I’m already finishing with the preparation, I’ve bought and
done almost everything, I’ve said good bye to a lot of people and I already can’t
sleep normally. These days pass very slowly. Certainly, 7 days later, on the
next Tuesday afternoon, at 4.35 pm my plane takes off (supposedly with me) and at
that moment the great adventure of mine starts.
By the way, flight. I have never ever flown in my life and I
can’t imagine how it looks like. Now I don’t fear it, however the truth is that
a 24-hour-long flight will be a good one to start. We will transfer in Qatar,
around midnight, and 2 hours later we will continue our journey to the International
Airport of Narita.
We. But who precisely?
With AFS 4 students go to Japan from Hungary: Vivi, Rita,
Balázs and me. Unfortunately (or not? :P) they found me host families in 4
faraway parts of Japan, thus we won’t meet regularly.
This picture was taken before the preparatory orientation.
We took a Japanese-like evening, we went to eat sushi and wandered in the city.
Everyone who was about for a longer (maybe 1-year-long)
journey) knows that it takes a lot of preparation. The questions of luggage,
clothing, documents and taking the money have reached me as well. But it seems like
everything is under my control. Last week we went to do our visa application
with Rita which was surprisingly easy – while waiting we solved a sample final
examination of Japanese language.
Recently I’ve made my Visa card which is my first debit card
in my life. Yeay, I’m going to look after it carefully!
I've also received a video camera with which I will
document the events and seesights in Japan. If I will have the time and the
chance I will create a videoblog as well where I will upload these videos. Many
people made me promise to take photos about the cherry blossoming, for this aim
I’ll buy a better camera in Japan. So there’s no need to worry, those who stay at
home will also see the things there. :)
In these weeks I’ve experienced that not only for me, but
also for my environment it is a great thing that I’m going to be an exchange
student. Many people wished me good luck and encouraged me which was a huge
pleasure for me. I got a great amount of love this time which I’m very grateful
for. This is the reason why I’ll try to use the Internet (Facebook, Youtube,
Blogger) to make my friends and family also the part of my exchange year in a
way.
Of course, if it is a long journey, then to farewell parties
come. The first celebration was with my class where my form teacher (or home
teacher in the US) gave me a cake decorated with Japanese patterns. It was
absolutely beautiful! It was heartbreaking to cut it into pieces. Also she gave
me a Captain Balu figure made of marzipan. It was incredible, I was so happy!
The celebration series continued with my roommates and mates
on the second floor in the youth hostel. The picture of me and my 5 roommates taken
during that night is seen here. This was the last night that we spent together
behind the walls of the youth hostel. After two and a half year spent, I’m
going to miss them. /:
At the weekend my brother and his girlfriend came home from
Pécs to say goodbye for me. They also gave me a cake with the sign „Ki o
tsukete ne!” meaning „Take care of yourself!”
(At this time I was with plus 5 kilo, and after came the
lunch and the dinner. But truly, I have to take the chance now, in Japan there
won’t be neither roasted duck, neither sausage nor stew. This is going to be a diet
for me I’m sure)
And on Saturday night with the volunteers of Békécsaba we
drank a glass of orange juice as the sign of my farewell. It will be strange to
leave the chapter, but here is a lot of active and motivated volunteer, they’ll
be fine. :)
I’m gonna miss you, guys!
The last party will be at Budapest with other AFS volunteers
and officers. I can’t wait for it, I’ve seen them for a while, it will be good
to see them again. :) And after I won’t come back to Békés county, I’ll spend
my last days in the capital before I leave.
Many people ask what I feel, what I think and how I live
through this time. „Are you excited?” – they usually ask. Of course I do! In 7
days my childhood dream will come true, since at the age of 11 I have been
wishing to travel to Japan. It’s simply incredible that this is happening. But
it is, because I’m going to Japan! However it is possible that I will realise
that only while I’m there.
Though it will be hard to leave everything and everyone
here. Rather everyone. I’ve got so much love during this period from my
classmates, friends, relatives, my mom, my sister, my dad that it will be hard
to leave them here. Harder than it was meant to be.
Have I ever thought that I do not want this whole? I have.
Once, when I did freak out about the exchange
year. I felt this so large, so
enormous and so uncompletable. But I know that it isn’t. I don’t have to finish
this in one piece, but day by day, challenge by challenge. The exchange year is
a umbrella term consisted of a bunch of challenges, the happiness and memories
granted for them and the language and personality development during the time
spent with those challenges. At that
time I felt the borders of my comfort zone which I will really reach next week.
I’m so waiting for it!
At the end of my post – notwithstanding my preparation – I’d
like to commemorate of those people who lost their lives 3 years ago, in March,
2011 during the natural disaster in that day, 11 March. About 20 000 people
deceased and more than 250 000 residents had to move to temporary homes. Since then 3 years have passed. They have
started to repair the roads and houses, but the wounds of the Japanese society taken
this day can’t be cured completely.
One of the most famous Japanese bands, the ONE OK ROCK made a song titled Be the light so as to commemorate the deceased and injured people of the catastrophy. With this song, I’d like to finish this post:
