Thus ends the era of Kathleen-sensei
My last day at school was Friday. I gave a speech, went to 5 classes, said goodbye to all my students and cried several times during the day. I'm going to miss those kids something fierce. Now I'm faced with the immediate problem of trying to figure out how to get all the presents given to me in a carry on. I'm only supposed to have 2 carry on articles (purse excluded). One student also gave me some tea leaves from her home garden...except they're in a regular little bag and almost look like pot, hahaha! I have no sense of smell, but I assume it smells different.
The new principal gave me this heavy box of instant houtou noodles so I can make it for people back home. Wow...and I've only known the man for like 2 months!
Friday night I picked up Renee and Chelsea and we headed to Otsuki for a goodbye dinner with people. I was told I wasn't paying for my meal so I jokingly asked what the most expensive thing on the menu was. Turns out what I wanted to eat WAS the most expensive thing on the menu. Guilt...which Chelsea and Dana smacked me out of. Afterwards we had crazy karaoke time. It was better than any sayonara party ever. The next day Dana helped me dump clothes off at Hard Off and I drove my car for the last time, taking it to Nirasaki and handing it over to Paul, one of the Irish engineers here. On the long train ride back home I ran into some of my recently graduated students.
I walked home slowly and enjoyed the last time I'll see a lot of this tiny, wonderful town. I hope my successor enjoys it as much as I did. I only wish I was the kind of person who could spend the rest of their life here.
Just cleaning the apartment today and getting everything ready to go back. Realized I forgot to take Rick and Marissa's DVD back to them, DOH!
Current dilemma - Throw posters away or spend money I shouldn't to send them home. Arg.
The new principal gave me this heavy box of instant houtou noodles so I can make it for people back home. Wow...and I've only known the man for like 2 months!
Friday night I picked up Renee and Chelsea and we headed to Otsuki for a goodbye dinner with people. I was told I wasn't paying for my meal so I jokingly asked what the most expensive thing on the menu was. Turns out what I wanted to eat WAS the most expensive thing on the menu. Guilt...which Chelsea and Dana smacked me out of. Afterwards we had crazy karaoke time. It was better than any sayonara party ever. The next day Dana helped me dump clothes off at Hard Off and I drove my car for the last time, taking it to Nirasaki and handing it over to Paul, one of the Irish engineers here. On the long train ride back home I ran into some of my recently graduated students.
I walked home slowly and enjoyed the last time I'll see a lot of this tiny, wonderful town. I hope my successor enjoys it as much as I did. I only wish I was the kind of person who could spend the rest of their life here.
Just cleaning the apartment today and getting everything ready to go back. Realized I forgot to take Rick and Marissa's DVD back to them, DOH!
Current dilemma - Throw posters away or spend money I shouldn't to send them home. Arg.