Four days

Until my four-month sojourn to fantasyland. Just calculated my commuter fare, it doesn't look pretty. However, I'd have to admit that what happened today helped me clear my senses. I won't go into details, but I never knew how much going to church was peaceful to the soul. Especially the people that come to it. What else did I do today . . . I practiced my skating on the street, played a little hockey, and exercised a bit for the big season. Also gave some advice on different things and even chatted with someone I haven't heard in a while.

Tomorrow will be my final youth group meeting. It'll be easy saying "good-bye" this time, I feel, because there are hardly any people that would care about my departure, haha. All kidding aside, it's true because I hardly know more than half the kids who go there. I'm practically a spectator, but I'm still recognized as one of the "big people" there. I guess I can thank my consistent attendance for that.

And there are so many things I have to do. Including spending money on certain people. My mom practically gave me an ultimatum for my allowance, and even though I can't freaking stand it, I have to tolerate it (and this is going to the edge for me). Ah, well, que sera sera, so they say. But check this out: 51,090 yen for a three-month commuter pass. That's about $500 spent. I better get that used a lot; the New York MetroCard will surely be missed, undoubtedly.

Less than a week until my departure. Nothing left to do except get presents for the people who took care of me last semester, get to hockey practice, go to a Rangers game, say goodbye to the loved ones, and pack. It's a hell of a lot of work just to get to these last days, but with the Lord by my side, there's no problem, I'm sure of it. And speaking of the Lord, I'll have the wonderful opportunity to go receive the sacrament of reconciliation again. It's been a long while, so I finally get to reveal what I've been hiding, especially in this crazy Lenten season.

And how'll I get to spend the Easter Vigil in Japan? I wonder what it's like. I hope it's not like Christmas where couples (or just people in general) go out and superficially admire what's at face value, particularly couples spooning each other. I mean, sure it's nice and all, but c'mon, there's more to life than that, y'know. Play some ice hockey or basketball, strum and resound to a popular tune with friends --- or as we call it, "jam" --- or just walk around places that you haven't visited in a long time. Enjoy the weather, talk to someone on the phone. I guess this is my roundabout way of saying that there's more to life than searching for your "match" or significant other. I've been worried about that for a while, and I really want to not worry about it. It's inevitable, this feeling, and I wanna win over it, dammit! haha

Finding a neocatechumenal community'll be fun. Now that I have the charango, I won't allow my experience to go empty-handed. Neither will the community whom I hope I'll find. And maybe I'll take my friend with me, the one with whom I'm staying with my first few days. Props to his aunt for being so grateful and awesome for having me. I owe her a lot. She says I "look Filipino," hehehe. Do I really? It's a strange thought, because all my ideas are American.

Gathering tomorrow.
Bring your own alcohol. Seriously.
And perhaps ice skating to (literally and figuratively) chill out.