE: japan international cooperation center
an NGO whose mission is to support human
resource development in developing countries,

i am very grateful for all of the learning & experiences
thank you so much for everything <3
ありがとうございます

one of the other activities: a field trip
to honjo life learning center, which specializes
in disaster training for the community.

disaster training is something japan takes very
seriously, being prone to so many natural disasters.

we went through several training exercises & simulations:
dressing up in raincoats and rainboots to undergo typhoon conditions,
practicing using fire extinguishers, making our way
through a dark maze of hallways under smoke, and then
a platform with a very realistic earthquake simulation.

there have been late nights, crowded trains, budding
friendships, long bike rides – the constant cicada
chatter humming in the background,

and of course, several rotary events.
my host counselor emiko is incredibly kind,
funny, and thoughtful. i feel so blessed to get to know
this woman, and so grateful for all of the help she’s
given me – arriving here and getting to the apartment
would have been near impossible without her!

she is also the only woman host counselor, and i feel
honored to be under her guidance.

i was graciously invited to my host club’s
summer party – which was full of fun & laughter

we’ve had a welcome party by mitaka’s rotary club,
as well as an orientation meeting –

we have received such a warm welcome –
it’s a bit overwhelming. the japanese rotarians
actually are financially contributing much to our
scholarship through their tithes – their support of this
kind of program is incredible and so generous.

it is very humbling to be here,
and i am so grateful –

this week we had our matriculation ceremony,
held at the university chapel
which included a gospel song by the choir,
and a pastor to pray over the new students,
which was beautiful in keeping with the
Christian roots of the school.

classes start this week!

peace & conflict I
development, conflict and peace-building
research II (essentially meeting with my advisor)
ideas on peace
gender & peace

it’s real. it’s starting.

there’s so much to take in,
so much to learn.

i don’t fully understand why God brought me here,
but i’m excited to find out –

じゃあーまた~ <3