It's so hard to say goodbye!!!

But that's what I've been doing for the past two weeks. I said good-bye to all of my students (all 600 of them), to all of my teachers, and now to some of my best friends. Praise the Lord I get to hang out with my closest friends a little longer before I return to the U.S.
In two days, I leave early in the morning with my two buddies Peter and Travis for Vietnam. We are going to spend some fun days there sightseeing and relaxing. This will probably be my last chance to travel around Asia and I am thankful to God for the opportunity.
As Peter and Travis fly off for a three week travel marathon around the beautiful country of Australia, I will fly back to Japan and camp out at my two best friend's (pictured below) house for 6 days. These two are going to be the hardest to say goodbye to, but the wonderful thing is they will come to visit in the U.S. at the end of June.

This is Junko and Yutaka helping me pack up my apartment. They brought over a yummy lunch and we picnicked on my bare floor in my apartment. They are so kind to help me out so much!
Well, I will be back in the U.S. on April 10th. I am sad to leave the land of the rising sun, but am very happy to come back to many great family and friends. And I'm glad that I have great family and friends to help me adjust back to America, teach me to speak fluent, normal speed English again, and to just be with.
I love you all!

Preparing to Return

I will return to the U.S. on April 10th. Thus, I have been VERY busy preparing for that return. Life has been hectic but enjoyable. My mother came to visit from February 31st to March 6th and we did all sorts of great, fun things. I've been busy trying to wrap things up at my schools, and I've already said goodbye to one of them. It was a sad, present-filled goodbye as every grade gave me presents of pictures and goodbye cards. I've already said goodbye to the small church in Shiro-satou that I've been attending for a year. More goodbyes are yet to come, and I will miss everybody terribly.
Please pray for me in this transition.
If your interested, I've posted over 100 pictures on my picture page (jrgbubbles.smugmug.com) for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy them and sit tight. I'm not sure when I'll be able to post again.
Later alligator!