am i old? am i mature?

I sometimes end up on the same bus as one of my aikido mates on the way to practice each week. We live about a block apart and walk the same way home after practice. On the bus this week, a friendly autistic savant decided to introduce himself to me, including part of his life history, birthdate and future travel plans. I was in a tolerant mood and decided not to ignore the intrusion into my conversation with my aikido pal and listen to his conversation. He proceeded to ask me my own birthdate, so he could tell me the day I was born on. I was curious to see if he could actually do that accurately, so I said, July, 27, 1978, revealing to everyone on the bus... my age. The savant quickly replied, "Oh, you were born on a Thursday then, and your next birthday will be on a Saturday, no Sunday, no....did you know I am going to visit my brother in NY..." I was impressed, but thought no more of it. Tonight on the bus though, my aikido pal suddenly brought up this past conversation and asked if I was really born in 1978. "You're really old then," he said. I couldn't help laughing. Old? I guess 27 is old to a 19 or 20 year old. I don't really feel old. He said he had me pegged for a 22-24 year old, which of course is very flattering, but makes me wonder about the level of maturity I project. I guess I should be asking, not am I old, but am I mature? After all my life experiences, traveling to other cultures and education, am I mature? hmmm....and do I want to be....

On Saturday I went snowboarding on Mt. Baker with Shane, Nick and Devon. It was a bluebird of a day and it was like spring conditions out there. I barely wore any layers at all. Only a tank top under my ski jacket. Awesome. Good start to the season. But we need a bit more snow now!

One Year later-2005

A year later and where in the world is Neysa now? Nope, not Japan, nope, not Canada. I am now an American…sigh, but I can’t say I am "living the American dream" by any means. I mean... I am here trying to reach my dream, and life as an American really isn’t that bad, just a little different. Life seems to throw curve balls and you need to be able to surmount them to reach your goal. So what if one of those curveballs is living in America.

I am now living in Bellingham, Washington, in the good ole US of A to pursue a master’s degree in Speech Pathology. I really am a poor student now for the next three years. In fact I am so poor I am thinking about applying for food stamps. Maybe the government here will support me a bit since I have paid so much money to be here.

I deliberated long and hard before finally deciding to go to university down here. It was a good choice. I am enjoying the program and the people are all really nice. I am really lucky to be with this group of people because we have similar goals. Sometimes it is weird living amongst a people that Canadian culture so obviously pokes fun at, but it is good to see things from another perspective. And I met so many cool Americans in Japan, that how could I not see things in a more balanced way.

I live in a one bedroom apartment that smells like a smoker, has a door with knuckle marks in it, looks like a motel and has very thin walls (as I can definitely attest to), but it is the right price (cheap) and close to the university. And while my mom thinks it is like a ghetto here, it really isn't. I don't think Bellinghamsters would appreciate hearing that though. It's too much of a student town to have a ghetto.

Sparky (my boyfriend) and I are doing the back and forth thing every other weekend. Poor Sparky has had to drive over here a few more times than I have had to go back to
Victoria, due to birthdays in Vancouver, conferences in Washington, etc. We are still trying to get all the glitches out, but it will settle down soon hopefully. It is kinda fun having a new city to explore and I enjoy that aspect of living here.

It is a bit lonely, having no friends nearby, but hopefully I will get to know people a bit better soon. In fact, I am going to an American Thanksgiving dinner on thursday Nov. 23 (the actual date of American thanksgiving). Money is also a bit of an issue here, since I can't work outside of campus for the 1st year that I am here, so I am looking forward to the end of exams in 2 weeks, when I can go back to Canada and actually make some money! I realize now that I never really knew the meaning of the word "broke" until now. Fortunately, I have been approved for a student line of credit, so my money worries can be put on hold for a little while, I hope.

A year later and do I still think about Japan? Of course…do I miss Japan? Yes. Do I miss Canada? yes.

Shortly before I started school down here, I read “The alchemist” and I would recommend it for anyone who likes traveling and has goals they are willing to take chances to pursue. I felt I could really relate to this book about reaching for your dreams and not getting distracted by challenges and such. If you ever feel unsure about life, read this book and it should make you feel a bit better.

Birthday present from my friends Nick & Jen-Thanx guys