Today is our anniversary! We’re celebrating by going out for Chinese food and a movie with the kids (Ponyo, the new animated movie by Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki). We’ve been married for 11 years, the last 6 1/2 spent in Japan. Reia is eight now and attending a Japanese elementary school. The twins are five and in their last year of preschool.

I haven’t given any updates about our life for awhile, so here’s a quick recap of where we’re at. We moved to Hachioji 2 1/2 years ago. We came here to sink our roots closer to nature and launch Global Adventure.

We’ve enjoyed living closer to nature. We live near Takao Station on the edge of Tokyo next to the mountains. The kids are in an outdoors school where they’re learning kayaking plus mountain biking, camping, etc. We live one station away from Mount Takao, which has great hiking trails (especially if you take off on the seldom walked longer routes).

Global Adventure is slowly gaining momentum. I’m taking our second group to Cambodia in September. I’m sure they will come back with new perspectives on life and stories to share. Meanwhile, one of the participants from the first group is putting the finishing touches on a Japanese website for the orphanage that we partner with (it’s still in rough form but you can see the site here). The other participant is also helping to orient the new group, and she hopes to return to Cambodia on our first trip next year. Based on what I’ve seen of other groups, it’s the past participants and their ongoing participation that creates real momentum and progress.

Here in Hachioji we’ve developed many friendships and expanded our network in exciting directions. We also had our first serious conflict recently. (As a wise friend simply said, “These things are expected.”)  At the same time this conflict came up, another friend offered to help get me on campus at a nearby university. I’ll be working with him starting in the Fall. As one door closed (with some relief in the end to be honest) and another opened.

All of this and it’s Summer, a season of enduring and vacationing if you can. The Summer in Japan rarely lends itself to progress. Too hot, and muggy.