Going... home

[PopCulturePooka]

Thats right.
As of 9am tomorrow morning I'm flying back home to Australia.

After 21 months here I felt its time to go home. The job was really getting too me, I start too realise how dead end it was. How outright evil the company I work for is. Sure I could have changed jobs, but really, 21 months, straight out of college is a long time. I rally need to get a job in the field of my degree (ecology).

I love Japan and really hope I can return one day soon. Tokyo is a great city and I'm nowhere near done with it, and the friends I've made here, both Japanese and foriegn, are great people who I truly hope to meet again.

So now its down to this. An empty room. 11 boxes of Transformers toys, other toys, books, comics, DVD's, CD's and assorted other things in transit across the ocean. My luggage piled in the corner and my wallet almost empty.

I saved nothing here. Didn't see the point in sacrificing a good time for money while I'm this young and in a place like this.

I've done things here, seen and learnt things, experienced things, possesed things and lost things that I NEVER would have even imagined back home if I went straight to a career.

But... thats that.

Memories, photos, collections and great friends.

No more shopping trips in Shibuya.
No more nights on the booze in Yokohama.
No more watching schoolgirls at the station.
No more teaching the old housewives on Tuesday morning.
No more precooked convienience store meals.

In fact I'm not looking forward to going home really. My family visited this week. Even after 2 years, they haven't changed a bit. Same old family and their quirks and frustrating abilites. Australia seems small and tiny. The TV sounds terrible and I'll miss nights at the great local African Restaurant or Mikes Mexican or Izakayas.

I don't even know what I'll be doing back home.

Well, those of you who have been too Japan may know the significance of what follows.
Next time I post it will either be in Japans airport, Korea or back...

home.


Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

[misa.j]

FirstHousePooka,
In our lives, a lot of us face a big change, and I believe it often takes you to a good direction. I know that your experience in Japan will reward you in many situations after you go back to Australia. :victory: :cool:

I had a hard time getting along with my family when I went back to Japan after being in the states for 16 months. They seemed cold and distant to me although that was the way they always had been, I had gotten quite spoiled by the friendly treatments I received from Americans.

[Pachipro]

:wave: Good luck in your return to Australia. I do hope you will cherish with fondness your time in Japan. It's an experience too few get to realize.

After 21 months here I felt its time to go home. The job was really getting too me, I start too realise how dead end it was. How outright evil the company I work for is.

It's really sad how these assembly line English "schools" STILL treat their teachers. Thank God I was smart enough to see these places for what they were early on and started my own school or else I might have left too early.

I saved nothing here. Didn't see the point in sacrificing a good time for money while I'm this young and in a place like this.

Good for you! That's what you're supposed to do when you're young and in a party place like Tokyo: Party it up and have a great time! Seems you did. :beer:

Good luck in your future endeavors :wavey:

[Faustianideals]

No more watching schoolgirls at the station.
What the hell? I envy you good sir.

[Uncle Frank]

Australia's gain & Japan's loss! Have a safe trip.

Frank

:wave:

[silver angel]

I hope you have a safe ride home. Jobs can be frustrating that way, but take the experience and leave the grudges behind :-)

[lexico]

It was nice to know you, First House Pooka!

Please keep in touch when you get there.

Tell us all about the nice beaches and summer fun!

Tell us how strange and foreign Australia feels after being away! :-)

[RockLee]

So now its down to this. An empty room. 11 boxes of Transformers toys, other toys, books, comics, DVD's, CD's and assorted other things in transit across the ocean.Man that must be though...after 18 days in Japan I remember I was heartbroken....didn't want to leave...


No more shopping trips in Shibuya.
No more nights on the booze in Yokohama.
No more watching schoolgirls at the station.
No more teaching the old housewives on Tuesday morning.
No more precooked convienience store meals.
:( ...good songs never last long...

Well, those of you who have been too Japan may know the significance of what follows.hell yeah I know...

[ragedaddy]

Thats right.
As of 9am tomorrow morning I'm flying back home to Australia.

After 21 months here I felt its time to go home. The job was really getting too me, I start too realise how dead end it was. How outright evil the company I work for is. Sure I could have changed jobs, but really, 21 months, straight out of college is a long time. I rally need to get a job in the field of my degree (ecology).

I love Japan and really hope I can return one day soon. Tokyo is a great city and I'm nowhere near done with it, and the friends I've made here, both Japanese and foriegn, are great people who I truly hope to meet again.

So now its down to this. An empty room. 11 boxes of Transformers toys, other toys, books, comics, DVD's, CD's and assorted other things in transit across the ocean. My luggage piled in the corner and my wallet almost empty.

I saved nothing here. Didn't see the point in sacrificing a good time for money while I'm this young and in a place like this.

I've done things here, seen and learnt things, experienced things, possesed things and lost things that I NEVER would have even imagined back home if I went straight to a career.

But... thats that.

Memories, photos, collections and great friends.

No more shopping trips in Shibuya.
No more nights on the booze in Yokohama.
No more watching schoolgirls at the station.
No more teaching the old housewives on Tuesday morning.
No more precooked convienience store meals.

In fact I'm not looking forward to going home really. My family visited this week. Even after 2 years, they haven't changed a bit. Same old family and their quirks and frustrating abilites. Australia seems small and tiny. The TV sounds terrible and I'll miss nights at the great local African Restaurant or Mikes Mexican or Izakayas.

I don't even know what I'll be doing back home.

Well, those of you who have been too Japan may know the significance of what follows.
Next time I post it will either be in Japans airport, Korea or back...

home.


Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne


I feel your pain bro, I was in your shoes about a year ago, and so isn't it crazy how it's all winding down. Ah yes, then you start reflecting back on all the crazy yet fulfilling experiences that you have, whether it was partying under the Sakura trees, taking a day trip to Kamakura, riding the tightly packed trains through rush hour, chilling with some good buds at an Izakaya, Sitting down somewhere in Shinjuku just chilling as you watch the people walk on by, chowing down a bowl of ramen at the local ramen ya, karaoke until the wee hours in the morning, participating in a festival, remembering all the wonderful people that you have been fortunate to meet, etc...

Ah yes, I know how that feels, and now going back home and getting back to the way of living you knew before this journey. It's not the easiest thing to do, reverse culture shock comes in, and it can suck at times. You get back home, and so many things have happened, which kinda leaves you out of the loop. However, you will eventually get back to the way of living you knew before, and it won't seem so bad. Japan will always have that little special place in your heart. Then you make it more than a point that you will get back there, whether it be for business or pleasure. Ah yes, you still have the memories, and that is something nobody can take away from you. Anyways, good luck on getting acclimated back to the Aussie way of life. Don't worry it will get better for you, but it may take some time.

[Inuyasha-the-kid]

Dont feel bad because I cant go to Japan intill like 10 years because I am still young that sucks!

[Faustianideals]

Inuyasha: That wasn't a very good post...
At least you have your memorys, and of course you'll return sometime in the near future.
I hope this doesn't mean your posting will decrease.

[PopCulturePooka]

Nope, I'll still post here of course. Its one of my top 3 boards I check first!

Well now Im at Narita airport, wearing two heavy jackets as they didn't fit in my luggage.
Joygasm.
Still hasn't hit home yet really. Once I get back to Oz it will.

[Faustianideals]

Kiss the ground before you leave, it's for good luck in my little own world...
Could you link us to some awesome pictures?

[King of Tokyo]

Yeah. That sucks, but look on the bright side, not sure what it is since I'm not you, but there has to be one. Heh. If you like it enough maybe you'll have the drive to return again, under less stressing circumstances. That's about my only fear about going to Japan, not wanting to leave. Heh.

[cacawate]

Joygasm.

Priceless. Dude, you are gonna rock the final frontier with your mad ecology skills. And you know you'll be going back. Like they always say, you can take the Pooka out of Japan, but you can't take the Japan out of Pooka. I wish you the best with your career, my buddy.

[byp]

I saved nothing here. Didn't see the point in sacrificing a good time for money while I'm this young and in a place like this.

I've done things here, seen and learnt things, experienced things, possesed things and lost things that I NEVER would have even imagined back home if I went straight to a career.
But... thats that. Memories... ?? WEll ? What else ? You dont know it yet (or you dont realise it) but you are a hell of a lot richer today than when you arrived in JP the first day. The world belongs to the traveller. So said Marco Polo, and he knew what he was talking about, believe me. dont be sad, that was a rich experience, the kind you will never forget. As for your friends you left behind, you'll see them again. Next trip, Europe ? We are waiting for you !
P:S: ... Enjoy your cheaper pizza hut in Melbourne !!!

[Flashjeff]

I know what you mean, FHP. When I was stationed in Yokosuka wa-a-a-a-a-a-ay back in 1977-78, I had the time of my life. I would spend 17 more years in the Navy, but that period spent in Japan was STILL the best duty I ever spent during my career.

The sights, the sounds, the people, the trains (I'm a nut for trains), the food, Japan was just so incredible, especially for a kid who had never done any sort of traveling until I joined the Navy. I was actually sad when I was transferred back to the States. It all made the trip I took back to Japan in August of 2003 all the more enjoyable. In a way, it was like going back home and reliving so many good memories.

Hopefully, I'll be able to return to Japan later this year to relive more memories and, hopefully, make brand new ones!

:-)

[RockLee]

[QUOTE=byp]The world belongs to the traveller. So said Marco Polo, and he knew what he was talking about, believe me./QUOTE]I can confirm that !!! I never really travelled, but last xmas vacation I went to Japan and this summer I'm going to china...I *heart* travelling !!!! :-)

[Suki-Yaki]

This is so sad , and all of a sudden ...

The only good thing is that , you seem to have lived it to the fullest. It is great , that you wouldn still like to do the things you did rather than have gotten bored by now , like many people do.

You are so young , and after 4 or 5 years you will still be young , and Japan will still be here. I hope you will come back soon .

Now you could eat the Pizza you dream of in Australia !! send me some if you can ... :bawling:

[Row]

safe trip home, japan will allways be there =)

[byp]

[QUOTE=byp] last xmas vacation I went to Japan and this summer I'm going to china...I *heart* travelling !!!! :-)keep on moving, son, but be carefull, once you start, you'll never stop.

[Uncle Frank]

let us know you are home safe!!

Thanks,

Frank

:wave:

[PopCulturePooka]

Safe and sound and unclimatised in Australia!

Although... Nothing has changed in my abscence. Nothing major.

Oh boy, this is gunna hit hard in a few days.

[RockLee]

Safe and sound and unclimatised in Australia!

Although... Nothing has changed in my abscence. Nothing major.

Oh boy, this is gunna hit hard in a few days.yeah I know...it's like everything is boring :S

[PopCulturePooka]

Yeap.

Oh and my PC here at home is having a rough time displaying this board. Yayy beans

[kirei_na_me]

Um...welcome home? :souka:

Well, anyway, I'm glad you had a safe trip back home. :balloon: