Advertisement
Published: July 20th 2009
Edit Blog Post
You don't measure a year. You cannot measure a year. I just spent 10 months in Japan learning Japanese, hands down the hardest thing I have ever done and the biggest change I've gone through. I was a student and a mentor. I was a younger and older brother. Very much a child, yet somehow found an adulthood. I felt more isolated and more included than ever before. I was mute and deaf then fluent. This blog is a nice decoration, but it only scrapes the surface. For everyone who read this in the past 10 months, commented, and tried to feel what I felt, and see what I saw, with me, thank you. Friends and family, thank you for your support. I can't wait to see you face to face and tell you even more about my land in the rising sun. (I have my memory card reader packed in my suitcase but when I get home I will post pics)
These past few days I had graduation, a last nomikai with the exchange students, and then finally, a few nights and days with the host family. These past two weeks I've been out of the house more than
been in it because of school and last promises to friends. Maybe only having 1 or two dinners at home. I felt bad, but this past weekend made up for it. I left it open just for them because they have been so wonderful. Nomikai was a nomikai. What I'll take away from this one is the memory of comparing to my first nomikai, in the same izakaya. I clearly remember how I struggled with confidence in both English and Japanese in that first, new setting. Now, this last one, I had made friends in both languages, enjoyed myself in two languages, and relaxed as I took it all in.
Saturday was the start of my time that I had left for me and the family before I returned home. We went together to the graduation ceremony, which was beautifully done in both English and Japanese. This time, unlike the entrance ceremony, most was in Japanese. Also unlike the entrance ceremony, I understood it. I received a gorgeous certificate of completion of the 1 year program - the memento of the blood and tears shed over Japanese for a year. I'll put a pic of it up later. It's
Paul Snowden
Head of SILS...uptight British probably more ornate than my Diploma will be. I was called to pick up the certificate, had my picture taken on stage by host dad, and returned to my seat. There I sat, thought for a bit at this odd arrangement of feelings in my head, glanced over at host mom, dad, and koji, and got teary. Why? Because these past 10 months we have lived together, and I was recognized as son. In Japanese, it comes out nicer. That I received the gift of being recognized as son. I looked at them and realized: I am feeling the same feelings toward them as I do my own parents when I glance up at them, always there, supporting me at a concert or formal event. It was indescribable. After the ceremony we made our way to reception for the SILS students and host parents where I bid a final farewell to my fellow exchange student friends and left with promises to call/visit/keep in touch, as we traveled the world and the United States.
Sunday was quiet, lots of packing and cleaning. But I was able to fit all of my things in to the same suitcases I brought here
which made me very happy. I was asked if there were any last places I would like to see and I answered "the Meiji Picture Gallery," a place my parents went to with host father and highly recommended. We went out for lunch there and took in a little history of Meiji. Altogether quiet, nice though.
My last day in Japan, today, Monday the 20th, was spent with host father playing golf at a course around 2 hours away from Tokyo. We got close, the two of us, during this homestay. We became baseball and golf buddies. He was very enthusiastic when he asked me about playing one more time before leaving for America. And so we played with 2 of his friends that I had met before. As it turns out, I won by a good margin. We played skins, 100 yen a hole. Since there were 4 of us most holes were ties, but I took down the big ones. On number 10 I took 5 and number 18 I took 7. Add that to the 1 skin on hole 2 and I walked away with around 3000 yen. After treating a round of yakitori at a
reststop I'll be putting 2000 into dollars tomorrow.
So then came the dreaded moment: the last dinner. We ate at the house - host mother had prepared a beautiful table like only Japanese and my mother can do. All plates and glasses matched and there were more dishes and accessories than mouths to feed. The food was an assortment of Japanese cuisine - yakitori, tempura, rice balls, picked veggies, seaweed soup - I couldn't have chosen a better way to go out. She also bought some really nice Japanese wheat beers, something I have been craving in this summer heat. We went around the table and talked about our favorite times, laughed, cried, and I thanked them from the bottom of my heart. I then got some going away and graduation presents - because it never ends with them. A beautiful sakura blossom inlay paperweight/desk ornament, a bottle of black beer from host sister's company's microbrewery, and my own set of chopsticks to take to America. The chopsticks actually came from the house-helper, who comes 3 times a week. She takes good care of us and I had bought a bouquet of flowers for her but never expected to
receive anything. It all stunned me, they always do. I also received a birthday present with the instructions to not open until July 26. Again, when I get home, all pics of these gifts will go up on the blog.
So that is it. I am sitting here in a room that is pretty well packed. Just me, my laptop, and my bags. There is a Japanese summer festival article of clothing called a yukata behind me that I plan on wearing on the plane back home. I figure the best way to go out is the way I came in and the way I lived these past 10 months - raising some eyebrows as a foreigner. Furthermore, it just so happens that said yukata represents my last item of clean clothing remaining in Japan, so wearing it tomorrow is not just for show, its for necessity. My 10 months is over - time to take my American life off pause and get back to a little reality at home and Lafayette. While it is tough to leave here, looking at what is ahead, I must confess, I am more than ready.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.161s; Tpl: 0.02s; cc: 10; qc: 49; dbt: 0.081s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
mom and dad
non-member comment
how do you measure a year?
For us the year was measured through your eyes, blogs, phone calls and emails. Through your ups and downs, successes and not... Your accomplishments, your realized dreams and attained goals. Our hearts are pounding with the anticipation of your arrival tomorrow. We are busting our buttons, so to speak with all that you have done, accomplished but more importantly with who you are. It seems that we sent away a boy and truly have a man returning. We know there is so much more to these 10 months than were written in your blog and we know what it took to work through the struggles and turn them into triumphs. Bravo to you, our son, Bravo!