SAYONARA!
I can’t believe this is my last blog update from Japan, but it is. I don’t have much time, because I need to wake up in 6 hours to go to the airport. It’s 1 AM, and I just finished packing.
Today has been so hard. I went to the airport and saw Yudai off. Then I hung out with Jeremy for the last time. Then I had the final dinner with my host family. It was all really sad. And I cried a lot I guess. I’m an emotional person to begin with, so yeah, difficult day for sure.
I got a lot of nice gifts from my friends and family here. Yesterday classes 7 and 8 threw me a going away party after school! They decorated the room up really nicely, and had games planned out, and tons of snacks and drinks. It was supposed to be from 11:30 to 2, but everyone was having fun, so we stayed until 5:15 when the teacher said we had to leave because students aren’t supposed to be at school past 5:30 or something. So yeah, like 6 hours! It was really great to see all my friends for so long.
I WILL MISS EVERYONE HERE SO MUCH! And the food, and the culture, and the language. This has been such an AMAZING experience for me!! Unbelievable, seriously. So many great memories.
My suitcases are really big too, I hope they’re not over the weight limit. AND I’m sending a big package home. but I’m doing it by boat, because it’s much cheaper (albeit slower).
Can’t wait to see my family at the airport!
I’d like to thank my host families here a lot, Makis and Tyookas. I’d also like to thank Rotary for giving me this opportunity and for facilitating my time here. Also my family back in America for supporting me. And definitely God for watching over me, keeping me safe, and answering a lot of my prayers.
(Including this morning. I was very late, but I prayed very hard, and I made it to the bus with a minute to spare. IF I had missed that bus, I would’ve gotten about only 10 minutes to talk to Yudai instead of 40)
I’m so tired though. I’ll do an update in America to say I got home safe. THANKS EVERYONE!
I’ve been reading your blog and watching your videos for a long, long time, so sad to see that it’s finally time for you to leave. :( But I’m glad you had a nice party with your friends before leaving. Get home safe!
July 21st, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Paul! I really hope you have a safe trip back home!
It sounds so amazing that you’re leaving all this behind, because it’s been such an amazing experience for you..
but… it also seems so incredibly sad.. even with you just talking about it, I can feel how sad you are to leave this all behind.
I know you will cherish this experience.
July 21st, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Paul,
You had a dream, you envisioned it, you made it happened and now this dream is over. But what you experienced will last a lifetime and inform your future. We were lonesome without you and joyfully await your arrival home
July 22nd, 2007 at 10:34 am
Nice to meet you. I’m japanese.
I can speak and write a bit English,so I’m so sorrey I can’t do this.
Did you back to America?
I was always looking forward to your blog, so If you would back to America, please sometime you renewal (^-^)/
Take care…
July 22nd, 2007 at 11:03 am
Man, I can’t believe you’re going back already. Your blogs are really inspiring, and it makes me want to go to Japan even more. I’m glad you had a good time in Japan. Hope you have a safe flight, and welcome back to America. =]
July 22nd, 2007 at 11:22 am
Finally over, huh? Well, as everyone else said, good luck! When my friend left to go back to her home country, she was fine and had no problems blending back in. I’m sure you’ll do just fine, too. I hope this coming year is just as great because of Yudai being pretty close by! :D This doesn’t mean goodbye to the friends you made; there are always ways to keep in touch.
July 24th, 2007 at 4:34 pm