A Hoosier in Japan: A New Year

School started back today...can you believe it? It seems so early! Perhaps working all summer (assisting at summer school) has kept me primed for school to start, because today seemed like any other day, albeit with more people to deal with than the small summer school group. I doubt that I will ever do two summer sessions back to back again, but it did allow me to put some money away for the trip and to buy some things to help me get prepared. But, the most important thing about today? It means that the trip is closer than ever! In fact, in a mere 66 days my butt will be on its way to Japan.

I was able to gt my meishi ordered. They arrived last week. I'm not thrilled with them, but I got them at a great price (around $16 bucks for 250 cards...should be more than enough). I wish that they weren't glossy, and that my name was easier to read, but they will do. I am sure that I am just being overly critical! I will try to scan it in at some point and add it to the blog.

My excitement is growing leaps and bounds as each day passes. I cannot wait to go on this trip. I know that it is going to be an invaluable and incomparable experience. I've been reading up a storm, and no, I still don't know any more Japanese than I did when this all started. I REALLY need to work on that.

In other very sad news, Corydon lost one of its finest attributes this week with the loss of Bart Zimmerman. Bart's work at Zimmerman Art Glass, along with that of his father Joe and his brother Kerry, has been something that I have collected and treasured for quite some time, and his sudden death will be a blow to us here. I had hoped to take some of Bart's work to Japan with me as a gift for my host family - in fact, I had stopped by the shop a couple of weeks ago to place an order for a glass basket. Bart told me to stop by August 6 (today), he should have it done by then. I'm not sure if he had a chance to get to the basket, and if he did, I'm not sure I could part with it. I definitely plan on taking a piece of Zimmerman glass with me, and I told Bart of my plans to have his work represent my hometown to my host family. I hope that it made him happy to know that. Bart and his family are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Bart.