in this week’s newsletter: day trip to hiwasa, meeting new friends, and spending much needed time by the sea
dear penpals -
a little while back, i wrote a newsletter talking about where kamikatsu is within the region of japan (old newsletter here), but one thing i didn’t mention was the landscape of what kamikatsu is. hearing stories from my sister, i knew that kamikatsu was in the mountains, but it was until i actually arrived that i realized just how in the mountains it is.
it’s been two months living here and i don’t think i’ll ever get used to being in the mountains. the curvy and winding roads, the feeling of climbing altitudes until sometimes having your ears pop, and the pain in your legs from walking big inclines and even bigger declines… the mountain ranges are a beautiful beast of nature. and there’s something about the grandness of the mountains that will continue to be intimidating, neither good nor bad, just intimidating.
there’s always that go-to, small talk, this-or-that, awkward “first date” question that is inevitably asked - summer or winter, salty or sweet, cats or dogs, mountains or oceans?
me? no matter what, i will always answer ocean.
there is something captivating about the vastness of the ocean that stills my heart and takes my breath away. so when the opportunity came to take a day trip to 日和佐 (hi·wa·sa), and i was told that it was a “surfer town”, i couldn’t wait to jump into the car and be reunited with the ocean again. mini vlog of a very happy day below!
click on the image or the link to watch it is here.
coming to kamikatsu, i’m often reminded of the gift i’ve been given. this once in a lifetime opportunity to be here and live this adventure. i’m constantly experiencing new and exciting things, i’m travelling within a country i love, and i’m living life to its fullest. and because of that, there are moments, when i’m here in kamikatsu, where i feel like i’m not “supposed” to miss things… but i do. sometimes it’s only for a passing moment, sometimes it’s longer.
i think a repeated theme that keeps coming up when i reflect on the different experiences here is that this world has space for moments and feelings that aren’t binary, that aren’t able to be boxed in, that shouldn’t be boxed in.
i am learning to love the grandness of the mountains and trees, while longing for moments of stillness in front of the vast ocean. i am capable of loving both the adventure and community of the local people here, while missing my community in canada. and that is okay. i’m learning how to extend kindness to myself to unlearn this binary thinking, and relearn that we have always and will continue to live and feel on a spectrum.
so yes, i’m still an ocean girl at heart, but learning how to hold space for the mountains as well. ask me again in a year’s time and maybe i’ll hold this time capsule newsletter to see how the mountains have changed me.
mountains or oceans? we’ll have to wait and see.
💙💙💙Beautiful post and... The video 🥺 so heartwarming!! Aaah and how cool the hostel with the surf boards!! And to see you and Kana together! Sorry, this time I don't seem to be able to articulate complex reflections 🙏😅I simply really enjoyed this post!
This is really beautiful. I love where I am in life (at 47), but sometimes miss where I was at 32. And that’s okay. My life is a spectrum! Thanks!