Final thoughts on Kofu

Some final thoughts on visiting Kofu.  

I was very nervous about coming back to Kofu - I hadn't been here to visit since 1991, and hadn't lived here since 1987.  I was worried that people wouldn't remember me, and that my Japanese (that I haven't really spoken in over 20 years) would not be up to talking with people - but I shouldn't have worried.  My host family & my friend Kawasumi remembered me with fondness (which was great, because they have always been in my heart since I left Japan), and the Japanese people are incredibly polite when it comes to Gaijin trying to speak very stilted Japanese (also, my Japanese mother, brother and sisters speak great english, and understand even much more, which made speaking with them not too difficult).

My Japanese host family welcomed me in 1987 into their family and into their hearts, and I felt much like I was a part of the family again, 26 years later.  They were incredibly kind, during a VERY busy time of the year for them, and I am so incredibly grateful I got to spend a few days with them.

I loved being back in Kofu - it really felt like home, but I felt like I went through a whole years worth of emotions, in just a few days.  In this photo I am seeing my Okasan for the first time since I visited for the weekend in 1991 - it was so great to give her a hug.  I felt very loved & welcomed back.

Here in this photo some of the family came to say farewell at the station.

In this photo I am talking with my Japanese Dad, Papa - sadly he is in hospital.  I felt soo incredibly happy to hear his voice, but so incredibly sad that he was sick and in hospital (for the past 4 weeks).  As a family in Australia we have gone through so much of this ourselves over the past 10 years, so it broke my heart that my Japanese family is having to go through this as well.  They seem to be coping well, but I wish I could take this burden away from them - it just doesn't seem fair.

The family came to see us off at the train station - giving them a hug goodbye made me incredibly sad, as I don't know when I will see them next.

and watching them on the station platform as we headed off to Tokyo brought back all the emotions I had leaving Kofu in 1987 - such sadness to be leaving special people, and wondering when I will be able to see them again.  I am loving the fact that I have been able to reconnect with them (thanks to the power of facebook & J's detective skills), and know that I will be able to visit them again - but don't know when that will be.

It made me very grateful that I have been able to share this trip to Japan with J & S

It reminded me that J keeps me young - on the inside at least (here we are rocking out to Missy Higgins as we speed past Mt Fuji on our way to Tokyo)

......and it reminded me that I have wonderful people in my life, and I am incredibly lucky to have you all in my heart.