the VERY beginning of WELCOMING

It has taken a while for my inner-voice-writer and my enamor strong of where I have lived for twelve years to collide in an outward step of absolute ta daaaaa and brilliantly bling. The Summer of 2009 will forever be etched in my mind now as the beginning of my 'HONNE' (most truthful) heart-scapes aloud online. It certainly gives me a real answer concrete for the standardly cultural September staff room greetings of "So, what did you do over the Summer break J?". My typically abstract responses of, "I went exploring", "I breathed in the season", or "I daydreamed everyday" can now be reinvented with the same blend of imagination and delight into a BLOG creation of my magical and mysterious Osaka for all to experience.

Comments so far like, "About (bloody) time!" or "Can't wait to read it" certainly show me an angle of self that is ready to stretch into much greater boldness, brevity and biggest bravery. I always find it so funny and delightful to suddenly learn about the perceptions people have of me. Some ideas are perfectly spot on you giggle with embarrassment, others seem way off tangent and somehow disappointing, and there are others still that make you remember who and what you really need to be in order to shine your truth and tenacity. This is my first step into a new way of interacting in my world. As exhilarating and energizing as it already feels, it is a part of myself quite vulnerable and without sunscreen almost.

Tiny steps huge. Here we go.

In complete celebration of a life in Osaka that has now reached a personal milestone for me (one third of my total life as a GAIJIN girl here), I want to share with you the places of vitality, the people wonderful, the activities quirky, and the ongoing opportunities to not only delve into Kansai culture original, but to transform and be transformed by it.

KAMPAI (Cheers) to Osaka! I owe you so much!

Janelle Mc