Farewell Japan, Hello Florida!
March 30, 2009 · Print This Article
The view you see above is the one I saw every day for the past 4 years. It was the view from my 11th floor Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan apartment. It was a view I paid a lot to have. To me, it was totally worth it. It was the last of many places I called home while spending the past 9 years abroad in Asia. I first lived in Pusan, South Korea. After 3 years in various cities in that country, and several trips to southeast Asia, I took a 2 month pilgrimage in New Zealand before settling on my final Asian destination: Japan. That country was my home for the last 6 years, a period of time so long I came to believe I never actually had any other home and it was perfectly normal for me to be living in a place where I could not read any sign nor talk to any person. Though I thought it was forever, like all things, it was impermanent and lo, I have returned to Florida and my mind is still processing everything from my decade abroad.
I will not go into full detail here of my decade abroad (perhaps that will be a book someday) but just give a brief summary of the recent present. But do not expect any sweeping conclusions or grand insights about Asia, for it almost already feels like I have closed that chapter in my mind as it once again bends toward the West.
I had a good farewell to Japan and Asia in general. I spent the last month there living in Aya’s parents’ home with them. I visited all my favorite Tokyo spots for the last time and ate at all my favorite restaurants saying farewell to the waiters and waitresses that knew what I wanted without me having to say anything.
I spent my final day in Tokyo simply: hanging out in Yoyogi Park with a few friends. My last night in Tokyo there were no LOST IN TRANSLATION moments of any kind. I felt nothing really.
Then after enduring the horror that is air travel I was back in the Sunshine State, back to where I lived the majority of my life, back to where I had escaped from 9 years earlier, back in Florida.
And that’s that.
I had two farewell parties in Tokyo, one smaller one for just a group of students who were like family to me while I was in Japan, and then a large one where all friends and students past and present were invited, as well as Aya’s friends. I was very flattered that over 50 people attended that one.
I will let the photos below do the talking for how those farewell parties went.
And as for the future of Jack-in, well, I still have some things to post on Japan about, and my fiancee/wife is Japanese after all, but undoubtedly things will take on a much more Florida tone besides all the usual movie and TV reviews and sports stats reports.
FAREWELL JAPAN HELLO FLORIDA PHOTO GALLERY:
A brief farewell to Japan…
After 6 years in Japan, and 9 years total in Asia (unbroken), I bid farewell to Japan and all places I visited there and all the people I met….
Ha- you Japan Socced it! Wonder if Freedom will bite…
Was thinking there might be more of the ‘grand sweeping thoughts’, was looking forward to it, but fair enough- close that chapter, I get it. Got to move on.
No photos of me or the Can though? I guess you put a lot up in the slide-show, and didn’t take any of us at the farewell parties. But cold turkey? Ah well, I can handle it. Dunno about the Can however, he’s fragile…
All the best to the both of you in Florida- it was a pleasure having you around. It looks like Lukas might be stepping up to fill your shoes for Sunday night gaming, but he produces not nearly as much gas. Yet… we’ll stuff him full of beans and see what we get. He may in the future be able to produce wind at both ends- a feat I don’t think even you ever pulled off. I have high hopes.
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Jason Collin Reply:
March 31st, 2009 at 1:06 AM
Thanks, you and SY should come and visit when you can. Maybe the wedding will be in October or November, so plenty of time to get it planned out.
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Fragile? ha! You know the UK is the most fragile thing on the planet.
No need to say a farewell here as we still talk on Skype all the time. Hope to visit Florida one day though!
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Jason Collin Reply:
March 31st, 2009 at 12:58 AM
Ha, yeah, with Skype things hardly feel different! Just a bit more “extended.”
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what a view!
One chapter of your life is over and another about to begin. Good Luck!
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Jason Collin Reply:
March 31st, 2009 at 12:59 AM
Our Florida apartment may have even of improved on that Shinjuku view! I’ll post a “real estate” photo gallery soon.
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Six years… that’s how long I was in Japan before coming back to the States. Though, I didn’t have the previous 3 years of wandering like you did.
I totally know what you mean about the change being so sudden. All of a sudden you’re back. That’s that. New things begin!
Have a great transition man!
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Jason Collin Reply:
March 31st, 2009 at 1:00 AM
Thank you Harvey.
I think that’s a good way to put my feelings upon returning, “that’s, that.”
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I’ll miss you too Harvey. I hope you miss me ,too.
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You make me homesick, and I never even had a home.
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Jason Collin Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 10:28 PM
There’s also a Soul Asylum songs that goes, “Oooh, I’m so homesick. But it ain’t that bad, because I’m homesick for the home I’ve never had.”
Hope to see you soon….
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That’s life, changes are constant. Good luck! This site might interest some of your Japanese friends. Thanks.
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