The first two weeks...

So...
After the earthquake, everything went crazy. Parents started worrying and teachers started going home. So we went to Okayama.
Okayama is a beautiful city way west...4 hours by bullet train. Earthquake and radiation free. In Okayama, we felt safe. Distracted. Strangely enough, still stressed and worried. Our training experience was so unique because I don't think any of us were really there. We just went through the motions to keep from thinking about the situation in Sendai. And maybe we all wanted to be okay so our loved ones would be okay too.
It is a funny feeling, being in a new country and having a brand new safety net yanked from underneath you. Our only comfort was each other. I think we all have the potential to get completely lost in our thoughts, and our minds can be our biggest enemy...so overthinking was the one thing that I tried to avoid in Okayama.
We were going out every night and we actually made friends in Okayama. Friends that we still talk to even now...which is really cool. We went to bars and sometimes going out just meant grabbing some road beers and walking around for a couple hours. Or all you can drink karaoke...in two hours. So we had to get our money's worth. For sure. Fun. And crazy.
That karaoke night will live in infamy, actually. When we got there, one of my friends wiped out across a table and we couldn't laugh because we were so worried about her...she bounced right back like nothing happen, busted lip and all. I, who think falling is the funniest thing of all time, made sure she was okay and then promptly excused myself to the restroom and chuckled. I fessed up about it later because I felt bad and she was totally cool about it. Love her.
A couple of people left that I really miss. I really wanted the opportunity to learn from and about them...and we still talk on facebook but I really wish they were here. One person in particular, who I never thought I would miss this much, I think about everyday...I just want to pick up the phone and call her. Maybe she'll change my life and come back in six months...hint hint.
Miss you, Ash.
And so one week in Okayama and we HAD to go to our schools. If we stayed another day we may have turned the system on it's ear. As if it wasn't discombobulated enough, right. So goodbye safety net. Goodbye Okayama...see you later, friends.
Tuesday, March 22...off to Odawara.