When used genuinely without personal satisfaction, Love is, indeed, powerful...

Today was the most bizarre day of my life.  For those of you that know me, this is a bold statement.  Therefore, I feel it justly so to blog to the world to share it.  Because it will take reading it and hearing about it to believe it.  It's all true.  I can't make this stuff up.

Learning about Ken & Suisui's Family.  Look familiar?!

After working at the hospital and then volunteering at the pregnancy center, I received a phone call from the Public Relations office at JMU asking me for an interview.  They wanted to set up a series of interviews and photography sessions regarding my upcoming trip to Hiroshima to feature in their campus wide publications and in the community papers.  I had several calls coming in from different agents to confirm availability and to tell me of my appointments.  Preceding this call, my Advisor called to tell me that my presentation was fantastic.  BOOM!  (It must have been the Chicken my fabulous Sister-n-Law made that fueled my brain.  Clearly.)  I felt kind of like a celebrity.  After this phone call, I had plans to catch up on some school work and then meet up with Ken and Suisui Kenoshita for an afternoon of Japanese Tea and Story Telling.  It seemed harmless, but it spiraled to the most ridiculous adventure in Harrisonburg that I have quite possibly ever had.  I met Mr. Kenoshita and after sharing conversations with each other, the topic of my travel to Japan came about.  One thing led to another and we exchanged phone numbers.  A month or so later (June), Mrs. Kenoshita called me and invited me over for tea AND gave me the address of a friend she had in Japan that would be able to show me some of the "secrets" of Tokyo.  (SIDE NOTE: Ironically, his name was Tokio, with the emphasis on the -io (Tok-eeo) instead of the -yo (Tok-yo).) At the last minute, I decided to call my dad and invite him to join me.  Perhaps, it was an instinct of safety.  Or perhaps it was more of the power of Love having its way over my own.  Regardless, we carpooled to Ken and Suisui's house together, not anticipating the events to follow.

We shared an afternoon of Japanese Tea.  Or as Suisui would say, "Just tea.  Tea is Japanese; therefore, you don't need to describe it as being Japanese."  They shared stories with me about what to do and what not to do.  Stories about culture and custom, as well as the secrets that the Travel Books don't tell you.  For example, did you know it's not acceptable to tip in Japan?  Or, when taking the Shinkanssen, you should ask for a seat on the right side of the train heading toward Hiroshima because you will get the most beautiful view of Mt. Fuji about 45 minutes into your travel.  Or the best one, advice to eat a Japanese Pancake.  Google it.  Ken proceeded to share pictures of Peace Memorial Park and 'Ground Zero'.  While this was uncomfortable for my father and I, it was an opportunity for broken relationships (broadly speaking) to be reconciled.  Dad there, proudly wearing his Air Force shirt and me wearing my Peace shirt.  Ken & Suisui devastated by something my homeland had significant involvement with.  That alone, would have been an afternoon to remember.  Two native Japanese elders were showing a Filipino native and an American Young Adult the destruction that failure to communicate or what lack of genuine love can do.  And yet, the uncomfortable feeling was serene and real.  I'm not sure how this moment lead to a phone call, but it did.  As dad and I were processing, Ken secretly had called Japan and our good friend Tokio was now on the phone.  (Remember, Tok-eeo?).  What I failed to tell you is that Suisui and Ken are secretly trying to play 'matchmaker'.  He is a 31yo Doctor in Japan and she said we needed to meet.  What happened next just adds to the story.  She handed me the phone and said, "Here, talk!"  Mind you, it is now 0500 in Japan.  If Japan called me at 0500, God bless the soul on the other side; it would not be pretty.  After the worlds most incredibly awkward conversation about how Tokio was attacked by a pig during his medical training, they then invited us to dinner.  (You were thinking medical doctor, weren't you.  No.  He's a Veterinarian).   Not just any dinner, mind you.  Of course not.

As we drive in separate cars to dinner, Dad all of a sudden had to pee.  And I mean, bad.  Literally, speeding down the road, we searched for a bathroom.  We weren't even on the right side of the road.  Dad was semi-crossing his legs AND speeding (which I still have yet to figure out the mechanics of this).  I suggest waiting until we get to dinner.  No, can't wait.  Then I suggested the gas station.  Yeah, okay.  Speeding ahead, he changes his mind, nope.  Gotta pee now.  I'm thinking, "oh my god, we are going to die" since we were weaving across two-lanes of traffic going opposite directions.  The next moment we are at a lawyer's office, dad is out of the van, peeing in the grass in front of the van.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!  All is fine, and we're starting to drive away.  I'm thinking, "gross, he didn't wash his hands."  Dad is thinking, "Phew, that was close."  The woman watching?  She's thinking, "WTF?"

So dinner.  Sure, you don't turn down Japanese elders.  It's the whole respect thing.  We talked about that custom earlier over Japanese T--, err, Tea.    So guess where we ate?  Sushi?  No.  Buffet?  No.  Sandwich place?  No.  Soup Kitchen?  Yes.  Truest story ever.  We ate at a soup kitchen.  While I sound shocked by this, I am not.  I am a little, but not because it was a soup kitchen, but because the intertwining stories and aspects of my life came racing together this afternoon in the most peculiar way.  Tea and International Travel Conversation?  Racing lunatic that needed to pee right then, regardless of external conditions like IV lines, blaring horns that don't stop unless you press a button, or no commode safely close by?  Soup Kitchen work and communicating with strangers over a commonly shared meal?  I mean, my mind was racing.  I did wake up at 130am to go to work, so perhaps it was fatigue?  No, it was all just plain ridiculous to piece together.

Left to Right: Dad, Mr. Kenoshita, Mr. Layman (he told really bad jokes that were not funny to the Asians.  But they politely laughed, regardless).  Watching Mr. Kenoshita and Dad discuss fishing was hysterical.  It was very clear that the Japanese and the Filipinos do not fish.  Mom, the Valley Girl gave them a few tips.  I sat and soaked it all in. 

Then I came home to lead an online class discussion, which totally flopped.  Whatever, did you read about my day prior?  As dad was dropping me off, he said, "We need to make dinner for them and have them to our house.  When you return, we will schedule a time and you will exchange stories with them, okay?"  He proceeded to thank me for inviting him to such an interesting afternoon.  For the VERY FIRST time, Dad and I held a conversation on War and International Policy that we agreed upon.  He commented on how he felt uncomfortable and embarrassed about the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings.  We both agreed that there are awful stereotypes placed on people based on previous events, but when you find time to sit down (and have tea and strawberries) and converse with each other, barriers to progress are broken.  Walls come down and truth is revealed.  Pain is recognized, but doesn't burden love.  When used genuinely without personal satisfaction, Love is indeed powerful.

I ended the night by having the Harrisonburg Fire Department deliver a pepperoni pizza to me and checking my fire alarms.  Fantastically bizarre day that I would not trade for gold.

On July 17th, each year, the HPD will come deliver you pizza from CiCi's and inspect your fire alarms for free. 

Goodnight, moon.  Tomorrow is a new day, for new adventures...

Somber Excitement

I take no credit in this picture, but I wanted to share it in anticipation of my upcoming trip to Japan.  I will, however, have many pictures similar to this when I return in August.

Floating Lantern Ceremony for Peace Day Celebration in Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima, Japan.  In remembrance of the Atomic Bomb dropped on August 6th, 1945 at 0815am.

In preparing my research and presentation, along with the logistics of this trip, I have failed to prepare emotionally.  For whatever reason, I researched Hiroshima University today and was quickly reminded of the reason and purpose of this trip.  Sure, it's a conference on disaster nursing and I'm going to be a Presenter and Group Leader.  But my heart was abruptly reminded of the reason for such a need in Japan after reviewing the Peace Memorial Park Website.  For those of you excited for me as I embark on yet another amazing opportunity and adventure; I am grateful.  In your excitement, as well as mine, let us remember why it is that a Global Citizenship Seminar on Peace is needed in this world.  Let us remember the agony and pain that our friends, not just in Japan, but all over the world face every second of their life.  From starvation to genocide, from war to slavery, from natural disasters to mass murders, from dehydration to sex trafficking, our friends in Japan are not alone.  They are, correction, they should be remembered alongside our brothers and sisters in Egypt, the Rohingya in Myanmar, the women sold for sex trafficking in Mexico, our young brothers recruited to fight in South Sudan, and the faithful in the Gaza Strip.  Can we not open our naive eyes to the hatred and the injustice in this world to see that we are not truly free?  While we enjoy friends and family, please remember that there are others-even in our own communities-that cannot.

My heart has really mixed feelings now, as I continue to prepare for my trip to Japan.  I'm excited, but I don't want my excitement to be mistaken for an indifference towards the pain and hurt that still is alive in Japan.  At the same time, I don't want to be somber and be mistaken for apathy toward living peace.  I also feel a little embarrassed.  I was warned about this feeling during my interview.  I was also warned that the community in Hiroshima is incredibly welcoming and a community of forgiveness.  Why embarrassed, you ask?  Well, as the only United States Representative for the Nursing Conference, I feel as though I have huge shoes to fill or huge judgements and generalizations to break.  I feel as though I will have an influence on how others will view Nursing in the United States, and really, how they will view the United States in General.  No pressure or anything.  I will have everything I need, emotionally and physically; even things I don't know I need until I need them.  I need to remember to find the peace inside of me; a peace that promises second chances. 

There is an incredible amount of unnecessary suffering in this world.  I don't claim, by any means, to know how to fix it all, or even a little bit of it.  But I know that together, we can make small changes for people.  And, as I've said before, I can't change the world, but we all have the ability to change one person's world.  Do your piece, to make peace.