Spring Break 2012

This year for spring break, I decided to continue my exploration of Japan and head southwest on the Shinkansen.  These "bullet trains" can travel speeds up to 300 miles per hour.  I was really excited to take one of these trains, and my first stop was Osaka.  

It's interesting that in the Shinkansen train stations, there are gates and fences meant to keep folks out.  In Japan, there is a very high suicide rate due to high expectations and the stress of maintaining pride.  One of the most common methods of suicide here is to fling oneself in front of the train.  In fact, that's one of the only reasons for a train delay.  These gates are automatic and move open once the train has stopped so that passengers can enter or exit safely.  

My first stop was Osaka, which is about a 2 hour ride.  I would later make my way to Hiroshima, which is 4 hours away from Yokohama.  At this point in my trip, I was already tired.  I left after work on Friday the 6th and wasn't ready for a break just yet.  If you are a teacher, you know that incessant need for a break where you just feel spent at the end of a quarter.  This year, I didn't have that feeling, so I really wasn't even in the mood to travel.  It also didn't help that I was traveling alone.  I know that I did it in Australia, but I had so many activities planned that I couldn't think about it much.  I knew that I just had 10 unstructured days ahead of me.  And, if you know me...unstructured isn't a good thing.  

Once I arrived at my hotel, I was beat.  I walked out of the elevator and saw this.  Only in Japan can you find vending machines full of alcohol.  I knew that I was too tired to explore at 9pm, so I stopped at a Family Mart for a quick dinner and then picked up some Kirin from the machine.  

Here I am in Osaka, Japan wearing my Yukata and holding my Kirin.  By the time I got to Osaka, I knew that I couldn't spend my vacation solo and moody, so I had to reflect.  Two years ago, I lost my job in Riverton.  I didn't even know what a Yukata was.  I had never drank a Kirin beer.  And, the only Osaka that I had ever been to was on Wabash Avenue in Springfield, Illinois.  Although the transition was difficult and I didn't understand at the time, I am thankful everyday for my place in this life.  It only took a bit of time to adjust to exploring alone, but in the end, it was fabulous.  I woke up when I wanted with no pressure to do anything in particular.  I wondered, I explored, and I did it all on my own terms.  It was fabulous!