Okinawa, Japan

Below is how I spent my layover: hearing the waves crash from a resort balcony while finishing my book and then attending the Ryukyu Lantern Festival that was hosted an hour outside the city.

Howdy, all! Once again, per usual, it has been a lengthy amount of time since I have last posted anything about my adventures and/or life. I have no excuse besides I have been attempting to keep myself occupied with other creative outlets and hobbies (water coloring, keeping a journal, reading many, many novels) I sound like the biggest hipster in the world (nothing wrong with hipsters), but I am trying to keep my mind stimulated with these things. I think it’s working? I can at least say that my library collection in Houston has grown exponentially. From the popular children’s, though highly adult read book, The Little Prince (thanks for the recommendation, Luca!) to novels such as “The Idiot” by Fyodor Dostoevsky and “The Sea Wolf” by Jack London (which both authors I am becoming obsessed with). As for the water coloring…yeah, I pretty much suck at it. Oh well.

As for my travels: Germany, Spain, and now Japan have filled my month of February. Traveling to Japan is always a special highlight to this job. For me, it is entirely out of my element. Normally in my travels I am able to understand something about the country; either I speak the language or they speak English/have multilingual signs, or have a similar culture. Japan is still so new to me. I’m completely foreign to it and that’s so different to me. Though it’s always a new story to tell and this two day layover was no exception.

Below is how I spent my layover: hearing the waves crash from a resort balcony while finishing my book and then attending the Ryukyu Lantern Festival that was hosted an hour outside the city. Despite the pouring rain that welcomed us to the festival, the event was a nice local experience and I’m glad I got to attend it. This definitely got me to add “See a floating lantern festival” to my bucket list. Next time!

That’s all for now, folks! Until next time.

Remember: Live courageously and wholeheartedly.

Mary Anna

Also shout out to Sam for hanging out with me the entire trip. Girl, you rock.

Ryukyu Lantern Festival-