Fukuoka

Last year, when I was leaving Korea after my contract with Kidsclub, I took a ferry over to Fukuoka.  On this ferry I met a woman and her friends.  They shared some of their food and beer with me and we chatted in Korean/Japanese via my limited Korean and Japanese phrase book.  When we exited the ferry we parted ways.  I had no plans so I was considering my options of getting a hostel or hopping on the train to another part of Japan.  I was awaiting confirmation on my Vipassana course so I had a couple days to putz around.  As I stared at the map trying to find a symbol that looked like a locker, she come over and in limited English/gestures invites me to meet her daughter.  I hesitated for a moment but considering that I had nothing to do I chalked it up to an adventure in the making.  Her daughter met us and invited me to go to a museum with her and her sister.  We went and had a nice time.  They introduced me to soba noodles and powered green tea.  I went back to their mother's house with them and met their brother and kids.  

Megumi was 25, Yuming 26 and Ayato their brother 30.  They also have children varying ages, all so cute but I can't remember their names.  A baby girl, a little boy, a young girl and Yuming was expecting a baby that winter.    I spent a couple days with their family throughout the 2 months i stayed in Japan.  I met back up with them after the vipassana course.   We've been keeping in touch through brief emails that I translate through the Internet.  They email short statements and attach pictures of their kids.  

After toying around with a couple Christmas options I emailed them to see if they were busy.  They immediately called me saying I can come and visit any time. It was a little difficult to express ourselves but we managed.  So...this Wednesday Kaleena and I will take a train down to Busan and then the ferry over to Fukuoka for a couple days.  It's been a year and a half since I've seen them.  I can't wait to see how big the kids have gotten and I hope that i'll be able to communicate better.  I am going to download some Japanese language options for my ipod...gotta love technology.  They used their phone translators and gestures the last time and i used my phrase book and expressions.  Communication in all forms can be so powerful. 

I have had this happen a couple times in my life, but it still fascinates me to this day how a connection with certain people can be formed no matter the language, back ground,  or other factors that seem to keep people from being kind to each other.   There is a connection between people that goes much deeper than the superficial factors that make us feel comfortable.