august 16, 2009. just two short weeks have passed since i was one year younger and we were fresh in sapporo. for my birthday, we paid a visit to maruyama koen, a vast park in the western hills of the city. it was still obon season then, and we happened upon the hokkaido shrine as we walked the park. after washing our hands and mouths with clean water, we watched awkwardly as monks passed silently through the compound and visitors stopped to make offerings at the gate. one of many moments already when we wish we knew more about the place we live...
afterward, in search of the produce market (sadly, closed), we stopped in to a tiny pizza shop for lunch. there we enjoyed our first glass of wine here in japan (!), fresh mozzarella, birthday brownies and friendly banter with the czech pizzaiolo. one of many little slices of home we have encountered here. i have found myself describing sapporo as not unlike portland, despite differences in every tangible way (language, culture, food, landscape) this place feels oddly familiar as we navigate our daily lives. for months i've been wondering when the rush of starting a new life and giving up the old will hit me like a freight train. with each day that passes here, i'm beginning to suspect it might creep up instead...
No comments:
Post a Comment