TOKYO

Time never stops and change is inevitable.

It has been two months since I put my thoughts into writing and there is just so much going on with my life right now that it is not easy to communicate it to a listening ear. The complexity and frustration level has been escalating and I sure feel like exploding. Nevertheless, being back in

Japan

has brought smiles and comfort amidst the madness.

I embarked on a new adventure back to the land of the rising sun but face a challenge as I return no longer a student, but a young working adult running the rat race in this fast paced high stressed society. I spent my first 2 weeks of July catching up with loved ones and friends, attending the graduation of the 3rd batch of ACTS-es students, sang for Ruth, Ashesh, Sang, Becky, and Ann Dee, spend many hours talking and hanging out with Rajiv and my favorite boys before they left Japan... then, another chapter of my life unfolds as I moved into the heart of Tokyo for my new assignment in life.

I am currently working for a executive recruitment firm, Progress. For the past month, I lived in a hotel a stone's throw away from the office and worked hard to settle into this new role I have. My daily tasks are challenging as they are very different from what I am used to in the past. Even though I work in an internationally populated office but my duties requires me to perform in business Japanese. The learning curve is very steep and I am pushed to adaptation in a very high speed. Stressful is how I feel everyday but everyone at the office is kind, fun, and supportive. Exhaustion is felt as I crash my head onto my pillow every night but am thankful that friends who hang out with me over the weekend gave me joy and refreshed my sanity.

Since it is the summer, students flocked home, graduates move on with life, working people just have to keep working... Phone calls from friends and loved ones eased up the weekdays with burst of heart-warming feelings and smiles. I also look forward to my weekly "dates" with Sunil where we hang out at Harajuku and

Yoyogi

Park

listening to gigs and people watch after church. Yuka came from Nagoya to visit me 2 weeks ago where we had a blast painting the town red visiting English pubs, jazz bars, late ramen escapades; we went to church on Sunday, explored Omotesando Hills, hung around Shibuya and had sushi and a massage. It was just like the good old times where we talked but the time fillers were far more exciting than the time when we used to be students. Motoko and I hung out at Shinjuku last Saturday and had a great time too.

Now I live in an apartment, alone, but at a very convenient location 3 minutes walk from the station right on a local shopping street. The daily commute to work takes around 20 minutes on a rather packed train and it takes time to get used to. Returning home to the apartment was rather similar to a month's living at the hotel, but the space and freedom to decorate the place does make it a little more interesting. I have my dim lights, soothing music, and it was just like my room back in the Women's Dorm during my final semester. Now, I just need visitors!

No longer a student, away from home, living truly alone with no room mates or the convenience of knowing my neighbors as dormitory life... a huge change, indeed. I am on my own. The weed strives to live.