Back to America

Finally, after 1 year and 9 months, we headed back to America. The final week in Japan was insanely busy. Finishing up work, kids finishing up school, and packing up the house was a lot to do. On top of that, just saying “bye” to so many people was emotional and tiring.

Starting on Wednesday, June 30, the first domino fell. That was Nathan’s last day of school. All the kids got together and made a digital photo album for Nathan and sent it to us. All the kids wrote a little note and held it up in their picture.

Everyone was so overwhelmingly kind to us. Everyone wanted to take a picture with Nathan as we were trying to leave. And a family even came by our house later to drop off a card. It was crazy. I think this just shows the Japanese kindness perfectly.

Nathan’s teacher also got him a little gift as well.

Then Friday, July 2 was Caroline’s last day of school. Her class made her a little book with a handwritten note from each student.

Then she also received a lot of individual gifts from kids. Even kids that weren’t in her grade. She was a bit famous, being the only American in the school. And she was very outgoing and funny, which brought a lot of attention to her. There were many tears, including the teacher.

Finally, after all our last days at work and school, we got down to packing the house. Then on Monday morning, the moving company came to pick up all our boxes. We shipped 54 boxes to Japan, and we are bringing back 84. So we accumulated a bunch of junk.

After staying in a hotel for the final two nights in Japan, we made our way to Tokyo.

On the way to the airport we had two orders of final business. One was to stop by Ichiran, our favorite ramen shop.

The 2nd order of business was to stop at one Starbucks in each prefecture we entered. Because right now in Japan, each prefecture has its own unique Frappuccino flavor. So there are 47 to get. We already had the Tochigi one. So we stopped at Starbucks in Tokyo, and then again in Chiba prefecture. Because the airport is not actually in Tokyo, its in Chiba. So we were able to get 3 of 47 flavors!

On the plane, the kids were great. Just chilled in their business class pod. And slept most of the way.

I think the flight attendants liked our family. They were Japanese. And from the start, Caroline communicated in only Japanese with them and surprised them. Then they caught Heather with tears in her eyes because she was sad to leave Japan. So they talked to her about that. Then toward the end of our flight they brought Heather a special snack plate with a personal note, origami, and two green milk teas for her and I. They were so nice.

They even came to get us to tell us the Aurora Borealis was visible as we flew between Russia and Alaska. They didn’t tell any other passengers. They took us up front to look out the door window. We tried to take a picture, but it really couldn’t be captured. It was awesome though.

We landed in Chicago and had a pretty smooth transfer. Then headed off to Columbus. Where we were first greeted by Mrs. Mertens! She was on our flight. We were super surprised. Haha.

Then we were greeted by Dom, who was greeted by a giant hug from Caroline. And appropriate social distance by Nathan. Our first stop was Chipotle as it naturally had to be. Then to our house!

And that was it for the Japan chapter of our lives. The End.