The Return Of Japan Boy

We waited for him....

... and waited.

For what seemed like for. ev. er.

... and then there he was!

 There were sweet little gifts from him and his host family.

The sweetest.

 ... and new fashions.

Chesty bonds and Japanese headbands, who'd have thought?

He's leaving me little surprises. 

Some wave.

So many stories to hear.... and not for the faint hearted either. If I'd have known that he was going to have to rise at 6am, ride a bike to the train station, then catch 2 trains for half an hour, then ride another bike for ONE HOUR, to the school every day... and then do the same again home at night, in the dark, with no helmet, with cars whooshing by, getting home to his host family by 9pm...... I would have thought twice about signing that consent form.

He thought it was UNREAL... all of it. His host family spoke not ONE word of English. He loved them, and chatted to them and played the piano for them and told them deadly Australian snake stories, all in Japanese. He said he spoke to anyone who would listen to him, anyone who didn't have headphones in their ears..... so he could speak his Japanese. He walked up to strangers and asked about their lives. He talked to little children, who were so cute he "could eat their cheeks". He learnt so many new phrases... colloquial speak. He revelled in every delicious moment. And it was delicious. His eyes get really wide when he speaks of the food. 

I could so travel with this boy. He sounds like me.

Now there's an idea!