My phone likes to share slide shows with me of pictures I took a year ago or two years ago and so-on. Since it’s September, my phone’s been bashing me over the head with pictures I took in September 2019, back in the before times.

That year, I went on a trip to Shikoku with my fellow Hello!s teachers. It had been a really hot and humid summer, and Seattle girl that I was it was absolutely destroying me. The thought of spending hours at a time on a bus and having to do touristy things in the baking heat was not appealing. At all. However, that’s not what happened. While it was still hot and humid in Ogaki, the bus ride to Shikoku was scenic, cloudy, and noticeably cool. There were forests and mountains and rivers and good weather–a very appealing combination. I still got carsick, like I always do, but the bus ride was quite pleasant otherwise. Then we reached Shikoku, and the weather got even better. It was windy and a little rainy, but not pouring, just a light sprinkle. This is my favorite kind of rain. We went sightseeing on this rocky outcropping of an island, saw some whirlpools, and generally enjoyed the sea breeze. Then we continued on some more to an onsen. I greatly dislike being submerged in water, so I didn’t partake of the onsen, but I did enjoy the trek up the nearby mountain for even more sightseeing and good weather. Drank Ramune. Took lots of pictures. The trip back was equally great. We made a brief stop in a village famous for their indigo dye, and I got a cool fedora, among other things. Took lots of pictures of the koi fish.

Honestly, I’d been quite apprehensive about going on that trip to Shikoku. I’d been on school trips before, of course, but I’d never taken a trip somewhere with coworkers before. However, the weather was perfect, the food was delicious, and the sightseeing was fantastic, so I had a really great time. Scrolling through my pictures from that trip brings a smile to my face.

Due to, y’know, the plague and all, travel has been significantly curtailed for obvious and understandable safety reasons. I do miss travelling, though. It’s been a big part of my life since forever. For now, I’ll tide myself over with pictures of old and dreams for the future.