Now they'll let me into the country for sure.

My passport came back from the Japanese Embassy this week with a freshly stamped visa in it. Woot!

I've been dreaming a lot about Japan lately. About my apartment, my school, and the friends I will make. And every time I wake up, I feel content, like my subconscious knows that it's going to be a great experience.

Even though I won't be walking to Japan...that probably wouldn't work out so well anyway.

I saw an incredible documentary film last night at the Hell's Half Mile Film Fest in Bay City. It was called "More Shoes" and it was written by Lee Kazimir. In it, Kazimir takes some advice from his favorite film maker literally and walks on foot 5,000 miles from Madrid to Kiev. He encounters many different people and experiences along the way. And at the end, he realizes that it wasn't the movie he was making that was the most important. It was the relationships he built and the small wonders he saw.
As I watched it, I saw a lot of myself and my time in Japan in it. Lately I've been feeling stressed as my departure date gets closer; I'm busy worrying about cancelling this and paying for that and training my replacement and oh-my-gosh-am-I-really-ready-for-this-did-I-get-myself-in-too-deep.
But seeing Kazimir discover the kindness of complete strangers and the beauty in the little things reminded me of my love for Japan.
It made me thankful, not stressed, to go back.

If you get the chance, watch "More Shoes." You might be inspired to go on an adventure.

You just can't go wrong with a deal like that.

After talking to the AEON Chicago office, I decided to forgo waiting to get my visa back from the Japanese Embassy before buying my plane ticket. AEON Chicago very helpfully informed me that getting my COE back from Japan pretty much means I will get my visa without any problems. And after finding a good deal through JTB USA, I decided to go for it.

So, hello one-way, straight flight from Detroit to Nagoya arriving at 7 pm on November 8 through Northwest all for the low, low price of $700.

(and thank you, God)


That's right - I am Brianna Ms Danese, and I am going to Japan.

Halfway to a plane ticket.

I received my Certificate of Eligability today!

Next step - send my COE with some other paperwork to the Japanese Embassy in Detroit.

Then - visa.

Then - plane ticket.

Greetings from Japan and Japan in Saginaw...

I got an e-mail from my co-workers in Japan at AEON Fujieda. It was a wonderful greeting and made me so excited to meet all of them in person. They all seem very friendly and welcoming.
AND I went to a Japan Festival today at the Japanese Gardens in Saginaw. It rained all day - but it was so fun! I participated in a tea ceremony, watched a drum performance, ate tempura (one of my favorites!), and checked out some bonsai.
I love Japan.

Thankful again.

I had a lovely conversation with a woman at the studio today about her experiences in Japan. We shared stories about the kindness of the Japanese, the cleanliness of the country, and the beauty of the culture.
And as she left, I remembered how thankful to go back to a country that I fell in love with three years ago.

"Do you remember the 21st night of September?"

Well, fall is quickly approaching and so is my departure date for Japan. During the summer months, November seemed so far away. But now that it's September, with a slight chill in the air and kids going back to school, November 7th seems to be a lot closer.
I'm excited...and anxious to get my Certificate of Eligability so I can buy my plane ticket!