Sayonara to Japan!

This will be my final post from Japan, as I’ll be flying out to Vietnam this Saturday. I can’t believe that this is it and that the time to leave has finally come. It has been seriously a wonderful time here the past two years. I’ve managed to really see a lot of Japan, as well as meeting lots of great people and making some really good friends.

It’s amazing how fast time has gone and in a way, I really don’t want to leave Japan. However, I realize that it is time, as I couldn’t do another year of this job at this capacity. Even though I really enjoyed teaching, after two years the job just wasn’t challenging enough and I can feel myself getting stagnant. It has been a great ride though and I’ve had so many wonderful nights where I think in the moment about how much fun I’m having and how happy I am. There have been so many highlights and great experiences, including traveling right across the country and eating great food with great company. I’ve also had so much fun with my kids and it really has been great being a part of their lives. Hopefully my influence and my interaction will make a difference in some of my kid’s lives. I’ve really tried to give them experiences that they will remember and I wish all of them the best.

This past week I wrapped up all my classes with my grade 1 and 3 students. I even sneaked in 2 final lessons with the grade 2 students, as “the teacher” was sick this week. I showed a few hockey videos and power point presentation about Canada’s pastime and the kids really enjoyed it.

I’ll also really miss a lot of the grade 3 kids as I’ve taught them the longest. I’ve really seen them grow up before my eyes. Recently teaching the grade 1’s have been a blast. I’ve had a lot of fun in the classroom laughing and teasing with the students. I am amazed now by how comfortable I am directing and teaching the students, especially with one teacher where I teach the class in both English and Japanese myself. I really feel I’ve grown the past two years and that I’ve lived life and just soaked up being young while seeing the world.

Friday was also my final goodbye ceremony. I really thought I would be able to hold it together, but as the day went on I got sadder as the classes wrapped up and. At the end of the day, there was a goodbye ceremony and that's pretty much when everything came together. My principal gave me a great speech in English and then the student council members read me a really touching speech and I got pretty emotional. I then hacked apart my Japanese speech I had prepared. They gave me a final sendoff with the school song and then i did my final walk away and left the gym with trying to hold it all in.

It was a real tough goodbye as shook the hands of my students and my favorite teachers waved goodbye from the school entrance. In some ways I still can’t believe it’s over and that I’ll never see my kids anymore or some of my teachers again. It’s weird to actually say goodbye, knowing that it what you say really is the truth.

Well, it will definitely be an adjustment heading back home, but I think Japan will be a place I’ll always come back and visit regularly. I really feel it is good to leave when you still having fun and are positive about the place- and I definitely feel this about Japan.

Well I’ll be backpacking across SE Asia for about a month with Asuka and then heading back to Vancouver for my sister’s wedding in September. What’s next? I’m not too sure yet but I’ll be back at the harbour for work for a few months and then in January, I might go travel for a few more months. My plan is to enter the police department next September, but the lure of Asia might call me back if the opportunity presents itself. Well, I look forward to seeing you all back home and hope everyone has a great summer. Take care and Sayonara from Japan!