gotta do what you love and love what you do

when it is possible, Lisa.

I want to remind myself again that when I take pictures I am really happy, even when I only get a few "good ones" that I am okay with. Even if I only got one at the end of the day, I should be happy with that.

Last week I went to the first summer baseball game. It was my first time to see my students play at the stadium. If they can do well till the very end, they will represent Okinawa and compete with other prefectures. Besides teaching at the International department, I also work with 150+ students from the Athletic department. No, I don't teach them sports. I team teach English with another Japanese teacher. These students have regular classes in the morning, and in the afternoon they practice for 4, 5 hours and try to win as many games as possible. Hardworking kids that love sports and are always tired during class hours. The baseball and Judo team at school have always done very well at different tournaments. This year's tennis and golf team are also doing well and participating games up in mainland Japan.

Last week was very sunny and I got tan from supporting them! It was fun to cheer with them and tried to follow them. For the past few weeks, I would go see them during lunch when the 1st year and 2nd year baseball students practice 30+ songs/cheers. I would try to go as many times as possible, because it's interesting to see how they behave and interact with each other outside of class. I adore these students, even though most of them are too shy to talk to me in English. I believe that we try to understand each other and didn't mean to make the other person unhappy most of the time. Really though, I wish I could speak the language or I wish they were better at speaking English. hehehe.

Counting down

Untitled, originally uploaded by lauryn holmquist.

I have been working in Okinawa for about nine months now. One month left till I'll back home for a while.

Lately I have been trying hard to join as much school related activities as possible. It ranges from going to school baseball game, searching for a ride to get to the stadium, to eating lunch with students as they tell me the tenth times I look like Tweety or a popular teenage idol. They are funny.

I am sad that this will all be over so soon. But what can I do? We can only keep in touch and I told them they can stay at my house when I grew up and have a big house. They can all sleepover. I won't care if I have to be their tour guide for free. I have to thank them for being nice to me here.

Couple students and I have became so close that they decided they will go to the airport and see me off. I don't remember that happening except that one time. It was my first year going abroad to Minnesota. All my high school BFFs came and we ate a quiet breakfast together at the terminal and I went into the gate. And I sobbed the whole flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo without any kleenexes. It was not pretty.

So this time as the Risa teacher, I probably won't cry, but I might still cry a little inside. All these kids are so fun to be with, except we don't really speak the same language. I think half the time we were guessing what the other person was trying to say. It is funny how we can enjoy each other's company without really understanding each other.

At the same time, parents at home also have been working hard to pack up and let the remodelling begins at our old apartment. It is small and old. But has the nicest view ever. I miss watching the sunsets and having long walks near my house. Oh my goodness there goes another year! So long my middle school bed room! I cannot wait to set it up with pictures from these couples years and get ready for my new job and life back home.

This is happening. Time flew so quickly after I went abroad. And boom, I am turning 23 this summer. Wow.

typhoon ruined my weekend

originally uploaded by a midwest girl.

We had another typhoon during the weekend, AGAIN! The misfortune is that, I took a day off on Friday last week and flew to a nearby island with Hannah. We wanted to see beautiful beaches and make more memories of Okinawa. The first day of the trip was wonderful. It was so hot and so bright that I couldn't really tell what I photographed. We used the underwater camera and took silly pictures on film. So I hope they will turn out and we can show you how funny we are.

But after that day, it poured every time Hannah and I decided to go out or bike. It would be so windy that there is really no point to get out but to get soaked. My heart felt a little sick still thinking we couldn’t go anywhere except staying in door and watch movies on iTunes. We can only walk so much to see some more of the supposed to be beautiful island. Such a bummer. But no one can change the weather right?

Since I have been back though, the weather has been so very nice. (Blue sky with beautiful clouds and all) Why is that it was the weekend that the storm decided to come!

Let us have beautiful sunny weekends in July, please!

xoxo,
Lisa