Finally, the three wonderful years in Nagaoka Kosen will come to an end. Reminiscing the same event held approximately three years ago, the times I have spent here feels like it was just a blink of an eye. Just like what I wrote in the last line of last year's entry - "In one year's time, it's gonna be my turn. Time flies."; yes, without realising it, my turn has come.
This is the third farewell party we had in less than a fortnight, after the rice-cake-founding event and the second one, planned by our Malaysian juniors. This time, it was organised by the Students' Affairs Department of the school last week. For the first time in three years, it is still snowing although it is already heading towards the end of February. The snow fall this year has been exceptionally a lot this year. In fact, it was snowing outside, when this farewell party was going on.





The cafeteria was almost empty when we arrived, but in less than five minutes, the place suddenly became packed with lecturers, staffs and students. The event was supposed to start at five, but it started slightly later as some people have yet to arrived.
In the end, the MC kicked off the party ten minutes past five. Ten minutes late, which was very un-Japanese.







In her speech, Matsuda sensei mentioned about a new technology, in which one can now learn a new language using the computer, and it could replace the conventional way of learning it from teachers. That is why she voiced her fear that she could lose her job pretty soon. But given a choice, I still prefer learning something from human, rather than programmed computers. Most of the people there were waiting for the speeches to end as soon as possible, because everyone just couldn't wait any longer to attack the food haha. Yea-lah, how can you tahan when you see so many nice food on the table, right?
Our wish was granted, as the next agenda was eating time haha!





When I was busy talking on one hand, and eating on the other, one Japanese students called me over to one corner. Her name is Sayaka, one of the Japanese students who went to Malaysia last summer, and I happened to be in Malaysia to guide them around Kuala Lumpur. Well, she is quite close to the international students (especially *ahem* me *ahem* haha so syiok-sendiri wtf!) as she had studied in Denmark for a few years before this.
I walked to her and she gave me a hand-made love letter, which I totally didn't expect at all haha wtf!
As always, the leaving seniors would be asked to give a few words in front.
Three years ago, I was the one of the juniors who watched and listened to the seniors who went in front and gave their short speech. Three years after that, it was my turn to give my thoughts to the lecturers, staffs and the juniors in this farewell party. Thank God I did prepare a little bit for that, so I wasn't that anxious to talk spontaneously. Despite that, I still missed out a few lines, but I guess it's just normal when you are talking in front of so many people (not that many actually haha).





After every one finished thanking (I don't know how many times the word arigatou was repeated haha) everyone, the lecturers, the staffs, friends and juniors, we were treated to a video presentation, which was specially prepared by the juniors. Lights were turn off and we were set for a long journey.
That's because the video was damn long!

But then, let me tell this; they were very clever-lor.
They knew the seniors would be sad after watching the video, so what they did after that to make us happy, was to give us presents haha! Who is not happy to get presents, right? It was just a small token of appreciation by the dormitory's representatives. When we later opened the present, it was some wool toy kinda thingy, and Yan Kuang claimed it was from 100 yen shop lol!




Apparently, the girls got an extra piece of cardboard, which was written with messages by the juniors. So nice, right? But then, that is because there are just a few girls in the dormitory. If the guys were to have all the juniors to write their messages on a board, I think they would need to order one blackboard for each of us haha!
The party was heading to its ending and Maruyama sensei, who is put in charge to take care of the international students' affair for the year gave his closing speech.
However, I guess it must be wishing the seniors all the best in their new place; something like that. It was great to have him to baby-sit us for one year because he is a really sporting sensei and can talk with us as if we are his friends. Whatever decisions he makes, it will usually be done randomly and casually, without much thought. Very cincai like that-lah haha!
Finally, some photo sessions.






One of my senior once said, whenever you are leaving someone, or leaving a place, never say "good bye". Instead, replace that word with "see you again"; or in Japanese, 「さよなら言わず、又会いましょう」(sayonara iwazu, mata aimashou). I don't know when can we meet again, but it has been great to know you guys! Mata aimashou!
2 comments:
baiknye principal nagaoka kosen.
ktorang pye jangan harap aa nak turun padang mcm tu. tak berjiwa rakyat lgsung..
@ nik shazwan:
yup, our kouchou sensei is a really nice person.
he loves the international students a lot.
in fact, i still remember he invited us to his room on our first week at kosen to have a short chatting session :)
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