Back in Japan!

Five weeks went by snap-quick. I had delusions of grandeur that I could blog weekly while I was home. . .just like I thought I’d really put some hours in studying Japanese and rock climbing. Didn’t do much of either, and I didn’t even get out hiking except for a short little one. And yet, I don’t feel like I missed out. I spent a lot of my time with family, hanging out with my dad or brother or niece, or some combination thereof, and this last week I was on Kauai with just the family. No, I may not have done a lot when people think of Hawaii, but for me, it was plenty.

I’ll briefly outline some of what happened. In early August I went to the Big Island with my dad, where we rented Harleys (as those are the only bikes for rent; I would have preferred Hondas, or anything Japanese for that matter). We rode from Kona up the coast to Kohala and Hawi, then over the Saddle Road to Hilo. We got up to Kilauea to see where all the vog (smoke from the volcano) is spewing from, then rode up the Hamakua coast to Honoka`a and Waimea, got caught in some pretty heavy rain, and then finally back to Kona. All in all a good trip, a nice opportunity to spend some time with my dad.

Back on Oahu, I continued my quest to buy lots of stuff. I bought what is probably 15 or 20 pounds of used paperbacks to get me through the year ahead. I got a toaster oven (less than half the cost of one in Japan) as well as hot water pot and a new motorcycle helmet. The new helmet will go with the bike I plan to buy sometime in September, as soon as I have my license in Japan.

I got spend time with my brother, too, getting schooled in ways to train/exercise, and finding out how not-so-great-shape I’m in, although I keep up alright with him running. I also got to bond with my niece. Ava is a little darling, soon to have a younger sister sometime around the new year. Although I’m the last person on the totem pole in the family—the list is usually: Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Papa, and then, maybe, Uncle Chip. And while that list didn’t change much while I was back, I did finally get to the point where she stopped saying “I don’t like Uncle” and actually came to me voluntarily and wanted to play. Of course, that was only on the second to last and last day, but still, it’s something.

Kauai is country. It’s a small place, but it’s fantastic. My dad and step-mom have a house in Kapa`a, maybe a mile from the ocean, just a short drive to Anahola beach. I love going there and just relaxing. If I could find a good job there, I might consider moving. . .

I’ve got another five weeks or so until classes start up again. I plan to do a lot of rock climbing, reading, exercising, and getting that motorcycle license and buying a bike. Be sure I’ll post about getting a bike when that happens. These five weeks will disappear soon, too, I know, and I’ll be in my second year in Japan.

I hope all of you are having a good summer. Aloha.