Sayonara to Japan

This week marks our last week of living in Tokyo. It has been something we have known was coming for the past few months, and have frankly, been dreading. When Scott came home three years ago and asked what I thought of moving temporarily to Japan I thought he was crazy. I said no. Didn't ask questions, wasn't interested in moving here and was fairly closed minded about it. My feelings were based on a few things- One, I  knew we had talked about living abroad, but when we did that, my thinking was it would be somewhere in Europe. At no time did Asia every enter my mind. Two, I was completely uneducated about Asia in general, and Japan in particular. All I knew was that the language was different and difficult and the culture was completely different from a Western culture. Three, we knew of no one who had ever lived in Asia, so we had no reference point or anyone to bounce questions off of. I was afraid of getting into something I would completely hate and have to muddle through for at least two years. Scott was really interested in the opportunity, and Stryker provided him with a list of people we could call who had lived in Tokyo for us to connect with. We asked those questions and got feedback. It was amazing, as we started telling people of the opportunity, how many connections we made through friends, or friends of friends to people who either currently lived in, or recently moved from Tokyo. We had been given a lot of great feedback, most of it being that each person who wasn't living in Japan anymore, wished they were.

Two years later, I feel it has been the best decision we have made, hands down. We have had so many unique experiences, met so many fantastic people from all over the world, had so many learning opportunities, learned (somewhat) a new language and a different culture, given ourselves and our kids an education on this part of the world that you can not learn in a classroom or by reading a book. Our kids have gone to one of the best international American schools in the world and have been exposed to so much, that it has completely changed their perspective on what they can do in their life- their options are open and they know they can do and be anything they set their mind to. We have traveled to places that we didn't know anything about, we have eaten foods that we never dreamed and we have definitely become a more open minded, caring and closer family because of it. Even going through the March 11th Tohoku Earthquake gave us the opportunity to see amazing things- people helping strangers, offering hot chocolate on the streets as people walked many miles in the cold home to their families and loved ones, there was no looting or crime- it was a community driven culture that stuck together, worked together and is recovering together- we in American and all over the world could and should use this as an example of greater humanity, caring and community. Sure, it was scary, but so many life lessons were learned by going through it and watching how this country came together.

I do not think our time here could be upstaged, no matter where we go and what we do. I do hope I am wrong (it would be sad to have the best two years of your life over at 38!), but I can't imagine how it could be any better. I only hope that we have this same opportunity to do this again in the future- I do not think you would ever hear me say "NO" to another opportunity to see the world, learn about the world and experience the world. We will miss our friends, coworkers, teachers, classmates, babysitters and neighbors more than anything- they have been amazing, and we hope to be able to keep many of them in our lives as we move on to our next adventure back in Michigan.