Graduating Class 13 Rotary Peace Fellows

Mid-summer birthdays have been in fun in the past because they usually occur when other celebrations are happening too. My birthday this year was no different and happened to fall on the ICU Rotary Peace Fellow graduation day which was a lot of fun. I was also majorly spoiled my some of the other fellows in my own class.

All of us - both class 13 and 14

Opening speeches at the seminar

The night before my birthday, I had had plans to enjoy a home-cooked Thai dinner with some friends and since it had been planned for awhile, I thought nothing of it. But after dinner, they surprised me with cake and some birthday celebrations. The next day, on the morning of my birthday, I returned to my apartment after class to find it decorated in balloons, presents and a two-layer chocolate cake in the fridge. I had forgotten that I had given out a spare key to a friend in case of emergencies and she had definitely put it to good use!





Then during the graduation, I received flowers from the Mitaka Rotary Club, the class 14 Peace Fellows and a gift and cake from my Rotary host counselor. Mom, Dad, Sue and Sean sent an awesome birthday package and before that I had received a surprise birthday box filled with goodies from my friend, Linde. Along with other cards and goodies from classmates, this birthday made me feel very loved and remembered even when I'm far away from the people I love most. Thanks for all of the birthday wishes!

Sean left on Tuesday and it's been a huge adjustment to doing this Tokyo life alone - it just isn't as fun. In my head, beforehand, I thought that it might work out well that he's gone for the last month of the semester since it's a busy blur of final papers, presentations and summer plans and I'd logically have more time.  The days do feel like they have more time since I can rush through meals, get up and go to bed when I want and don't spend anytime sharing life with another human in the apartment. But, I am much unhappier and my productivity level and quality of work is lower - I can feel it. It also feels like life is less healthy - my meals are shorter and not homemade, I don't work out as much because there's nobody to run with, and I don't have the daily therapeutic doses of conversation that I've gotten used to.

My Japanese class

Other than the fact of appreciating Sean's company, this adjustment has made me realize a few other things too. One is that I've been able to glimpse how hard it is/was for the other Peace Fellows to move here alone. They have always shared about how lonely and isolating living in Japan can be and now I finally have a shred of that understanding. Secondly, I've been totally overwhelmed by the number of people who have cared for me and supported me through this week. It's hard to start over and make friends in new places all the time and sometimes it feels like I don't have any 'real' friends in Tokyo. But this week proved that insecurity wrong by many acts of kindness, big and small, that helped me feel loved, noticed and cared for.

First, my Japanese class (most of whom are under 20 years old) held a movie night with snacks for me on the night that Sean left so I wouldn't have to be alone. They also brought presents to class for me that day. Another peace fellow surprised me with an iced chai latte before a long lecture because she knew I was having a rough day. A fellow education student showed up late on Friday night with a cold pop at my door and gave me a big hug and said she was thinking of me. The next night, a peace fellow friend dropped off a piece of cake. I've been invited out for dinners, wine dates and campus walks and the emails and text messages keep coming. I hope I can be as good of a friend to others in the future as my ICU friends have been to me this year.