Heya everyone,
It’s been a remarkably short 7 months. I can’t believe my work term is over already :O. It’s time to get ready to head back to Toronto. I guess it’s good timing as my blog has been winding down quite a bit too in terms of views. Hopefully, I’ve accomplished something significant during that time.
Gifts I received and not quite sure how to bring home
However, one thing I did do that totally surprised me, was make a real impact on my coworkers. I even got marked down as being optimistic under any circumstance as a strength :O. Somehow they were happy enough with me that they organized a farewell party for me and gave me a few gifts.
I got a good bye card sort of thing, where everyone wrote a short message on it. I’ve seen this done in North America, but it’s the first time I’ve gotten one on a piece of cardboard.
Awesomeness 😀
From some coworkers, I also received a complete set of the Nausicca, Valley of the Wind manga. Apparently the movie only covered the first two volumes, I can’t wait to get home and dig into this.
Nausicca, the complete works
I also received a RX-78-2 Version 2.0 Gundam from some other coworkers :O. I was so surprised when they gave it to me. I guess I gotta try real hard to make this one nice too :P. I’m sure my coworkers are waiting for pictures of the completed one.
A Gundam!
And of course, going home requires… packing… sigh… I didn’t want to send boxes home before, but this is looking a little impossible. Oh well, back to packing!
I do think I'm rather good at packing things into boxes.
A Foreigner's Tale in Japan 
Work term? Toronto? Are you a UW student?
I wish I were a UT student. Unfortunately, I’m just a sad sad UW student pulling out their hair just trying to pass.
wow awesome stuff u got there! MG kit and manga set!!! all the best for whatever u gonna do next ^^
Hehe, it’s just studying really :P. If you come next summer, comiket 76! Gogogo!
Seems like it’s been a long and yet also surprisingly short time. Well, I’m glad you were able to end on a good note and that you were able to make a good impression and enjoy your time there.
In any case, I’ve really enjoyed reading all your various posts over the last few months. It’s been quite natsukashii for me. Hopefully you’ll still have a few stories left to tell even after you leave. And hopefully you’ll be able to go back sooner rather than later. ^_^
Also, the signboard is called a shikishi (色紙), and is very commonly used for autographs in Japan.
Haha, thanks for the good wishes. I hope to be able to go back as soon as possible too. Can’t let the Japanese get too rusty either!
I’ll try and tell a few more stories later, but Canada is a pretty dreary place. Looks like I might have to beef up my blogroll rather than relying on Google hits and referrals too :).
Have you spent a lot of time in Japan too?
Yeah, I taught English in Tachikawa for a while. Was a blast, but also very sad to have to leave after the term ends.
Lucky… Version 2.0 of RX-78-2!! ^_^ Can’t wait to see you back in Waterloo…let’s play tohou 12.3 with Jun and Bluemage ^_^
Can I borrow your Nausica to practice my Japanese and prep me to Japan trip in April?? Though still uncertain whether or not we can make it, I have a good relationship with our Int’l coordinator so I have a higher chance of going ^_^
Is your international coordinator Tony Munroe? In that case, he’s completely inept. He’s the reason I almost couldn’t go. In fact, I was only able to go because he was gracious enough to take a week off so someone else more capable could do his job for him and get my application through.
I could lend you Nausicca, but I suggest starting with something easier because Nausicca doesn’t have any furigana.
Naw, it’s Cindy Howe. She’s a really nice Engineering International Exchange officer. I asked her for advice and she told me ways to by-pass certain requirements such as without having to meet the language proficiency.
:O I recently ordered the RX-78 v2. Damn, your coworkers sure know how to follow the fashions 😀
Wow, I was totally unaware of how new the RX-78 2.0 was.
It’s been an awesome seven months reading all of your interesting blog posts on Japan! Those are some wicked gifts from your co-workers and now I’m interested in reading the entire Nausicca series because I really liked the movie.
See you back at Waterloo in September! I may drop in on some of your lectures if I’m free from work on certain days…can’t wait to get a preview of what fourth year may bring me (if I make it that far lol.)
Oh and I think I’ve been playing Touhou 12.3 too much…Utsuho is a monster =D
Man I’d play more Touhou 12.3 if Cirno wasn’t so worthless lol.
Yea come join me for lectures! It would make it a little more fun. Also, don’t forget to drop by our mini unofficial fansub watching club :P. Hopefully, I”ll be able to leach a few people from CTRL-A as well.
I’m IN ^_^ for the unofficial CTRL-A club ^_^
I will be there. =)
Hehe including me that makes 3, awesome :).
Mate, been a pleasure reading yer post. Best luck in your future endeavour ^^.
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully, I’ll be back in Japan soon!
Hey! I just stumbled upon your blog, and it’s too bad I didn’t earlier! I’ve been living in Nagoya for a good while now. It’s always nice to meet people from Waterloo half way across the globe. Ever go to King Joy? One of the biggest arcades in Nagoya hehe. When are you going back to Canada?
Which arcade is King Joy? Is that the one in Oosu? If so, then yea I’ve gone to it.
It’s too bad we didn’t meet earlier :(, I”m heading back on Monday. That means we probably won’t have a chance to meet. Are you a Waterloo Alumni? How did you get to Japan and what do you do?
The one in Osu is Urban Square, King Joy is sorta tucked away but it’s about the same size, located in Sakae. Indeed, I’m an alumni here teaching English. UW seems to breed a disproportionate number of motivated otaku, haha! Monday, huh? Yeah, it’s too bad! Well, when you come back to Japan perhaps!
That would be awesome. Hopefully, I’ll be able to come back soon.
OMG Nausicca, Valley of the Wind manga!! I loved the movie when I was a kid!
I guess you can go back for another work term in the future? OR you can go work in Japan when you graduate. ^^
:O doesn’t look like you secured the box and the items inside with protective materials, like foams, bubble wraps, (or if ur aiming for something cheap, popcorns XD)
hope they make it home intact
If you ever come to London for drinking or something, drop me a message (not that I’m a good drinker or anything).
Just a big thanks from me. It’s been a fantastic read these past few months with some brilliant photo’s of Japan 🙂