Here I am right now, sitting with cross legs by the dining table at our condominium in Makati, carelessly munching on a McDonald’s cheeseburger while Skyping with my friend Cherri, processing photos, occasionally looking at my sister while she plays this mystery game, and looking through my Facebook news feed with a portable broadband internet connection.

Yes, I’m back from Japan. 久しぶり、フィリピン.

I missed the last two days of my countdown ‘cause I was out spending it with the best people I’ve ever met, and making sure I make lots and lots of happy memories with them before I leave. Those two days-posts though are meant to thank my families - both my real and my host - and that very awesome Guy from up There. I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without them. 

In those last two days, I had my last karaoke before leaving Japan and a goodbye party at night were all my very good and close friends came - and we ended up partying and staying up all night, until we had to catch the first train in the morning. That was a really eventful night, in more ways than one; and it was really memorable.

After coming home and getting a two to three hour nap, I went out to go visit Kwansei Gakuin University for the last time before leaving Japan and met up with more of my friends there. We took a trip to Umeda, ate okonomiyaki - they asked me the day before what I wanted to eat before I leave, of course this is my answer - and had purikura, this time in cosplay! All this for the last time… until I come again to Japan, at least.

There were tears present when we had to part ways by the train station. It was really hard to contain those tears. Even now, I still feel teary about the whole going-back-home-leaving-my-friends-earlier situation.

On the way home, my two bestest friends, Andrew and Cherri, went with me, and we met up with two more people. Same thing, we conversed, had a few laughs and tears and parted ways without saying ‘goodbye’ but ‘see you later.’ I stayed with my closest friends and we talked until one something in the morning, and had to go home since I wasn’t done packing, and I’m going home early.

I didn’t get any sleep trying to finish packing my stuff and stopping myself from crying. My host family helped me with my stuff and brought me all the way to the airport. We checked-in my luggage, ate breakfast and walked around the airport for a bit. I also met up with Andrew there and was very happy that it was him and my host family who I get to see last before I leave. It was a really sad and happy moment - I don’t actually know how to describe it. It’s just… I don’t know.

I got on the plane after a few airport requirements and stuff, and during the flight, I cried reading their letters and looking at their gifts. The letters really did make me cry, whether it was in English and Japanese. I felt very sad to leave them, but hopeful too that I may see them again soon. Writing this makes me teary, even.

I am slowly trying to convince my dad that I am not really lying about wanting to come back to Japan. The first thing I told my mom the first time I saw her from outside the airport when she fetched me was ‘Ma, I want to come back to Japan on May. Please, I’m serious.’ I’m gonna do all means to get there.

We stopped by the condominium in Quezon City while we waited for my dad, and I get to see familiar sights. I was surprised that there was a bit of reverse culture shock - even until now, I felt really weird seeing so many Filipino faces, and not seeing Japanese. I keep on talking in three languages too - English, Filipino and Japanese. Dad came, and we went to Mall of Asia to watch the Katy Perry concert with my sisters. Yes - I watched a concert on the same day as I came home from Japan. We had to wait for hours for some reason, but once we got to see the concert, it was really incredible and worth the wait.

Went home, arranged stuff, and now I’m currently in the position I stated in the first part of this post - only this time, I ate the whole cheeseburger up.

This really was an amazing experience.

Thank You.