When I first came back, I had a hard time adjusting back to life here. The people, the customs, the places.. it was all quite different from what I was used to and was somewhat of a "culture shock" to me. Many people know about the cultural shock when you leave your own culture to live in another... but not many people realise that you can get cultural shock when you have assimilated into another culture, and go back to your own original culture.
Thankfully, since Lil Pumpkin came along, I've had more reason to stay on here, get more in touch with my roots and discover very interesting sides of Singapore. Who knew that we still had a kampong {Malay village} right in the middle of the city? Or a natural hot spring where people went for its "healing waters" and to eat onsen eggs?? haha.
Every now and then, I'd still think about life back in Japan and miss it though. We try to go back at least once every two years, and last year we actually went back twice. Once to celebrate the new year, and another to attend Aki's wedding.
Next year, the boy said that we'll be back for Sakura season. Oh joy! It's been so long since I went for o-hanami in Japan {went for it in Korea though heh}. As you probably already know, Sakura is my favourite flower and it's such a magical time to see it in bloom. Sakura season is my favourite time of the year.
I've always wanted to go on a road trip, but we never got down to it so the boy suggested that we do a railway trip instead :P Rather than staying in one to two cities as we usually do, we'll probably be getting a JR Pass to travel up and down Honshu. Available only to tourists, the JR Pass is a very cost effective rail pass for long distance train travel in Japan and offers unlimited use of JR trains for one, two or three weeks.
When the boy visited me in Japan last time, he used this before and it really saves a lot of $$! I couldn't make use of it since I was a resident then, but now I can hehehehe よーし！
We'll probably be spending 2 weeks in Japan but I'm thinking of extending it up to a month {without the boy since he has to return for work}. Lil Pumpkin will be entering formal schooling the year after that in 2016, and from then on we'll probably not be as "free" to travel as we used to since she has to attend school and follow the school calendar. I wanted to take some time off work before she started formal schooling to just spend more time with her and explore the world. I'd obviously have to take no-pay leave but maybe 1 month off isn't so bad?
I thought to perhaps visit other countries in Asia - just the two of us for some mother-daughter time - but since we'll be in Japan for 2 weeks, we might as well just stay on there. Japan has my heart, after all. Take it slow and easy to revisit some of the places I love, and meet up with friends I haven't seen in a long while.
Sounds like a beautiful dream, right? :) Well, let's hope that it will come true!! *fingers crossed* Have about half a year to save money and plan properly...
What have you been dreaming of lately?
Which places do you love to visit the most?
10 comments:
I am a Disney World girl through and through, but as for a place I dream of living? San Diego, California. I have been twice and LOVE it there.
The flowers sound wonderful! I was in a bit of culture shock when I moved back from the south to the midwest again. I miss their magnolia trees. I like them like you like Sakura. We have magnolia trees, but only little dwarf ones. They are nothing like in the south!
Go for it. :)
Once my kids grow up a bit, Japan is definitely on my travel list. If I have a month off though, I'd go to Oz.
Masshole Mommy: I've some friends there. Gotta go there at least once to see why you love it so! :)
Alissa: I hope you get to go back often to enjoy them!
Stacy: Aust would be so nice for a month long hols. That was where I wanted to do our road trip too.
Japan is definitely on the list for me. I really only seen mostly Tokyo, but would love to get to Kyoto
Oh, how I would love to return to Japan! My parents' neighbours just got back from Kyoto yesterday and talking to them about the trip, I was all "Natsukashiiiiiii!!!"
Maybe that's where we should meet up next???
sounds great ....I have friends who visited japan many times and yet never bored. Have new things every time
Such a wonderful idea! Lil' Pumpkin will definitely treasure and enjoy the special mummy-daughter holiday! Go for it!
It sounds just lovely and you must stay for as long as you can because once school starts things change so much. Make it happen lovely! x #teamIBOT
Smart move doing it before she is in full time school. Definitely make the most of it!
I didn't realise sakura was a flower. I'm a little bit slow really...
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