So the days between my Japanese adventure and I are slowly diminishing into nothing. It has been a very busy month for me and this weekend was no exception. One of my closest friends from University came down from Leeds for one day just to see me and say hello and goodbye for now. It was a very kind visit for her to make given it was probably expensive and exhausting for her but it meant the world.
She gave me my birthday present which was something very sweet. I have a pandora bracelet which over the past year my friends and family have gifted me charms for. It was important for me to have a piece of everyone very close to my heart on my wrist at all times. Now this may sound a little soppy bur it meant a lot, especially as it started on my 21st birthday. Pandora charms are not cheap and I would never expect or ask any of my friends for charms because it costs too much. But this year my best friend gave me two of the most beautiful charms imaginable as a present and good luck going forward. And this friend down from Leeds did the same. The charm she gave me was very symbolic of our friendship and I was so touched it nearly made me cry. She also made me a photo collage to take with me to Japan which was lovely and finally some emergency chocolate:
The amount of effort she made was astounding. Thank you so much for it all love, you know who you are, and sorry to say the emergency chocolate is already gone!
Then, today was my little brothers' 20th birthday. And like a mad thing he completed the triathlon (yes on his birthday) in 2 hours 55. We have been celebrating today ans scheming our last trip together which is a local theme park complete with adrenaline junkie roller coasters.
Updates on life aside, I have really started to panic this week. Its not that im doubting my decision to leave everything behind because itll be my biggest adventure yet, but the whole process is quite overwhelming. I have been wrestling constantly with mt suitcase over the past week or so and contemplating just how the heck I am going to fit my life into 23kgs. Im a little on the curvy side for Japanese sizing and get a bit funny about tight outfits so clothing was the priorty. Im very fair skinned so suncream and aftersun followed. Along with a miscellany of toiletries and a bag full of 'what ifs'. I almost think it would have been easier as a guy (my flatmate at uni went to spain for a year and packed virtually nothing) but I am starting to think that is more attributed to his laissez faire personality than guys in general.
Then there is the omiyage debate, the resource preparations and the endless pretravel paperwork. Tax, shipping, customs declaration. You name it, ive filled it in. And a workload awaits me at school which although I am very excited about, I am worried I wont perform to Japanese standard, although I will certainly try.
Im sure the majority of the group B JETs are having the same panic/excitement fluctuations and the same suitcase scenario so best of luck to everyone with it all.
Now only if I could believe that myself....
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