I met my best friend here in Japan through reddit in Japanlife actually after I left a frustrated comment on the Thursday complaint thread 2 years ago about the shelters rejecting us in the adoption process. I wasn’t getting a lot of good responses but she messaged me privately about one of her cats that she is rehoming after a severe illness that caused her a lot of pain and stay in the hospital and she feels bad for what happened to me.
We finally met 2 weeks later and bonded over our love for this wonderful amazing cat and became fast friends. We talked everyday about everything. She was always there for me through the good and the bad times and is one of the most genuine people I’ve ever known. She is the sort of friend that would drop everything to be with you if you need her. Would send you a box of fruits to your house when you are suffering from covid, and offer to take care of your pets when you need to go on a sudden trip the next day without a second thought. She gives and loves without expectations.
Celebrate when you get a new job and cry with you when you lose it 😂
I don’t have a lot of friends here in Japan… most of my friends are foreigners like myself and my husband.
Today, she is flying back to her home country with her family for a better future for their young family. It breaks my heart to see her leave and move thousands of miles away. That’s the thing about being an expat here and having foreign friends. Once they leave, they may never come back. Its not like friends back home where i know I can always see them once I come back for vacation and such. We promised to keep in touch, send presents and letters regularly but I can’t help feeling sad.
I admit, the past few months, I’ve been hoping and praying in my heart that they would tell me out of nowhere, that they changed their minds about moving back to Europe and her husband will find a less stressful job and stay in Japan. I can’t believe it is finally today….
I never thought I would find my best friend of all places on reddit and in Japanlife honestly.
To my friend- I’m so sad to see you go and I know you will read this because you always read and like all of my posts no matter how petty they are. Thank you for your love, friendship and for our cat. You will always be his first mama and I promise to take care of him as much as you did when you found him dying on the road barely a day old with his umbilical cord still intact (with photos you showed me) and nursed him back to health all the way to adulthood. You are the most selfless, loving person and I’m sad but happy as you start your new life.😭 😭 😭 I will miss our crazy Karaoke sessions together singing the weirdest songs and your little baby that has grown into an adorable munchkin and your understanding husband who always has a smile on his face despite coming home after working 14 hours a day.
Thank you Japanlife for letting me meet such a wonderful person.
by CallieinJapan