Chapter 15: Thanksgiving Holiday vs. Punk Routine

A couple of weeks ago, I made my first venture back to the old country since I left 9 months ago. I was excited to go back. I wanted to see my family and friends. I wanted to eat pizza and Mexican food. I missed Seattle. It's a good place, and eventually I want to move back there, or to Vancouver. (Actually, preferably Vancouver) However, the trip was not exactly how I had expected it.

First, the good things. It was absolutely wonderful to see my family and friends again. It had been 9 months, and those who had said they would visit me, never did. Of course with the exception of Yuki and CJ, who made it to Tokyo earlier this month, and Jake who had a sort of surprise visit which was cool. But on this trip, I saw my parents, my sister, and all my friends.

The other great thing, was the weather! Seattle and Vancouver were both gloriously cold! The weather in the greater Tokyo area before I left was in fact rather hot. A little under 20C (I think in metric now) which is unusual for Tokyo this time of year. I'm used to much colder Novembers. Usually in Seattle its between 5-10C in November. However, this November, the average tempature was around 0C, and we actually got snow the last few days! I love it.

But, Seattle just isn't how I remember it. I don't remember the city being so small. Tokyo redefines the term "urban." Everything is much more simple in Seattle. You go to the same places all the time, and you see the same people all of the time. Half the time I just ended up being bored at home with nothing to do. Everyone works during the day, watches TV in the evening, then watches football on the weekends. I suppose this is the inevitable American lifestyle though. The Japanese have a similar bland lifestyle that they reach at a certain age as well. But the people I'm around in Japan have not reached this point in their lives.

Tomorrow, I head back to Japan. And I'm quite happy. I mean, of course I'm going to miss my family and friends here in the old country, but at the moment, the lifestyle I live in Japan is more fitting than the one I would have in the states.