円 was here!

My friend Madoka came to visit me in Toronto. She had been studying English in Halifax for the past six months and is originally from Japan. I had met her in Shizuoka where she took English lessons from me while she was studying at university. But we were not only student & teacher, but we were friends too. It's creepy how many similarities we have, especially with our hobbies. We both love photography and traveling. LOVE, I mean LOVE!
- That's why she's my friend, my dear friend 円.

She only spent a week in Toronto before returning to Japan but she's only staying there for three weeks! After that, she's embarking on a two-month trip across South Eastern and Southern Asia. No wonder how everyone who met her commented that they could understand why we are friends! Have a good trip...Gambatte!
- That's why she's my friend, my dear friend 円.

(Madoka is on the right...the Japanese looking one)

When I went out with Madoka, I switched to English teacher mode...and I was quite strict about it too! I kept asking her to describe things she had seen, explain her impressions of the city. And almost every time I had to speak to someone, I got her to do it for me instead. "Madoka, ask the waiter for a dessert menu", "Madoka, ask for a transfer", "Madoka, ask for the bill", "Madoka, order my food for me"...and it's not like she's not capable of doing everything on her own anyway. While I was slaving away bringing home the bacon, she would wander around the city all by herself. Spending her time in cafes, parks, beaches, markets...But then again, I'd do that too.

- That's why she's my friend, my dear friend 円.

She went to Niagara Falls by herself last Friday in the midst of all those crazy thunderstorms and I put her on the casino tour bus full of old couples but heck, only $20 return. I was expecting her to call around 6:00-6:30 to pick her up but I didn't hear from her. Then 7:00 rolled around...and I started to wonder. I tried the cell phone I had given her but it went straight to voicemail. Perhaps the battery died? Perhaps she's in an area without signal and the bus is stuck in traffic due to the weather? She wouldn't be waiting around for me to pick her up, surely not! Finally, at 7:40, she called! What a relief...I didn't loose her! But she did go on a little adventure. Apparently, she slept past her stop and when she woke up, she told the bus driver she wanted to take the GO Train so she could get back to Mississauga. So, based on that, the bus driver told her to get off at York Mills Subway Station to catch the subway back down to Union and then take the GO Train. However, the bus driver didn't tell her that she had JUST missed her stop and was only in Etobicoke at that point, so she could've gotten off at Islington and just asked me to pick her up! Instead, being the independent girl with a crazy sense of adventure, she didn't want to 'bother' me and tried to make it back all on her own. I would have done that too. So, when she told me this little tale...I asked her all the question a responsible parent would: "Why didn't you call me"? She replied, "It's exciting to be lost". I smiled and laughed. That's what I would have done too.

- That's why she's my friend, my dear friend 円.

This is another example of why I love Madoka so much: while in Halifax, she bought a Djembe, an African drum, which she had first learned to play while in Japan. She's going to bring it with her on her trip throughout Asia, along with her backpack, while her friend who is traveling with her is bringing her guitar! I've never traveled with a drum...but I may. I just may...

- That's why she's my friend, my dear friend 円.

Madoka: I probably won't see you again in Canada or Japan (unless someone gets married but it won't be me), but I know 100% I'll see you again soon somewhere...maybe in riding on a donkey in Patagonia, on a night safari on the Serengeti, or maybe shopping for pottery in Marakesh...See you Madoka!