Thoughts on living on an island

In August 2005, the Kimmel family started a grand adventure when we left America to live in Iceland. Jessie was only 3 years old at the time.  At the time, the flight to Iceland was the first time Jess had been on an airplane. I bought her these really cute pink boots to wear on the trip so she would be excited to wear her boots and not be scared of the airplane. Little did I know that she was going to have to take them off to go through airport security. She screamed and cried as the boots came off, but once they were back on her little feet she was fine. She wore those boots out during the 10 months that we were there.

Then, just as soon as we had settled in Iceland and received our furniture, the base closure was announced and we were off to another island, this time on the other side of the world....literally!

By this time, Jess was an old hat at airport travel and we were excited to have another adventure as we headed to Japan. We arrived in Okinawa and within days, we felt such peaceful feeling that we knew this was where we were supposed to be.

This year, she started taking lessons at Okinawa Actor's School, which she has really enjoyed.  Every other week, she has Song class at the Actor's school and one of the songs that she picked to practice is an Okinawa inspired song called Shimanchu Nu Takara. The words to this song are simply beautiful and made me realize that even though Jessie wasn't born in Okinawa, she has lived on this wonderful island longer than anywhere else in her life, and she is truly going to be an island girl!

SHIMANCHU NO TAKARA BY BEGIN

boku ga umareta kono shima no sora wo
boku wa dore kurai shitteirundarou

How well do I know
These island skies that I was born under
kagayaku hoshi mo nagareru kumo mo
namae wo kikaretemo wakaranai

The shining stars, the passing clouds
Even if you ask me, I don't know their names

demo dare yori dare yori mo shitteiru
kanashii toki wo ureshii toki mo
nandomo miageteita kono sora wo

But more than anyone, I know them
In joy and in sorrow
I've gazed up at this sky countless times

kyoukasho ni kaitearu koto dake ja wakaranai
taisetsu na mono ga kitto koko ni aru hazu sa
sore ga shimanchu nu takara

You can't understand it just by what's written in a textbook
Surely, there is something precious here
That is the treasure of the islanders

boku ga umareta kono shima no umi wo
boku wa dore kurai shitterundarou

How well do I know
The seas of the island where I was born

yogoreteku SANGO mo hetteyuku sakana mo
doushitara ii no ka wakaranai

The wounded reefs and dwindling fish
I don't know what to do about them either

demo dare yori dare yori mo shitteiru
suna ni mamirete nami ni yurarete
sukoshi-zutsu kawatteyuku kono umi wo

But more than anyone, I know
Caressed by the sand, tossed by the waves
This ocean that keeps changing little by little

TEREBI de wa utsusenai RAJIO demo nagasenai
taisetsu na mono ga kitto koko ni aru hazu sa
sore ga shimanchu nu takara

You won't see it broadcast on TV or playing on the radio
But surely, there is something precious here
It's the treasure of the islanders

boku ga umareta kono shima no uta wo
boku wa dore kurai shitterundarou

How well do I know
The songs of this island where I was born
TUBARAAMA mo DENSAA bushi mo
kotoba no imi sae wakaranai

The Tubaraama, and the Densaa Bushi, [1]
I don't even know the meaning of the words

demo dare yori dare yori mo shitteiru
iwai no yoru mo matsuri no asa mo
doko kara ka kikoetekuru kono uta wo

But, more than anyone, I know
On celebration nights and festival mornings
The songs that drift over me from somewhere far

itsu no hi ka kono shima wo hanareteku sono hi made
taisetsu na mono wo motto fukaku shitteitai
sore ga shimanchu nu takara

Until that someday when I part from this island
I want to understand the precious things here more deeply
That's the treasure of the islanders
(sore ga shimanchu nu takara)
(sore ga shimanchu nu takara)

(That’s the treasure of the islanders)
(That’s the treasure of the islanders)

My One Little Word

My cousin has an awesome blog and I follow it regularly. Over the past year, as I read her posts, I felt a desire to write more...which is pretty shocking, since I am not really much of a writer. In fact, I am what you might call communication-challenged.

In one of my cousin's recent posts, Chris talks about the idea of "one little word" and using this word to guide you throughout the year. The idea originated (I think) on Ali Edwards blog and I really like the concept. So with these things in mind, my one little word for 2011 is "Communicate." This year, I am going to communicate more, with my family, with my friends, and with myself. One way to do this, is to blog. So there it is...I have become a blogger! Lets see where this path leads....