Home is behind, the world ahead.

Welcome, to those of you who have discovered my blog of travels in Japan! I'm incredibly excited to be returning, and equally excited that I can do it now without the restrictive aid of an educational program! (well, in a exterior controlled fashion, that is). To illustrate my journeys for those who may not be aware, this summer I will interning at an organization called Earth Embassy, which is located at the base of Mt. Fuji in a small village called Narusawa, where I will stay for about three months. After that, if my hands and photo taking device yet have vigor in them, I will be documenting my travels across the Kansai peninsula in my studies of Shinto beliefs and shrines in the fall as a residency. There will be so much adventure I can barely imagine it (which makes me a touch nervous), and so I must leave that which I cannot preordain to be as it may. The journey begins in only a few days!

Which brings me to the point and labours of packing. My very own beautiful backpacking pack will no doubt grace a few of my upcoming pictures, and has yet failed me to fit almost anything I could want to take with me on a 5 1/2 months excursion into the semi-wild world of abroad travel. Shoes are tricky though, but I think I have enough room to wedge my hiking boots in there. I'll just wear sandals on the plane and bring socks for cold feet.

That's pretty much all I've got so far. No doubt the airport will bring a story in and of itself, but that is for my arrival in Japan! I'm off to find an alarm clock.

Take care,
~Kira