Daydreaming of Travel

Early autumn in Tokyo

As of October 1, the third (or maybe fourth?) round of state of emergency is over in Japan. Things are looking good this time around. Japan's vaccination rates are increasing steadily, with over 60% vaccinated. Daily number of new cases in Tokyo fell below 200. People continue to wear masks. If things stay on course, who knows? Maybe we can think about travel again in a few months. 

Things are moving forward cautiously here. The most predictable thing about this pandemic is how unpredictable it is, and because of this, everyone is treading lightly despite improving statistics. I left a lot of things in my parents' basement in February, thinking that we would see each other again in a few short months. It doesn't look like that will happen until early next year. I would not say I'm an optimistic person, yet this pandemic has repeatedly exceeded my bleak expectations. When school and businesses closed in March 2020, I thought it would last a few months. When vaccinations rolled out in the United States in early 2021, I thought, just a couple more months. When we left America, M was just over a year old, and potty training was still a remote idea. I also tend to think of time as passing more (wishfully) slowly when it comes to kids, so I thought we would be back to collect those things when the time came. Now M is almost 2, ready to potty train, and the training potty is still sitting in my parents' basement. 

Despite this, I find myself thinking about traveling more and more! My possible destinations are divided among three categories: visiting family and friends (and not necessarily the places they live), places I want to visit again, places I've never been and want to go. Since we have never been on an international holiday with both kids, even repeat destinations promise new experiences. At the top of my list are Norway (never been, for a Polar Night run held every winter), Chile (been without kids, loved it, and would like to see the Patagonia next time), Paris (been multiple times, but who can stay away? Would also love to visit other areas of France), and Hungary (never been, would go for the music alone). 

While the time has not come for us to travel internationally yet, we do have domestic travel plans. We have a flight booked for Okinawa later this month. Neither my husband nor I have been, and we are very excited. There are several Okinawa islands. We are headed for the main island.

Meanwhile, life in Tokyo has been good. The days start and end cool and culminate in warm, but not hot, temperatures. The sweet olive trees have blossomed a second time. The first was early September. I didn't know trees could blossom twice in a month. I won't complain because it is the most beautiful scent. There were sweet olive trees planted in front of my childhood school in New Orleans, so it is also a very nostalgic scent.

The sweet olive trees are yellow here, but I remember them being white in New Orleans.

Persimmon trees are also ripening with its fruits. I have never lived in a place where persimmons grow on a city street like this. 

Limited international travel has allowed us to better enjoy our immediate surroundings. In Tokyo alone, there are neighborhoods that would take an entire day to explore. And being new to Japan, there is still so much to see. The wonderful thing about having limited options is that it gives you the freedom to cherish what you have. It's the freedom to enjoy the moment and not make choices.