Japan Week 44

May 31- June 6, 2010

Eat, Study, Run, Shower, Study, Eat, Study, Study, Study, Eat, Sleep... wake up and repeat!

This is my life until June 17th!

I can make it, the light at the end of the tunnel gets a little brighter each day! A very inspiring friend of mine said to me this week, "I've been through it, I promise it's not a train!". I do often feel like there is a train coming to pummel over me, so I'm glad to know that it's not the case and the work is worth it :) Thanks for the reminder Dr. Charlie!

This is what I mean by hard work:
Monday Study 8 hours, morning run
Tuesday Study 7 hours, morning run
Wednesday Study 5 hours, morning run (I was getting burned out and had to take it easy!)
Thursday Study 7 hours, afternoon swim
Friday Study 8 hours, morning run (I studied until 10 pm on a Friday night and woke up early to study again on Saturday, my idea of a good weekend these days!)
Saturday Study 7 hours, escaped to a Birthday BBQ in town for about 1 hour
Sunday Study 8 hours, morning jog

I'm learning that Japan has Extreme Seasons, especially compared to Arizona which has two- Decent and Very Hot. Summer was beautiful, and very green as I remember, full of fun at the beach and fireworks. Fall was more colorful than anything I've ever imagined in my life, and the weather was incredible. Winter was blissfully white and terribly cold, and somehow 6 months long. Spring is so cheerful and sunny and new life is emerging everywhere! I really love it.

Here are some pictures from my morning runs, Spring is absolutely spectacular.

Teeny Tiny Green Houses... they are everywhere! It's how they manage to grow things when it's still freezing at night time. Thank you farmers, I enjoy every bite of produce!

Wild Daises
A beautiful purple Iris. The view from near Eric's window at work ;)
Trees come in so many colors here! I think the red one is a Maple but I'm not positive.

I owe Eric a big gigantic thank you for all of his continued support and encouragement. I think he feels like he is grounded because I wont go out and do things with him, poor guy. He's been having quite the movie marathon and he is certainly plowing through books these days. Eric has been extremely helpful taking care of everything around the house so that all I have to do is study, eat, shower and sleep! It's so nice when I get a knock on the guestroom door, "Lissa- dinner is ready." He is really so good to me. Thank you my wonderful husband!

This week my parents celebrated yet another wedding anniversary :) They are such great relationship role-models. We love you very much and I'm sorry we can't celebrate with you.

** Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad**