jojo got back...
its funny, i knew the time would come when i was back in australia thinking about my experience in japan, but while in japan i half expected it to never end.
but here i am - back at my old computer, thinking about those last weeks in japan.
i met up with my old host family, or just mama and manaka, for tea once, which was great, because i noticed the improvement in my language, being able to talk to them more easily than i could have in february :)
school goodbyes were sort of stressful for me... too many presents and too much attention! but i did get out of there! farewells were sad.
on my last weekend my host family bought me a beautiful cake and we had a pizza-making night, a small party that really humbled me. they bought me a beautiful present to bring home too! i didnt deserve it!
Thankyouuu Shimojimas!
My last night in the country was perfect... I sort of spontaniously went to the Waseda Global Christmas Night that I had been invited to by one of the students/musicians I had met at Waseda-sai (im quite a fan!haha). so i went and watched new friends in various bands play - it was really great, lots of crazy, funny japanese bands.
and christine and i took a picture with the much admired "beatles" band =D
when i got home my host family took me for one last walk around the chateau... i knew i would miss the cold weather as we huffed out silver breaths. it was beautiful but so cold we came home fast.
before i knew it i was in nippori with YES and all the other students, saying goodbye speeches, which everyone stressed over alot more than was neccessary. later at the airport my host family all made it there again to say goodbye which meant so much, and i was a real big mess walking through to board the sydney plane... :(
on the plane home, i had waves of sadness that came and went, but i have realized that more than anything i am happy for all the experiences i had! it was such an awesome, challenging 10months that i know i came home a different person. this is all so cliche and i dont feel i can do a summary of the experience justice. the challenging experiences, and the amazing ones, will stay with me and continue to help me grow into the person i am becoming :)
but here i am - back at my old computer, thinking about those last weeks in japan.
i met up with my old host family, or just mama and manaka, for tea once, which was great, because i noticed the improvement in my language, being able to talk to them more easily than i could have in february :)
school goodbyes were sort of stressful for me... too many presents and too much attention! but i did get out of there! farewells were sad.
on my last weekend my host family bought me a beautiful cake and we had a pizza-making night, a small party that really humbled me. they bought me a beautiful present to bring home too! i didnt deserve it!
Thankyouuu Shimojimas!
My last night in the country was perfect... I sort of spontaniously went to the Waseda Global Christmas Night that I had been invited to by one of the students/musicians I had met at Waseda-sai (im quite a fan!haha). so i went and watched new friends in various bands play - it was really great, lots of crazy, funny japanese bands.
and christine and i took a picture with the much admired "beatles" band =D
when i got home my host family took me for one last walk around the chateau... i knew i would miss the cold weather as we huffed out silver breaths. it was beautiful but so cold we came home fast.
before i knew it i was in nippori with YES and all the other students, saying goodbye speeches, which everyone stressed over alot more than was neccessary. later at the airport my host family all made it there again to say goodbye which meant so much, and i was a real big mess walking through to board the sydney plane... :(
on the plane home, i had waves of sadness that came and went, but i have realized that more than anything i am happy for all the experiences i had! it was such an awesome, challenging 10months that i know i came home a different person. this is all so cliche and i dont feel i can do a summary of the experience justice. the challenging experiences, and the amazing ones, will stay with me and continue to help me grow into the person i am becoming :)