August 22. 2004 19:22

Missing the seasons and getting farewell gifts

In two weeks I'm going to be standing in Japan. Oh my goodness. I realized that a few days ago and since then I've been freaking out every now and then. I have so much to do before I leave that I feel like the time's running totally out, and I've gotten waves of sentimentality thinking of what I'll miss when I'm away.

I love the Finnish seasons, although the general opinion is that the fall is awful with all the rain and stuff. I like rain, and I love the cold breeze and darkening evenings and falling leaves. I love snowfall and the sound of snow under my feet when the air is below zero. I love the little streams of melted snow in the spring and when the sky clears and the days gain lenght and the sidewalk dries out. And I love the warmth of summer and swimming and staying up when it doesn't get dark. I won't see the winter or the christmas and I won't get to go to (our) school and I won't be here to talk to Frigga about her new studies. Sigh. Of course I'll be experiencing a half-a-yearfull of new things in Japan, but right now I can't know the joys they'll bring and I can just regret the things I'll miss.

Jani visited me yesterday and brought a farewell gift: a yukata (a kimono-style light summer dress made of cotton). It passed throught my mind that people might want to give me farewell gifts, but I wasn't at all prepared for it ^_^;; And Jani is so nice, he brought me souvenirs from his Japan trip, too. And I never have anything to give him in return... I have to bring him something nice when I come back. He got the yukatas from a friend in Japan when he was there and he left a second one which I can give to Frigga or Tsu, because I said it would look very good on Frigga ^_^ Then we talked about Japan for a couple of hours until Ravenmoon came home... Then we watched a movie. (Or I watched and Ravie slept.)

The yukata is pretty, even though it's a bit small. Jani borrowed me his obi (kimono belt) so I could wear it for the day, and maybe even for my farewell party. It felt so good to wear a yukata! It feels homey and it's beautiful ^_^ It's those kind of little things I'm waiting for. Ah, again I got one of those heart-grasping moments thinking soon I'll be walking the streets of Kyoto... Sigh.