Its been 10 months since I was there last, but i miss Tokyo more than cigarettes. I miss all my friends a lot, but I miss the city itself too. Viscerally, as Ms. Life Out Here said. I miss being anonymous and yet conspicious. I miss not really understanding the conversations around me. I miss the way the city looks, the sounds of it, the trains. I miss how it feels to move through it, I miss all the people i know and love who are still here. I miss the way my life was when I lived there. Sometimes it was hard; I was squashed, abused, frustrated, ignored and missunderstood. Sometimes it was great; I was amused and bemused, showered with random kindnesses, privileged, invited, awed and part of the flow.

I like Adelaide. This feels like home in a way that Tokyo never will. I also love that every now and then I get moments of “I’m in Adelaide!” excitement. I love the beach and the hills, the straight streets and the weather. I love my little home and riding around town on a salvaged bike, but the only time Adelaide fills the hole in my heart is when I’m on the beach. I wasn’t expecting this.

• Martine said on 06/09/17 at 12:31 PM.....

  Oh babe. Not only do you miss Tokyo but all of Tokyo misses you. And the best thing is, it will always be here, waiting for you.

• Thiru said on 06/09/17 at 07:09 PM.....

  Hey Jo,

  
  Fair enough. When I landed in Adelaide for first time, I missed my crowded India very much. Then one year after, when I went home - believe me - I couldn’t withstand the noise and crowd. I love Adelaide. Yet I miss India. You cant have both, sadly!!

  I like your blog!! Nice expressions, huh?

   

• T said on 06/09/18 at 02:01 PM.....

  We miss you too!!!  Lots and lots!!

• andrea said on 06/09/18 at 06:59 PM.....

  Hey, I am a friend of Martine’s and Amanda’s. I just came back from Japan to live in my home town, Melbourne, 2 months ago. I have one word to say…. wakarimashita!

• MissSin said on 06/09/19 at 02:37 PM.....

  ah, j-ster, as martine said, tokyo misses you too.

  
  but you know what, i miss that beach too (even though i was damn itchy!!)

  weird how we’re always missing something.  will be ever be fully content?

  
  miss you & here’s a big hug /(^o^)/

   

• Sarah said on 06/09/19 at 05:24 PM.....

  You will never feel completley fulfilled there until you get the terrorism fridge magnet.

• j-ster said on 06/09/19 at 05:59 PM.....

  Something i forgot to say at the end of the first paragraph was that life in Tokyo is lived much more at the extremes. Adelaide is lived much more in the middle. Im not saying one is better than the other, but i think *I* prefer, or am unable to get out of, the Tokyo mode.

  
  But thank you all for your comments, and virtual hugs!

• MJ said on 06/09/20 at 07:56 PM.....

  I miss you lots…. but after more than 13 years absence I don’t miss Adelaide at all. It has an atmosphere that I have never been able to understand.