“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” This is a line from one of my favorite poems by Mary Oliver called “The Summer Day” My answer to that question is that I’m going to spend a year in “The Land of The Rising Sun”…..Japan!
High on my bucket list has been to live in a foreign country for a year. You might recall that I set out last year to discover where this might take place. (You can read my blog post titled “Your Time As a Caterpillar Has Expired. Your Wings Are Ready”) I refer to that 7 months as “My Butterfly Tour”. I returned to the US last fall to regroup and look at my options. After considering a number of places, I decided on Japan. I thought I would be teaching English as a foreign language but instead I landed a job as a property manager. I’ll be working for a company, Niseko Resort Holdings, in the small ski town of Niseko in Hokkaido, Japan.
“My Butterfly Tour” continues and I’m off and flying once again! Come along with me on this journey.
Wishing you all much love, adventure and good health,
Antoinette
Red lantern in Japan
The Summer Day
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
—Mary Oliver
Konnichi wa Anoinette san I was thrilled to read that you are spending a year in the land of my ancestors. I certainly do admire so much your bravery in getting a job in a foreign country and, of course, all the adventures you have had and probably will continue to have forever!! Looking forward to hearing more.
Stay safe, healthy and happy.
Much love,
Alice
Thank you Alice! I’ve always wanted to live somewhere different so here I am!
I missed seeing you at the reunion this year!
I hope life is treating you well.
Love,
Antoinette
Wow Antoinette. I admire your free spirit and fearlessness. may you have a wonderful adventure in Japan. Enjoy as I know you will. Love Larry
Thank you for including us on your beautiful journey! What a wonderful experience. We can’t wait to hear and see what happens.
Love to you Susan and Dean
Hello Antoinette – looking forward to hearing about your adventures – love you!
What an amazing adventure Antoinette! It is wild and it is precious ❤️
Off you go little butterfly. I am sure you will find lot’s of opportunities to grow and learn and bask in a new culture. Look forward to experiencing it all through you….until I can get there. To be continued!
I’m counting on it! There is a lot to explore in this area! I’m also excited to explore other areas next year! Hugs!
Dear girl. What an wonderful adventure you are embarking on. Enjoy, embrace and be well yourself. Very blessed to have you in my life. Susan And Marc Ely we’re visiting yesterday. We both have children getting married soon. Life is good.❤️
Hi Antoinette! I heard that you were off on a wonderful year long adventure and I’m looking forward to traveling along with you. Thank you for sharing your stories, thoughts and The Summer Day… it was how Kay Matheron closed every email and I just love it! Can’t wait to hear more… love to you!!!!
Sunni
Hi Sunni, I love that poem as well as it reminds me to slow down and enjoy even the littlest things in life. I hope you are doing well.
Lots of love,
Antoinette
I am so looking forward to being a part of this wonderful year. I know it is going to be so different to anything you have done before. Spread your wings little one and soar like never before! Love and miss you so much already. XoXo