1.) How it all started – 1981

First week, at the station near Sophia University.

It was my second year in college in Maryknoll,  and by now I was adjusted to the life of being brought to school everyday, attending classes, then going back home.  A routine – home- school- home.  That was it.  Now as I think about it,  I really liked living  a simple life… LOL !

I did not really go out and have fun, cause I was not really the “party type” of college girl…  but thank God I was not a “nerd” neither…  he he he…

Summer vacation, my distant cousins, invited me to join the Ateneo- Sophia Exchange Program.  It was a cultural exchange program between the students from Ateneo in the Philippines and Sophia University in Japan.   The Ateneo batch that year wanted one more person to add in the group or maybe it was just the mom of my cousin who wanted me to be with her son.  Whatever it was, am I so glad to have been part of it.

First, the Japanese students came, and each one of the Filipino delegates had one foster brother or sister to take care of.   Fumi, was my foster sister.   This was the first time I met a Japanese lady, so reserved, so quiet and she only spoke limited English.  Our communication was a combination of the dictionary, and some body language.  “Falah, what happened to the shower” was her famous line – when she forgot to turn of the heater and it was smoking already…  Que horror !   LOL !

We brought her to Ateneo everyday for they had schedules for a month – study, learn about the Filipino culture and most of all – we had sight seeing tours and fun trips around Manila and even some out of town weekends.   We all got close to our counter-parts- the delegates of 1981.   Amazing how so many friendships grew from there…  and before we knew it – it was time for them to go back to Japan.    That was only one month of meeting the “Japanese “.

Then came April,  our turn to go to the  “land that was later on – meant to be my home”.

We were also assigned to stay with our foster homes – where a student from Sophia University would take care of us.

We were 14 in the group, 10 girls and 4 boys.  I was the youngest girl in the group, thus the Japanese delegates put me at the nearest home near the school.   I was even assigned two guardians -  Tomo and Mitchi ;  “Rucky !!! “  : )

Papa, Junko, Me, Mama and our two friends Boo and Martin

My new home, was with the Horie Family.  Papa, Mama, Junko and Wataru were now “my family” for a month.   We also had a cat named “Chi-chan”  from the word- Chisai- or small – because at the time she was picked up – she was so tiny.   Oh had they known,  she would grow to be a big fat cat… LOL.

This one forked my tummy !

Junko gave me her bed, and she slept on the other smaller bed next to me in her bedroom.  The first night, I was so surprised -  I was already half asleep , I could feel the claws on my tummy… I woke up and it was the fat cat “Chi” – she  had come to “her bed”  thinking  it was Junko’s tummy…  that was so scary and funny at the same time.

Delegates at Kamakura

Like the Japanese delegates, we had a one month schedule- of going to school and going around Japan,  learning at the same time enjoying the sights and sounds of Japan.  Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Nikko, Hakone,  Kamakura and Yokohama – were the places we visited.

The moment we landed in Narita airport – I breathed the air – and I had a feeling “as if I felt home”.  While my other friends had mixed reactions – some liked Japan, some did not like the crowded trains and busy life style… but to me it was all new and just really simply wonderful.

Kyoto temple

And another thing – I had a feeling that  I was ” popular”  in Japan.   Japanese boys  thought my smile and my two rabbit like teeth made me look cute…  Back in Manila, no one ever asked me out…so I figured – maybe this is the place to be…  ho ho ho…    That is where the word “Kawaii” stuck to my head…  Every Japanese person I met – told me I was Kawaii – (cute) … guess that is where it somehow started… ne?

At Korakuen having fun

My fascination for Japan increased each day… as I saw how disciplined the people were, how friendly they were, and how clean and safe it was to walk around Tokyo.  I slowly learned some words and songs.

One of the best things- was the food, the rice, the tonkatsu, the ice-cream, the tsubu-tsubu orange juice (juice with pulp-bits) , and the cakes…  my home stay papa would bring me at least 2 cakes every night, as he came home from work.

Before we knew it, time to go home to Manila…

At the Manila International Airport, my friends met their families.   My family was there, behind those glass doors at the airport.  I waved, jumped and did all stunts to attract their attention.  But they could not “see me” … So I walked out, and to their surprise it was me -  but 10 pounds heavier…

More details next time … till next blog.

Pretending to sleep @ the airplane

Day I arrived in Manila with my souvenirs

PART 2  here.