Because I left on the 24th of December, most of my friends were leaving before then. Thus, I have to watch as one by one they leave. It got harder and harder as the days went on.
On the first day when many people were leaving (12/19), Jessica, Mim, Lin, Marie, and Will left. Danie and Louis left the previous day. It was really hard watching them leave. I walked with a group of people to Jessica's taxi. It was hard because I have gotten really close to Jessica within the past few months. So while we were hugging and saying our goodbyes, I tried my best not to cry in front of all our friends. I gotta maintain my "bro-ness." After Jessica left, I thought that maybe I could handle the rest of the people leaving too. Jessica was the first person I got to see off. I missed seeing Danie and Louie off.
But then it was time for Mim, Lin, Marie, and Will to leave as well. All four of them are going off on a short vacation, but when they return, I will no longer be here, except for Marie's return. So thankfully I can see her once again before I leave. I had gotten so close to all of them so seeing them off was especially hard, too. A whole group of us walked them to their bus outside of the cafeteria and waved at them until they made the turn off campus in a bus heading to Wada Station. And I admit it, I started to become teary-eyed just then as well.
Then Rebecca was next to leave. She was leaving around 6 in the morning so she said her goodbyes to everyone down in the common room around 9:30-ish at night. I was a little emotional, but watching a group of people crying made me feel it even more emotional, but not wanting to show it. Rebecca and I went upstairs together after 10 something and had our own private goodbyes. I wanted to cry on her shoulder right then and there, but I didn't want to at the same time. It would be against "quiet hours" in Komachi. :p
Because Rebecca was leaving so early in the morning, she was not expecting anyone to come see her off. I am also leaving that early in the morning on the 24th, and seeing how everyone so caring was there for the people leaving in the afternoon and evening made me sad that no one will be up to see me go or so I thought. Knowing the bit of sadness I had at the moment, I decided that I would surprise Rebecca and see her off the following day that way at least one person was there for her. So, not knowing (at the time) if she said 5 o'clock was when she was getting up or leaving, I got up at 5 in the morning and rushed downstairs to the common room. Luckily for me, I saw her roommate Rena in the common room. She was also going to see Rebecca off~ ♥ Such a sweet roommate! We waited around until 5:40 for a sign of Rebecca, but nothing. We saw the taxi out there waiting for her, so we decided that it would be fun to surprise her even more so by hiding on the couches in the lobby next to the cafeteria. We waited until we heard the jiggling from her phone/purse before calling her "Becca~chan~." She looked confused seeing us there, but happy none the less. Rena and I hugged Rebecca then proceeded to walk her to the taxi. Each one of us gave her a great hug and then watched her ride away.
Miguel, Ivan, and Anthony were the next to go (later that today 12/20). Unfortunately, I had missed seeing off all of them. Ivan and Anthony, I know I will see them again. Afterall, we are part of the UC BEARS! (They also go to Ursinus College). But Miguel lives in Canada. I don't know when I will see him again, but it would be nice to meet up in the future.
Thomas left on the 21st. :( I also missed seeing Thomas off. But, he lives really close to my college back in Pennsylvania so we will meet up again. ^^ I will definitely see him again, so I am sad but not as sad as if it was someone else that lives far away (like Canada, Taiwan, Europe, etc.)
I was going to wake up early to see off Erin, Mica, and Amanda/Pei Hsuan yesterday (the 22nd). Because I stayed up the night before (end of the world party, what's up!), I did not get to sleep until re~al late. When my first alarm went off at 6 in the morning, I was like, "oh, I forgot to reset the alarm for Rebecca's alarm." Remember how I said I woke up at 5 in the morning... yep, I continued to think it was the 5 am alarm. So I went back to sleep to "wake up" to my usual 6 am alarm. Well, I did, but didn't. I woke up around 9/10-ish, realizing the mistake I made. I was lucky even to go down into the common room to see Ryan off. Then went back to my room to prepare for the day (I went down in my pajamas). I was also able to Michelle, Anna, and my roommate Yuki off in the afternoon. Yuki told me that day she was leaving at 1:12, so I made sure I was in the cafeteria at that time so that way I couldn't miss her. But when 1:12 came along, I was freaking out because I didn't see her. Did she go to a different stop? Luckily, I was able to see the two main stops from the spot in the cafeteria I was sitting in. I saw her rush through the cafeteria and seeing her, I immediately started to rush to get my jacket on and follow her before she left. (Sorry that sounds creepy ^^;;) I was able to see her off, so I was very happy and sad. After Yuki left, I chilled around campus for a bit, then went off to the mall to finish my Christmas/omiyage (oh-me-ya-gee/souvenir) shopping. I missed the bus I wanted to get on, so I was like, "I'll take the 8:00/20:00. I'll be able to say goodbye to Petr!" But, then I checked my ipod, which I specifically took a picture of the bus schedule, and the next bus would be 9:15/21:15. Petr was leaving at 9:00/21:00. I missed seeing him off too.
On the 23rd, Tara, Heather, and Michael all left. There might have been more, but it's been quite a long while. I was really sad to see Tara, my favorite Aussie/the crazy card lady, leave us. She was also so bright and cheery even when she had to deal with Jerry (inside joke) - which would have driven most people into bitter old farts, in the words of my grandmother. I was also said to see Heather leave, but like Anthony and Ivan, we are UC BEARS, so I would see her again in the spring semester.
The 24th was teh day I left.... more on that later.
