Memories of last time…
Last time I left Japan for awihle was almost three and a half years ago and it was three days before my 20th birthday. I knew I`d be back, and while I said a year, I didn`t really know how lon it would take. With out a doubt, the best year of my life was coming to an end.
To make it worse, five weeks earlier I had met Shumpei. I was in Japan almost 11 months and for some crazy reason fate couldn`t have brought us together any earlier it seemed.
The day I left was also the day two other exchange students were leaving so the kaikan, where we lived, was a buzz of activity and rushing around. Quite a few people had gathered to say goodbye. Shumpei had come by car the night before (Monday night) after work to stay. He had taken the following day off to drive me to the aiport.
I knew it would be hard to say goodbye. We all gathered downstairs, loaded luggage into the cars and I said goodbye to those not coming to the airport. And I started to cry. Leader, an awesome and dear friend, also had takent he day off work to drive the others going home to the airport plus a couple of others who were coming all the way out to say goodbye.
I cried halfway to the airport (It is a long drive!) and with Shumpei driving not really knowing what he could say to make it better. Of course there were dramas at the airport. I had sent two boxes of stuff to Australia already but my suitcase still weight eight kilos over (I was literally pulling out clothes from my suitcase and throwing them in the bin at the aiport!) and I had so much hand luggage (My backpack was 18kg! Not to mention a laptop, large handbag and a bag carrying goodbye gifts I had gotten!). In the end, I can`t remember how much they charged me for the extra weight in my suitcase but it was about $500. I think mum is more likely to remember! I had an emergency credit card and I rang her in a panic not knowing what to do (While Leader and Shumpei were withdrawing money from their accounts to pay for it also!) and she let me put it on there.
We ate dinner and Shun gave me a letter to read on the plane and we all got ready to say goodbye. I was crying so much and as I walked through the doors to get my handluggage x-rayed I was still crying and waving goodbye to everyone that had come.
Less than 12 months later I landed back in Tokyo on a delayed flight from London, where Shumpei was waiting for me at the airport!
This time is a little different! Again, I know I will be back. I even know it will more than likely be at the end of May or June. But I still have mixed feelings. I want to go back to Australia for a little while, I do. But I know if it is anything like the last time I left, I will miss Japan terribly. Shumpei and I will only be apart for 2 months but that is still the longest we have been apart since I returned to japan two and a half years ago. And my friends here, I will miss them so much. They are so great to me, especially Catherine and James. I don`t know how I will go in Australia without them!
Tonight is my goodbye party that Leader, Catherine and James organized. It is a formal place apparently so I have a dress and Shun will wear a suit and we will be meeting Cat and James early in Roppongi for a couple of drinks before we head to Omotesando! I am very excited but it will also be sad because today will be the day I say goodbye to my friends here in Tokyo, and for most it will be the second time I will be saying goodbye!
Popularity: 50% [?]
Similar Posts:
All I can say is I know how you feel! I always had too much stuff to bring back from Japan..though not $500 worth. I think after missing my flight due to the difficulties i faced carrying too much stuff on the train on the way there..I learnt my lesson. I travelled very lightly when I went to Germany and I didn’t bring back too much stuff. I was only away for 6wks though!
Have a great party tonight, Lulu, and just enjoy it!
You’ll be back for sure, it’s more that you’ll just always be ‘holidaying’ between the two countries :o)
[…] wanted to stay…however, the keyword is ALMOST. …Serena - http://css.blogs.com/serena/|||Memories of last time…… for a couple of drinks before we head to Omotesando! I am very excited but it will also be […]
Oh sweetie, I remember how hard it was for me to move across the STATE, let alone be in another country.
Thank God for the internet, webcams and Skype.
Hello from a lurker. My now-husband and I had to undergo long-distance separation for over a year. It was hard, no-doubt about it. But you do survive - with help from the afore-mentioned webcam & Skype - and I know our relationship is stronger for it. Ditto for your friendships, which sound fairly solid to me. And isn’t next summer a great time for said friends to visit you in QLD? (^_^)
Last but not least, there is an admin job going at the Japanese CG in QLD; the details can be found via Seek. Don’t know if you are Brisvegas-based, but may be worth a try? I think the apps close May 15 though.
Good luck with everything, and enjoy this time with your family.
Hey Lulu,
I hope you enjoyed your ‘farewell’ party!! It was bound to be both lots of fun, and a little sad too… Look on the brightside, you can always chat to your friends on Skype or send emails to one another. I know a year sounds like a really long time, but it will fly so quickly, trust me!!
Also, you have 1 whole year in Australia before you move back to Japan for the long time, right? So make the most of it, spend time with your family and friends, make memories that will last forever!! And you have the chance to make lots of new friends here too!!
If you are anything like me, 10 weeks with Shunpei will be quite difficult… but it is bearable.. just… especially with Skype and webcams! Luckily we are doing a long distance relationship in the 20th Centuary hey!! Imagine the poor young couples who had neither the internet or long distance phone calls. They just had to live for the next letter they received…
By the way, by the sound of it you are going to be SOOO busy catching up with everyone when you get back to Brisbane. So although I would love to met you, I know that you are going to be busy, so I will leave the date up to you!! When your free give me a yell, and we can organise to do something? Any ideas? Is there anything that you really want to do, or see back in Brissie? Or maybe we can just hang out somewhere? Let me know!!
Good luck with everything and come back soon.
Aww Lulu
I know how you feel - when I come back to Brisbane in June it’ll be two months I’m spending away from Rob, and that will be so strange… mind you I think he’s looking forward to the break, because the Euro 2008 football championship is on! Loads of uninterrupted footy watching for Rob!
Enjoy your party! I wish I could say something helpful to make you feel less confused and home-sick/japan-sick!
Having moved back and forth between Japan and the UK numerous times in the past 9/10 years, I feel your pain! Saying goodbye is always hard, even when you know you will be back. It is also SO hard to pack up your life when you only have a limited luggage allowance. It can be very cleansing to get rid of stuff but I am someone who likes to keep their memories so despite all the international moves I have done, I have an enormous amount of crap!!
I think that you know you will only be in Oz for a year, the transition will be swift and you will make the most of your time there. As one of your sempais I will definitely say that you should make the most of your year as I didn’t when I moved home for 6 months before getting married and I always regretted it afterwards.
Aw I am a little teary reading your post.
Have a wonderful, inspiring time in Oz and lap up eveyrthing it has to offer.
Knowing that Japan is just waiting for your return.
Hey Lulu,
By the time you read this, you will be in Aus I think?? Separations can be so hard. Three months apart from Tom was soooo hard - especially since we just met (as similar to you and Shun) but you get through. No doubt you will be so busy back in Bris that time will just fly and before you know it, Shun will be over and it will be Christmas (argh, shouldn’t say that should I?)
Will you look for work straight away? I can’t wait to hear all about your ‘returning home’ experiences - at least you know you aren’t alone in this - we’re all reading along and hoping the best for you!
xxxx
Hi Lulu!
Hope you didn’t mind, I actually linked you up onto my page!