The Survival of the Toughest

Courtesy of Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)
Link:  http://www.economics.ynu.ac.jp/ppt/message/messages02.html

I will forever be thankful for the greatest opportunity that came to my life...it was truly a tough one but I am so glad that I was able to surpassed all the challenges that came with it.    It was truly a wonderful experience!  However, I know I was not alone in my journey...I was always with God.  He did not forsake me even at the darkest hours and I am truly blessed!  Thank you so much for giving me the love, support, guidance and care...I may be one of the sinners that you know...but you often lifted me up whenever I am about to fall.  

My Final Pose at the Emblem of the
Yokohama National University (YNU)

Now, a new beginning is about to unfold...and as new challenges will come my way...I will always look back and reminisce all the wonderful memories that were created during my two (2) years stay in Japan.  I will always be reminded of all the people that became part of my so-called "JAPANESE LIFE."  You will always be part of the greatest achievement that I have reached so far... :)

MEILIN :)

The Victory

The Victory

"I just grabbed the single chance of a lifetime..."

I started dreaming about travelling abroad after I succeeded in flying to some places in the Visayas region before I turned 30, however, I preferred not to work as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) or be employed in a foreign land.  In short, I wanted to travel like most tourists do or fly abroad for free like my previous domestic flights,which are considered official business trips.  Well, it was surely a long process to get what I really wanted...and after I have painstakingly undergone all the screening and selection  process plus the completion of documents...I became a scholar...yes! I simply made it! (Not to mention, the failure I experienced on my initial attempt...)

It was indeed a roller coaster ride to find success in everything that you wanted to become in life...but when you happen to be there at the finish line, you'll always wanted to look back and smile at all the struggles that you've gone through...and just reminisce those times that you were almost raising the white flag to surrender and give-up on achieving your goals.  Yet there's always a saying that everything will just be part of the history...and all you have to do is focus on what matters most at the very moment--or simply called, NOW.

It may not have turned out so well as I didn't make it to be one of the best performers in class...but being one of the successful scholars who made it to earn a Master's degree abroad was more than enough.  I would never have that single chance if I have foregone  all the opportunities beforehand...I am just so glad that I grabbed it when the doors suddenly opened for me!  It would surely  come once in my lifetime...Thank you so much, Dear God, for showering me with great blessings!

There are a lot of words that I wanted to utter to simply show how grateful I am...and to make people believe in me and on what I can do...but there are no words to say:  "God is always good!"  In whatever I have achieved,  I know that it won't be possible without Him and His unconditional love.  I may have gone through a lot of trials and painful experiences, yet I know that it's His way of telling me that I should continue what I have started and should stay  strong to hold on to my dreams and aspirations.  I am so happy I made it!

V-ery

I-ntense

C-ourses

T-aken (with)

O-utstanding

R-ealization

Y-es!!! Yes!!!  Yes!!! (Yahoo!!!)

That's right, the Victory was finally realized...and I am overwhelmed that two (2) years of hardwork finally paid off...I am officially Meilin Bocobo Lee-Hirang, CPA, MA.  The bits and pieces of my dreams are finally coming true...Mama, wherever you are now...I hope you're always proud of me...

Next stop, PhD or LLB then, Dr. or Atty.!!! As I learned from my daughter...#yolo "You Only Live Once!", hence, I will make the most of it!

MEILIN :)

Friends for Keeps

from L-R:  Mouna, Shajuan, Xuwei and I at Ooka.

After six (6) long months, I have met a lot of people from different parts of the world.  I have met different races but I always go back to where I truly belong...to my Chinese descent.  Yes, I never ever thought that the people I'll be very much comfortable with would also belong to the same race.  Initially, I've met my colleague from Cohort 18 of World Bank, an Indonesian girl who probably looks like my twin sister...Mouna...then, came my classmate, Xuwei...who became my closest friend here in Japan despite of the age gap that we got.  She already became my younger sis...and we got a 'mommy', my dear Shajuan...who was the first one that I've known before anyone else.  Recently, I became close to my younger brother in Japan, Bao...now I can say that I got my family in Japan.  Thus, homesickness is not an issue anymore...I just miss my daughter...but other than that...I can feel the warmth of the wonderful people that I'm always with...Although most of us will be bidding our 'goodbyes' in a while...I am looking forward that our communication will never end and the friendship will never fade despite of not seeing each other more often.  

from L-R:  Xuwei, Mei (yours truly), Mouna and Bao at Shibuya

Guys, I hope you'll be able to read this blog in the right time...and I hope that we'll cherish all the wonderful memories that we got...:)  Thank you so much  for making my life in Japan worth remembering...I'll surely miss you guys...and I'll always be grateful for having you as important part of my life.

MEILIN :)

My Japanese Life

Some people might thought that my Japanese life is all "bed-of-roses"...but it's not...I also experience some difficulties, confusion, pain, and frustrations.  It may seem OK at first, but in the long run...some things may also change.  I know that these are all the challenges that life has brought for me...and I know that God has His ultimate plans to make me a better person than I am right now.  There are so many reasons to believe that I have to enjoy my life anyway.  There are always a million reason to wake up each day and tell myself that life has so many surprises awaiting for me.  Lord, if this is your one way of telling me that there are so many reasons to feel happy everyday...please allow me to see the light...I can feel that I'm still in the darkness at this moment...still haven't moved on with the life that I used to have.  Although I'm trying my best to cope up with the bitter memories I got, enjoying what I have right now is all that I can do.  Lord, please don't let me move away from my priorities...particularly to my ultimate goals....please guide me that I'll not make the wrong decisions again and be caught unaware...I know that you have better plans for me...please allow me to take that path towards the better tomorrow...I'm still looking forward for that day wherein I'll find myself in the midst of happiness again...and find that one true person that God has planned for me.  I know that he's just somewhere out there...and please lead me the way towards that one true happiness that I've been longing for.  Thank you so much, Lord....

I just saw some sort of an inspiration on this picturesque view.
Source:  Instagram from "moonlightice"

MEILIN :)

My Fave Hangout

Minato Mirai 21 on a cold winter afternoon.
(This photo is not edited.)

It took me a while before I was able to explore one of the best tourist destinations in Yokohama, Japan.  The coolest place that caught my attention is no other than Minato Mirai 21 (みなとみらい21)...I didn't know that I was able to visit that place during my first week in Japan, yet I didn't have the chance to move around at that time.  When I was about to tour one my colleagues from home, Henry, at Yokohama...that's the time I explored MM21 on a rainy day.

First shot at MM21 during my arrival

Further, I also noticed that MM21 already caught my attention the first time I arrived Yokohama City, as shown on the photo above.  Now, I'm loving it more and more as the days and months passes by...and I can say that MM21 has a special place in my heart.  I will never get tired of going back and forth in the place where I can find solitude and happiness. 

Minato Mirai 21...My place of solitude.

MEILIN :)