Chapter Ten: What I Have Learned:

I look back on my time in Asia.

I didn’t really do much to enjoy the different countries. It wasn’t really a vacation, so we didn’t do fun things or stay in nice places. (We didn’t really have much money to do that. Religious people have to live pious lives and all that. Americans preachers need to learn that as well. But, I digress.)

I did get to meet many people and learn a little bit about An. She wouldn’t talk to me, but she did give me the key that I needed.

Nobody was going to make choices for me. I had to decide how to live my own life. I got the concept, but I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life or how.

Today, I am still a priestess, but I now work at Tokyo-Zion Academy. I write will I still work as a priestess. I kind of got roped into this venture, really. Strangely enough, I like it. The students may be stressful at times, but it is challenging. I don’t know, I guess it gives me a chance to grow in a way. Plus, I have made a few friends at the academy.

Oh and I got to meet my brother and sister. Quan is quite handsome and wants to become a priest himself. Mai is hyper and practically follows me everywhere. It almost feels surreal to have family so close to me in person after sometime of being raised in that temple with a bunch of nuns after so long. I still do take all the teachings that I have learned to heart along with my working life. The day I ended up leaving for Japan, Mother Hoa wished me well.

“You have made us all proud, my child,” she told me.

“Thank you, Mother Hoa,” I said, bowing.

“I wish you well on your new journey,” she said. “Make us all proud.”

“Yes,” I said. She gave me enough to pay for the plane ticket to Japan. Would you believe that that was my first time on an airplane ever? An walked me to the airport. As predicted, we didn’t talk on the way there. Still, I felt that I had to say something to her.

“Hey An,” I spoke up on the bus. I didn’t wait for lack of a response this time. Instead, I cleared my throat.

“Thanks for accompanying on my trip around Asia all those years ago,” I said. I struggled to say something, but I couldn’t think of anything. But when I looked up, I could’ve sworn that I saw her smiling. Something inside of me told me not to say a word, however.

An saw me off onto in the airport. More silence, but I gloated to myself after I saw her smile. That would be the last time I saw the gruff old lady again. Still I would run into more Ans in Japan. I could bank on that.

For now, I look back on my trip and take it all in. I don’t take I want to ever leave Japan again.