Final day

Well I spend my final day on campus in Japan, it was one of the most heart wrenching experiences I've ever had. Many people came to campus just to say goodbye. It was really touching and made me very happy although it was hard to take all the sadness that was floating in the air. It was so hard to say goodbye and many refused to say it, I couldn't even say it sometimes. All the while just saying, I'm leaving for America, see you again! I didn't want to say I hope, because that seems false, I really want to come back but at the same time I think there is still that huge doubt in most of their minds which is where the sadness starts.

For several I was able to hold my tears, and was generally happy most of the day until my friend Yuji came with his girlfriend Eri. They are such a sweet couple, and Yuji has been a great all around general friend who took me for me, he didn't have any preconceptions about me and had no wall to push me out; we simply enjoyed each other's company. Saying goodbye to him and his girlfriend was really hard, as I was friends with her too and she is very sensitive, so I could feel it. I did a good job hiding the tears from the Tasaka-san for a while, but after a while I told her what happened, I'm glad though because then someone knows how I was really touched. After that I waited for Makita-san to come all the way to campus to just say goodbye to me, and avoid the staff and students. It was really hard, I wanted to say how much I appreciated her in my stay in Japan, but the more I said the more she wanted to cry, so I said it as simply as I could and spared her some tears. She really was sad about how much she appreciated how I helped Gaidai with the students. I feel she thought I had no reservations to help, but simply I just wanted to. I tried to tell her how it was just the way I am everywhere, and I am glad of it, but she still thought I did so much. That goodbye will always remember and keep the memory close to my heart. I tried to joke that she took too good care of me, so I had to help with the students of gaidai, but she said she didn't help them at all as a joke as well picking on my friend Daiki who was with me at the time.

Next I went to campus and went to the Dojo and collected my things before I left, surprising everyone there, but they all seemed happy to see me. I took pictures of everyone and traded some addresses, then left to go say goodbye to the staff of Gaidai. That was Tasaka-san, this goodbye was really final and with the entire staff, they all said their goodbyes and I left Gaidai with tears in my eyes. I will always remember this place with tenderness and love because that's how everyone felt toward me.

There were dozens of little stories like these for each person I said goodbye to, and really the hardest part was finding a friend who didn't know I was leaving so soon. I just didn't have enough time, I know tomorrow at the airport I will go with tears on my face and leave many tears behind on the faces of my friends, I can only hope my life again in America will be as great as it was here, I will definitely do my best to make it that way.