Trying to Catch Up: Snowy Days in Matsumoto

Being located in the Japanese Alps, Matsumoto receives quite a bit of snowfall annually. It snowed a number of times this past year, with two or three times bringing large amounts to our mountain city. Looking back at these pictures makes me wish that I could experience all of it again.

The first three pictures that are shown are of the huge snow we got this year. Waking up to that much snow was such a surprise, and that day Soojeong and I decided to ride all the way across city on bike to play billiards at a place we had seen when we got back from our trip to Kyushu. It makes me laugh know when I think of us riding all the way out there on slick, slushy roads, that sometimes made you get off your bike and push it for a ways. We eventually made it all the way to the billiard hall and decided that we didn't want to pay all of the fees the have and make membership cards, just to play a couple of games. Even though the roads were bad, I had such a wonderful time riding around the city with Soojeong looking at all the snow and laughing together. We didn't end up playing pool, but we went shopping together, and rode around the city together having fun which made it a day I will never forget.

The second set of three pictures is from another large snowfall we received this year. That night Hyeon-Wu, Soojeong, and I decided to build a snowman next to the river by the school. It was so much fun playing late into the night with each other, building giant snowmen and taking pictures together. The first snowman we built was too tall, so we used the parts from it and made two more snowmen. Thinking back to those times makes me so happy, and I wouldn't trade those times or memories for anything in the world.

I always get asked the question by my family, "aren't you excited to come home and see everyone?", and my answer is "yes". Of course I want to see my family and friends back home, but for me it isn't that easy. Coming here to Japan, I have found more than I thought I would;a beautiful girlfriend and love of a kind I have never known before, friendship with so many wonderful people from all over the world, experiences that made me realize who I am and what I want to do in life, and memories of days spent with the one you love and friends that I can never forget. When I think ofgoing back home and being so far away from it all, it makes me feel sad. I want more than anything to be done with school right now and starting the life I want.