July 18, 2006

• Memoirs Of A Gaijin

  True to my word, its time to recount those heartbreaking but action-packed final days at NUFS! As is the case in these scenarios, we didn’t get done all of what we had hoped! Partying on the roof was halted by the presence of too many school-type peoples at the performance of Canadian Mel’s play “Lost & Found” and Inuyama Castle was halted when we realised it would take 3 hours rather than 1 to get there! (Japanese transport comes through again!) We did get done some pretty sweet stuff, though… Matt, CAlex and I attended the official premier of Star Wars: Episode XVII The Force Up Commercial at the Mac store in Sakae! In other words, all the commercials from the class were shown, ours being the last! We didn’t win the coveted prize of an i pod, but seeing our film on a big screen rocked all the same! We took in dinner at Outback Steakhouse for the last time after!

  
  

  

  
  

  We finally lived up to a Lindsey Wilson College tradition Matt and I had discussed numerous times… The Ninja Run! The same transatlantic trio of myself, Matt and CAlex, dressed as ninja (employing the t-shirt cowl) spent a good half hour in a mad dash of running, jumping and rolling across the NUFS and NUAS campus! Reactions ranged from terror, bemusement, confusion, admiration and a little embarrassment from certain friends of ours! (Kellie, Kellie, Kellie!!!) Along the way we shot videos of our run, paused for some photographs with confused (and sometimes terrified) Japanese students and bought snacks Pasco! We emerged sweaty and breathless, but pleased with ourselves!!! 

  
  

  Nagoya University Of Foreign Studies! Come for the education! Stay for the ninjas!

  
  

      

  
  

   

  
  

   

  
  

  Our last few trips to the gym that week were pretty emotional! We finally learned the gym caretaker’s name (its Takagi, not “Gym Guy” as we’ve been calling him all this time!) A final set of farewell photographs were taken of us gyming under his supervision for the last time!!! And Yes! Canadian Alex wore a PINK wife-beater! Well, it is Japan!!! Hahahah!

  
  

  Our last trip to the gym followed our Graduation Ceremony, a long affair in formal attire on the final day of school. We hit the gym in our suits and maxed out on the weight-bench before an afternoon at the Sumo! Maybe I’d have got more out of it if my emotions hadn’t been running so high but I just wasn’t in the mood for large, practically naked men slapping each others flab! It had its moments but all in all my mind and feelings were elsewhere, wishing just for more time to chill at I House with my soon-to-be-seperated-from friends! Sumo came to an end and we headed home where I packed as much of my things as my luggage would allow, realising that I had somehow acquired too much to carry home with me! I left my room for the while and awaited our final jaunt to karaoke. Unfortunately, “Denki wo Keshite ne” was the caretaker that evening! This particular caretaker is, to be blunt, a dick! He is a complete tool! He spent the year going round at the 11 pm cerfew informing a household of 20 somethings to turn out the lights (hence we called him “denki wo keshite ne” meaning “turn out the lights!”) and even on occasion told us to return to our rooms, like we were 12 year olds! Noone ever took any notice but the fact remains that the guys a tool! Anyway, Matt and I were about to head for karaoke when he starts buggin’ us to get our rooms checked. Emotional levels reached critical at this point! Matt asked if it could wait, he said “dame” (no/not allowed) and emotional levels went into orbit! I rounded on him and screamed obscenities (in English), then stormed out! My first breakdown of many over the next 48 hours, as Matt found me in tears of rage and sorrow in the entranceway, before calming me enough to head for karaoke!

  
  

  Karaoke was a bittersweet, emotional affair! Shorter than at first anticipated but we performed some of our staples and let out more emotions! Sho, a hard-as-nails shoot fighter, was the first to break and Sarven and I followed not long after! Matt was emotionally stoic as usual, but I’m sure I caught him choked up and red-eyed as he, Sarven and I sang Incubus’ “Wish You Were Here”! He probably blames his contact lenses!!! Back at I House we finally finished packing, largely thanks to Clayton’s assistance, as he took on board so much of our extra crap and stored stuff for us to be collected by Matt on his return to start JET! We owe you big-time Clay! Thanks! A brief period of reflection and some final farewells followed, which is where my last entry kicks off… I don’t plan to dwell on those parts anymore. The realities of I House and the memories of those realities are with us always. That night leaving was just one moment of pain at the end of a year of awesomeness! And it won’t end there! Friends, I say I House was just the beginning… what we made there, is forever! (Fade to black! Cue inspirational rock ballad!!)

  
  

  Matt! You are a true friend and I love you! You’ve helped me grow physically, mentally and spiritually. You’ve been there for me every step of the way! I’d be much less without you. Thank you!

  
  

  Sarven! You are one of the first people I bonded with and we were there til the end! I’m sorry I let the karate slide. The times we shared, the role-playing, the jokes, they were the best! Love you too, man!

  
  

  Kellie! We seemed to get each other from our first talk and I always felt I could talk with you! Hanging in your room over break was some of the best times of my life! Love you Kelso!

  
  

  CAlex! You and I share many of the same insecurities. We can be pretty silly sometimes huh!? But I guess thats why we bonded like we did! We didn’t always share each others viewpoint, but there was always love! Still is!

  
  

   

  
  

  Special mention must also go to my schoolmates from UCLan, particularly BAlex (Lord Of Airsoft) and Kate, who tried her darndest to keep me awake in class! To Holly, inventor of the penis-shrinking ray and fellow Star Wars geek! To the rest of the gym crew, original (Mike and Mario, Fat Day! Yeah!) and new (Carter and Clif)! To Marcus for just being cool! To Hew for his sheer Aussie-ness! To Deidre for being a nagging big sister and Fred for being beautiful! (White Day!!!) To my M2 class in general! And to those that came before… Cass, Jeremy, Robin and Jen included, who had to do this 6 months ago! Basically to everyone: You guys made this experience! I’m privileged to have got to live with, and get to know, such a great bunch of people! I love you all!

  
  

  NUFS Kids 4 LIFE! Word!    

  • 6:51 pm
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