A satisfying trip... (Part 3)

So yep, the final word on the trip...

All in all it was a very productive trip as I managed to:
1. cut hair
2. meet Jiaqi
3. eat authentic Korean BBQ
4. hang out with the 学芸館 (Gakugeikan) kids
5. make new Japanese friend
6. hang out with Kathryn
7. find out about a new ramen store
8. catch an amazing dance performance at Sydney Opera House
9. visit the very scenic Manly beach
10. make new friends studying in Melbourne.

Hence I'm extremely pleased with myself despite the fact that some unpleasant incidents which I will not mention in public did occur.

I guess the highlight was really catching up with Nana, Patty and Daniel. (Jiaqi, I still love you ok?) Like what I told them, it was like officially closing the 学芸館 chapter of our friendship and starting on another brand new one. Really... Coming from a teacher's perspective (though I never felt like one and even if I was, I was GTO), there's this sense of accomplishment as you see these kids learning from their experience and moving on with their lives. It makes me feel like, "Yes, I've done my job" kinda feeling. Ah! I know! It's like seeing the fruits of your labor! Also, I guess just being with them brings back the warm, cosy memories of Japan, which I so sorely miss. In other words, seeing them is as good as going back to Japan. Plus they're all so adorable lah. Oh and it was so nice to have Kathryn joining us 'cos I really enjoyed her company. She was such good sport the entire day. Not to mention how fun it is to tease her. *evil grin* Aiyah anyway, I think I can go on and on... But you get my drift right?

Then again, perhaps this is also really a very different trip for me and it's my 1st trip in like 2 years. The usual trips is always we must go eat this, go there buy that... Very routine. In this trip, despite not going to my usual bakery to buy egg tart and not going to DFO to shop like crazy, I actually felt more like I'm on holiday. This time round, we didn't purposely splurge on food as well. Everything was normal, but different. So yep, that's good.

I certainly look forward to my next trip in July with Belinda and hopefully I'd be able to see the kids again. <3