So, I’m packing for a trip to a conference in Baltimore, and this is always a good opportunity to fill the luggage with old stuff I don’t need so I can bring it with me to the States and put it in storage. As I’m going through boxes in my closet, I find an old camera bag from a digital camera I had way back in 2004. In the side pocket was this:

I got the camera from my mom as a graduation present. I got the heart as a sort of going-away present. When I got the job at a language school called GEOS in Yokohama, I dropped by my old high school in Staten Island to let all my old teachers know. There was my psychology teacher, who offered his congratulations. My music history teacher, who was thrilled at every piece good news. My geometry teacher, who hated my guts and didn’t care.

Then there was my orchestra teacher. I was in the orchestra all four years playing the triangle and snare drum because I wasn’t good at anything else. She was equally thrilled as my music history teacher was. I promised to come back every now and then and tell them how I’m doing.

Then there was her very young daughter, about twelve or so when I left for Japan. She used to drop by after school and wait for her mother to finish teaching, so she was often in the lobby playing with toys while we were doing our extracurricular stuff. I ended up making conversation with her every now and then while I was waiting for my aunt to pick me and my sister up in the late afternoon.

She was there that day, so I told her that I was leaving the States. Totally unprompted, she gave me that heart, a little toy thing that I imagine you glue onto your doll or dress. It has a transparent surface so it reflects in the light. I said I’d hold onto it when I went to Japan.

I didn’t know how long I’d be in Japan. A year, minimum. That first time, it turned out to be one year and ten months before I went back for my Masters. I promised myself I’d take pictures of it wherever I went in Japan. Sadly, I spent most of my twenty-two months in Yokohama, only heading out to a few select places in Japan (when you get paid minimum, your travel options are limited if you want a cozy home life). I did take a few pictures, though.

I know for a fact this is was in Vancouver during training. So this is a warning that I had no sense back then to include some really cool scenery in the shot.

Right outside Nara. At Todaiji. Which is also not in the shot. I know, this is not that impressive.

This one, however, I liked the most:

This was my first manager at GEOS. She told me to keep it and never lose it and take it wherever I went. She said it had a purpose of some sort.

The years have gone by and I haven’t done much with it, much to my own disappointment. But no, I never lost it. I still keep it with me, and if I’m going to be posting pictures of Japan, I might as well do it with the heart in my possession.

So the heart’s going with me to Baltimore and back and wherever I’m going next. I’ll post some pictures with it when I come across something good to see. Hopefully you’ll enjoy.