shibacchi arrived here a couple of days ago with other 4 members of AIESEC Japan. i wasn't really expecting that he or anyone from japan would actually come visit, and it was such a wonderful surprise when i first heard that they were coming. and yesterday when i saw them i was really really happy.
but it was such a weird feeling to talk to them and spend some time with them because it made me realize how far from my country i have come.
one example is the language. now my brain has completely shifted to english (and french), and when i tried to talk in japanese words just didn't come out. i had to translate english and french into japanese in my head before saying anything. it was really really wierd and a little bit frustrating. but on the other hand, i can really feel now that my french is actually getting better. although it will take some more time before my french gets really ok, compared to how it was when i first got here, it has really improved a lot. that's one good thing.
another thing, in terms of how i think and how i act: what was totally normal to them seemed so strange and unfamiliar to me. they are just all those small things that you don't even care about in everyday life, but sometimes i saw them as if i saw someone from a totally different world. of couse in other times i felt a little bit of fragments of "home" from them also and that was such a nice, "ho tto suru" feeling. but the former feeling was so strong and i had to admit that those 5 months i have been away from japan for is actually making some changes in me.
on thursday we are going on a short trip together to Kpalimé (the most "touristic" town in Togo). i am very excited about it now.
although it was kinda a shame about the prime minister, i hope everything is going well with you all in japan (or wherever you may be), my ppl! à bientot
