Once again, it's time...

After living in Metro Manila for almost five years, the time has come for me to bid the place goodbye. My stay in this big, busy metropolis has come to an end. I've always known it was just temporary, but I just can't help but feel a little sad. After all, this place has been home for the past four and a half years. I've always hated goodbyes and the fact that I'd be saying goodbye to this place is just around the corner doesn't make me too happy.

Sure, I'm excited to go back home where I truly belong, but Metro Manila, after all these years, has slowly become a part of me, a part of who I am now, so that I feel like I'll be leaving a big part of me behind when I leave. I'm happy to finally be able to move on to another chapter in my life; part of me wants to just hold on and stay.

Sure, I will still visit Manila and see my friends from time to time, but it just won't be the same. I'd be a visitor, an alien in the city. I won't be part of the city like I am now. Places will be familiar yet distant. Saying goodbye to a place is as difficult for me as saying goodbye to very close friends or family members. I've always found it so hard.

Such bittersweet feelings and thoughts are what I've had for company these past days. I am, at the moment, packing my things and packing with them all the special memories they hold. I'm a collector of things, you see. I am really excited about what home holds for me and I admit that there are times that I'd feel reluctant because I know that my going home will be one giant step to the future. The future, sometimes, frightens me. But, as they say, one's got to do what one has to do!

Insha-Allah, I will be fine. :)

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Some (just some) of the things I'll miss most about Manila:

1. My Manila-based and Luzon-based friends
- I will truly miss the times spent with these friends, the laughter, the fun, the singing, the "drama" of it all. Videoke. Coffee. Food trips. Out-of-town trips. Movie marathons. J-dorama marathons (with some of them). Badminton games. Just plain hanging out.

2. UP Diliman (where I've lived for the past four years)
- I will miss the Sanggumay Residence Hall (my first ever dorm!), the International Center. I think I'll even miss the Ipil Residence Hall. I'll miss the walks I always have around the campus (sometimes alone, sometimes with friends), the afternoons spent alone at the Sunken Garden or walking around the Sports Oval, the people from different walks of life crowding around Mang Larry in the afternoon and wondering what Mang Larry's secret recipe was. I'll miss my professors, my classmates (even the weird ones!). I'll miss CAL (my college), the Main Library, AS Walk, the stalls that sell second-hand books. I'll miss the movies at the Film Center. I'll miss the plays and musicals at the Second Floor of the CSSP Building (I forgot the name of that hall) and at the Theater. I'll miss the Annual Nihongo Speech Contest. I'll miss SC and the Coop. I'll miss the ice cream from one of the computer rental stalls at SC, the corn with cheese and butter, the tokneneng, and the fish balls. I'll miss the Oblation, the Carillon and the Hardin ng mga Diwata. I'll miss the Ikot and the Toki jeepneys. I'll miss seeing one of the Library people walking Justice and Lincoln (his dogs) and Tony Mabesa walking Cheemra (his dog). And, God, I will miss the Chocolate Kiss!

3. SSEAYP Activities
- We have lots of activities here in Manila, not much in the provinces. I will miss all my SSEAYP friends who are here in Manila or who are often here in Manila.

4. The English Channel (Fourhalf) Office and People
- I will miss the co-teachers I've become friends with. I will miss Miss Jane (the nicest boss ever!). But, most of all, I will miss my dear, dear Japanese students. All those sessions (that sometimes gave me headaches), I already miss them as early as now!

5. The UAAP Basketball and Football (Soccer) Games
- I just love watching the games. They're like the highlight of my weeks at times. I will truly miss the Araneta Coliseum. I will also miss the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym, where some basketball games are held. I will miss the Ateneo Soccer Field, where the soccer games are held. I will even miss queuing up for tickets as early as 4 am at the Ateneo or at Araneta. I will miss cheering for my teams. It's a totally different experience when you're actually at the game rather than just watching the game live on TV. Once, as Shaye (a very good friend) and I were walking around the Araneta Coliseum grounds I told her: "This is one place I will truly miss when I go home."

6. The Japanese Restaurants
- I looove Japanese food. There are no Japanese restaurants in our place or anywhere near it.

7. The UP Cats
- There are stray cats all over the campus. There are cats in every dormitory (except Sanggumay, that is). There are cats in the colleges and different buildings. There are cats in the stores. They're just everywhere and I love them all!

8. Mommy Minda and Lala
- They're two very special people in my life. They're not just aunts for me. There were times they were the only family I had here. I'll truly miss them both. Oh, and I'll really miss Shan Cai, too. She is Lala's beautiful cat!

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Some (again, just some) of the things I will not miss:

1. The heavy traffic;
2. Pollution;
3. The noise;
4. The guilt I feel whenever I see beggars and homeless people and ignore them;
5. The feeling that you almost can't trust anyone in the streets, in jeepneys, in buses, in public places;
6. The tired look on almost everyone's faces.