Wow! So I think as soon as I stepped off the Peace Boat and was back on land again in Japan, I think the tears started to just roll down my face. I guess I hadn't realized how many emotions I had left until now by racing off in July and jumping onto the Peace Boat. And for the past three months thinking that I was still "in Japan" by being on the Peace Boat, was a totally incorrect. While it WAS very Japanese, it was only a few people who some how made a sort of floating community. But as soon as I heard the woman talking in the most formal Japanese voice possible on the overcom in the port terminal, and when I took the elevator into a store and watched how everyone stood on the same side and let the others pass by on the left, I realized I was back in the real Japan...but now it was time for me to really leave, for good...and I am not sure I was ready to do that yet!

I spent a few days in Tokyo running around trying to start to organize for my next trip. I spent some time with Angie, another English Teacher from Kanazawa who was going on the next Peace Boat in two days. Then I headed back to Kanazawa.

I took the overnight bus back, and low and behold as I was standing in the bus station in the middle of Tokyo, one of my second grade students from Minami Kodatsuno, looks as me for a second, then keeps looking, and then realized it was me. "Anna Sensei? Anna Sensei!!! Anna Sensei!!!" He was so happy to see me, I could tell by the huge grin that spread across his face, but throughly confussed because he had probably thought that I had left the country. He ran off to find his older sister and his mom. They all came over, along with Aunts and Uncles. I explained to them that I just finished my time on the boat and was now heading back to Kanazawa for two weeks and would be spending time back at Mina Koda again. They were so happy!

Imai Sensei picked me up from the train station at 7am when I arrived the next morning. I spent the first week at her house. It was wonderful to feel like I was part of their family. I went to school the first Monday I was there. And then spent the rest of the week on the internet trying to figure out what I was going to do for my trip and try to get tickets organized! By the end of the week, numerous cokes at Biz Cafe where I could use the internet all day, a phone call to a travel agent in S.F., a mad dash to the fax machine early Saturday morning and my tickets were purchased!!!!! It only took me an hour to figure out how to use the fax machine properly in Family Mart fist though, but then again it wouldn't be right if it was easy! I bought my tickets from AirTreks. Think I got a fair deal, I was happy and soon on my way!

I spent the following week at Yamaura Sensei's house and again it was wonderful. This week, I went to school everyday, and sat in and watched various classes all day. Just to soak up the last bit of the Japanese school system that I could. I know, boring to all of you non teachers out there...but totally fascinating to me!

Visited friends galore, and yet still managed to make a complete fool out of myself quite a few times before I left...just to remind me what "real life" was living back in Japan! It was definatley good to be back in Kanazawa. Being there made me feel like I was at home, but it also made me realize that this was no longer where my home was...I think someone was even living in my old apartment! Time to move on!

As I walked away from Mina Koda that last day, with only my big backpack on and tons of butterflies in my stomach, some of the teachers were out there waving goodbye. A few students were out in front cleaning, and they were told to walk me to the gate. One student said "homeless" to me, making a joke about my big backpack...my responese was ..."Why yes, I am homeless now!" Yikes! Off I go!

Took another overnight bus back to Tokyo, teacher"s and Christine saw me off at the bus station. Ran around Tokyo for one more day, I kept throwing out more and more crap that I didn't need, but then I kept buying more and more crap too that I thought I just couldn't live without for the next six months! Finally boarded the plane and left Japan...knowing that I will return again another day!