Travelling back to Philippines had been synonymous to leaving the foreign country where I am based.for good. That was how it was for my past three jobs, from Japan, to USA, to UK and then back to Japan. The vacation that i just recently took was my first official homeleave. Yesterday I arrived at my familiar apartment here in Chiba and tomorrow I will be going to the same workplace. What a change 'no? Though change is not necessarily better. Its just different. As I was boarding my plane yesterday, I was teling myself so that was how to travel to another foreign country without being grippped with the excitement and anxiety of stepping into unknown territory. Different.
Anyway, today as I went out for shopping to catch the last days of january sale, I saw young adults wearing kimono (japanese traditional clothes) outside the train station.
It then hit me, that the holiday today here in Japan is the Coming of Age (Seijin no Hi). Japanese turning twenty usually celebrates the day by wearing kimono in all its finery. Twenty, in japan is considered the beginning of adulthood in japan, as it is the minimum legal age for drinking and voting.
After I finished my shopping, I saw another group of young females in kimonos. I muster the guts to ask if it would be okay to take their pictures. And they gamely posed for one.
On the other hand, two of my good friends are turning 3-0 this month, a decade older than those young delightful adults. But I know they are both smiling and happy now, having both received very promising gifts :) I am glad for them. I wish that I will have something special to celebrate when my turn comes... in 9 months time. Amidst the uncertainty and shadow looming ahead, it does not hurt to hope right? :)
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