Spring Break was too short. And at the same time too long. Too short for me to do anything relaxing. Too long a time spent doing things that were necessary. Too long of being switched "on", a feeling I never thought I'd have in Gainesville. Too short for my brain to reset itself and gear up for another round of jr. high kids and their teachers this month.
...do my knuckles look extra white?
I was really looking forward to going to Florida before the break. A lot more than I had been the first time I went. And in some ways this trip was better. I was expecting things (like huge grocery stores and weird looking money) so I didn't freak out when I got there. It was warm, even hot on a few days. But it was mostly just a whirlwind of shopping, doctors, events, and drama. Oh the petty Gainesville drama. How I loathe it.
...at least we make a cute picture...
My dad - married to a woman with the same haircut as him
My mom - starting to look creepily like my grandmother
My stepdad - building a fishtank the size of a truck (literally!)
My new stepmom - doesn't talk, just looks at me
My brother - chasing some girl who only calls back one out of three times
My stepsister - has become an insomniac
Her ugly husband - tried to have a conversation w/me about Bleach, as if he knew something...
Their son - kinda cross eyed
Their daughter - getting cuter, but still slow in the mental area in my opinion
My gay cousin - getting increasingly more offensive tattoos (the latest is of two gay cowboys with no pants)
His older sister - still dating a guy 12 years older than her with no job
Their mom - bailed the boyfriend out of jail
Their dad - has no clue about any of it
My best friend - sneaking beers in her bedroom closet (yes, she is 30 years old)
My former coworkers - annoyed that I couldn't make more time to sit around with them while they talk about people I don't know
...I pulled off the "killing intent" expression better than I thought....
In spite of all that, the last two days of the break, when I returned to Shizuoka, (and a large part of the week that followed) made up for all that short/long time spent in the home that isn't mine anymore. It was like everything fell into place when I read that sign in the airport that says, "Welcome home" in Japanese. Best thing about the Narita airport - when the customs man looks at my Visa and says, "You're a teacher? Please, go right ahead!" And then it was anime shopping, and anime-song karaoke with my (now high school) girls on Saturday, a random encounter that led to cosplay and a reunion with an old favorite student on Sunday, free matsuri food from Sarah, & really awesome chocolate cake with Pin, and everybody hugging me and saying, "Welcome home," over and over. Best thing about my new school - being called "cool" behind my back (also, literally) by girls and boys alike.
...but that's because I am cool of course...
