Today, I went to Narita Airport to send off one of my best friends. She was my private English teacher, and because we shared the same passion for great novelists, such as John Irving and Murakami Haruki, we talked lots about what we read at that moment. Oe Kenzaburo, Mishima Yukio, Endo Shusaku, Paul Auster, Noam Chomsky, etc, etc, etc... Actually, all the books I posted on this blog were the books she recommended to me. I have never met someone who has read as many books as her. To use Japanese expression, she is a worm of books. During our conversation, I was always impressed with her insatiable curiosity, which ranges from documentary on warfare and African countries history to surrealistic Japanese novels and New York Times best-sellers. I grew fond of hearing what she was reading or what she made of. She always asked me, "Why do you think so?" or "What do you make of it?", when we were talking about books. Because I am a feeler, rather than a thinker, I always had difficulty in answering to those questions, to be honest. More often than not, I got stuck in the middle of sentences in front of her, realizing that I hadn't thought about the subject deeply enough. I am pretty sure that she was sometimes frustrated with my simple answers or sitting-on-the-fence attitude, but she rarely showed her tedium, rather successfully making me feel as if I am the funniest person on the surface on this planet. To put it simply, she can listen to others carefully and patiently.
Now, she and her boyfriend are going to go to Ghana for volunteer work. They are going to teach English to local people. It would be hard and touch, but I am certain that their experience in Africa would be valuable for their future. And also, I am definitely sure that they would make a difference to people there, as she did it to me in Japan.
When I sent them off at Narita Airport, I cried(a bit), and I was so confused that I couldn't say "Take care!" nor "Thank you". But, Helen. I am really grateful to you for everything you have done for me! The time I spent with you was one of the most meaningful events of my life. I have learned so many things through your patience, honesty and kindness. I wish I could give something back to you!
When I have a time to part with somebody who is very important to me, I always recall lines from "David Copperfield" by Charles Dickens.
I have stood aside to see the phantoms of those days go by me. They are gone, and I resume the journey of my story.
Hey, Helen and Kentaro! I wish from the bottom of my heart the prosperous journey of your life!!!
I am looking forward to seeing you again soon. But now,
Take care and Good Luck!!!
3 comments:
My first foreign friend was Ghana people about 20 over years ago. I had a pen friend when I was elementary school student. We were young but she wrote so meny political topics because the country was unstable.
I remenbered my childhood.
YOKO
In English the phrase is the same. We say "bookworm" :)
Oh, I didn't know that!
thanks, both of you for commenting on my blog!
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