An end to another chapter of my life
(Thursday, July 29, 2010/5:02 PM)
Joy, fun, laughter, tears, sorrows, heartbreaks. As the JTW closing ceremony commenced, emotions ran high as the defining moment of our lives as students in Japan dawned upon us. In a short period of merely 4 months, I have made lifelong friends from all over the world, as well as learned valuable cultural lessons, sometimes the hard way...
Ironically, the moment we had all been waiting for, as well as the moment we dreaded the most (because we have to leave Japan...)
My moment of triumph... :)
Maki-san, my program coordinator who has been taking care of us. I was expecting an old hag at first, but was pleasantly surprised to realize that she's so beautiful! :D
Alamak, I'll see you guys again soon... :P
Sarah, send my regards to your Totoros! :) Momo, I will miss your friendship...
Hey Dan, I think you're the biggest weirdo in JTW (lol). But also, a dear friend with a big heart. :)
Cute German couple, Annika and Philip, who have become my friends for life :D
The Rino Cafe 'gang' is complete with Vanessa! (together with Sarah and Annika) :P
Mengmeng, you've been like a little sister to me. :) Your cheerful attitude has brightened many days of my life here in Japan! :D
Windy, it has been fun studying Japanese together with you! Take care back in Hong Kong and continue loving Kinki Kids! (^-^)
Awesome friends from Hong Kong who help me keep in touch with my Cantonese roots! :)
Rong Yi, I would want to visit you in Shanghai sometime in the future!
Me, Chris and Allen - the fearsome Otaku Trio! (with a guest appearance from Mengmeng)
Big Marc, I'm rather amused when I communicate with you in Mandarin. :P Take care, buddy!
Kieran, you're always seeking to further your knowledge, and that inspires me greatly as a student. :)
Hari, thanks for your encouragement and praise. :) You're an awesome guy too!
Adit (is that right?), you're a nice and gentle guy and thanks for your friendship. :)
Elaine, a bubbly girl who never failed to ease the 'tension' in our solemn Japanese class. :P
Haley, I regret that I never hung out much with you in the last 2 months due to certain circumstances... All the best in your upcoming career :)
I never had such a pretty Korean friend ever in my life! :D And you also have a genuine heart, Christina. Thanks for everything. :)
Hiro, a genuine friend whom I can rely on :)
Yuki, it'll be hard to continue our respective LDRs (long distance relationship) but hang in there!
Takafumi, thanks for your help when I first came to Fukuoka! :D
Kouji, thanks for being such a great friend to me although I didn't put in much effort to develop our friendship... I'll make it up to you someday...
Ironically, the moment we had all been waiting for, as well as the moment we dreaded the most (because we have to leave Japan...)
My moment of triumph... :)
Maki-san, my program coordinator who has been taking care of us. I was expecting an old hag at first, but was pleasantly surprised to realize that she's so beautiful! :D
Alamak, I'll see you guys again soon... :P
Sarah, send my regards to your Totoros! :) Momo, I will miss your friendship...
Hey Dan, I think you're the biggest weirdo in JTW (lol). But also, a dear friend with a big heart. :)
Cute German couple, Annika and Philip, who have become my friends for life :D
The Rino Cafe 'gang' is complete with Vanessa! (together with Sarah and Annika) :P
Mengmeng, you've been like a little sister to me. :) Your cheerful attitude has brightened many days of my life here in Japan! :D
Windy, it has been fun studying Japanese together with you! Take care back in Hong Kong and continue loving Kinki Kids! (^-^)
Awesome friends from Hong Kong who help me keep in touch with my Cantonese roots! :)
Rong Yi, I would want to visit you in Shanghai sometime in the future!
Me, Chris and Allen - the fearsome Otaku Trio! (with a guest appearance from Mengmeng)
Big Marc, I'm rather amused when I communicate with you in Mandarin. :P Take care, buddy!
Kieran, you're always seeking to further your knowledge, and that inspires me greatly as a student. :)
Hari, thanks for your encouragement and praise. :) You're an awesome guy too!
Adit (is that right?), you're a nice and gentle guy and thanks for your friendship. :)
Elaine, a bubbly girl who never failed to ease the 'tension' in our solemn Japanese class. :P
Haley, I regret that I never hung out much with you in the last 2 months due to certain circumstances... All the best in your upcoming career :)
I never had such a pretty Korean friend ever in my life! :D And you also have a genuine heart, Christina. Thanks for everything. :)
Hiro, a genuine friend whom I can rely on :)
Yuki, it'll be hard to continue our respective LDRs (long distance relationship) but hang in there!
Takafumi, thanks for your help when I first came to Fukuoka! :D
Kouji, thanks for being such a great friend to me although I didn't put in much effort to develop our friendship... I'll make it up to you someday...For my JTW friends who are still around for the fireworks event at Ohori on August 1st, I hope to see you fantastic peeps one last time before I leave Japan! Keep in contact on Facebook, alright? (^-^)
posted by MightyFlameboy. shoot me? | 0 shot me.
Last month in Japan... :(
(Saturday, July 10, 2010/10:32 PM)
It is often said that life as a Christian isn't a bed of roses. God puts us through the fires of trials and tribulation to strengthen our capacity. I learned the lesson firsthand. As a exchange student in the country which I absolutely adore, I should be indulging in the pleasures of life and liberated from worries...
But alas, that is not the case... I have come to the realization that a friend whom I initially thought would be my best buddy turns out to be a hypocritical liar who bore a grudge toward me for months. I may not have handled matters the way which each of my friends think is right, but I always have my friends' best interests at heart. I say this with a clear conscience.
To avoid him, I "exited" the clique we were in. Or rather, I was silently "ousted" from the group. He puts on a mask so easily and readily. Greeting me with a smile when I know a dagger is hidden behind his back. But I can't. Honesty has been one of my core principles ever since I was a little kid. And I expect that much from my friends. I just can't pretend everything is fine anymore. Looking at him in the eye became a chore. Hearing him boast about his extravagant life as a rich man's son to naive girls around him disgusts me to the very core of my being.
I almost succumbed to depression. Thank God for His comfort. Thank God for Fukuoka Harvest Church. Thank God for the wonderful Singaporean friends. Thank God for my girlfriend who has been by my side whenever I need her the most.
It's fine by me... Superficial booze parties are not my cup of tea... Neither is cooping myself up in the little world which they create for themselves... I'm here with a purpose and I'm moving toward my dream, so it doesn't matter to me anymore. I'll make full use of my last month in Japan to learn as much as I can about Japanese culture, to develop deeper friendships with my Japanese friends and to strengthen my relationship with my girlfriend.
I'll also be busy helping my Japanese buddy to settle in the Singaporean lifestyle when he comes to NUS for the following academic year. No time for worries... Time to move on...
But alas, that is not the case... I have come to the realization that a friend whom I initially thought would be my best buddy turns out to be a hypocritical liar who bore a grudge toward me for months. I may not have handled matters the way which each of my friends think is right, but I always have my friends' best interests at heart. I say this with a clear conscience.
To avoid him, I "exited" the clique we were in. Or rather, I was silently "ousted" from the group. He puts on a mask so easily and readily. Greeting me with a smile when I know a dagger is hidden behind his back. But I can't. Honesty has been one of my core principles ever since I was a little kid. And I expect that much from my friends. I just can't pretend everything is fine anymore. Looking at him in the eye became a chore. Hearing him boast about his extravagant life as a rich man's son to naive girls around him disgusts me to the very core of my being.
I almost succumbed to depression. Thank God for His comfort. Thank God for Fukuoka Harvest Church. Thank God for the wonderful Singaporean friends. Thank God for my girlfriend who has been by my side whenever I need her the most.
It's fine by me... Superficial booze parties are not my cup of tea... Neither is cooping myself up in the little world which they create for themselves... I'm here with a purpose and I'm moving toward my dream, so it doesn't matter to me anymore. I'll make full use of my last month in Japan to learn as much as I can about Japanese culture, to develop deeper friendships with my Japanese friends and to strengthen my relationship with my girlfriend.
I'll also be busy helping my Japanese buddy to settle in the Singaporean lifestyle when he comes to NUS for the following academic year. No time for worries... Time to move on...
posted by MightyFlameboy. shoot me? | 0 shot me.