Home

So I've been back home for a while, which sucks but is also kinda wonderful. Two adjectives that often seem to go together in my life. Maybe they're having like a little affair or something, hmmm? Oh god, I'm so weird. Why the hell does anyone read this?

Anyways, it sucks because I'm stationary. I'm in sunny California, which is not the worst place you can be, but it seems like hell. Funny how I always want to be somewhere else. When I'm in Vermont, I miss little things about California. (Like diversity. haha.) But when I'm in California, I find myself telling people about this cute little coffee shop in Burlington, or this amazing crepe place down by Lake Champlain. Can't stop talking about it. I should learn to be a little more grateful of what I have, maybe. oh well. *shrug.*

It's kinda wonderful because I've gotten to spend a lot of time with my family who I like never see. Ever. I've been here long enough to remember why sometimes just home is as wonderful a place as those half way across the world. This is what my home looks like:

Mom:

Dad:

Sister:

And in case you didn't know, I'm a crazy cat person.

Cheer:

Play:

Rose:

Fig:

Ceece:

Indiana

After Japan, I had to go to Brazil, Indiana to clean out my grandparents old home. My grandmother had passed away back in 2003, but my grandfather just died in the Spring of 2008. We hadn't gotten the time or the money to get ourselves to Indiana since visiting him in the hospital, so, my mom and I went out to rural middle America to sort through all the legal stuff as well as they're old house so we could sell it.

It was an extremely hard week. Emotionally draining, physically taxing, logistically and legally annoying. But, there is always a positive part of everything; it's a choice to see the ugly or the beautiful. I choose beautiful.

I got to spend a week with my mom, which is rare. We've always been very close, my mom and I, like Gilmore Girls only more sane. Since I went to college 3,000 miles away and then spent my summer in Japan, I haven't really gotten a chance to be with her.

Also, My mom has two step-sisters who were never really part of her life, but they came and helped us clean out the house. I really got along with one of them; had the same sense of humor. I've really gained a lot of family this year, huh? Two aunts and 25+ cousins in Hawaii. I used to be able to count all my blood relatives on my hands.

Hawaii!!

I just got back from Hawaii yesterday. I had such a great time!! It was so beautiful and I have a love affair with sunsets, and Maui was full of beautiful sunsets. You can also see more pictures on my flickr page.

And then there's my dad, sister and I on the same beach. We were so busy meeting relatives on Oahu, that the first beach we made it too was 4 days after we had arrived in Hawaii!! Craziness.

The main reason we went to Hawaii was to meet some relatives that we never knew we had on my dad's side, but it turned into a Hawaii vacation too. We flew into Honolulu because my dad's cousins live in Aiea on Oahu, but then we flew to Maui to visit my dad's friends too. We ended up going all over the place, even though I was really sick the whole time and couldn't stop coughing. I didn't get much sleep either, but you can't really tell in the picture, right? I look happy, right? not like I want to die? good.

There's my sister, Katsumi, and I on the beach in Maui when we were visiting some of my dad's old friends who live there, Mike and Roz.

It was so gorgeous. I mean, look at that:

And the water was so warm!

We saw a turtle and when it came up for air I got a picture of its tiny head.

And there's its butt.

Here's zoomi losing her composure. I'm totally cool. Before:

After:

We also went hiking a little and took a break in the river. The picture below is me and my dad with our feet in the stream. I forget what the name of this place was. oops.

There was also snorkeling and much merriment. Hawaii is really a great place, but I don't know if I'd want to live there. I like Japan. I like Tokyo more specifically, and I'm glad to be back. But Hawaii is definitely a really great place to visit and now we all have a wonderful excuse. I met so many people! And they are all related to me!! It's weird. I used to be able to count my blood relatives on one hand, now it's challenging just to keep all their names straight. And they are all so nice, and the kids are adorable, and they know things about my dad's family that none of us knew, they have pictures of my dad when he was really young, and they are nice. I like nice; it's nice. (^_^)

And now, indulge me while I spam my blog with sunset pictures.