...for now, anyway.
Sad day.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
So long, farewell...
Well, I have about three days left in Japan before I make my return to the States. I really can't believe that I'll see my family and friends in THREE DAYS. Holy cow. That's amazing.
But as excited as I am to go home, I'm just as sad to leave Japan, which has truly become my home across the world.
Last week I had a farewell party with my co-workers, friends and some students. It was incredibly fun. We started at the Ale House, owned by our student and home of the "Brianna Cocktail." Then we moved on to another izakaya for a few hours. And after that, the hardcore party-ers went to karaoke - for six hours. That's right... 11 pm - 5 am, singing our hearts out. This was not your typical all-night karaoke deal, either, where half of the members are asleep by 3 am. This was six hours of belting out anything from Lady Gaga to Neil Diamond, dancing, and jumping on couches. Ah-mazing.
Me and some of the other foreign teachers in the area.
With Kenichi.
With Nikki and Aya.
Manly men.
Co-workers and students.
Lovely ladies.
With Masa, the owner of the Ale House.
Jeff, Adam, Masayoshi.
Aya, Noriko, Yurie, Akiko.
Brianna and Brianna Cocktail.
My people.
Masaki - crazy face.
At the second party.
A little swing dancing.
Lovely teachers.
Karaoke!
But as excited as I am to go home, I'm just as sad to leave Japan, which has truly become my home across the world.
Last week I had a farewell party with my co-workers, friends and some students. It was incredibly fun. We started at the Ale House, owned by our student and home of the "Brianna Cocktail." Then we moved on to another izakaya for a few hours. And after that, the hardcore party-ers went to karaoke - for six hours. That's right... 11 pm - 5 am, singing our hearts out. This was not your typical all-night karaoke deal, either, where half of the members are asleep by 3 am. This was six hours of belting out anything from Lady Gaga to Neil Diamond, dancing, and jumping on couches. Ah-mazing.
Me and some of the other foreign teachers in the area.
With Kenichi.
With Nikki and Aya.
Manly men.
Co-workers and students.
Lovely ladies.
With Masa, the owner of the Ale House.
Jeff, Adam, Masayoshi.
Aya, Noriko, Yurie, Akiko.
Brianna and Brianna Cocktail.
My people.
Masaki - crazy face.
At the second party.
A little swing dancing.
Lovely teachers.
Karaoke!As you can tell from these photos, I am so blessed to have met and become friends with all these incredible people. I will definitely miss them when I leave.
And if you want to see more photos and read more about my party, check out the Ale House blog. Written by "Master Masa" himself (pictured her with me, Aya, and his lovely wife, Yoko).
And if you want to see more photos and read more about my party, check out the Ale House blog. Written by "Master Masa" himself (pictured her with me, Aya, and his lovely wife, Yoko).Thursday, May 20, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
It's 2:20 am...
...and I just got home from my farewell party with my co-workers and students. I was so amazed at how many people showed up (about 55) and grateful for their support as I move back to the States to pursue my next goal of going to grad school.
I know I've mentioned it here before and to my family and friends back home, but I just have to say again how thankful I am to have had such great students. There were so many times that I felt so homesick or sad or moody before a lesson, but as soon as I started teaching, my students would say something or give me a big smile that always brightened my day. They have been funny, kind, warm and generous; so patient when I was new and my dear friends as I leave.
I'm not going to lie - there were definitely some tears shed tonight.
I know I've mentioned it here before and to my family and friends back home, but I just have to say again how thankful I am to have had such great students. There were so many times that I felt so homesick or sad or moody before a lesson, but as soon as I started teaching, my students would say something or give me a big smile that always brightened my day. They have been funny, kind, warm and generous; so patient when I was new and my dear friends as I leave.
I'm not going to lie - there were definitely some tears shed tonight.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Fujigoko (Fuji Five Lakes) Adventure!
On Wednesday, my student Hiromi and I went in search of Mt. Fuji. We went to Fujigoko (Fuji Five Lakes). It's kind of funny that I'm from Michigan, which is famous for the Great Lakes, and now I live close to the Fuji Five Lakes, five lakes that are also famous across the world. Kind of ironic.
The morning started off really cloudy and foggy, but we didn't give up and waited to see Mt. Fuji. We went to four out of five lakes throughout the day. The weather cleared up a bit in the afternoon, with big white fluffy clouds throughout the sky (pretty much mostly in front of Mt. Fuji). But I got some nice shots and I wanted to visit Fujigoko before I go back to America, so I was really satisfied at the end of the day. I had a great time with Hiromi, too, and I was really thankful she drove all around on a crazy Mt. Fuji hunt!
Mt. Fuji is directly behind me but hidden behind the clouds.
Videos of our adventure:
The morning started off really cloudy and foggy, but we didn't give up and waited to see Mt. Fuji. We went to four out of five lakes throughout the day. The weather cleared up a bit in the afternoon, with big white fluffy clouds throughout the sky (pretty much mostly in front of Mt. Fuji). But I got some nice shots and I wanted to visit Fujigoko before I go back to America, so I was really satisfied at the end of the day. I had a great time with Hiromi, too, and I was really thankful she drove all around on a crazy Mt. Fuji hunt!
Mt. Fuji is directly behind me but hidden behind the clouds. 
Videos of our adventure:
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Well, it's about that time...
私はアメリカに来月帰ります。
Watashi wa Amerika ni raigetsu kaerimasu.
I'm going home to America next month.
My contract with my school will finish on May 22 and I will fly back to the States on May 31. I've spent a year and half in Japan and have enjoyed it so much, made wonderful friends and taught incredible students. But the time has come for me to move on.
Coming back to Japan was a dream I had had since I came here as a college student in 2005. By the time I had finished my semester in Chiba, I had fallen in love with Japan and knew that I wanted to come back and teach English someday. It became one of my life goals to accomplish and I worked hard to make it happen.
My experience here the second time around has definitely been much different than my first. I've worked much harder as a full-time English teacher and really challenged myself to perform well at work and contribute to the improvement of my students. I've created wonderful relationships with friends, co-workers and other foreigners. I've seen and done so many new things. I have made a life for myself here. And I am so proud of myself and thankful to my newfound "family" (friends and students) I have here in Japan.
But my next big goal is to go to graduate school and get my master's in photojournalism and I feel like it's time to get the gears in motion. I've come to Japan, it's been incredible, and I survived - now it's time to move on.
I'm going to enjoy my last month here in Japan with lots of parties, hanging out with friends, visiting my favorite restaurants and just soaking up Japan.
Sigh.
Going home is definitely bittersweet.
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