Hanako Matsumoto「松元華子」
I was the MC for the student exchange gathering night. As I walk down from the centerstage, a pretty girl walked up to me and handed this...
From then onwards, receiving snail mails from her was one the best part of my high school life.
[Click on image to view letter]
We were penpals for a few months until I was rushed to Melbourne on short notice. Mom was really happy when Trinity College, Melbourne University accepted me. I lost Hanako's letters. Thus, lost her address. Her letters were kept in a special box apart from my other letters. I could find the other letters... but hers was too well "preserved". Why I use the word Preserved?
7 years later -.-"
7 years of not being able to contact Hanako = miserable. I could only look at photos of sunsets she took for me with her favourite camera. I remember her telling me,
"Camera...Papa (points from nothing then to herself)"
I think she meant daddy gave her that camera or daddy's camera. One of the two. Never did find out.
Any language is pretty hard to understand if you have not learnt it. It wasn't hard to understand their body language, though. I did not understand anything that was spoken... but I could answer them "Yes", "No" or "Thank you" without having them explain what they said to me.
Memories...
Hanako stays almost an hour away from my hotel and yet her mom was so sweet to send her to my hotel just to be with me because it was my last night in Japan. Her mom sent us to a nearby beach. Either Hanako likes the beach, or she likes sunset, or she assumes I like sunset, or she knew I like sunset. I never find out. She was right, though. It was lovely. I know she's a girl...but to my very honest opinion, if I were a boy...she'll be my angel. The guys from my high school were drooling over her. I instantly became famous because of her. Just like the teen movies.
Then again, if I were to be a boy... she wouldn't walk up to me with that note in the first place. And if I walked up to her, she'd probably think I'm a perv from Malaysia.
She stayed until 12am and had to go home. Her mom picked her up from the hotel and she went home. I was to leave Japan at 7am the coming morning.
7am in the morning, she was at the lobby... in her school uniform. She did her best to explain to me that she begged her mom to send her here, skipping school... for someone she just met 2 days ago. 2 days!!! Nobody can beat that angel. I never had anyone (same gender) love me so much! I decided there and then, she won the award "Most Sincere Friend" I'll ever have.
That is why I took Japanese as a minor subject at Uni. I searched the internet for Hanako Matsumoto, but to no avail. I called my ex-boyfriend for his foster parents address in Fukuoka (because my ex's foster father was the mayor of that small town), but he couldn't find it. I sent letters to my foster mother (because she was the most traditional, richest lady in that town, I think), but she didn't reply. I think she moved. I panicked.
"What if Hanako moved?? She said she was gonna study English in the U.S! 7 years!!!"
I'm almost assured I've lost her forever. Then I came up with another plan. That is to travel to Fukuoka, do all I can to find her. But I forgot how the place looks like!!! >.<~~ During my last trip back to Malaysia...I went for Hanako's letter hunting again in my room.
I found the box of letters...
as if shining at me. I squealed. I was happy, but still worried about the fact that she might have moved. I wrote to her immediately. Canceled whatever plans I had for the night.
I waited for 3 days...I cried...
Elaine!!!!!!! I never forget you. I tried to send hotmail several times,but it always returned.and I couldn't send letters so long time. but now I am so happy to recieve your letter!Thank you so much.I miss you too You are the university student and still in Austra aren't you? your japanese so nice! I'm sorry my mail is so wired becouse I am so excited. anyway I'm telling you about myself. I have been living in Tokyo for 4 months.I'm working as a cabin attendant now. It's so tough but I like my job. I hope to see you soon. do you have any plans of travel to Japan?
ELAINE HA WATASHI NO DAIJI NA SINYU DESU. ITSUMADEMO NAKAYOKU SHITENE!!!(Japanese desu)
Love,
Hanako Matsumoto
I was the MC for the student exchange gathering night. As I walk down from the centerstage, a pretty girl walked up to me and handed this...
From then onwards, receiving snail mails from her was one the best part of my high school life.
[Click on image to view letter]We were penpals for a few months until I was rushed to Melbourne on short notice. Mom was really happy when Trinity College, Melbourne University accepted me. I lost Hanako's letters. Thus, lost her address. Her letters were kept in a special box apart from my other letters. I could find the other letters... but hers was too well "preserved". Why I use the word Preserved?
7 years later -.-"
7 years of not being able to contact Hanako = miserable. I could only look at photos of sunsets she took for me with her favourite camera. I remember her telling me,
"Camera...Papa (points from nothing then to herself)"
I think she meant daddy gave her that camera or daddy's camera. One of the two. Never did find out.
Any language is pretty hard to understand if you have not learnt it. It wasn't hard to understand their body language, though. I did not understand anything that was spoken... but I could answer them "Yes", "No" or "Thank you" without having them explain what they said to me.
Memories...
Hanako stays almost an hour away from my hotel and yet her mom was so sweet to send her to my hotel just to be with me because it was my last night in Japan. Her mom sent us to a nearby beach. Either Hanako likes the beach, or she likes sunset, or she assumes I like sunset, or she knew I like sunset. I never find out. She was right, though. It was lovely. I know she's a girl...but to my very honest opinion, if I were a boy...she'll be my angel. The guys from my high school were drooling over her. I instantly became famous because of her. Just like the teen movies.
Then again, if I were to be a boy... she wouldn't walk up to me with that note in the first place. And if I walked up to her, she'd probably think I'm a perv from Malaysia.
She stayed until 12am and had to go home. Her mom picked her up from the hotel and she went home. I was to leave Japan at 7am the coming morning.
7am in the morning, she was at the lobby... in her school uniform. She did her best to explain to me that she begged her mom to send her here, skipping school... for someone she just met 2 days ago. 2 days!!! Nobody can beat that angel. I never had anyone (same gender) love me so much! I decided there and then, she won the award "Most Sincere Friend" I'll ever have.
That is why I took Japanese as a minor subject at Uni. I searched the internet for Hanako Matsumoto, but to no avail. I called my ex-boyfriend for his foster parents address in Fukuoka (because my ex's foster father was the mayor of that small town), but he couldn't find it. I sent letters to my foster mother (because she was the most traditional, richest lady in that town, I think), but she didn't reply. I think she moved. I panicked.
"What if Hanako moved?? She said she was gonna study English in the U.S! 7 years!!!"
I'm almost assured I've lost her forever. Then I came up with another plan. That is to travel to Fukuoka, do all I can to find her. But I forgot how the place looks like!!! >.<~~ During my last trip back to Malaysia...I went for Hanako's letter hunting again in my room.
I found the box of letters...
as if shining at me. I squealed. I was happy, but still worried about the fact that she might have moved. I wrote to her immediately. Canceled whatever plans I had for the night.I waited for 3 days...I cried...
Elaine!!!!!!! I never forget you. I tried to send hotmail several times,but it always returned.and I couldn't send letters so long time. but now I am so happy to recieve your letter!Thank you so much.I miss you too You are the university student and still in Austra aren't you? your japanese so nice! I'm sorry my mail is so wired becouse I am so excited. anyway I'm telling you about myself. I have been living in Tokyo for 4 months.I'm working as a cabin attendant now. It's so tough but I like my job. I hope to see you soon. do you have any plans of travel to Japan?
ELAINE HA WATASHI NO DAIJI NA SINYU DESU. ITSUMADEMO NAKAYOKU SHITENE!!!(Japanese desu)
Love,
Hanako Matsumoto
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