Blissful Calmness

I've been reading Anna's blog in Miyako, and it seems she's having a great time. It makes me jealous and reminiscent at the same time. At least I can reflect on the fact that I've made someone's dreams come true.

A day in the park would be nice for today.
Nothing to do. Bike there and lay out on the open grassy field.
Everyone's either all at work, school or on a vacation.

Oh! I should picnic.

Sayounara

At San Francisco Int'l Airport, another heart-breaking moment has once again placed me on my knees.

Saying 'goodbye' is hard.
To people you love dearly, to people you detest, I still find it not easy regardless to whomever.
Why? I don't know.

A farewell is said to give out best wishes and luck to another, not a teardrop followed by worried looks.


Here were the two YFU students I sent my last goodbyes to, Misako and Ayaka (left to right).

(11:21 PM) AYAKA★ミ　∩＾ω＾∩☆・。:	i wont cry tomorrow!! i gonna leave here with smile!!!

And so she says.

It wasn't the case when we separated the next day. From the security check-in area, she broke down.


I told her repeatedly, "Nakanaide, ne?" (Don't cry now, okay?) but she couldn't stop.
Soon, I felt my face tense up, eyes warming, and I desperately tried to force out a smile.

I didn't want to make it worse, because my goal was to send the two out with a proud grin and the wonderful feeling of accomplishment. The truth was, I couldn't.

I felt weak and powerless. All I could do was give them both a hug, and they were on their way.

Here and there, their heads popped out glancing out from the crowd who were waiting in line to have their luggage screened. I stood and waited, until they were completely out of sight, until it was my turn to leave. As I entered the airport's BART Station, I peered outwards to see if their plane was visible. A fleet of United Airlines was there, but their gate wasn't on this side of the terminal.


With nothing else to do, I dragged myself aboard, sat down and did nothing else but just pondered on the question:


Why is saying 'goodbye' so hard?


Is this my birthday gift?

Downtown Mountain View & Stanford University

Yes, it was horrible.
Derek, Brian (H.) and I decided to stroll in Downtown Mountain View by light rail and the car was PACKED. 9 bikes with about 30 people in a single car made me feel like I was a sardine packed in a can. This reminds me of Tokyo's subway, coincidentally.


Sorry, the train rocked and I nearly fell around halfway into the video.

Downtown Mountain View was nice, but no high rises unfortunately. Bicycle and pedestrian-friendly area with a ton of restaurants. Here are the three of us.



We then biked from downtown to Stanford via El Camino Real and looked for their shopping mall. It was a disappointment, really. I hoped it would have better shops and places to eat. Whatever, I don't like Stanford in general anyways. Don't get me wrong, it's a great school, but I don't like it.
Stanford's marching band practicing

Stanford Stadium (correct?)






At Stanford Shopping Mall


We returned home. Then, after we transferred to the Alum Rock train, a cute young lady was staring at us the whole time. Brian said it "made [him] feel good." We laughed it off and biked home together while Derek got off at 1 station after us at Hostetter.

And of course, I would have to say this was one of my most fun adventures this summer so far. (:

____________

OH, today I received an email from my Japanese host mom. Anna ISN'T going to Miyako High School ;( BIG FROWN, YO.

AND MY HOST MOM KNOWS HER HOST MOM. Anna is on the bottom right.

Article title reads: Acceptance of New Foreign Exchange Students
2 students from the U.S. // Experiencing Miyako's Culture


Sorry for all the images I'm uploading. They're fun to look at, though, aren't they?

Inspire Me

"


,

;



"

Away I Go! (Again)

Happy Father's Day.

I decided to trade in my old bike and exchange it for a better one, paying about $40 more. It's more sturdy and has no problems described on my old bicycle. I went to Downtown and back home with no problems at all. A total trip of 19 miles (30 kilometers), averaging about 12.67 mph (20.39 kph). I beat my old record of 16 miles. :D

At sunset after the trip, a yummy steak dinner nomnom...

I came from here....

...to all the way there.



I also picked up Misako from San Jose Intl' Airport at around 11:40ish AM (Flight 280). She's a bit more sociable but has been almost the same. ): Bleh. Anyways, I have pictures of the airport, and it's looking real fine after all this renovation. The new terminal hasn't opened yet but it should look fantastic upon completion.






After picking her up, we all ate pho at Murphy and Lundy where I happened to meet Emily by chance. I probably would not have recognized her if she hadn't smiled and waved first as I walked out the store. (:


Oh, and the clouds were splendid at sunset. Two bright, orange, bold lines.

Going, Going... And He's Down.

Big bummer today. I found out my new bike has three problems:

1) Gear switching mechanism isn't aligned.
2) Tire rubs the back metal bar, creating considerable friction.
3) FLAT TIRE by a thorn. Hole is 0.5-1mm in diameter, and this is a MOUNTAIN BIKE.

I'm going to try trading it in tomorrow, if the problem persists, I'm taking it to the Fast Bikes repair shop in Alum Rock.

Well, I'm a sitting duck again. My freedom I bought only lasted a single day. );

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The Party


I met Ayaka face-to-face for the first time after chatting online this year at Gill Park in Milpitas for her farewell party back to Japan. She was really shy at first but broke the barrier after conversing for a few minutes. At the party, I found myself as the loner when I first arrived. Most people there were my cousin's friends who I did not know, so I introduced myself and tried to fit in. It worked. I only was able to fit in becuase of Edward (my cousin) and Ayaka, and we had a barbecue (steak and chicken) for the afternoon.

Edward's friends kept on elbowing Ayaka everytime she sat next to me, so I figured that there was something more than friendship here. It was really, really obvious. She seemed worried when I biked away to go somewhere--washing mud down on my tires because stupid Edward tackled me and lay on me as I tried to stay off the ground holding the fence. So I got him back by taking this picture of him that I can abuse later on. (;



Anyways as the party was wrapping up, I told her not to cry and to save it at the airport and gave her a hug. I feel so sad for her that she's leaving, though, because I've experienced it many times in my life. There was no way I'd pour my emotions with other people I don't know.


We're in Hawaii, foo. Yeah, I wish. (Damn you, Patrick)

Free Once Again

I've bought my freedom back for about $120. After being holed up in my own house not being able to go anywhere ever since my old chain drive from my other bike sounded like an engine, it was a joy to be riding this. Silent, extremely fast, light and reliable. I can definitely carry this on the light rail racks without having any trouble. I'm back to riding with my lovely friends once again. <3

I was so hyped up that somehow, I had cut/stabbed my finger and didn't even realize the fairly deep wound. It was only until I sat back at my computer desk to see the blood-drenched right index finger was when I freaked out. It still hurts really badly! ;(

OH AND BENNIE AND I FINALLY HAD CONTACT AFTER 4 YEARS TODAY! He's been one of my good friends for 2 years who lives in Ohio until suddenly he disappeared.

Summer, here I am again!

The Goals of Life

"I'm going to become the president of the United States," I told him eagerly with a grinning face.

"Well, I'm going to become a police cop," he piped back.

That was nearly a decade ago when I first said that. Over the next upcoming years, I've switched to also wanting to become a police officer, a fireman--no--a paramedic with the fast cars and emergency lights and sirens. Then, an airliner pilot, a San Jose M.E.R.G.E. team member (= S.J. SWAT Team, psh, yeah right), a doctor, a pediatrician, and now a pharmacist. Yet maybe something else now, a grammar teacher.

I cannot expect my future to be the same as it is perceived currently. Who knows? Maybe a life-changing event will pass by my life and I would become a completely different person.

Life is like an in-flight dart. If you have no goals, you're flying blindly allowing other outside influences to overcome and take you, similar to the wind. On the other hand, having a goal, a dream, whatever it is that you seek for or seek to be gives you a direction to head towards. The efforts that one undertakes to reach that destination is defined as how much will the dart is aiming, because if one tries hard enough, he or she will reach that bull's eye that has been yearned for all along--no matter what.

The only problem is that most people, unable to know how much that effort is, give up before reaching their hopes. And, hey, could've been an inch closer to it.