A letter to Miss K and to myself

Dearest Miss K

Birthday party for our cousin

How are you doing? You've been in Japan for almost two weeks and from the photos you look like you are enjoying yourself, eating amazing food and spending time with special people.

 I miss you lots.

I ask my eight year old self if I would be as brave you are, exploring an unfamiliar country (with family), without my Mum. She looks at me and says 'of course' (like you did when I asked you about whether you really wanted to Japan last year. back then, the enormity of what it meant hadn't really sunk in for either of us).

"Besides," says my eight year old self, "there's all that technology stuff now to keep in touch. When you were me, we only had letters."

She's right - as you often are -  your adventures can be photographically shared online (immediately),  texts and emails instantaneously advise me if I need to call and  we can Skype. That helps close that divide... a little bit.

I know too that photos are happy moments, capturing a smile because that's how we're socially programmed to document our lives. I know that you are home sick sometimes and that the language makes it hard to communicate and that so much difference can be tiring. I understand.

I know you are brave and face each day with a smile and chirpy determination.

Miss K in contemplation...what is she thinking?

But there are things I don't know too, like if this was a good idea (irrespective of how much you wanted to go and how many times people tell me it will be 'good for you' - what do they mean by that?) or whether you'll be put off traveling  forever after.

Yet much of life learning is like that. It's not knowing, and trying and then say oh yes! that was the right thing to do (sometimes immediately, sometimes weeks, months, years down the track); or crap and botheration, that didn't work, this is what we've learnt and this is what we'll do different (sometimes immediately, sometimes weeks, months, years down the track).

It's being brave enough and curious enough to find out.

K enjoying Okosama lunch in Japan

Learning together is awesome, but there is also magic in learning apart - I'm hoping you'll share with me many things you discover on your adventure

... and I'll share this with you...

You are my teacher of courage, joy,and curiosity. I am inspired by you.

Love Mummy