Yesterday was my last day of work and it was a bit painful saying goodbye! I got flowers and gifts and letters and one of my students even came in to say goodbye even though she didn't have a lesson (it turned into a big cry-fest).
I had no idea I would become so attached to all my students and coworkers! Whenever I travel I make temporary friends who I keep in touch with and have a good time with but I know inevitably we will all go home and so I don't let myself get to into any deep relationships. I came to Japan thinking of it just like all my other trips but longer...but Tokyo turned into a home.
After work we had a karaoke farewell party with the staff in Ikebukuro but I'll likely stop by there to give a proper (more sober) goodbye before I leave, so those goodbyes were not that bad.
Here's a few photos from the last days:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxmszvPZTO04DUWmu9pb_RWq2TM3E8J1Nn5GGYN-XkHJDX1-aD4oMD3a5w_1YgEocx0rtJXzUfJtLLydqp0X6H7JAF98-qG8aNPROn2l75-OagMktXFdR1X2d1wf08E33Fe252-cJMuOq/s320/DSCF5466.JPG)
Flowers I got from one of my regular students
(in my make-shift thermos/vase)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypR7TgiZIefmxhK12b3G-Btr7JXZuuMy1ibJCEXQgJr3499ub20_9mXZsp2vCcw2cAINgE83ZFxt3yLXkboPXc-0OlOpocQK6o955n5YzLARN63Rw4pRpayMRicXsADk-NZ8nEaQIRsZ0/s320/DSCF5469.JPG)
More gifts
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6crEBXYn5jJMfsayP02n6CVpgG-2C8cQgYqJr17X4MHeb3BShg4JunoPq7Y9bY6RxWs453hhfzxnDUklyzpD6eW6_Cbju269DZXoZNAEJNNhcbPvsJLbFJ_Rn953YygsiOk-mZnWgvG5/s320/DSCF5468.JPG)
The amazing scrapbook Akina (my fav student/friend) made for me
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJPd1VkJtdteZSTIDoMYdN0TZzurjGlJo_pVGrRtwOOcSOL2XIzkl4dEpGWyvWJNplWzIeV4GJpu3eMIvY5c0OEtQf-fgtVkhaj5uHxkD2cDPMogtZQcxrngN63namBIrzdl6nSt375Ce/s320/DSCF5457.JPG)
Karaoke with the Akabane staff
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzasHZwqAWEKKc_83eRDBgqPpmu10yQo7HSeDPOD4B_-qbKjOBtZ9pRffXB6S9Cdh8oJzqcoo2ZYYonuP9H7zgl2SQyFEpSNzGOAAHofSt4fpg7_BOF0TZwHTQDj44wbQb1sKn3u8VUvs/s320/DSCF5464.JPG)
Manager, counselor, and instructor
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVnqm4IsSt7wmaweHjYW42bjhPcHHXslLM4FL1_iIT2TYK35Zba7pOXgEYGr-LWzfRjUO5QdwhTphyphenhyphenvO-YmvNEU16a3ehNlwHS049eknL5CDxAAYDb-m85xJDU_xVzjELplOxX1zTq_-G/s320/DSCF5461.JPG)
Adrian being witty again