Korea and his friends

Asian Adventure
Seoul & Busan, South Korea
August 2018

It's not hard to fall in love with a place that offers a myriad of cultural experiences. My trip to Seoul and Busan made me realize a lot of things - my worth, the people around me, how big the world is, and that old and new experiences can change a whole lot of things – and I mean a lot. This trip in particular had me thinking of love, family, friendship, communication, and dreams – what all these can do to my whole sanity. Moreover, I found out that I am much braver and stronger than I have expected

I am so thankful to all my friends who shared their time to travel and let me experience Korea for seven days in its most special way – as a local. 

When we get older, our priorities change, and even though communicating has gone from weekly down to monthly; we know in our hearts that we got each other's back. And that friendship is always true.

Indeed, traveling humbles us in many ways – makes us more appreciative of things we have and the people around us.

My last, my first (Part 1)

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.”

I spent my last days in Toyooka city packing, making several trips to the post office, and walking leisurely around the neighborhood I came to love for the past eleven months.

My walks had led me to undiscovered shops; I wish I had gone to. Indeed, there is still a lot to see in this place; more people to be friends with. “I wish I had more time”, I thought. It’s funny now recalling the way I was at the beginning because every day for the past months, I was looking forward to visiting big cities during school breaks. Though it seems like something is wavering my decision to move on, I couldn’t stay more. I have already set a clear picture of what to do in the next months.

Came my last day, I awoke to the distant gentle hum of lawnmower cutting the grass. With all my stuff with me, I went straight to the station. It was only when I was boarding the train did reality finally begin to sink in. I am leaving – leaving my schools, my students, the people I worked with. Zannen!

I arrived in Hiroshima the next day full excitement – my first day without thoughts of work. Still sleepy and tired from the overnight trip; I took every opportunity to check as many places as I can and the visit to the local onsen relaxed and prepared me for the next day’s adventure.

Fast forward - my first day in Tokyo was no special day but it did give a sense of excitement about what lies ahead. I was beaming with enthusiasm about checking the places I used to visit, meeting old friends and loved ones, hiking. I have my reasons and I am all set for a new life in the city.  

This time; their time

I had the opportunity to experience a Japanese elementary graduation. It was a month ago but the memory of it still lingers like it was yesterday. The ceremony is similar in my country yet differs in many ways.

It was held in the morning and attended by all the students, the parents of the graduates, and a few selected guests – old teachers and influential people. The ceremony itself was very formal – from the clothes down to how everything was executed.

The students and the teachers assembled at the gymnasium followed by the parents and guests. The homeroom teachers entered and made a bow that signaled the entrance of the graduates. Everyone clapped while the 6^th grade students paraded with a sharp movement. The clapping ended when everyone was seated. It’s all about conformity out of respect for others. If I were in my country, I’d probably only clap at the beginning.

It was that moment when each student was saying their dreams and some personal messages to their teachers, that I heard a sob from where the parents were seated. And then my jaw dropped when I realized that the graduates were also crying. To my surprise it was mostly the boys who were tearing. Undoubtedly it was the most emotional time for everyone.

This event that I have taken part in is one of the many experiences I would not forget. It was a little later that day when I had a moment of flashbacks. Their graduation reminded me of mine. Although it wasn’t as emotional, it made me reminisce of my time when I was marching and receiving my diploma.

Indeed, their final chapter in elementary has come to an end with happy tears, and memories they would one day look back and smile about it.  

What is love? | Part 1

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

How wonderful it is to wake up every day knowing that you are in love and that someone loves you back. That romantic feeling is intensified on February; the love month, by advertisements, promotions, and greetings that highlight what society dictates to be done this time of the year.

A simple question and answer turned serious talk among my friends when I asked them their definition of love. It was intended for my discussion class last month but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to share their view on this so popular emotion.

The majority said that love is sacrificing. We give something of ourselves up for the happiness of someone – time, efforts, you name it. They continued that by doing so, relationships are strengthened. Compromising came in second; giving and taking, meeting halfway, and all that. Being contented even though we get less than what we are giving. Then suddenly everyone was comparing, justifying, and going against each other’s thoughts of the matter. The rule was to define love with a word and use a sentence to support it. So I had to cut them off and move on before it escalated into a fight. 

One in another group shyly mentioned that understanding is what love is; no matter the differences.  And by understanding, we come to accept the person as a whole – both strengths and weaknesses. The discussion came to a halt when someone said “love is in our hearts. We do everything to trust and be trusted in return. Through trust, respect, and open communication blossom, making a good relationship.” (jaw dropped)

All these interpretations are just a few of the many we can come up with. 

Whatever meaning we believe in (or even though we don't), clearly love never fails and we have the power to build a strong foundation for lasting love – for what it’s worth. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Kawaguchiko Lake | Mt. Fuji | One-day Trip

|Japan Itinerary| 

I don’t know what got into me when I suddenly thought of taking a trip to Kawaguchiko after New Year’s Day. No plans and all that.

What’s the odds; planned or a spur-of-the-moment decision. I woke up, packed my stuff, and headed out to the station oblivious to the adventure that lies ahead. The bus station was already packed when I arrived at Shinjuku station. I bought my roundtrip tickets and waited for the boarding time. I reached Kawaguchiko station in less than two hours. Most if not all speak English in the area so I really didn’t have trouble getting around.

I decided not to take the sightseeing bus; only to regret it later, since I had a lot of time and I thought it would be more exciting to walk instead. My feet only got me to three places.

The excursion ship has a 360-degree panoramic view of Kawaguchiko and offers a 20-minute one-time ride. Kawaguchiko Natural Living Center was my next stop. I didn’t do much here since I had to rush to the station for my train.

I felt like I was at the right place at the right time when I arrived at Arakurayama Sengen Park (my third stop). That beautiful moment when you get to see Mt. Fuji as the light dramatically fades giving way for the darkness to slowly envelope the whole place. The silhouette of the majestic mountain and the city lights flickering – I paused, you should see this.

I didn’t let the sudden gush of emotion take over this moment. I sighed deeply at the thought, put down my camera, and enjoyed the spectacle that was happening before my very eyes. I headed down when the other tourists were getting ready to descend. Although I find pleasure in my own company, I didn’t stay behind since it was getting dark and the thought of bears lurking scared me. 

“Next time, I’ll be climbing you Mt. Fuji”, I thought as the bus to Shinjuku left the place I had visited so briefly.

Does the New Year mean a new you?

They say the only permanent in life is change and we should embrace it since it will help us move from A to B. 

We have this idea of creating a list of resolutions for the next year – at least in my case. Sometimes I carry them out. Most of the time, I fail to even touch what I have planned to do. So I end up thinking of the same resolutions year after year.

As we leave 2017 and face a new set of challenges, do we really become new versions of ourselves or do we need to become new us? I think the answer is on us. We decide to move on or stay stagnant; regardless of time or reason. So if you’re that person who is still stuck and mourning a failed relationship – your choice; or that employee who had been complaining about work but then stopped whining and finds a way to move past that attitude – then good for you. Whatever positions and emotions we had or have, just think that there is more to life than what we are feeling now and that life gets better.

When the clock struck 12 and ushered the coming of the New Year, I decided to just take everything in for 2018. Also, I got rid of my old resolutions but kept the doable ones. New me? No, just a change of old habits and a new strategy for the future. Happy New Year!