on my own

my musing for today:

Today is a day a firsts. I didn't get into it on social media but that's what this is for, right? Today is the first day of my last semester as a teacher in Japan. I am elated. I've known for a long time that teaching is not my calling, but living in Japan was way to fun a ride too get off after one spin. However, seeing too many new faces is always an indicator that my time at a place is coming to an end (not because I'm forced to leave, but because it's when I feel I should). Japan makes a sport out having new faces around with the teacher-swapping they do every April, and having lost my favorite JTE to a nearby high school, I can't wait to make my exit too.

Another first is living on my own starting today. Huh? You thought I already was on my own? Well, of course that can and has meant up until this point that I'm out from under my parent's wings. As independent as we feel in our early twenties, moving out of your parent's house is when you truly become independent. Since moving to Japan, I've been living with my boyfriend and we made our house into a home complete with a faux child in the form of a rabbit, but now it's just me and the bunny. It's been nerve-wracking to think about for sure, but I think in time, I'll come to like aspects of living completely alone that I haven't been able to learn thus so far.

Something I've gained over the years the ability to recognize when God is preparing me for something bigger, something better, or just something else. When I was just a bit younger I really couldn't see the pattern and any changes in my life were very hard on me. Now, as I see the pattern, I don't have to like it but I mentally prepare for it and handle it better.. on my own.

a mild state of dissociation

my musing for today:

The title is the definition of compartmentalization. Why didn't I just us that then? Because I wasn't expecting that to come up when I verified my use of the word (I often do this to avoid that awful moment when you've misused a word and someone equally as awful points it out. eek!). I was more anticipating this definition (which is that of compartmentalize): to divide into sections or categories.

As it happens, I prefer the former definition to go along with my musing for today. A mild state of dissociation [being disconnected].

My efforts to be connected to the world around me, to those in far away places, to what's popular among my peers often comes about in the form of connecting to social media. Yes, I do talk to people in person as well, but when all that's familiar to me is thousands of miles away, I can more easily do this via social media each of which I use for specific purposes. But living so far away has left me in a state of compartmentalization. I am in some way constantly disconnected. So my musing (and thus the expectation of the second definition), is because despite my efforts to connect via my compartmentalized social media sites, I still consistently experience this mild state of dissociation.

It doesn't burden me. I've just noticed it. It's sometimes nice to be so far removed from all that is familiar. I already know that I'll miss being able to live in a dissociated state, blissfully ignorant of some matters and lost in the unfamiliar.

my blessing and my curse

my musing for today: 

For quite some time I've been acutely aware of my sixth sense. Because of my gender it could be referred to as woman's intuition and I guess I'm okay with that too. My experiences with it so far have ranged from having an impending sense of doom to specifically not liking a situation when I encounter it for no apparent reason.

The first time I can really remember this happening was at volleyball camp between my junior and senior year of high school. I'm good at volleyball. Not professional level, but I was good and certainly one of the best on my team. The last few days at camp, I couldn't even bump the ball. My coach took me out of the rotation and we were both dumbfounded at what was wrong with me. After I returned home from camp, I found out my family hadn't wanted to spoil my time at camp by telling me that my beloved grandfather had died that on the day I started playing terribly.

The next time I clearly had a bad feeling about a person. It was within a group of friends and at the time, I only tried to get the person closest to me away from that person, but he didn't buy my 'having a feeling.' I felt forced to ignore the feeling since we were all in a a group of friends. Big mistake. Bad people can't hide their true colors forever, so when I was proven right the situation was just terrible for everyone involved, but especially me.

It's happened on smaller scales as well. I can also get the feeling but have it go away. Today, I sat I my desk shifting uncomfortably with the impending sense of doom feeling when a friend texted me to see how work was going. I was honest and within the span of our conversation, the reason behind the feeling revealed itself. The reason is more like another potentially bad situation, but it's too soon to tell if it will end in the worse way possible. We'll see.

Sorry to be so cryptic in this post and not reveal all the juicy details of these stories. My policy has always been that those who need know the details, will. This musing is more about my strong intuition and how I've learned to recognize it as a defense mechanism. That's why it is my blessing and my curse.

die doing what you love or live doing the mundane?

my musing for today:

I felt a moment of swelling emotions as I read this article today on MSN about a young couple who died during their journey to cycle around the world. They were both struck and killed by a truck while biking through Thailand. The tragic circumstances of this situation isn't what got to me; the reactions of their loved ones did. They were quoted as saying things along the lines of 'they died doing what they loved' and 'they didn't just talk about doing this, they did it.' Is it morbid to think that I love this attitude and would hope to have that said about me?

I feel like if it were my family - passionate and crazy as they are - they would probably be inclined to be upset that I had put myself in danger in the first place, essentially robbing them of my presence in their lives (sounds selfish of them I know, but they do love me so). These people left behind though immediately recognized that although this couple was in their early 30's and still had their whole lives ahead of them, they lived and died passionately in pursuit of their dream. How could they be upset with that?

This leads me to the title of this post. Someone in the comments actually said they'd rather be alive and pushing paperwork at some desk than to die, even if it was doing something they love. As soon as read this, I involuntarily leaned back a bit and shook my head as my brain was processing this information and vehemently rejecting it.

Maybe it sounds selfish of me and would be interpreted by my family as such (like I mused). However, I often check myself to make sure I'm really living and not merely existing. I want to be pursuing dreams and having amazing experiences that enrich my life. If I died in pursuit of this (knock on wood), then I'd hope to be remembered that way. 

R.I.P. to these young and passionate people. You are being remembered for the incredible life you lead and not for your untimely demise.

a serendipitous occurence

my musing for today:

I was discussing future plans with a friend today and revealed how serendipitous the timing of my return home in August will be. I mean, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but so far I've received news of three other friends moving back to Miami around the same time that I am. Three friends who have been living their separate lives in separate places, all of whom I am close with and will definitely be seeing much of if they're in town.
How does that just happen?!
I know I'll be dealing with the stress and emotions involved with reverse culture shock, so although I like to call this serendipitous, I know it's a little help from above to help me fill the voids that will be missing from my life.
It's funny.. usually with these kind of things, I can only see their purpose looking back; It's strange to think I'm connecting the dots looking forward. Strange and comforting.

some musings~

May oh my, has it been that long? I guess so...

Well, much and more has happened since May and yet it's hard to see it that way when I'm still sitting here at my desk in Japan. JETsetter has seen some action lately in my attempts to keep the blog up-to-date with my experiences here, but even that has been slacking as well. I don't give apologies for the frequency of my blogs, but I will say thanks for reading whenever I do update. Arigats!

That said, I've had the mindset lately to be more spontaneous with this blog. I got into a habit of posting perfectly thought out entries or keeping a series going without interruptions (It's the OCD in me). However, in an effort to combat that, I'm going to go crazy (by my standards) and just post whatever, whenever. My highly organized ways works for me in many regards, but that's exactly why I'm trying to limit it; so it doesn't limit me. I also don't mean to make light of people who are actually afflicted with OCD (I saw an episode of MTV True Life on it back in the day and whoa), but I just imagine myself to have to be mildly afflicted as I do become uncomfortable or distracted when certain things aren't just the way I'd want them. Those of my ilk will understand.

So what has been on my mind lately? That's simple: home. And I mean more than just Miami, I'm talking about America too. Highly relevant nowadays, I've been throwing myself into election season in an unprecedented fashion for me. This genuine desire of wanting the best for my perfectly imperfect country has me longing to be there where the atmosphere is thickest. What? You're surprised Tamba isn't abuzz with talk of American presidential elections? So was I! I mean, doesn't everyone talk about 'Murica all the time? hehe, I kid, I kid. Home has also been on my mind since most of my friends are planning to go home for Christmas, but since I was just home and live farther away than any of them, that's not happening for me.

I can't honestly say I ever imagined myself filling out an absentee ballot, but now I have. Nor did I ever think to be spending Christmas in Singapore, but that is a possibility now too. I mean, have you? Maybe this sounds exciting, but after being away for year, going home and then returning back to the foreignness again, it's not as exciting, but it's part of the experience. I want to be home for many reasons, but especially these two. As an American citizen, I have the privilege to help decide the so-called 'leader of the world' (as so-called by my non-American friends). And Christmas is a time when my heritage comes out and some of the best memories of growing up Cuban come out. I love my hodgepodge Cuban-American Christmases in Miami. It's freaking magical and part of who I am. Yet, for the second year in a row, I'm won't be a part of it. The world is wondrous place, but there really is no place like home.

Speaking of home and how I want to be there, I received my re-contracting papers for JET this past week. I walked up to my desk and found them there on top of my computer. I skipped straight to the back where I knew the question would be waiting, and withing two minutes of walking in, I sealed my fate.

✓ "I have decided NOT to re-contract for the 2013-2014 JET Programme year."

Done and done. I know this may come off as me being in a hurry to leave, but in reality, anyone who's spoken to me about JET will know that two years has always been my intended length of stay and so in reality, the decision was made long ago. This has been the adventure of a lifetime. I've grown as person, learned a lot about the world, and experienced all the things about Japan I dreamed of doing and then some. But as they say, all good things come to end and I know my limit. We're only October and I have all the way till next August to go, but for some reason I am eagerly looking forward to the next adventure, whatever it is.


So that's a small update on me and the what's been bouncing around in my head.
Until next time, here's something to muse on:

"Define what success looks like for you then go after it."

my life's philosophy

I re-posted this to my Facebook, but love the message so much that I'm going to honor it as my 100th post on a.muse.d (woot!). This is my life's philosophy. This articulates very well what I would say to those who want to understand what drives me and to those I see who are letting life pass them by. I realize that not everyone values this philosophy as much as I do, but I hope that those people won't look back and wish they had seen more, done more, lived more.
Also, I'm very much aware of how blessed I am to be in a position that I'm able to live out this philosophy. That and despite the perimeters set up in the article that show how everyone can travel if they want, I know some people are legitimately restricted from traveling for reasons out of their control.

"The world is a book  
and those who don't travel only read a page."

 

 Stop Delaying 

That Big Trip.

Stop It. 

                                            FEB. 22, 2012 

                                                                By CHELSEA FAGAN

As anyone who moves to another country knows, one of the guaranteed side effects of your change in time zone is going to be your friends, acquaintances, and even strangers constantly telling you how “lucky” you were to “get away.” Of course the initial reaction can be a touch of resentment at the implication that your arriving in this new land was simply a result of falling into an airplane/ pile of money, and waking up magically in the apartment of your dreams. As we know, it’s most often through a lot of hard, tedious work, patience, mountains of bureaucracy, and being at the bottom rung of everything for a while until you get adjusted to your new culture, language, and space. But for people who dream of living somewhere else — people who have a need to explore, learn a new language, or have always dreamed of a particular city, there is nothing more rewarding. And while when you’re boarding the plane with no return ticket and no clear idea of how you’re going to suddenly construct an entirely new life for yourself, things can be incredibly intimidating, no drug on the planet could possibly replace the thrill. It’s wonderful.

But even just to take a trip to a new country you’ve always dreamed of is an undertaking in itself — even if you plan on having firmly in hand that mythical return ticket so many of us have yet to procure. Sure, riding rickety trains from city to city in Eastern Europe, whittling your own walking stick in the Himalayas, renting a tiny bungalow on a beach in Thailand, drinking wine and eating good bread under the Eiffel Tower — these all seem amazing. They seem like some kind of dream. Yet they seem so far away. They seem somehow unattainable — that there are too many things standing between you and the foreign joy you’ve so long imagined. Paperwork, plane tickets, finding a place to stay, learning those cursory phrases that prove to be much more indispensable than you could have anticipated — not a one can be left off the list. Personally speaking, though I have known since I was a little girl that I always wanted to go to Paris and had learned to speak the language before setting foot in the territory — I had many false starts for my big trip. Even when I didn’t plan to live there, I just wanted to visit, there was always something that stood in the way — some reason I couldn’t justify it. Even when friends in Paris would offer me a place to stay, tickets were at their most inexpensive, and the weather was perfect — something happened and I didn’t go. By the time I finally made my first trip, it felt like I could finally exhale after holding my breath for years. I had done it; I was here.

And now, I hear at least once a day from someone — whether here in France looking to finally see the U.S., or from friends at home who won’t use my offer of a couch in my apartment to convince themselves it’s time to finally see Europe — that they just “can’t go.” The timing isn’t right, the money isn’t there, they have to get a new passport, they can’t find anyone to go with, they can’t get vacation time, things are just not going to work out right now. And these are often the same people who’ve been talking for six straight years about how much they want to go and travel — they are the ones who actively want to get out. I’ll have the same conversation over and over with friends — often friends who are at the peak no real responsibility/ a decent amount of disposal income combination. Friends who have jobs, sure, but have vacation time to take if they plan ahead of time. It goes like this, time after time:

Friend: Ugh, I’m so jealous of you. I want to see Europe so badly. I really should go. I want to come to Paris and drink coffee at those outdoor tables!

Me: Well, you should come and visit! I can come get you from the airport and you can stay with me!

Friend: Yeah, but the tickets are so expensive.

Me: Well, if you buy them now, they’ll be about 550 bucks round trip for the early summer — which is the best time to come, I think.

Friend: Yeah, but I don’t think I can get time off of work.

Me: Why don’t you talk to your boss now and see what time you have available this summer, and then go off of that?

Friend: Yeah, I don’t know. I’ll let you know.

Cut to them not getting back to me, and them starting the next conversation with me a few weeks later with “Omg how is Paris ugh wish I were there.” And this is almost universal — the exact same justifications, the exact same desire to go, the exact same reasons why it will never work. Year after year after year. And granted, I have had friends visit with me and they’ve always enjoyed the city — and it always helps to have someone to show you around and help you figure things out, not to mention the free bed. Not everyone has talked themselves out of it. However, most of the people I’ve seen here from the States are people to whom traveling in general is an indispensable part of life, something that comes at the top of their leisure spending priorities. In fact, I recently had a conversation with a friend about this very topic — one who is what I would refer to as a “travel addict.” He said,

I don’t make that much money. I mean, I make enough, but I stay in hostels and couch surf and always live on the cheap when I travel. I buy tickets way in advance for off-season times and I try to find places where I know people I can stay with or who can show me around. When I’m home, I don’t spend a ton of money on going out or shopping for a few months before I travel — it’s something you can save for if you want to. There’s always a way to put the money aside, especially when you’re young and don’t have a family or a house or whatever. Anyway, if I don’t do it now, I probably never will — I couldn’t live with that.

And yet, when people talk to him, they consistently act amazed that he manages to get around the way he does without his parents’ help or a very lucrative job. He is equally bewildered, I think, with how much they don’t realize they spend just going out at night or shopping on weekends. To each his own, of course, but to act as though traveling — especially when you’re young — is some kind of insane luxury that is utterly unattainable unless the stars align perfectly and God hands you a couple hundred dollar bills while no one is looking is ludicrous.

My best friend here in Paris works in the hotel industry, and loves his job. He is the ultimate guide — you tell him someone is new in town, he’ll introduce them to everyone and show them the five best places to go for any occasion. He knows where to get the best croissant — which is different from the place with the best pain au chocolate, it must be said. You imagine he just has a map of the city on the palm of his hand that he checks when no one is looking. And when you ask him about his favorite thing about his job, he’ll say,

When a much older couple comes in, and they can’t do much in their day, so you have to help them find the best things for what they like that aren’t too far apart. They’ll say, “Thank you so much. We’ve been waiting all our lives to take this trip–but it just got so hard to come here with children and the house and everything. We just didn’t come.” Nothing makes me happier than making their trip special and exciting. And they’ll always say, “You’re so young. Go see the world, then come back and build your life.”

Source

accomplishments.

I recently had an epiphany.

To put this in context, I have the ability (either to my benefit or my detriment) to be able to associate similar situations from the present to ones in the past as soon as it happens. With my analytical nature, this leads to me see these past situations in a whole new light taking into account new information and experiences that I've learned from along the way.

A friend of mine made a innocent comment the other day that was negative in nature towards one of my current goals. Something that made my goal seem less important and trivial. I took it in stride but it made me realize the intent behind similar actions that took place a year ago.

My so-called friend at the time would constantly say what a joke my Masters program is and that she would never join it. Sadly, at the time I agreed with her and justified my participation based on my circumstances. However looking back and knowing what I know now, she was jealous (of way more than just my studies, but that's besides the point).There is a small population of graduate students at FIU who have a TAship. I'm one of them. There isn't a large percentage of the general population that can say they had their M.A. degree when they were only 24. I will. I don't say these things to boast, because I am extremely grateful and aware of how blessed I am. However, people who aren't happy with themselves will always try to bring others down to feel better about themselves.

That's the real point of this blog entry. To be proud of you.
To stand up for yourself and your beliefs. To never let someone belittle your dreams, your goals, your ideals, your morals, your choices, or your appearance.
If they do, don't be afraid to speak up. Be tactful, not insulting, but say what you need to say.

Also, don't be afraid to celebrate you. It's always nice when people want to celebrate or congratulate you for achievements and on special occasions, but if you want to go above and beyond, go for it. Whatever the occasion, if you want to celebrate it, you should. There's a SATC episode where one the girls is getting married for a second time and feels it to be inappropriate to make a big deal out of it. Her friends tells her she's being ridiculous to feel that way about her happy situation. I'll be graduating for a second time this month and I felt the same way at first about making a big to-do over another graduation ceremony, but I got over that when I saw that episode again. I've already been making preparations and in less than a month I'll be celebrating this achievement exactly as I want - with family, friends, food, drinks, new outfits, hair and make-up appointments, pictures, and a cruise I've wanted to go on for a loooong time now. Can you tell I'm excited? D-mn straight I am and I've earned it! Woo hoo!!!

Thank you to those who have always encouraged, supported, and openly stated how happy for and proud of me they are. I'm starting to realized these are the only people that matter. 

This is going to be my on my grad cruise! Be jealous on your own!

the beginning of the end.

I've already elaborated on how this year is the start of something new, but conversely it's kind of the beginning of the end of for a lot of things also. But it's ok, I'm learning to embrace change. I used to be a person that was reluctant to let go of anything, good or bad. I've learned though that some things mean more when they they are left in a certain time and place in my heart instead of being dragged into something new. I guess this is part of the true meaning of ichi go, ichi e 一期一絵, a Japanese proverb meaning 'one chance, one opportunity.' Maybe this is why I've always been attracted to photography, even back in the day when it was with disposable cameras ones...

A picture captures a moment in time and everything about that moment holds true because regardless of where you are in life, when you look back at the photo, what was true to you then is still there looking back at you. In a seemingly paradoxical fashion, this is the reason why I delete photos that no longer hold meaning to me. Looking at those photographs might remind me of how naive I was or make me feel like the people in those photographs lied to me with things that I know now. It's all very strange to some people who can separate the photo from their current reality even if it has indeed changed. I don't like to dawdle on these things so I simply "alter my memories" and delete those moments of time that I once captured from sharing space with the truly special ones that dwell in my heart and mind. That's the idea anyway, because in reality I have an impeccable, photographic memory. Well, that was some insight into my logic. Twisted? Maybe. Wrong? Not so much. Sorry if that was confusing. I warned you that my random thoughts would be arbitrarily dispensed in here.

Speaking of ichi go ichi e, one of the reasons the Japanese love sakura and hanami is because the short window of time that they are in bloom reminds us of the impermanence of life. Believe it or not, we even have the smallest of hanami in Miami. Some of the fledgling sakura have bloomed at the Japanese Morikami museum and garden where I'm currently doing an internship. The window is short, but I was able to capture them for all time.

一期一絵

One Chance, One Opportunity

to end the year.

I want to see beauty in all things, that is what I strive to do

I started a blog this year and have succeeded in making in an outlet for my thoughts - go me! - so I just wanted to add one more post before the year is up. I don't know how to feel about this year. Most people are ready for the year to be over to get a chance to start fresh again. I definitely want to start fresh and made necessary steps to ensure that I leave some unpleasant things in 2010, but altogether I mostly remember the fun I had in 2010...

• I went skydiving!
• had my two closest Japanese friends visit me
• finally went to Ultra Music Festival and loved it!
• lived the life a New York City girl while spending time with my brother who I hardly get to see
• went to the legendary Hogwarts!
• met some awesome people I really connected with
• applied to JET (one of my lifelong goals up to this point)
• took the JLPT (one of my goals for 2010)
• was thrown a surprise party by the love of my life
• was surprised by one of my favorite people ever all the way from Japan.
• and last! I finally made a big step towards one of my other lifelong goals - becoming a professional amateur photographer (taking pictures of overturned lawn chairs and such, haha!)

Embedded are some of my favorites shots that I took the other day when I was just trying to figure out the settings of my awesome new red camera. In reality, I know nothing about the subject of photography but have been told that I have a natural talent and a good eye so I want to nurture that since I already know I can be great at anything I put my mind to.

At midnight tonight I'll be shouting 'Happy New Year!' and thus starting what I see as the next chapter in my life. I will (finally) be done with schooling for the first time in my life and will get my first full-time job. I'll be moving out of my house and have my own place (doubly exciting and scary is that it will be in Japan!). I'm going to sell the first car I ever had which will be hard. I'll be away from family and friends on holidays for the first time ever which will also be hard. I'm going to travel to new and exciting places and hopefully take that Eastern Caribbean cruise I've always wanted to take! I'm going to see three of my favorite performers in concert and am SO excited for all three of them. I have a condition and if that condition is met, I'll be getting a tattoo. I've also decided to, for the first time, do a serious diet and exercise regime. I know my boyfriend and some friends say I have the "perfect body", but I don't agree since we all have things about ourselves we want to improve on. I mostly want to feel healthier - have more energy, look more rested, etc. I'm not going to do anything drastic, but at the moment I'm not doing anything to achieve this so my baby steps will hopefully show results in about 2 months time. Maybe some before and after pics? haha! That a BIG maybe.

Well that's all for now. Another resolution of mine is to blog more. It really lets people know more about me and allows me to see how much I've grown as a person (as well as laugh at my past-self for being such a dork). Plus considering how much I view this year as a turning point for my life, I want to document it as much as possible.

So long 2010, here's to 2011!

long time coming.

Disclaimer: This is all very random.

I know I always want to fast forward time and I'll probably regret it at some point, but not today. There's been a purpose to my prolonging my stay in Miami, but I'm long overdue to get out of here. I have a list of places I want to live and crazy things I want to do, and I've been ready, but just waiting - and as someone told me the other day, "I'm the most impatient person in the world" (we were playing a board game and he was taking for-freakin-ever!). But I didn't take any offense to that since it is quite true...lollygaggers doing there lollygagging business on my time is one of my biggest pet peeves.
---

There have been several very real times in my life when things go my way and I know, without a doubt, God is my on my side (although I've been called just the opposite). He has made the silver lining of things well worth the wait at times..like how there's at least one person out there I would like thank for their vandalizing ways. (maybe that does make me a little devilish, hehe. ah well)
A couple of months ago I learned one of my favorite bands was touring their new album. They weren't coming to Miami, but I was already trying to find a way to go see them in Atlanta or New York. But one of my closest Japanese friends was finally coming to Miami so I couldn't go. Then on the day they performed, they posted a picture on facebook and I commented "I should've been there! Please come to Florida!" Next time I check out their page, they had announced new tour dates and were coming as close as Ft. Lauderdale! With the quickness, I bought tickets! Thank you Jesus and Jimmy Eat World

---
I've been really grateful lately for the leaps and bounds I've made in a relationship that I thought I had ruined forever. I was never bitter towards this person, just hurt (which is why I think they came around) and it took a little more than a year, but it seems we've moved on. I plan on being in Japan next year, so it really would've disturbed me to have left on bad terms. On that same note, another awkward situation is following me despite my leaving it alone. This is another relationship that took a big hit and although I thought we agreed to disagree, this person is proving to be bipolar. I was ignored for months and then a text with, "I miss u" on a random Tuesday morning shows up. What?!! I don't even want to acknowledge the situation I've been so hurt and confused, but I'm not heartless. I know there are those who revel in the pain they've caused others, but I feel terrible when my actions hurt others, but in this case I don't know what to do...

---
It's that time again. Every couple of months, I get restless and want to change up my look a bit. Nothing as drastic as last year when I chopped off my hair (but I'm glad and I can say that I've done that once in my life). Maybe throw I'll throw in some crazy color as a last rebellious act before I have to be professional for the Japanese workforce. I saw an ad in a magazine that I liked but I always have second thoughts once I'm in the salon, hehe. If I actually go through with it, I'll post a pic of the ad and of me with the look. Along with the idea of changing up my look, one of my New Year's resolutions was to become comfortable with the idea of getting a tattoo. I feel like a tattoo shouldn't be a flippant decision, first time getting one or not. It shouldn't happen as an act of rebellion or something to be different for the sake of being different or even for a friend who thinks it'd be some kind of sign of our friendship. That being said, I met a Japanese tattoo artist while having green tea one day during my Brooklyn getaway and I got a really good vibe from him. I felt like he was a friend and we were just catching up over some tea. I told him how I wasn't going to get one till I was ready and he applauded me for making a responsible decision and respecting the act of getting a tattoo. I've checked out his website and am happy that if I do decide to do this it'll be in one of my favorite cities, with a Japanese artist, and with someone I didn't just meet on the spot.


Well I suppose that's enough of my musings for now.