It's over. My trip has come to an end.

I am now back and have fully returned to my life here in the cold of Manitoba. After settling down and relaxing for a few weeks, enjoying the holidays with my family, and catching up to all the changes, it was soon time for me to resume my studies in January.

I am now in the middle of my semester, taking a few business courses here at the University of Winnipeg. Getting used to the studying style of regular courses is quite a hard transition, but I'm doing my best to re-adjust my work ethic to this type of material. I must say that I miss studying Japanese.

But on that note, I haven't stopped completely my Japanese studies. Although I am quite busy with my studies as well as my training, which I am pursuing, I also take time to study Japanese with my father's guiding. It is nothing near what the courses at Tokai had to offer, but it allows me to keep thinking in Japanese in order not to forget it. (Like my sister has unfortunately done.) I also keep a good contact with my friends in Japan, Skyping with my closest friends, sending emails and letters to my professors and other acquaintances! My father can also go into much more details when explaining certain facts about the history of Japan or the meaning of a word which makes for a much more immersive experience. I do plan on being able to work or volunteer during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, therefore by that time, my Japanese (as well as my French and English...) has to be top notch!

Music is hard to make, due to lack of time, but I still manage to make some time for it. I plan on getting more involved once this term is over, and I can't wait to see what I can make with some of the new tools I have acquired.

Now a few things I miss about Japan are:
 - Being able to get on a train and go anywhere you want, when you want. It can be very useful to have a train passing every five minutes bringing you to wherever you want to go. An hour later, you could be in a shopping mall in Tokyo eating at a world renowned restaurant.
 - The Food. It's good.
 - My friends. I made A LOT of friends out there, Japanese as well as from many other countries! Being able to see them every day is something I truly miss.
 - The non-freezing weather. Today, we had a blizzard which prevented me to attend a judo practice. I didn't even see snow the whole time I was in Japan.
 - Using Japanese every day. Even though it can be mentally straining to always use all of your brain at every moment to make sure you don't make a stupid mistake, it can be quite rewarding and fun to do so as well.

I have to say that Japan has now become a second home to me. I went through an enormous amount of experiences during my time over there, and each of them only brought me closer to the country. What I have left behind in Japan will be there for me to pick up once I return. Yet at the same time, what it has given me to bring home with me shall grow even further.

On my last day there, I posted a comment with this picture on Facebook, and it cannot hold any truer.

"Japan! We do not say "Goodbye", but rather "Until next time."

Sincerely,

Shiokawa Mamoru