Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Pokemon Center

 A mall was celebrating its anniversary. They decorated the grounds with windmills.
 Here's a closer look. Cool ayt?
Saw a pokemon center shop in one of the malls.
People are welcomed by these adorable pokemon characters.
Pikachu running the cash register.
More of Pikachu.

Some of his friends. Okay, I don't know their names. I'm one of the few people who don't watch pokemon.

 At least I know this is a poke-ball. HAHA
 More pokeballs. Easter edition? I don't know.
 

Some of their other friends stuffed with polyesters.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Just Another Awesome Sunday

First time to attend the Language exchange cafe at Lifehouse.Learned a lot of useful Japanese phrases. My language skills are improving, I can now hold 2-minute conversations.

  
 After re-mix(youth service), we went to a nearby park to have a pizza party. I must say that parks here are "well-funded". But credits to responsible citizens who keep them clean.
 
 Pizzas were overflowing. I think there were more than 30 boxes. I've lost count of how many I had. I tried some new flavors like corn pizza and tomato pizza. 

Definitely enjoyed the company of these people. I just need a memory upgrade to store all those new names.
Glad this atenista was able to go with me. My only Filipino friend in OsakaU. #TeamPilipinas

And to these people who were teaching me japanese while walking along the road. Learned some indonesian words too: anjing and kuching.And indonesian-filipino words: payong and mahal.

Walked a looooooooot the whole day. Ended the day tired yet charged.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

College Rewind

I had my first day in college AGAIN. We just started our class on april 9. Here's a glimpse of my new academic environment:
©darrengarcia

Osaka University has 3 campuses, I have 

classes in two different campus.You have to 

ride a bus for about 25min to get to the 

other campus.
©darrengarcia
  
The pictures here are all from Toyonaka 

campus. It's just a 3-minute walk from 

my dorm.
©darrengarcia

I'm taking both international and regular 

courses, but everything's in english. I'm

taking very interesting subjects, ranging 

from critical studies of globalization to 

global poverty and development.
©darrengarcia

People here are so brilliant. A multi-cultural and inter-disciplinary pool of students makes classes so enjoyable. Classes are filled with rich matter-loaded discussions. I'll blog some of our class topics here some other time.

Friday, April 3, 2015

My first day in Japan


©darrengarcia
When I arrived at Kansai Airport, I only had two paper with Japanese directions. No one welcomed me from the airport. So I had to use my sign language skills. Good thing I met a person from nepal then a filipino while waiting in line for my resident card.

©darrengarcia
It was a lonely start in my room since it's single-occupancy. After an hour, I met a Mexican guy along the hallway then a korean after 20 minutes. I invited them to explore the place and have dinner. We ended up going in a resto that has a machine as cashier where you select your order then pay. You just give the receipt to the waiter then food will be served.

©darrengarcia
Almost all toilets in Japan have this. It seems complicated at first. I think it's suppose to make pooing fun. It even automatically warms when you seat.


Thursday, April 2, 2015

Bible and Passport


©darrengarcia

An hour left before I fly to Japan. It's my first time to go abroad.  I have mixed feelings about my trip. Living in another country alone for almost one year is no joke.
 

Going to japan means leaving my convenient student life in UP. I'm doing good in my academics, I might lose momentum. I'm making significant impact in my university, I might not have the same opportunity again. These thoughts have been circling my mind for a while.



Then I remembered a Sunday preaching about having a bible and a passport. I realized that God wants me to open a new chapter in my life.



When I decided to follow Him. I knew I had to stop chasing success. I no longer work to gain victory. I discovered that I am already fighting from the vantage point of victory. My definition of success transformed from a simplistic view to an eternal perspective. I no longer count accolades and achievements as victory lest it serves others and ultimately honors God.

All I wanted was to change my campus. I knew it's not going to be easy so I doubled my effort in my academics and leadership roles. When I was notified about my scholarship in Japan, it meant leaving what I started and heavily invested on.



I was supposed to leave August of last year but it was cancelled due to scholarship issues. So I thought maybe it wasn't for me. Then suddenly, when I was least expecting it, I was granted the scholarship. I didn't know what to do. I did not want to abandon the overwhelming opportunities to change my campus yet I also felt a strong tug in my heart to go to Japan.



After talking to people and hearing from God, I finally decided I that just have to go to Japan.



One of my friends told me how he sees me being used in Japan. He told me that he thinks God is promoting me to another level of wilderness because I became faithful in the things he put in my college life.  As I listened to his parting words of encouragement, I recounted the years of hardship I had to endure just to be faithful to God. From academics, finance, to my love life , honoring God was not easy. Several times did I had the urge to conform to my surroundings, but God just never gave up on me. And true to his word, His will transcends mine, it was good, pleasing, and perfect.



At this point, I know that God is sending me to Japan to change nations. I'll be interacting with students from different countries and different backgrounds. Who knows what they can do with the gospel when they go back home. This is what excites me the most.



The good news is that this calling is not just reserved for me or to few selected individuals. This is an invitation to all people who follow Christ.



Therefore go and make disciples of all nations... -Matthew 28:19



I was told of amazing things how a bible and a passport can transform a nation. It's my time to experience this transformational power. It's time to go international. It's time to change the world!