大阪來的禮物／Gifts From Osaka

念大學的時候我修過 1.5 年的日文課，打那時起，到日本遊學便是我人生諸多夢想中的其中一個，這個夢想一直到 10 年後也就是 2 年前終於成真（在此感謝洪侃成全）。在爸爸、美國國家科學基金會的 Bill 叔叔和聖地牙哥大學教授 Peter 牽線之下，我到大阪大學 Shimojo 教授帶領的 Cybermedia Center 和 Biogrid 兩個研究中心，過了近半年的半學日文、半打工、半遊玩的快樂生活。我和住東京的高中好友朋子、她的家人見面，和多次飛來探望我的家人旅遊，更在當地與我的日文老師成為好朋友，和 Cybermedia Center 和 Biogrid 的研究師生、工作人員打成一片，也認識了 Peter 從聖地牙哥大學送來的三個學生。每天早晨我帶著興奮的心情起床，每天夜晚我含著愉悅的微笑上床，這半年無疑是我至今最快樂無憂的一段時光。今年暑假朋友 Grace 到大阪參加國際會議，幫我帶回了當地朋友的溫暖信息，在此感謝她，也向大阪朋友問候和謝謝他們給我的禮物。我愛日本，我愛大阪！！

In college I took 1.5 years of Japanese and going to Japan became one of my dreams. Ten years later this dream finally came true and with help from my dad and his friends Uncle Bill from the American National Science Foundation and Peter from University of California, San Diego, I also got to work at Cybermedia Center and Biogrid, also known as Shimojo's Labs, in Osaka. During my stay I travelled to interesting places in Japan with Tomoko, her family and my own family a number of times. My Japanese teacher became a good friend, I met three wonderful students sent to Shimojo's Labs by Peter, and I grew attached to the researchers, students and employees at the Labs. Each morning I woke up and couldn't wait for the day to begin, and each night I climbed into bed with a content smile. Those months were indeed the best time of my life. This summer my friend Grace went to Osaka and came back with gifts of friendship that put a big smile and few streaks of tears on my face.
Shimojo-sensei: Did you get a tan or is it natural? You look fantastic and young!
Peter: Thanks for the bottle of wine. Dad and I killed it already!!
Teri: The yukata looks beautiful on you. Did you put that on by yourself? I could never learn to do it...
The Kosaka's: So wonderful to see Tomomi and Jigen! Where's Tak? I hope you try the recipe book and also, let's use webcam next time!
Nozaki-sensei: Thanks for managing JFC. I cannot think of a better chairman than 'Crazy Zaki-chan.' And you certainly don't look fat.
Akiyama-sensei: You still look like Pei-sama, except your poses are much more attractive!
Ichigawa-san: Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. I hope everything works out for you!
Nagakawa-san: You grew your hair back!! Love it and please keep it!
Tashiro-san: Nice poses, as usual. You look like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever in one of the pictures!
Takeda-san (spell??), Date-sensei, the beautiful lady, others: Thanks for being in these pictures. It's great to see you : ). And for those who are not in these pictures, I miss you too.
And finally, Grace: Your thoughtful message and collages really had an effect on me. They are sweet and most of all, made me feel as if I was there too. Thanks for the souvenir as well!

I LOVE JAPAN, I LOVE OSAKA!!