~:[CH11 - Day 181]:~ It's Me

 
~:[CH11 - Day 181]:~ It's Me

I have quite the diverse list of interests. I find a lot of people who share common interests, but don't always find people who share my range of interests. One of my friends in Japan is pretty much the Japanese version of me. I was so amazed at how similar we are, which makes hanging out so easy. The plus side is, he speaks pretty good English, which is a nice break from trying to speak broken Japanese. It was scorching hot today though as we went at Ueno. He wanted to check out an exhibit that was up. I often go to exhibits alone as I don't often find people who pace through it at the same rate, but with our art backgrounds, we seemed to be in sync. Later we hit up an izakaya (in the afternoon) that was packed and talked about all the NBA buzz. I'm not happy that he is a Warriors fan, but still, it's great to talk about all these trade rumors with someone who follows the sport and also played it. Next time, we are going to shoot hoops nearby, but today was definitely not the day as it hit 98 (from what I saw). I ended up walking through Akihabara again as I was looking for the camera shop again. I failed, again, but ended up finding a shop that I liked and may visit again before I leave. I met up with my other friends as we just relaxed a bit in Shinjuku before calling it a night. As I looked back on the day, I was amazed at the contrast of my day. As while I am always willing to go out and hang out in that lively atmosphere, the day felt like a day built more for my style. I guess that's what happens when you find your clone in another country. 

~:[CH11 - Day 180]:~ Head Down

 
~:[CH11 - Day 180]:~ Head Down

Today I wasn't working too far from where I'm staying, but to get there, I had to trek through some of the more seedy areas of Shinjuku. It's not bad if you compare it to the neighborhoods we may run across, however, you definitely want to walk look forward and not getting distraction by those trying to grab your attention trying to get you into their bar, restaurant or club. If you're looking for night life, Kabukicho is definitely the place to go, just be aware that if you're going to get scammed, it might be in this area. I normally keep my head down and just power walk through the area before I get back. closer to the station. It was a little unlucky that we were shooting at night as if it was in the day, it might not had been as bad. Regardless, it was still scorching as it has been the past few days. I've always had to survive the humidity, but the temperatures have soared into the high 90s, which is not regular. I made it safely and back and had a successful shoot and also enjoyed trying to look like a local just passing through so I wouldn't get approached. It seemed to work as I made it unscathed. It was actually nice to walk through that area late as it was fun to watch people sprint as they were trying to catch the last train at the station. The streets were still full surprisingly, so just in case, I kept my head down and powered ahead. 

~:[CH11 - Day 179]:~ Expired

 
~:[CH11 - Day 179]:~ Expired

If you ever go to Japan, be sure to get the JR Rail Pass if you ever plan to go around the country. If you're staying in one area, the value may not be so great, but if you're moving around, it's worth. I'm based in Shinjuku during the trip, however, I've trekked through the Kansai region, Nagano, Nagoya and more. It's been great to be able to jump on the shinkansen for a few hour trek across the country. The one's I've taken have been a one or two night trek, but today's would be a day trip to Osaka. The trek is about 500km and would take about six hours to drive, but the shinkansen gets you there in under three hours. You literally walk to the platform, wait at your car, walk onto the train and it takes off. You can't be late, as it almost always leaves right on time, but it's super efficient. A trek like that would cost you anywhere between $90 - $130 dollars one way, but is included with the rail pass. I didn't take a day trip to Osaka just to use it, strangely, I went there to visit a university and met about MUN. The school is hosting a conference in a few weeks, so I sat down with the professor and just went over the logistics of the conference. I learned more about Model UN in Japan as I set foot on trying to help programs get started off the ground. It won't be easy, but hope that in the future, we can create a few bridges with schools so that they can implement this program that has been so valuable for so many. My friend picked me up and we went through the Koreatown in Osaka, grabbed lunch as we headed to the station. I jumped on the train and headed back, sad that it might be my last shinkansen ride of the trip. I messaged my friend as we were celebrating all together for his birthday later that night and sent a picture of the beautiful landscape. As we all hung out later, I showed off pictures of the beautiful ride and while some of them had already been there, they still enjoyed looking at the photos. My pass officially expired at 23:59, however, the memories it created on this trip will definitely live on.

~:[CH11 - Day 178]:~ Oh, Shoot!

 
~:[CH11 - Day 178]:~ Oh, Shoot!

I did a little wandering around as I was able to get some errands done before headed for a quick meal and back to meet up with my friend. We actually were meeting to do a shoot, but always get a chance to hang out and just chat as well. It was nice as there was no time pressure as we just shot casually and just listened to music all night. It's been great to see all the friends I've been trying to see again for the past few years. They've done a great job of staying connected with me and so I was always up-to-date on what was going on with them. Strangely, it felt as if I was more updated with them as I was with those at home, as the pandemic kept us apart for so long as well. After the shoot, I realized how much editing I had to do, as my other friend had asked me if I had uploaded the photos we shot. I jumped on my computer and did a little work before calling it a night, but as I did, I was able to smile knowing how many amazing moments I've made on the trip, even though I've had to work throughout. I can't believe how quickly time has passed, but even though the countdown is beginning, I am glad that it happened at all and it's nights like this that are the reason why.

~:[CH11 - Day 177]:~ More Than Words

 
~:[CH11 - Day 177]:~ More Than Words

I was a little worried today as I don't speak a lot of Japanese and my family only speaks Japanese. Technology allowed us to figure out a way, but despite the language barrier, we found a way to connect. I remember some of the faces from the last time I came to Japan and some pictures I've seen from time to time. It's strange to see how much time has passed since we saw each other last. We enjoyed our time making lunch at the table as I took my second shot at making takoyaki. I was working with pros, so it went a little smoother. I watched as they impressed me as they whipped up the meal pretty easily. We ventured off the Museum of Japanese History. It was cool to see a museum like this in another country as you get to see what they preserve and display. The array of things presented was quite amazing and although there were many things I couldn't read or understand, it was a great experience and I appreciate that this is where they ended up taking me. We ventured back and enjoyed dinner as my little cousins made a TikTok, it felt as like the barrier between Japan and American was made thinner due to social media. I jumped in the background of their TikTok just before we sat down to enjoy the impressive meal. I headed back on the train back to Shinjuku. It took about 80 minutes from station to station each way, but it was well worth the commute as it was nice to connect with my family after such a long time. I hope that in the future, I will get to see them again and as they said, maybe it will be in Los Angeles. As I looked back, we were surrounding the table as they waited for the translator I had to pop up with the translations of what I just said, however, even without the translation, it was easy to feel what each person was trying to say. Communication is more than just words, but also the vibe you give off every day and even when you feel you cannot communicate what you wish to say in words, hopefully it's your actions that can carry your message, as often, that is often more important.

~:[CH11 - Day 176]:~ Not All is to Plan

 ~:[CH11 - Day 176]:~ Not All is to Plan

I caught up on work in the morning and then headed to the studio as planned. My schedule has not been consistent so I always have to check my schedule to make sure that everything is in line. Unfortunately, tonight didn't quite line up as I had thought. When I showed up at the studio to check in, they let me know that we didn't have a reservation down for today. I guess, somehow, we made a mistake when planning and didn't reserve the space for the shoot. In the end, we walked around Shin-Okubo and in the end, didn't figure it out. It's okay though. Sometimes, things don't go to plan and you don't figure it out. The day isn't productive and there isn't much to highlight, but it doesn't mean it's the end of the world. At the end of the night, I ran across a singer who was the bright spot in a day that was quite lackluster. I guess in life, we want every moment to go as planned, but we also have to keep in mind that it's not always going to work out that way and when we hit that bump in the road, we just got to find a way to keep ourselves on course or reroute ourselves to the destination ahead. Today, I rerouted and we'll see what's ahead. 

~:[CH11 - Day 175]:~ Wandering

 
~:[CH11 - Day 175]:~ Wandering

I finished up work and saw a post from one of my favorite photographers in Tokyo. It was a location that was kind of nearby. As I waited for my train, there were two trains headed in different directions and ultimately, I took the one away from my hotel towards Akihabara. I wandered the streets to find the shop he went to as it looked like a nice little shop to pick up some old lenses. I looked around for about 90 minutes and did not find the spot, but ultimately landed at a restaurant with my family crest on it. It was cool to see. Although the food was just above average, it was a cool experience. I wandered around a bit more, trying to avoid all the maid cafe promoters and still browsing around for that little shop. I think I'll need to search around a bit more to find it, but in the process, it was nice to find a few cool things and here on the journey. Although we always want to set our sights on a specific destination, sometimes when we allow ourselves to wander, we find something that sparks our curiosity and will allow us to return when time allows us. Never be afraid to wander. 

~:[CH11 - Day 174]:~ Like a Champion

 

~:[CH11 - Day 174]:~ Like a Champion

We headed back to Nagano City and got to explore a bit. Not sure of what to do, we headed to M-Wave which was one of the Olympic facilities for speed skating among other events and also home to the Olympic museum. Strangely enough, today ended up being Olympic Day so it was even more of a reason to enjoy it. The arena is often used for bigger concerts for the region, but when it's not being used, it feels like a VIP tour as you walk through with nobody around. We wandered through the alleyways and found some cool restaurants and settled on a Korean restaurant. We headed back to Tokyo and enjoyed the scenery on the way. It was a fun little break with no work and I came back feeling refreshed, ready to do the work to become that "champion."

~:[CH11 - Day 173]:~ Monkey Business

 
~:[CH11 - Day 173]:~ Monkey Business

I took a break from work and trekked up to Nagano with a friend. I've always wanted to head up to see the "snow monkeys" and while there was no snow, there were definitely plenty of monkeys. I was a little afraid since the guide said they may not be there, but luckily, there were monkeys all around. The onsen in the area was amazing and it also came with a wonderful dinner that was one of the best meals I've had since I've been here. It was nice to get away and relax and find a new environment. It is definitely hard to get around in the Nagano region, however, when you do, you'll experience a different world than what you're used to in Japan. From the city life to the a walk in the forest, the diversity in this country is quite amazing and is something you can definitely explore. All work and no play is not the way to go, so today, we got into a little monkey business and it ended up being such a wonderful day. 

~:[CH11 - Day 172]:~ For a Change

 
~:[CH11 - Day 172]:~ For a Change

It was nice to come back to the city and have a lighter schedule today. I did have to work, but for the most part, it was pretty relaxing. I went to my normal ramen shop and this time I ordered tsukemen instead of ramen. It was nice to have a change and it had a little spice on top of it. After work, I got to chill with a friend and just chat over drinks talking about a range of things and enjoyed the music. It was a great environment to be in to just chill and relax and a bit different than the days I've had. No matter how our routines are, it's nice every once in awhile to have that change and mix things up, even if it means ditching that favorite item on the menu every once in awhile. It may not always be the right choice, but usually, it adds a little bit of spice. 

~:[CH11 - Day 171]:~ The Empty Streets (or Not)

 
~:[CH11 - Day 171]:~ The Empty Streets (or Not)

It was my last day in Kansai as I headed back to get some more work done, however, I had a little bit of time to explore before heading off. There was an area that I wanted to see before I left and was lucky to have found it fairly quickly. It's definitely a cool little area, although it often can be quite crowded. I quickly snapped this shot as someone just disappeared in the distance and someone was about to walk into the frame from behind. It's funny how there are split second windows of opportunities in some cases. Many people taking photos came and went, not waiting for that moment, however, I stood there and waited through two wedding shots on the street along with hoards of people walking by including a number of school groups. Regardless, no matter how this shot came out, it was more about the process of it all. The ability to stay patient and wait for the golden opportunity is always a reminder that your time will come, but you just have to be willing to seize the opportunity when it arrives. When people look at this image, they will only see this beautiful empty street in Kyoto, however, there's so much more satisfaction behind this image that will never be captured within its frame.

~:[CH11 - Day 170]:~ Oh, Deer!

 
~:[CH11 - Day 170]:~ Oh, Deer!

I was teaching Izumi what the expression, "oh dear," meant and not too long after, I looked down and realized I wore the house sandals instead of my shoes. I thought about walking barefoot, but they said just to use the sandals. I felt bad, but it was one of two laughable moments on the day. We ventured to see the temple and all the beautiful flowers in the morning and it was a great way to start off the day. It was gorgeous! We grabbed a quick lunch at ate it at the house and that's when I left my shoes behind. Regardless, we enjoyed spending time being chased by deer and learning how to subtly hand out snacks to them without being chased around. It was fun to watch them and just enjoy the sights, but even better just to have some time with everyone. I was so appreciative of the hospitality these past two days and just so amazed at how much time and effort they took to show me around. I loved Nara, but appreciated even more because of all the love and care I was shown.

~:[CH11 - Day 169]:~ Reunited

 
~:[CH11 - Day 169]:~ Reunited

When he left, we made plans to reunite in Nara, but then the pandemic hit. It was sad to see the opportunity fade away year after year, but made this reunification even more special. The day started with an exhausting walk to the train station as the humidity hit me hard. Carrying a bag didn't help. I was sweating as I entered the train and felt bad for all around. I transferred here and there and almost two hours later, made my way to the school I would be introducing MUN to. It was great to make a presentation to the staff and see what their interests and concerns were. I think it's important to see how the differences in cultures will made it more challenging to start up a program here, but see how in the long run, it can benefit the students. It was great to meet the staff and to observe an English class, however, what kept throwing me off is that it was Saturday and a normal school day for them. After, I reconnected with Izumi and his family over lunch. They were kind enough to take me around as we stopped by an awesome goldfish museum, watched his violin lesson, went bowling until super late and ate a very late dinner. I think the day was longer than we thought it would be, but it was definitely a great way to reunite. Even if it's just for a short while, to finally have the reunion we had talked about for so long was so amazing. Sadly, he just passed me in height, but he still needs to work on his bowling skills as I took all five games. I was tired, but it was such a fulfilling day that I will definitely treasure. 

~:[CH11 - Day 168]:~ Different Worlds

 
~:[CH11 - Day 168]:~ Different Worlds

I woke up early as planned and headed to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. I specifically stayed in the area so I could just walk over and it was 100% the right choice. There was one other photographer out there, but for the majority of the time I was there, not a single soul. There were people passing by, a few grabbing the shot, but for the most part, it was peaceful as it was suppose to be. I wandered around and ventured to see the monkey park as well as I completely was overjoyed. It was an exhausting trek up to the peak, but well worth it as you can overlook Arashiyama and also enjoy the company of these sarus. However, today would be one of such contrasts as I left the quiet and cultural areas of Arashiyama and trekked down to Osaka. I met my friend for a little, before reuniting with one of my former students who has been in Japan for six years. The last time we met, I was able to see her in action as I visited the school, but this time, we enjoyed failing at making takoyaki and just chatting about how different it is between the US and Japan. Although life is more normal here, the precautions are 100% still in place. It was great to catch up, but as I left the glitz and glamour of the city, the train slowly got less crowded until the small handful of people remained on the final stop back into the darkness of Arashiyama. Quiet and natural, it was a peaceful place to return to, a whole different world from Osaka, but it was a nice place to return to after such an exhausting day.

~:[CH11 - Day 167]:~ This World is Super

 
~:[CH11 - Day 167]:~ This World is Super

I've always wanted to go to Universal and after hearing their changes, I just had to go. After taking the train over to Kansai and going straight to the park with my bags, I was able to enjoy the wonderful world that is USJ. Sadly, they took out the AOT statues, but in its place, there was the AOT ride. It was fabulous. The park itself had many similarities, but the cleanliness, the themed food and merchandise and all the workers waving at every turn made it even more of a wonderful place. Super Mario World was quite the amazingly designed place, as it was interactive and just felt like an amazing experience as you tried to complete various tasks all around. What wasn't so super is that my next stop that night was 90 minutes away, but even though I had to lug three bags with me, I was overjoyed with the full, but amazing day experiencing this wonderful park. If you get a chance, check it out.

~:[CH11 - Day 166]:~ Aesthetics

~:[CH11 - Day 166]:~ Aesthetics

The flower are beautiful, but the rain made it even more aesthetic. I was happy to have timed it right where I could catch the flowers in this state. Normally the rain is a nuisance, however, today it made things more aesthetic. I guess in life we have opportunities even when the storm is upon us. We must look closely to find those opportunities rather than simply running for cover. Despite the rain, I was able to have another successful day shooting and had a great dinner with a friend as we discussed plans for our work upcoming. It was a wonderful way to spend the day and although I didn't end up meeting with my friends at night, I was glad to have time to rest and pack up a bit to trek to Kansai. As I peered out the window, it was nice to see the rain falling almost poetically, adding to the beauty of this wonderful day.

~:[CH11 - Day 165]:~ Celebrations

 
~:[CH11 - Day 165]:~ Celebrations

There wasn't a lot of downtime as I headed out to a shoot after a long day and then headed over to Azuba to go to a friend's birthday. He ended up choosing a French restaurant and so we all enjoyed the beautiful displays set in front of us. Despite the food being so beautiful, it was more of the celebration that makes days like these specials. I've never been one to have a fancy celebration, rather one more where I could have more people around. Regardless, we still all had a great time. My friend was so generous to treat us out to such a wonderful place and so happy the timing worked out where I was here to celebrate together.

~:[CH11 - Day 164]:~ Facing the Fire

 
~:[CH11 - Day 164]:~ Facing the Fire

We wandered around the TeamLabs today. It was quite exhausting, but well worth it. There are some gorgeous exhibits and glad to see a few before they closed (or hopefully relocate) as it definitely is one of my favorite places to visit. My friend and I were chatting about some issues being faced and the challenges of them. I know it's not easy when we struggle with things. We all face them even if you don't realize that the person's struggle next to you is even greater just because they don't show it. Sometimes we try to avoid those issues because of how much they hurt and sometimes we face that fire and try to address what problems they are before that fire gets too big. There is not one way to handle all of our situations which makes it even more.of a challenge, but I do hope that every one of us can face that very fire when we face troubles in our lives. It's not always an easy journey, but when we find our way to containing the issue, the weight off of our shoulders is released. Always be on the lookout for your friends who are in this situation and also don't be afraid to reach out to others when you truly need someone. Facing the first is important, but you don't always have to do it alone. 

~:[CH11 - Day 163]:~ Life is Delicious

 
~:[CH11 - Day 163]:~ Life is Delicious

I met up with one of my friends today. I twas great to enjoy the day, taking some shots and just chat about whatever. It's weird when you separate, but then when you come back together, things just seem to roll. Today was one of those days. There is so much beauty in the world around us and so much for us to experience. As while we may try something in life that is quite bitter, we will eventually find an array of things that we can enjoy. Some are unlucky and experience such a bad flavor from the start, however, I hope you know that you'll find that thing that you enjoy the most in life. For those that have enjoyed all life has to offer, just a reminder that when you encounter those things you don't enjoy, remember of all the great things you already have and the many more that await you as you move ahead. As I enjoyed the rest of my night, I sat knowing just how delicious the meal was, but even more about how delicious life was. 

~:[CH11 - Day 162]:~ By Chance

 
~:[CH11 - Day 162]:~ By Chance

Life is definitely a gamble. You pick your path, much like you pick your machine here, but when you complete the cycle, you don't always get what you hoped for, sometime similar, but not what you hoped. I guess you have to take the perspective that you may get another chance at it or that you can enjoy what you received. I enjoyed wandering around today and I did end up getting what I was hoping for from the day, but I also have to keep in mind that they days ahead may not be so. Always keeping in mind that while we have a lot of control in our lives, there is some parts of life that are truly by chance. I always have to remind myself, focus on controlling what I can and don't get distraught by things that I cannot. Best of luck to you all on your next cycle in whatever area of your life it may be.

~:[CH11 - Day 161]:~ Float Away

 
~:[CH11 - Day 161]:~ Float Away

Sometimes we just need to float away from the real world for a bit when things get a bit crazy. Sadly, we all don't have the ability to do that sometimes, but if you do, it's a nice escape from reality, even if it's just for a few hours. The chaos of a daily routine can become overwhelming, so when you see a window of opportunity, even if just for a bit, take it and treat yourself to a wonderful world away from your reality. Obviously, in the long run, we want to avoid being bogged down by daily life and enjoy it, but in stretches that have been crazy like this past school year, I know, at least for me, floating away couldn't have come soon enough. I hope you all find a chance to escape. 

~:[CH11 - Day 160]:~ A Joyous Celebration

 

~:[CH11 - Day 160]:~ A Joyous Celebration

There was such joy on the faces of the seniors this year. Normally they're excited, but it seemed like it was even more the case this year. As I said to them before, there was a greater sense of appreciation because of the challenging journey that they took to arrive here. They survived the most turbulent of experiences, yet because of it, had the greatest reason to celebrated. Such as is life, we never want to face difficult times, however, when we do, when we find days that are average even, we seems to find greater joy. It was a little weird to be at Artesia and we had the largest graduating class even due to the virtual students who are all classified under Cerritos, howeve, I kind of liked having our graduation there. I was exhausted as I edited photos, cleaned, packed and got paperwork done for cross country. I kept dosing off, but finished before I went to bed. At the end, we all felt that fatigue and some days I felt like going into zombie mode, but now thay we survived, I am glad I pushed through and arrived here today because it made tonight just that much sweeter. Tomorrow, my wrist will be sore from taking photos and I'll be dragging around, but in the end, it was all worth it, definitely!

~:[CH11 - Day 159]:~ Changing the Routine

 
~:[CH11 - Day 159]:~ Changing the Routine

Habits are difficult to break. I think one of the most important things that a student can learn is that their actions become their habits and that can in turn become the person that they become. Sadly around this time, I always get students (and parents) who contact me figuring out any which way to improve a grade. In some cases, there are errors and mistakes, which I can understand, but when there is no basis for the discussion, it's quite upsetting and completely changes my view of them down the line (although not intentional). I've recently been dealing with a situation where a parent has been trying to get their student a higher grade because of a missed project and in the back of my mind, I am thinking, you're just instilling bad habits for your child down the line who will look for every technicality to get their way. It's even worse when they lie in the process, yet the receipts exist that counter every excuse. I set deadlines for turning in late assignments (and accept assignments far later than I normally should), yet still get ten, twenty or thirty emails for "submitted late" after that REALLY EXTENDED deadline. I guess in a way it was my fault for allowing this to happen and that enables them in a way. As frustrating as these moments were, as I was driving home today, the street lights strangely reminded me that it's my job to change the tide if I want to break those bad habits and set myself on a new path. Sometimes we wonder why we seem to have halted progress, setbacks or feel like we're not moving at all (traffic). Sometimes, we just need to reroute and at other times, we need to change our routine. As I hit every single yellow light, I stopped. I realized that I was in this habit and I finally broke through and made the next light and found myself cruising along. Once we break that habit that is holding us back, we sometimes will find that breakout like I did tonight even if that means owning up to a mistake I made. I think most of my students actually do own up to the fact that they didn't do what they needed to. Preparing our youth for the future is not about paving a path for them towards success, but allowing them to build a path for themselves, understanding the work it takes and learning from the mistake they made. I finished the night with a nice dinner as I closed out the year with just one event left and as frustrating as parts of today were, it did not spoil this wonderous day.

~:[CH11 - Day 158]:~ (Almost) The End

 
~:[CH11 - Day 158]:~ (Almost) The End

The end of the day felt so good. Since Friday, I worked non-stop to review all the projects once more before assessing the final grades, re-created the final to adjust to this year's instructions, and do all the "fun" end of the year work including the infamous music video. I barely moved from my office, was able to pop into Candle Rose for a few hours and enjoyed the many sleepless nights down the stretch. Today was my last class day and it felt like the end, almost. I still have a bit of work to do, but the stress of most things were off my shoulders. I ended up agreeing to do a photoshoot for graduation since I saw a small window after all this work was done. While it might seem like it would be tiring, it actually energizes me to see the joy and excitement of this process sometimes. Although we ended up with one good cap toss shot after so many takes, it was great to look through the photos and try to edit them before I called it a night. I have to wake up early tomorrow, so I called it a night before finishing the set, but got this one to sending us of to (almost) the end. 

~:[CH11 - Day 157]:~ The Honor is All Mine

 
~:[CH11 - Day 157]:~ The Honor is All Mine

It was funny how our speeches were so aligned. We had such a similar message and it was cool. I was Blessed to be able to speak at Candle Rose today. As I knew it would be a busy day, I knew I should take time out of it in order to do this. For a class who struggled through so much, I was happy to be able to talk with them and give them words of advice. While some of them may go out and listen to the advice written on a fortune cookie now, I hope that they truly chase after the opportunities that lie ahead of them and don't hold themselves back. Similar to yesterday, after the event, I was inspired to work and pushed through pretty well to wrap up the video and thus, finalize the work I have to do for this school year. It's been a long and rough year with so many ups and downs and stress beyond what you could believe possible (like most), however, in some ways, it was the most rewarding and tonight helped me realize just how lucky I am. Who knows what lies ahead on the road ahead, however, as I travel down the path I chose, I will do so confidently, making sure I give it my all until the very end. This year, I reached that finish line and I feel like I truly saved the best for last. Congratulations (almost) class of 2022!

~:[CH11 - Day 156]:~ Family

 

~:[CH11 - Day 156]:~ Family >3

I have a pretty large family and we stay pretty well interconnected. With COVID, it made it a lot more challenging and many of our family events (like others) disappeared. We kept it safe, but it also meant distancing ourselves from our family. It was nice to reconnect today as it's been some time since we last saw each other in person. It was just the motivation I needed during another day where I sat in my office and worked through the entire day. I ended up finishing the first video at about 4am. As we begin to start opening up slowly, I hope we all get these special opportunities to reconnect with family and friends. I know that we will appreciate even the briefest of encounters even more. It's back to the grind, but there is light at the end of this long, long tunnel. The countdown begins!

~:[CH11 - Day 155]:~ Cheese

 
~:[CH11 - Day 155]:~ Cheese

The whole weekend ahead is dedicated towards wrapping up the school year. Grading and the dictionary today with some audio and recording to do. As I was setting up, my camera went into auto-selfie mode and started snapping pictures of me. Instead of stopping it, I just took a few. I forgot exactly how this all got started, but although the stress level is high at the end of the year because of the video, it's always a pleasure to reward my classes with these videos especially considering that they raised over $800 per period! Life is stressful and difficult and while sometimes we don't want to make things more difficult, in some cases, it's worth making the extra effort and adding stress to reward those who truly deserve it. Instead of stressing out, I just said cheese and smiled and my Samsung did the rest.

~:[CH11 - Day 154]:~ With Every Brushstroke

 
~:[CH11 - Day 154]:~ With Every Brushstroke

It was the last day for seniors. It was a sad day as we said our goodbyes and the freshmen said goodbye to their IAs. It's incredible how quickly time flew by and how these ones I remember as freshmen are now off to their new lives. One of my seniors surprised me with something so amazing. Since freshman year, he's always had this great artistic ability as he sketched the entire class. Today, he gifted me a painting of one of my photos. These kinds of gifts truly make my heart melt along with the well thought out cards and letters. You can sense the passion in each stroke and I am definitely going to treasure this piece for a long time into the future. These are things money can't buy as these types of gifts are from the heart. Taking the time and effort to do this doesn't go unnoticed and I appreciate it. This class truly has appreciate so many thing and with each stroke, they've shown me more and more the complete picture of why I enjoy my job so much; it's moments like these.

~:[CH11 - Day 153]:~ Attention to Detail

 
~:[CH11 - Day 153]:~ Attention to Detail

In an art museum, it's easy to quickly walk by an art piece and analyze it based on the whole image. You often figure out what the context of the piece was, the message behind it, etc. It's easy to quickly evaluate it as a whole and move on. I was lucky enough to get tickets to both the Kusama and Murakami exhibit for today. I never imagined I'd get tickets one the day before, but getting access to both felt amazing. The gallery was empty and I was able to truly appreciate the pieces accessing the finer details you would miss if you just passed by. In many cases, it's not easy to do this with Murakami as his exhibits are often packed with people. Luckily, I was able to get up close to every panel seeing anything new I could discover. In life, we often do this as well. They often say, don't judge a book by its cover and this year more than any other, I made sure to do my best to do so. Sometimes it led to great discoveries, other times it led to disappointments. You figure out that sometimes things that seem too good to be true, can be, however, more times than not, you discover the hidden gems that lie in the details of the larger picture. I am lucky to have seen the growth and development of so many of my students. Some didn't give off the best first impression, but over time, they slowly began to show their details. In life, we often judge superficially, allowing us to miss something great. I hope that in our lives we can slow down and enjoy those finer details. Instead of a headliner concert, making the big event a one-on-one with a friend; instead of that limited edition shoe, we can treasure that family heirloom; instead of the person who flaunts everything they have, find those individuals who are genuinely going to enrich your lives through a true friendship. After a long day at school and a music video shoot, the last thing I wanted to do was drive out to LA, but on a whim I did and I realized that it was a good opportunity to reflect on the details I may have missed in life. Seeing the bigger picture is great, but knowing all that went into creating that bigger piece allows you to not just understand what it's about, but better appreciate the value that is often left unseen.

~:[CH11 - Day 152]:~ Beyond Expectations

 
~:[CH11 - Day 152]:~ Beyond Expectations

It was a crazy year and while it wasn't as exhausting as last year, it was pretty close to it. This weekend, my motivation was kind of low to do work, as I had a pile of things to do, but every time I tried to take a break, I thought of these students, especially these seniors. They faced so much through their years and kept their focus and even kept us on our toes. To have two SGs who I jokingly say, "what now" to when they walk in, you know you have ones who are on top of it and keeping the ship afloat. Before I could think of it, they were already doing so and that's what keeps a program running. Banquet always leaves me a with a happy and heavy heart as we recall the life of Richard Neville. It's great to never forget his life and legacy, but it always hurts a bit to remember the loss we suffered during our final year. He was a strict one, but also one who I learned so much from and who I am today can be attributed to him. Our two SGs exemplified his traits more than ever, as they were on top of it, but also were both fighters. One suffered through such a life-changing moment, yet showed her fight and will to get back up on her feet. Another spent hour after hour reviewing every detail, making sure that everything was in order conference after conference. I laugh as the latter almost didn't continue MUN after her freshman year and I employed the troops to keep her around no matter how determined she was to leave. In the end, we focused on these two in the end, but the entirety of this senior class and this program made this year happen. The hours that students volunteered to chair committees, train delegates from other countries, to research and prepare for conference and the weekends sacrificed for conference after conference. It's not an easy task, but they do it and they do it well. In the end, many may not get an award at a conference, but as I always say, I will be proud of them if they represented their country policy well, got engaged in committee and truly did their best. While awards are a great incentive, the learning and growth of a student matter the most. When I look at the changes my students make through a year, but even more so through a three to four year career, I just smile knowing all the amazing things that wait for them ahead. The skills and confidence they gain in this program is unmatched and a lot of it is attributed to the amazing students we are gifted. As I said in my closing speech, when they leave, they will not all be headed towards becoming a politician, rather they will be doctors, lawyers, teachers, programmers, chefs, actors and more, but regardless of what they become, I am confident that they will excel in whatever path they decide to choose, as they'll be able to use a range of resources they gained these past four years. I am so proud of them and they truly ended their careers beyond all expectations.