"GRADUATED!"

I'm graduated!

BA in Japanese (emphasis in translation)

from Brigham Young University.

I am so grateful Grandma Bowden-Sanders and Uncle Fred came out!

And Grandpa and Grandma Weiss!

{And thank you to everyone who sent cards and well wishes!}

Happy Sumo was an appropriate choice for celebrating a Japanese degree, methinks.

Delicious miso salmon.

And my favorite, mochi ice cream!

To repeat everyone's question: "What's next?"

Traveling, living everywhere, matriculating as much as I can from life. 

Just because the textbooks shut doesn't mean it's time to stop learning.

"Time to Say Goodbye"

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." -Dr. Seuss

This is a compilation of
my goodbyes.
{I said goodbye to my Chocolate apartment too, but there aren't any pictures of that.}

Goodbye to the Kawamoto family.

I'll always have a home in Japan
because of you, Akemi.

You feed me just as many goodies as my mama does.
...Boy, it sure seems like I'm always eating, here in Japan.

Oh, guess I am.

Goodbye, Kakogawa Ward.
You showed me the same Gospel I grew up with
from a refreshing perspective.

Goodbye, my Aussie gals.

You sent me messages
asking me how my classes went,
warning me about weather changes,
inviting me out to explore Japan with you.
Lauren, Kat, Vera,
I'm coming for Christmas one year.
Be ready.

The "Ghost Trees",
so rightfully named by Lauren.

The spirits of fallen samurai
wander amongst the shadows
of the illuminated Arashiyama bamboo forest...
Or maybe it's just the stray cats.

I'm going to step forward,
gathering all that I learned from
studying abroad,
and become the wonderful person
I dream to be.

My little life

will become a big one.

You're in my heart forever, 日本.

For now,

Sayonara, Japan. 

{♪ "Departure at Dawn" via Cecil Corbel}

"Bai-Bai, My Little Crazies"

Dear Japanese school,
you were an incredible experience
I wouldn't trade for the world.
One I will never forget.

There were days when I wanted to
twirl down the hallway, a band trumpeting behind me,
I was so happy.

There were days when I wanted to

curl into a ball and wring my heart of all its tears,

I was so frustrated.

But this experience wouldn't have been
half as amazing
if I hadn't tasted both sides of the bowl.

I finally saw teachers for
who they really are:
people.

I learned so much
watching their hardships,
and sharing my own with them.

And the children became

my baby brothers and sisters.

So, to you, 

little students,

I want to thank you...

...for accepting me as your teacher,

and as your friend,

for making me feel pretty
for having lily-white skin, corn-yellow hair, and blue eyes,

for letting me learn
right alongside you.
You wound up teaching me, this year.

{Arts via IKJHS students}

{Cho & Aiata drawing via me, with colors by Karin-chan}

{Cho & Aiata © Me}

"Sayonara, America"

Everyone, thank you.

I love you, and will miss seeing your faces.

Talk to me on Facebook, on Twitter,

or, even better, leave me a little note here on Whimsical Musical.

Once I get settled, I'll post again.

And also, I wanted to leave you with a magnificent quote

from C.S. Lewis:

Imagine yourself as a living house.

God comes in to rebuild that house.

At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing.

He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently, He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of -- throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace.

He intends to come and live in it Himself.

Image via Neptune

"Farewell, Mates"

{Music credit: "Carry On Wayward Son" by Kansas}

"We only part to meet again." -John Gay

...And by "boss", he meant "landlord". {Sorry about the noise, Sam.}

Our last night all together turned into boot camp.

{I guess it makes sense, Caz being a soldier and all.}

The past few months have really been incredible, guys.

The movies, the ice skating, the light-seeing, the corn mazes...

But this isn't the end, no sir!

Until next year! {muah!}