Piczo

Itekimasu... Iterashai!

I planned on first doing a final entry on Yosakoi Day 3, but I have so much on my plate right now. Eventually I would love to finsih, and I have everything written down so I won't forget it. But for now, I'm just going to settle on the final morning. I slept that night. I'm not really sure how I did it, because I had so much racing through my mind. I had two sparkling medals from the Yosakoi dance competition adorning my neck, a heart full of pride at the fact that my team had so well, and a feeling of hopelessness drifting on my mind. I tried so hard to not think about it. I figured if I didn't think about it until the very end, it wouldn't hit so hard. But it was hitting me. It was creeping inside of me like the winter cold on a late November morning. I slept, though, much to everyone's surprise. Yet when my blue cell phone rang for that final time, I felt as though I had not gotten an ounce of lseep in my lifetime. Quickly I changed into my school uniform, maybe for the last time. There was no need for me to be wearing it, but it was just something I had to do. I loved Tosajoshi and everything about it, and my final salute to the school was to wear that stupid sailor uniform to Tokyo, Detroit, and finally back to Newark. I put my hair up and then I trudged down the stairs into the kitchen, where I quickly met with a solemn greeting. My host mother and father were eating some sort of Tamago-yaki and rice, as I sat down. My host mom immediately grabbed the coffee maker from the wall, and began brewing my everyday coffee. I chuckled and asked her if she would continue to drink coffee every morning when I was gone. She didn't reply. The word gone stuck in the front of her thought. Michiyo, Mamiko, and Toshiki simuntaneously came bounding through the paneled doors. Only Mamiko seemed to be enjoying herself. I greeted them with a smile and then sipped my delicious instant coffee. When I was all finished up I asked the question that was sitting in everyone's brains. Should we get going? I had an early flight, and my Rotary counselor asked that I be there very early for a bit of a going-off party. But first, I needed to get my bags down to the car. We woman sat back and ejoyed ourselves watching Toshiki and Otosan strain to carry my bags. I had been growing incredibly worried about the heavy weight of my bags, but at this point I no longer cared. When there was no more things that needed to be done, I slowly climbed up the steps trying to take in every moment of this last day. I scanned the entire starwell. Remembering the incident with the Gokiburi (cockroach), my first experience with laundry, and the endless conversations Michiyo and I partook in. In my room I picked up my incredibly heavy backpack, inspected the room, making sure it was in a tip-top shape. I realized that the room could never be as clean as it was before I moved inn, but I figure a messy desk is a sign of a genius. I walked out the room knowing I would probably never be back. Outside the home, the sun was rising in the bright blue Kochi sky. The humidity had already fell upon the city, and I expected the day to be unbearably humid and disgusting. It reminded me of the day when I arrived in this city, spending all of 5 minutes outside and returning with sweat dripping down my forehead. To top that, my air conditioner decided to die during the night, and I awoke that following morning with a severe case of heat stroke. Now hot weather had become a pretty decent ally of mine. In the Katou's tiny sedan, we piled in, all but Mamiko. I did not even realize that I would not get to say goodbye at the airport, but we could not all fit in the car. Instead I wrapped my arms around her and embraced her. I had only just met her, but I still loved her. I loved her family and all that they had done fore me. I told her to come visit me in America when she could. Then in the car we drive off. I took it all in. Every moment of it. The Sunny Mart, where I discovered my true love of Manji sweets, the Jusco shopping center, where the bargain movie cost me 20 American dollars, a Sushi restaurant where I made a simple error in the eating of the fish, which resulted in a screaming by the insane chef. And it was the little things like the tiny hidden alleyways that I had penetrated on my tireless run through my host city. That dirt pathway along the river where Katou Otosan stopped and pointed to a seemingly empty spot and ordered me to gaze out. Sure enough a light appeared and I witnessed a firefly. Over the river I could see the tall building of the Masaki's pharmacy and apartment, and in the distance I knew that the Osaki's cramped house waited for me to return as well. We did not talk much. The Katou's seemed to understand that I needed this time to just think, remember, and dream. Maybe they didn't actually understand but were instead at a loss for words. AFter all, what do you say to a kid who quite obviously doesn't want to leave? And who you don't really want to see go? The silence was soothing, it helped me gain some compusure. I knew I was going to need all the support I could get at the airport. Sure enough, we hadn't even pulled up to the airport when I saw a medium-sized crowd hanging outside the terminal. I recognized the stocky figure of Captain Jack (Masaki Otosan) as he waved to the Katou's car. Katou Otosan pulled to the side, and let me and the rest of us out. Then he and Toshiki grabbed the bags from the trunk. Toshiki and Captain Jack then heaved the bags inside to where I can only assume they bribed the airline workers to allow the bags to be put on the plane without being weighed. Meanwhile, the Rotarians that came to see me off, and there were quite a few, whicked me off into the room just beside the security check point. I had been in that room only once before. On my very forst day, when I was asked to do a speeach in Japanese. I could only Konnichiwa, so you can imagine how badly that worked out for me. My hair was long back then and I wore the ROtary blazer. Back then it had just a dozen pins on it. Now it had about 50 or so colorful ornments decorating the entire thing. Most people, upon seeing the blazer, are absolutely astounded by it. I guess I don't really blame them. There are so many pins from all the places and people I have met. Anyway, inside the room, I saw a group of people already waiting for me. Actually, I was late for my own final going away party. The Koto Club, led by Chiake, had come to send me off. As soon as they saw me, they came sprinting at me and jumped at me. I received more hugs from those girls then I did over the course of the entire year. To make small talk and not really think about the impending departue, the girls asked me how I though Yoskoi went. I told them that it was honesly the most fun I have ever had. Then they told me all about their big Koto competition, and the fact that in a year's time they would no longer be allowed to be in the club. I told them that a year passes quickly. And we all sort of fell silent again. I also ran into the Osaki's. Every. Single. One. Of. Them. Obachan, Ojichan, Obasan CHizuko, Otosan, Okasan, Ebuki, Kaho, Maako, and Hikari. I think if cats were allowed in the airport, they would have brought them too. Hikari and Maako were enthralled with my blazer. They insisted on trying it on and googling at all the pins. WHen Hikari put it on, I honestly though she was going to topple over from the weight of the pins. I found myself growing really upset when Hikari said, "How are you going to remember me? I didn;t get you a pin." I promised her that a pin doesn't make you remember someone. Instead it is the memories, the laughter, and tears, and the bonds formed that make you remember someone. I promised her I would never ever forget her. In addition, I found Naoko and gave her a cute birthday present that I had been saving to give to her. SHe hugged but whispered in my ear not to feel sad. When I asked her why, she patted me upside the head and told me she was coming to visit me in America in three weeks. I also brought her to talk to Michiyo, "Big Sister Naoko you know my Big Sister Michiyo, right?" I then returned to one of my most favorite parts about being Julie in Japanland... the little nagging sister. I made sure to whine and groan and pester my two older, wise, and loving sisters. You never know how lucky you are until you suddenly have 2 big sisters, and they love you like you ACTUALLY were the younger sister. When everyone who was expected to come had arrived, Matsumoto-san, my Rotarian counselor insisted ona a formal speech. I knew that this actually meant a tear fest. He called for each host father to give a brief speech about me. They were not always kind in their speeches. They remarked on the difficultires in hosting someone who could not really speak the lanaguge, but how it all worked out in the end. And how by the end of the year, they could all honestly say that I would be sincerely missed. And that most importantly, I was like family, and I was alwasys welcome back. I cried so hard, even though I pinched myself profusely in the thigh, trying to dull out the sadness with pain. Then when they were done, Chiake stood to speak. She talked about how no matter where we go in life, she would never forget this year, and how a curious American girl stepped into her life and changed it forever. She promised everyone that we would be friends for forever. A million little things were gooing in that room atthat time. Nearly everyone was crying and everyone who was not crying was pinching themselves trying not to. I sometimes think that a funeral would have been less sad. For a few more moments I relaxed and enjoyed myself surrounded by the people that I have come to love and respect. I dreaded the every ticking of the seconds, and knowing that it was time. And when I could no longer delay for fear of missing my flight, I lost it. I mean seriously lost it... I was hysterical as I embraced Hikari, and Chiake, Captain and Jack and Matsumoto-san. Japanese people don't really hug, but for me they made an excption. They carried my remaining bags to the long line outside the security line. I was unable to collect myself, and I could barely walk. People from all over were staring as this massive group of people departed from a room holding up this random wailing gaijin. For the first time, the staring didn't even bother me a bit. While in line, the large group of people waitied just beyond the rope. I checked in and placed my blazer and back pack through security. Just before I walked through the human security check point, Chiake and Hikari pushed aside the folks waiting behind me. "Julie- we will miss you. Come back soon!" And it was in those words- those powerful words- when a sudden surge of pride overcame the sadness. I wiped off my tears and faced the group and shouted, "ITEKIMASU." They were all pretty surprised, but after a few chuckles and a few smiles from my close friends and family, they replied, "ITERISHAI!" Itekimasu in Japanese means something along the lines of, "Im leaving but I'll be back." While Iterishai means means something like, "We will see you later." And when I made it through security and up to the gate, I turned around one final time to catch a glance of the people, I saw it. Through the glass windows seperating the boarding area with the main terminal, about 40 people waited waving, crying, smiling, and knowing I would be back. My Japanese family.