Materials

Today I started to work in my library.
I started to make reports about the Program,
and I checked a lot of materials.
It is a hard work for me beyond my expectaion,
because every paper has the memories about my friends!
So I had difficulty in trying not to cry in my office.
I miss them.
I want to come back to the days I spent with my precious friends.

Return

I came back to Japan after an interval of about 3 months.

And now,
I can understand any conversations without a dictionary.
I can get any information easily.
I can contact anyone by cell phone.
I can buy foods at the convenience store anytime.
I can buy any clothes and any jewelries to my taste.
There're many people and many places which are familliar with me.

But,
I feel lack of something important.
Can I get used to the life in this country?

The Last Day

Today is the last day I spend in Vancouver.

I visited the Vancouver Public Library.
A student studying in Library School in UBC took me on a library tour.
He has a Japanese girlfriend, and we had dinner together.
She quited her job in Japan, and she is studying English in Vancouver.
Her dream is to get a job of using both Japanese and English.
I know everyone has many choices.

Classroom

Today I attended a lecture of library school in UBC.
When the lecture was started, I remembered the classes I’d had with my friends in University of Illinois.
In those days, I'd been able to see the smiles of my special friends before me, behind me and beside me in the classroom.
How much love and care had surrounded me!
How much happiness had lapped me over!

Santa Claus Parade

Today was the day of the Santa Claus Parade in Vancouver.
Many people came to see the special parade.
Miraculously it was sunny day in this rainy city!
Was this weather a present from Santa Claus?
Santa Claus is coming to Vancouver!!

UBC

Today I visited UBC libraries.

I am getting used to being in the silent library.
Am I getting back a common librarian?

from Vancouver

It is rainy season in Vancouver.
Yesterday and day before yesterday, it was raining all day long.
The sky was covered by gray clouds.

Today, finally I could see the blue sky for the first time in this rainy city!
I could see the scene only for half an hour, but it was very impressive for me.

Olga, Sho and Elena, your encouragements brightened this city.
Thank you so much.

MIT

Today I visited Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

I got lost in campus, and a student took me to the library.
I mistook the transfer of the subway twice.

Maybe I forgot how to act independently,
as I was always surrounded by kind friends until last week.

Farewell

This morning, my Japanese friend left Boston.
We have lived together for 2 months, and she has helped me anytime.
Last night we talked a lot ; the memories of our friends, the future friendship, the changed sense of value, etc....
I will not forget the special night.

Today I visited Harvard University again to interview a reference librarian about library education.
The main library has magnificent stairs.
When I ran down the stairs, a scene of a fairy tale rushed into my mind, though there was no suitor behind me.

University of Massachusetts & North Eastern University

Today I visited University of Massachusetts and North Eastern University.

Actually I had many many library-tours for these 2 months.
Today I realized that I liked watching people who was watching library materials.

Boston University & Harvard University

Today I visited Boston University and Harvard University.

In Harvard University, I met a librarian who had participated in the Mortenson Center Associates Program 2 years before.
We talked about that special wonderful program.
She said, ''I highly recommend the program!!"

I know.
I know very well!

from Boston

I'm staying in Boston.
Yesterday I visited Boston Public Library.
That is a very glory library, but I felt lack of the cheers and the laughs of my friends.
The library was too silent for me.