It finally feels real!

Tomorrow is the big day. J has to be at the airport before six in the morning. Naturally, his parents and I are going to see him off.

The last few days have been a whirlwind of packing and unpacking. And then re-packing. And then realizing a suitcase is too heavy, or too big, or just too-something and will not work, thus packing again commences. It will nice, once we are both in Japan, to finally have a place to call our own that is bigger than a single room we are both attempting to cram our entire lives into. And just that fact will make it amazing for us--at least for a few months.

Either way, it's time to head towards the bed because morning will be calling VERY early.

Oyasuminasai,
maria

Visas, a wedding, and many thank-you notes later

It has been a few months since my last blog, mostly because there hasn't been a whole lot to say. However, a few really big things have happened that deserve a line or two (or maybe even three?):

• J and I were married on May 30. The wedding was beautiful and we both had so much fun at our reception and on our honeymoon. Since returning home from the honeymoon, J has been studying Japanese like a crazy man and I've been working.
  
  
• J sent in all of the paperwork for his visa, and after doing all the "fun" name change stuff (and receiving my new passport in the mail a few weeks and sixty bucks later) he sent mine in, too.
  
  
  
  
• We found out we will be living in the Shizuoka prefecture of Japan (the one where Mount Fugi is located) in a small town near Mishima. Jeremy will be teaching at an agriculture high school near our home.
  
  
• And speaking of homes: We are taking over the rent on a two-story Japanese apartment where the current English teacher (who J is replacing) now lives. Photos will come later after I arrive in Japan.
  
  
• Last, but not least, J and I bought my plane ticket a few weeks ago. I'll be departing from U.S. soil on August 14 and I'll arrive in Japan on August 15. Hooray for 13 hour flights. NOT.
  

Other than those pieces of news, J and I are working together to get everything ready for our upcoming trips.

-maria