Sayonara, Akinosora
This marks the end of my 2-year stint in Kobe, as well as this blog that has well served its purpose of recording bits and pieces of my life, thoughts and feelings while in Japan.
Thank you so much for taking the effort to read my blog and leave comments or encouragements behind. In little little ways, each of you certainly has added on to this blog a lot more than I ever could.
I appreciated it.
So long, farewell. (^.^)ノ~~
The web of life
Life’s full of beginnings and endings, isn’t it? More often than not, they overlap each other, and most of the time, neither can occur without the other – no beginnings, no endings; no endings, no beginnings. Don’t start talking about how the world was actually created. I am not really interested in finding out whether the Big Bang theory holds true, and it really has nothing to do with what I am thinking about. I’m more interested in unraveling life’s mysteries.
Life is really a wonder I think. The amazing web that weaves people’s lives together, in ways that we would never know until we reach the center of the web. Steve Jobs talked about connecting the dots, I think about weaving the web.
Take it this way: Each web is a dream we have. As we spin this web of dream, many other people get involved, whether we like it or not. But they all serve a purpose – to support this web. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to get to our target in the center of the web. No man is an island after all.
Spiders start small. They slowly increase the size of the web as far as time allows. Once they get a target, they start moving in towards it.
Everyone starts small. As we slowly work on our dreams, we meet many people along the way, and they, as I’ve mentioned earlier, are part of the web. You may not realize when they’re gonna be a part of your dreams, but when you start moving in, you’ll probably realize how they are a part of your life. When you succeed, on looking back, you’ll realize how each and everyone of them played a part in helping you in your success.
It’s the same for everyone. They are part of your web, you’re a part of their webs. Even when the web gets destroyed somehow, start again as spiders do. It’s never too late for that. Leave a legacy behind.
I hope I won’t live like a fool. I hope one day when I look back, I’ll be able to thank each and everyone of whom has been part of my web, offering support and encouragement.
A new beginning may seem like my web’s been destroyed, but I believe it’s only a part of a much bigger one. One day, I’ll look back on everything sparkling with clarity.
最後のお会い
最後のお会いは辛かったよね。特に私には。本当にお別れのは嫌だわ。でも、まあ、シンガポールはそんなに遠くないから、いつでも会えるよね。私はシンガポールで頑張るので、皆も頑張ってね！
東中さん
美穂、力ちゃん
美穂ちゃん
森本お好み焼き
森本さんと最初と最後の写真
麻美
麻美のビール・マグ
信楽焼き
ヒップホップダンスの皆さん
ダンス先生のハンメさん － カッコイイよね
剣道星剣会
三好先生
真奈 － 日本語の先生
火曜日の８１０のクラスと達生
中筋さん
テマセック全員と節子
帰る途中の雲海
仁川空港におる神戸ハード・ロック・カフェイー・ベア
雲橋
お月様
本当に皆と出会えるのは幸せだと思っているんよ。ではいつかまたお会いしましょうね♪
Bidding farewell
31st of May marked the end of my teaching stint at Temasek. I didn't realize that I'd grown so attached to them, and when the time came to bid farewell, each goodbye left me feeling a little emptier.
I guess we would meet again someday, but it wouldn't be the same anymore. Time flows, and along with it, our lives.. Nevertheless, I'm glad our paths crossed.
I guess I really am thankful for these 2 years. Looking back, it really wasn't easy, but I guess it's made me a stronger person. I may have lost many things, but I have gained so much more than I had expected. I may have taught them English, but they have taught me so much more about life.
I think I still love life after all. Can't wait for more!
Monday
Masahiro
Tomoki and Hina
Tuesday
Reiko
Wednesday
Fumie
Takumi, Hidetoshi, Monami, Takato, Tomoka, Haruna, Moe
Eiko, Akira, Shigeru, Miki
Asami
Thursday
Toyoko and Saori
Friday
Rieko, Fumie, Setsuko
Saturday
Yuta, Kanta, Aya, Ayaka, Azusa, Mako
Azusa and Aya
Ayaka and Kanta
Riki, Miho and Marika
Yusuke and Kosuke
***
My classroom for the past two years
The teachers' room - my desk
***Feeling kind of aimless now. After thinking about lessons day after day, now that I don't have to do it anymore, I feel kind of strange, like something's missing. In fact, I still find myself thinking about how to teach English sometimes. Haha
Well, I really wanna see what life brings me!!!!
もう・・・嫌だわ！
It's really getting harder and harder bidding farewell to them.
なんか、心がめちゃ痛い。だんだん重くなっている。もう本当に嫌だ！！
Farewell party
The much-anticipated/dreaded farewell party is finally over.
A whirl of feelings now - relief, exhaustion, and tons of sadness. Strange feeling. I still can't imagine not being able to see them anymore, and it might be forever.
Was so nervous giving my farewell speech that I still feel the butterflies in my stomach now. Tried really hard not to cry that I had to stop several times. But ended up crying anyway while taking photos.
I'll really miss them so much. So so much.
Sigh.
Some pics of the day:
The sweet-looking girl in blue is the new teacher!
Boss, Noriko-san, and Master
Chihiro and Tadashi
Tadayoshi and Miyu
Akira and Toshihiro
Takako - she made me cry in the end. The power of words. The power of English.
Tomoe and Haruka
皆さん、本当に有難うございました。一生も忘れない。
get a hold on yourself!!
ARGH!
There are so many things to do before the farewell party on Sunday! Ended up cramming everything within a week - writing cards, making corsages, packing, moving, preparing my farewell speech and stuff.
And the worse thing is, I can't get to sleep properly even though I am so tired. End up feeling wide awake every time I turn off the lights - insomnia, a sign of anxiety?
I really should kick this bloody habit of leaving everything to the last minute.
Dammit.
***
Update: After 4 long hours of sewing, I've finally got my wrist corsages ready. One thing off my mind. =) *whew* Thanks for your concern for those who were concerned. =)
Goodness.
Time is moving so fast it's scary.
I have tons to do ie. packing, writing goodbye cards, arranging meet-ups and stuff.
stuff = reading Nana (*^.^*)
I really don't like goodbyes. I've been saying so many goodbyes these two years that I'm sick of it. It's always darn sad for me, especially this time round, because I won't be able to see them every week from June onwards.
There are so many things that I'll miss that I don't think I can list them all.
But here's what I can think of right now, and in no particular order, here they are:
1. My messily cosy room (those who have been here before will understand I'm sure ;))
2. Cycling down the slope while staring up at the starry winter sky before speeding up to my apartment's bicycle parking lot
3. Cycling through the Center Shopping Street all the way to and from Sannomiya
4. Waving to the Lawson cashier when I pass by at night
5. Buying groceries at Kansai Supermarket every Thursday and Saturday
6. Eating Oden in winter
7. Just sitting at a cafe reading a book or a comic while sipping coffee on a cold autumn/winter/spring day
8. Basically just spending time alone
9. Pretty Christmas light ups along the street near my house
10. Reading at Maiko with wind blowing in my face and Akashi Bridge above me - great view!
11. Shopping at Porto Bazaar
12. Making lone day trips
13. Drinking coffee with Boss (almost) every day in the office
14. Classes with Tomoki and Hina
15. Classes with Masahiro
16. Classes with Fumie
17. Classes with Tomoka, Moe, Takato, Takumi, Haruna, Monami and Hidetoshi
18. Classes with Asami and Saori
19. Classes with Akira and Toshihiro
20. Classes with Megumi and Hidenori
21. Classes with Toyoko and Tadayoshi
22. Classes with Fumie, Setsuko and Rieko
23. Classes with Ayaka, Kanta, Aya, Azusa and Yuta
24. Classes with Yuu, Kou and Miho
25. Classes with Rei and Ami
26. Going to Mu-hen every second Tuesday for yummylicious fried chicken and 100 yen beer
27. Going to the gym the next day to work off the fats
28. Going to the gym with Boss every Wed and Fri
29. Dance classes on Sat
30. Kendo practices on Sun
31. Ichiban Daiko
32. Hot springs
33. Morimoto's okonomiyaki
34. Pastel Restaurant's spaghetti and PUDDING
35. Miyoto's gyoza at Shinkaiichi
36. Kimchi Fried Rice at Coca 57
37. 山神山人's Ramen
38. Taro Ramen with Shigemi
39. Spaghetti's Factory
40. Karaoke at White Kangaroo
41. Watching Ainori!
42. Watching baseball matches
43. Watching Japanese PQ TV programs
44. Ben-chan
45. Thick bread with butter, cornflakes and honey (contributed by Wendy) hehe
But I guess I would miss the students the most, especially the kids. *sob* I'd really love to see how they would be like 10 years down the road.
***
I'm sleepy. And I have so many things to do that I wonder if I'll be able to finish them on time.
-_-;
I wish time would pass just a tad slower.
《眼泪成诗》-孙燕姿
我已经
已经把我伤口化作玫瑰
我的泪水
已经变成雨水早已轮回
我已经
已经把对白流成了永远
忘了天色
究竟是黑是灰
分手伤了谁
谁把他变味
我的眼泪写成了诗已无所谓
让你再回味
自古罪人仍自罪
因为回忆总是美
我已经
已经把绝情变成了恭维
品位不配
一种不能自卑说声失陪
我已经
已经把沉默变成了忏悔
无路可退
只能无言已对
分手伤了谁
谁把他变味
我的眼泪写成了诗已无所谓
让你在回味
自古罪人无自罪
因为回忆总是美
分手伤了谁
谁把他变味
我的眼泪写成了诗已是无所谓
让你再回味
自古罪人无自罪
你的品位总是美
