A letter from Japan

Yesterday, I spotted something unusual on the table of living room. Moving a few steps closer, I saw a Japanese postal stamp glued on the right hand corner of the envelope.

At first thought, I assumed it was from my hostel family .


However, I was proven wrong later while I read through the sender's details.The letter was posted from Kansai, Yui's place. Yui, the Japanese youth exchange participant I served 2 years back actually sent us a letter as a token of appreciation for our hospitality throughout her entire stay.

There was one moment where I started reminiscing those good times we had with Yui while touring KL and other hot spots with her. It was really exciting as I was the daily translator between my family and Yui. My sister even teased me on my Japanese language competence whenever she sees Yui's face expression reacting to my Japanese

Much had happened the 2 weeks she was in my house. I'm touched to the fact that she remembers this experience and politely claims that it was one of her best times in life. She had her first time traveling overseas and I had my first time making a Japanese friend, a mutual connection we have for each other.

Ahhh... seems like my wish list has been added with one more desire, I'm gonna save more money in future to tour around for my distant friends. Japan, is still one of my favourite countries, and Japanese, is the community I'm impressed on its culture's diversity,let alone the vibrance of the city.

Friendship can be bonded as pure and simple like this. We don't stay with each other regularly, but it's the path we once went through that steal our emotions for every of our reminiscent on them.

Thank you for your letter, Yui !

Youth Exchange Programme

I've heard about this programme since 2 years ago through my sister,sharing some experiences with me on her friend's vacation in Japan.=) It made me urge to give it a try despite I wasn't a Leo member.What I was waiting was my 16th birthday,because that was the lowest eligilibity they required on the applicant's age.In 2006,I finally got the chance to apply for this programme,and I thought my dream would be very near from me since then.Well,I was just a little underestimated on the process.We are required to do a medical check up,a witness,parent's signature and approval for being a host family,an descriptive essay on my education and hobby,signature from the Lion President and many other mere details of my own.To make matter worst,I only had a week to go through all these processes.I believe that I would have done it better if I discovered this earlier.
Firstly,I filled the form at home.It wasn't hard,but I needed to write the same thing for numerous times,as we are required to fill up the same form for 3 times,3 forms each ,and that did not included the host family form.All together we had 6forms.The second day I went to do medical check up with my sister.=) Luckily for us,urine test was not part of check up.The following few days we went to develop family photos as well as passport photo to paste on each and every form they had given.Such busy life had lasted for 6 days.And I thought it was a great relief when I passed the form to the person in charge on my own.nyek nyek nyek......things did not go well as what I thought.
My sister had received a call from the Lion Club immediately on the third day after we passed the forms.informing us to collect our forms from the main office to get the signature from the Lion president of P.J.hmm...I was really worried as I did not know who to turn to.Where do I get his contact number?Would he sign for me?I was so not going to go for the programme.....Do I still stand a chance??After asking all around from my friends,I got to know his contact number from Pei Ji,who's Chi Kheng's friend in TS.I was fear enough to hold the telephone and key in his number.Well,I had to do this because that was my only chance.To my suprise,he's actually a doctor.We decided to meet up in the hospital he works,to have a brief on it and to get his signature..........and there the story begins...
It was a Thursday,we went to his hospital at around 2.30p.m. as promised.I'm just unfortunate enough on that day,because he had a emergency operation to handle right on the moment we went.So we were told to wait for an hour for him.We couldn't do anything but just to sit on the sofa and looking at the clock desperately.How I wished the time will pass faster...and going faster!!!In stead of 3.30,we waited until 4 O'clock and finally the nurse approched us to inform us to go down to the operation room ,....to meet him up.I had forgotten all my fear,I just wanted to go home quickly atthat moment.=) Things went extremely good after that,he just signed for us without any questions asked.We got his signature after waiting for 1 and 1/2 hour,was that worth it?Atleast I tried my best to complete the form.
I'm really doubtful whether I would make my dreams come true.However,this is what you will go through if you do things last minute,perhaps it would be better if the period of time is 1 month...way way better in fact!!!It was a little tiring to compress all these within a week,maybe just worth for a trying.Haha,I wouldn't have tried this for the second time if I failed for this time probably.And now I'm waiting for the good news to come to me,perhaps a bad one!!=) I can hear myself say...Japan in December,Japan,Japan!!!A little dreamy though....

Anyway,I went to this " project superstar" last Sunday with my friends to accompany her.Hmm,I didn't really know the contestants well actually,just one or two whose idols of my friends.Here's some pictures taken with the contestants.....their names??hehehehe....that's too tough for me!!Hakuna matata,and I see the sun again today!!





This is Gary,one of the hosts of 8TV.


This is Wee(Terrence),Chui man's fav!!


=) The end,enjoy!!