ヒノデヤ. | Hinodeya Liquor Shop. Around my area by Nigawa.

This photo is just part of the Photowalk project. I’m currently compiling my Photowalk project back in Japan, and will be presenting this as part of my Photo-Art portfolio for Communications class. 

My Photo-Art portfolio is a compilation of things that I like doing best - taking photos and doing graphics design. I may not be the best at both things, but I can honestly and wholeheartedly say that I love doing both. And for me, that’s what matters. 

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.

3. | Three days before the day, and I celebrated with my host family tonight. My sister suddenly got a fever but it didn’t stop her from being very hyper - “いつも元気だよ!” she says. It was so much fun - we played Bingo and ate cake too! It was my last dinner with them; sigh, I’m gonna miss the Arakawa family.

…This post goes to that other special person I’ve met here - Andrew.

I don’t know how we suddenly got close, and I don’t really care - I just know you’re one of the close friends I’ve made here, if not the closest.

Thank you for always being there, listening to every rant I have, sharing secrets, trusting me, always helping me, drinking together, and just being you. I owe you a lot. Make sure you get to actually visit the Philippines this year, and I’ll tour you no matter how busy I am!

Thank you so much, I love you, and なかよし forever! ♥

4. Four days before the day - ate lunch at a Korean restaurant, visited Kangaku, and cooked adobo again for friends today. Making each day worthwhile!

This post goes to one of the special people I’ve met here - Cherri.

You were the very first ryuugakusei girl friend I’ve ever met, literally - back there at the bus stop on the 10th of September - and till my last few days here in Japan, you’re still there, sharing the experience with me.

I’m very lucky to have you as my best girl friend here, and I’m sure it wouldn’t end here. We always talk about the most random things, and I have so much fun being with you even if we’re not doing anything at all. I’ll make sure to send you more dried mangoes once I get back! Hee.

Thank you so much, I love you, and なかよし forever! ♥

5. | Five days before the day - went to hang around at my friend’s place and it was really fun! I’m gonna miss these people so much.

As yesterday’s post was about Kangaku, this one’s for my home university - Ateneo. I wouldn’t be able to have this chance in the first place if it wasn’t for this university; I owe it so much.

Thank you for giving me this chance to see more of the world, and for letting me have this experience. Passing through that JTA semester - which I’ll be experiencing once again in a week - and doing all those requirements to get here were all worth it. Thank you for partnering with Kangaku for the first time, and letting me meet all these great people.

For this whole experience, I thank you.

6. | Six days before the day, and I went to Kyoto with friends today to see the thousand gates at Fushimiinari. Japan never fails to amaze me with its beauty.

This post goes to my university here in Japan, Kwansei Gakuin University - this is where everything began. I can never express how beautiful the place is, and I haven’t even seen everything yet! And the people, everyone related to this school, thank you very much.

I didn’t fail in picking you as the university I’d study in here in Japan, and you are the first university I’ve ever had an exchange program with. I met some of the greatest friends I could ever have there, and I know that I will get to walk pass your gates again one day. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

8. Eight days before the day, and I feel like there are so many things going through my mind right now, I don’t even know where to start. 

This goes to all the Japanese friends I’ve made during my stay here in Japan. なかよし or not, you guys don’t know how grateful I am to have you as my friends. Before coming here, despite being the kind of person who would be willing to talk with anyone, I was still scared thinking I won’t be able to make friends by the time I arrive. But you guys were all there, and still are - and because of that, I am very, very happy.

Thank you for all the good and the bad times, and even if I don’t speak the best Japanese, you guys are there to teach me, and even laugh about it. I have learned so many things from you, and I hope we all still keep in touch, even if I’m back in the Philippines.

Also, I’m always open if ever you guys decide to visit.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

ありがとうございます。

ハードラークカーフェ. | Hard Rock Cafe - January 9, 2012.

This was right after we went to Universal Studios Japan which was right in front of Hard Rock Cafe. There’s a station called Universal City, which is named obviously because USJ’s there. After a very fun and thrilling time at USJ, we decided to eat dinner at HRC, where we ended up dancing and celebrating my birthday which was actually a month ago at that day. Magic tricks, photos, a free sundae, and extremely good fun with friends.

That was also the day I stayed over my fellow Filipino friend’s place. Hee.

9. | Nine days before the day, and I missed posting this yesterday. Anyhow, this goes to all my friends who left, or are leaving this semester; thank you so much  for being part of this very wonderful experience.

This is the sad part of having international friends in exchange programs - leaving. But this doesn’t mean that the friendship ends as well; we all know better than that. 

Have a safe trip! This is not a ‘goodbye’ - we’ll all be seeing each other some time in the future. また今度！

…Got home at two in the morning, since we had this sort of ‘Congratulations, you’re graduating!’ drinking night. Yesterday, we had a sort of formal graduation ceremony for those leaving after the fall semester. We’re a lot actually; few international students will be staying for the year, and it’s really sad to see people leaving. Sigh. 

Yesterday was still fun though, and I can definitely say it’s the greatest Friday the 13th ever. 

10. | Ten days before the day. Ten Things I’m Thankful For starts today.

To the educators - teachers, professors, wise men, sempais - I’ve met and been under here in Kwansei Gakuin, no matter how much I find it a bit hard to understand the lesson with the way you speak English, no matter how unclear the requirements are sometimes for the essays and reports you require as to pass are, I still admit that I learned a lot from all of you — I came to Japan to learn and experience more of it, and you really helped me achieve this goal.

I will make use of whatever knowledge I got from you for the future.

Thank you.