To use the word that a friend gave me that perfectly describes the situation, this post will be bittersweet. I am moving back to Texas. After 7 months in Japan, the first five of which were spent teaching English, I must bid a temporary goodbye to the place I’ve come to call home.

The title of the post says ja mata, or more of a temporary parting. Sayonara is more of a definite farewell. I use the former because this will not be a final goodbye to the country.