Wonderful! What cool stories! I'm so envious of all my friends who travel to foreign lands. I suppose my time will come soon enough. I'm sending much love your way!
Em: you'll get used to the bugs/spiders etc. ...in the country they just are!! (believe me..I know!) Sounds like you're having a great adventure and look forward to reading all about it!
Brightening on the Horizon?? Hi Em
That friend's daughter, Stephanie, was expecting to head out to South Korea on Saturday - they e-mailed Tuesday evening to tell her she leaves Thursday - lesson in leaving anything to the last minute!! Anyhow, I'll get you her coordinates when she confirms that they still work there. She's facing different challenges to yours - she's in Korea's third largest city, and there are 2 american military installations there, so that western touch is guaranteed!
So Proud of You! Hi Em. So proud of you. I love reading about your experiences, it sounds like you are having the time of your life. I look forward to following your journey of discovery. Know that we are thinking about you and that you are "Second to None" to all of us.
Great to see you in so much better mood! I am glad you started to enjoy yourself - now the fun starts! :-)
Looking forward to see some pics! ;-)
P.S. Sounds like in a few weeks you will have an actual pet spider! LOL
Calgary's just not the same. So happy to hear how well things are going for you! Enjoy the nomihodais!! oh how I miss the nomihodais!! After you've been there for a bit, if you start to think of start to think of stuff you miss from home, let me know. I'm going to send you a care package anyways, so you might as well get something you like:) hee hee... oh and please email me your new address. Miss you here, but so glad you are having such an amazing time there!! Take care! samishii desu.
Stay happy and healthy Hey Em,
Sorry it's taken so long to write. I've really enjoyed reading your chronicles! I feel like I'm there. Keep them coming. You're definitely going to be expanded on this adventure!
Sounds like everything is going well despite a few glitches. Ignore that stuff it's a write-off.
Cheers, Orion
Wow! Quite the adventure Emilie, thanks for taking the time to write to us all about your adventures. Its quite entertaining to read, and you are obviously in for the ride of your life! Soon you'll figure out some of those weird symbols, and come to grips with the bugs, and it will be terrific from then on. Thanks for sharing it all. Richard
The first of many Hang in there Sista - it is during the difficult quiet moments that we find our deepest knowing. Fear is a figment of our imagination.
much love,
k
YUCK bugs!! send me sushi in the mail! Wellll...i would have been out the door and running the second i saw the spider...actually id prolly have come back home lol...but thats the difference between me and you. I miss you alot already, but im glad that youre starting to get used to Japan. Im sure it'll be the best time of your life, yet. Anyways, look at this way, if you could live in Africa you can live in Japan, youre not easily scared off by new challenges like language barriers, cultural differences, and...killing strange, gross bugs the size of your head.
Anyways, im apparently writing a novel on your blog space, so ill go now....but i love youuuuuuuuu. ttys xoxoxox
Greetings from Kelly - miss you Emilie thank you for sharing Emilie - you are so brave and I admire you so much. You remind me how large the world really is and all that it has to offer. I'm thinking of you often and please continue to send me your wonderful updates! I'm sorry I didn't see you before you left but as I read about your adventures you seem very close and it's hard to believe you're a world away! I have relatives in Japan and I'm excited that you're so close to my roots... take care, don't lose heart and remember to celebrate each moment as you move forward on your journey. You're a very brave soul and I know you can do anything!!
Love ,
Kelly (Hyde)
Hi there Hi Em
How are you? Your stories about the bugs reminded me of home in Australia. I had forgotten that Canada has literally no bugs of any kind, which I already take for granted. I'm sure I will feel like you do now when I eventually return. Mum left on Wednesday which was very hard. I'm enjoying a quiet week-end at home this week-end. The weather is quite hot today, maybe like Japan.
Take care and I miss you heaps.
Lisa x
Oh ..!!! Hi Em!!! ... oh ..i was reading about your spider just before my dinner and i was hoping for ..steak "medium rear" but may be i'm not going to have my dinner tonight ??!!..( hahahhaa) ..Em...don't worry ..youare very strong ..and all those ..bags ..are not going to hurt you ..when i was living in Athens i had ..cakroches walkin in to my house in the summer time , so ..is not a big deal..( remember) if you are not going to have "any money" ..may be you have to eat ..those ..spiders..or any other ..walking boys???( hahahha) ..i hope ayr are smilling now. ( well i just got a bottle of wine and i'm drinnk to your health. please smille ..you are going to be fine ..( and the truht is ..please learn leaunguge as soon as posible) ...take care ..and i will wright to you in couple days. may be you willhave a PHONE one day??? ....take care ..love ..gosha xoxoxoox..( beacerfull about the assuise) you know ..wmen you feel lonely and sad.. you dond see a faces??? ( i'm talking about SE...) ..hahahha.
Emilie, hang in there, things will only get better once you get used to the area and way of living there ;-) You are doing great!!!!!
The bathroom story is quite disgusting! Can imagine how frustrating it must have been to clean all that crap up....now the house is all yours so it won´t happen again! :-)
Oh Emilie, Emilie, Emilie....as I read your blog I felt for you so much. Your move to Japan makes my move to Canada look really small fry! Yet I can relate on so many levels to what you are saying, I know it's not easy. I know you will get through this initial stage, and whatever lies beyond that for you will be amazing. It's funny how you often think that an outgoing nature and a love of fun can get you anything! Not always true...I know it! But you are a strong girl and the things that you will learn on this journey, about yourself and others, and the world in general will be invaluable and will remain with you for the rest of your life. Whatever this experience turns out to be, and there will always be ups and downs, it will be something you back on with immense pride. So please keep your chin up!! And try to remember that everything you're doing is helping you grow.
Hopefully next time I can say something a bit more fun! :)
Shona
xx
Em-agination Em
It sounds wonderful. I hope it is everything you are looking for - We miss you already but I am really looking forward to following your exploits. Absolutely best wishes - I'm living Vicariously in Japan now!!
Regards - Al
deja vu Em, reading your travel log reminds me of all of my fabulous memories from Japan. I'm amazed how much the same everything is, the airport greeting, the Keio Plaza Hotel, even the rice with curry for lunch!!! I'm so excited for you. You are going to have to time of your life I'm sure. I wish we could have gotten together once more before you left. Ah well, all the more motivation to come for a visit. I look forward to hearing all of your adventures!!! Keep in touch.
How exciting is that?! Hey, Emilie : ) It is nice getting update news and pictures from you. It is nice and fun to see my homeland through your eyes. If you have a chance to go to Osaka, don't forget to "EAT EAT EAT". "Okonomi-yaki" is must!
Soak it all up Emilie, sounds amazing!! Thanks for the treats they were a hugh hit.
Please let us know how we can keep in touch(email address?) Everyone in the office is asking. Be safe and have FUN.
The First Days Em, im sure your having so much fun, in your first days in Japan.
It sure looks like it. Looking forward to hear more about how things are going for you. :)
on Harajuku Em thanks for demystifying the mystique of the Harajuku! All I knew about them was that they were wicked cool dressers from Tokyo, and this all thanks to the L.A.M.B. album and clothing line. Not quite enough to forumulate an opinion on.
Sounds like your famous charm and zest for life have you well equipped to make 1500 brand new friends (-1200 americans, leaves you down to like 300 only).
keep it comin'!
xo
kerri
Konnichiwa and how's it going, eh? So the toilets are as awesome as Tae-Sensei described! Not sure what "boet" means, but the katakana "hite" = heat? I'd be a little nervous hitting these buttons at first, but you gotta try it :)
I'm dying of jealousy now, I'll totally have to live vicariously through you guys!
For the 14 or so years that I've known you, you've always been taking on some kind of challenge, and you've always made the best of each one. This is another one of these challenges and I know you'll face it with the same dynamism that is so characteristic of you. I wish you nothing but the best, as always. Post lots of pictures!
Vero
non-member comment
Wonderful!
What cool stories! I'm so envious of all my friends who travel to foreign lands. I suppose my time will come soon enough. I'm sending much love your way!