Recently there’s been a trend on Facebook in which people write about themselves years ago, and then compare what they’ve written about that time with how things are now. I often think about the ways I’ve changed anyway, but I really liked the exercise and its specificity. Since it seems fitting to recognize that things have changed–and will inevitably continue to do so–in accordance with spring, I created the following page in one of my art journals over the weekend.
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Age I was given: 19 (2005)
I lived in: Allendale, MI
What I did: I worked at a pizza place, a gas station, and as a Japanese language tutor at GVSU. All to help pay for going to university as a history major with a minor in psychology.
I drove: A 1995 maroon Ford Taurus, which hated me as much as my next car.
Relationship Status: Dating Chad.
I feared: Not having a purpose, never finishing school, not being happy with my schooling choices, not being accepted by others
Age now: 27 (2013)
I live in: Kobe, Japan
What I do: Work as an Executive Head Teacher & Curriculum Coordinator for an international school. Try to be fit and healthy while having a serious love for food. Be creative as often as possible. Be grateful as much as possible. Try to be as kind as possible. (By the way, I graduated with a degree in English Lit & Language with a minor in East Asian Studies…a bit different than I started out!)
I drive: Nothing! I take the subway and train, and walk everywhere else.
Relationship Status: With the best husband I could ask for. Married to Chad Dykehouse for nearly five years and together for about 9. Thankful everyday for someone who does so much for me –even when I don’t deserve it– who makes me laugh even when he’s being super naughty, and who drives me to remain curious, creative, confident and healthy.
I fear: Losing my competence in teaching when we go back to the states. Living a life without travel and adventure. Losing my Japan “family” over time and distance.
When I made this page I was really excited to try out these new “photo” stamps I found for about ¥200:
And when I thought about showing you those, I thought you might like to see my other supplies:
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Pens, pencils, washi tape (which you can buy at ¥100 stores in Japan!), stamps, stickers, glue, tape, scissors, push pins, little charms, envelopes, rulers, postcards/other found objects…
- Two different art journals (one with blank pages and one called SMASH with pre-made backgrounds), acrylic and water colors, crayons & pastels, gesso, colored paper/patterned paper, cutting board, tape…
All of these things need to be compacted, as you might imagine if you know anything about the amount of space (or lack thereof) in Japanese apartments:
- The pink basket in the back is stacked on top of old magazines
So that’s what I’ve got going for supplies, how about you? If you do art journaling or scrapbooking, what’s your favorite thing to do with your pages/to use on them? Or, separately, have you noticed any big changes in your life over the years, or are you expecting any with the coming spring?
*Side story: The reason I have a cutting board and no exacto knife has to do with a certain trip to Europe we made last year in which I forgot the knife was in my carry-on after using it at school, and proceeded to go through security with it! I guess we all feel safer knowing I was caught? Then again, we accidentally made it to Amsterdam with a beer in our carry-on, so one can never be too sure.
Little Snail 
i’m starting to see washi tape here in michigan more and more. and i was thinking about getting a smash book. do you like it?
Ariel- I do like it! It’s nice for when I don’t feel like making my own background. Also, different color SMASH books have different pages. I want a light blue one next! That’s cool that you can find washi–is it expensive?
Evie- that’s crazy! You win some, you lose some, I guess. I think I’d prefer to lose a ¥100 exacto knife over a sweet little samurai sword or a beer 😉 Chad’s brother tried bringing home a gun-shaped lighter in his checked, but was told he couldn’t. Chad still thinks we’re going to smuggle that home somehow, but we’ll see…
My mum made it through KIX customs with a mini decorative samurai sword in her handbag! It was the size of a penknife and sharp! :O
the washi tape is decently priced. especially considering it’s a martha stewart brand (i think).