And you and I

I know I've been out of touch recently, and to all my friends and family, I apologize. To all others, you have no business being here anyway. It's been an extremely busy couple of weeks, in case you hadn't heard. Three weekends ago I took the 3rd-level Japanese proficiency exam, for which I can't really comment on too much now as I don't receive my score back until February. I set my expectations as low as possible here (as in I had none) so as not to disappoint myself, and as such did a very sparse amount of studying and preparation. Perhaps more to the point, this exam really doesn't matter too much, I had little motivation to prepare well; a passing score on the 3rd level means next to nothing on an application or resume. It's the 2nd level that impresses, and it's the second level I'll be shooting for next year.

Then last weekend was the marathon. 3 months of hard preparation, of running in the freezing cold at night, of not being able to go out on the weekends because of training requirements (not that I had that many offers anyway), and I had a pretty lousy time to show for it. Having no history of long distance running, I didn't know how to pace myself, and consequently went out way too slowly. As I was reaching the halfway point (it was an out-and-back, not a loop), one of my students, a 3rd year high school girl, passed me going the other way, shouted my name out, and waved at me. Please God let her be running the half-marathon, I thought. Just to be safe, I sped up. I rounded the corner and turned it up a couple of notches. But the wind was against me, as were kilometers 35-39 (miles 22-24.5, because kilometers mean nothing to me either), and I couldn't make up lost time. I could hardly move for those 4 kilometers, every minute seemed like a lifetime, and I cursed Andrew's name--my friend and training partner who convinced me to do this. Then I finally reached kilometer marker 39 and felt a burst of energy, knowing that I had only 3 kilo left and seeing the stadium (finish line) looming on the horizon. I started flying. And when I entered the stadium, the stands were full, there were spectators cheering for me, and I rounded the final turn of the track in a full-on sprint.

My time was 4:06, her time was a 3:58 (she was running the full), and I was training for a sub 3:30 marathon, but I was still overwhelmed. When I finished my first 20-miler, I did a little Rocky dance and held my hands up high in celebration. When I finished my first marathon, I wept. I was so damned proud.

And now my work is finished. I wrapped up the final bit of it on Friday evening (I was the last one to leave the office!) doing a translation of a letter for a teacher, and I decided I was going to party like I've never partied before. I was in bed by 10:30.

The days are getting shorter and shorter (Winter Solstice is just around the bend), and the weather colder and colder. How is it that the wind can blow simultaneously in all directions? I'm chilled to the bone, and given its disproportinatel size, you can imagine how cold that must make me. I suppose part of it is because every building here is old and has no insulation, and maybe part of it is because I'm too skinny (?). I think I know now what Africans must feel like, except that they get to live in Africa.

And the Cowboys-'Skins game is on now, and there's nobody worth a damn left on Survivor. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm ready to come home.

2 more days till we go home!!!
YEAH!!

Bobbi

I, for one, am impressed by anyone who can complete a marathon. Good for you! See you on Wednesday.

My baby's coming home! I'm so excited. See you Wednesday, Mom

Aw, your mom posted on your blog and she called you baby.How cute is that?

Y'all are going home for Christmas?! That is a fabulous idea; I wish I had thought of that when I was experiencing my first and last Christmas without my family last year. Not that I didn't enjoy opening presents with my mom and sister while communicating via webcam, but it just isn't like the real thing. And while New Year's Eve with Bobbi and Nick at Wolfgang Puck's, getting to count down backwards in Japanese, was AWESOME, this New Year's, I'm going to a wedding with my boyfriend. Why? Because THIS IS MY YEAR! And next year, that's even MORE my year. Don't worry I'll invite you to the wedding.

cheryl.

Aw, your mom posted on your blog and she called you baby.How cute is that?

Yes, and if you ever tell anyone, I swear to God, I'll never talk to you again.

Cheryl, I demand pictures of this guy, otherwise I'm just going to keep telling everyone you're making him up.