25th July

Today marks the 10th anniversary of me coming to Japan.

Although I had a year when I was 17 in Nagasaki, it was 10 years ago today that I left Bris on a plane with 30 others to start our JET life. Wow. I remember my going away party (dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant, followed by Karaoke in the Valley). I remember sitting on my suitcase at 5am on the morning of my departure trying to get it to close (some things never change). I remember walking to work the first winter in 5 layers of clothes (and socks). I remember making lots of great friends, drinking lots, complaining about the lack of talent/maccas/anything foreign in the inaka town I was in.....but I also look back now and see how much I changed in those 3 years:
I started cycling, then running, then finally swimming until I ended up combining them all in mini-triathlons; I made a few ventures into Asia and the UK, fuelling my love for travel. I learnt how to live by myself, even if it meant eating cheese on toast for dinner most nights; I hosted my first home party, with pizzas made on naan bread; I cycled 100km around the mountains of Kyushu for 3days straight, not once, but 2 times for a charity cycle ride; I interpreted for the Mayor at pomp ceremonies both in Japan and Australia. Probably more than anything, those 3 years on JET taught me that I could do anything I put my mind to!

After JET, I left for a 3 month holiday through China and Mongolia, then headed back to Australia to start my search to find a way BACK to Japan! I wasn't ready to leave Japan yet - so I got another job in the inaka and stayed for 2 years.....then I came to Tokyo and got myself married to a Japanese man...

Honestly, who would have thought that 10 years ago I would be in Tokyo with a 2yo, a vacuum-hating dog and married to a Japanese guy (one of the good ones at that!).

I don't regret any choice I made to get me where I am today (well, except maybe a few choices made at "Cool Bananas", or one of the "cocks" (Crazy Cock/Happy Cock bars in Fukuoka- you get the idea.) I think I have lived a great life, and today am going to be grateful for all the doors that opened to me since having Japan in my life.

I wonder where I will be in 10years from now? Perhaps sitting on the same sofa, reflecting back on my 20years in Japan?? Scary to think about. But 10 years ago, if I had have thought that I would be still here in 2009, I would have probably said the same thing.

Happy 10 years - and thank you Japan!