I can’t believe that I have been home for over two weeks already.  It has nearly passed as quickly as my time in Tokyo did.  My body took around a week to get used to the Scottish climate again after suffering through 2 months at 35°C.

The last week and a half after my last blog (almost a month ago –sorry) was quite eventful.  My project was effectively completed but tying up all the loose ends turned out to be quite a time consuming process.  I had to condense my work into a 15 minute presentation.  The presentation was to be an overview of our summer in Japan.  Our colleagues were keen to hear what we had done and achieved and were satisfied to hear we had a great time.  Each of our presentations were well received by the management team and we were offered very kind leaving remarks by Kawamura-san, the President of DHL Supply Chain Japan.  Following a short ‘beer burst’ I left HQ for the last time…….for now!

The last week also included several amazing leaving dinners with our wonderful work colleagues.  The first involved us and a large cruise ship.  We went to a boat party that took a short cruise around Tokyo Bay.  It was so much fun and Rachel, Andy and I all looked the part in our traditional Yukata.  Strangely none of our Japanese work colleagues wore them though…  The following week we went a Shabu Shabu restaurant and karaoke.  Karaoke with work has been so much fun and quickly became a fixture for any social occasion.  Convincing everyone to sing Japanese songs is a lot of fun – especially when people who are normally very quiet start belting them out!  I will definitely miss our karaoke establishment and I’m sure they’ll miss us a lot too.  The staff made us a cake to thank us and wish us well for going to sing there all the time!

Finally, my thanks go to the staff from my office at TBC.  Everyone was so good to me there and I cannot be more thankful for that.  The dinner I had with them was memorable in so many ways – not just for my boss singing the Bee Gees!  On the last day I got a group photo with everyone and it is something that I will cherish. 

The past two weeks at home has given me plenty time to reflect upon the time I spent in Tokyo and I feel that it would be difficult for me to have gained anything more from my experience.  Our GlobalScot, Donald McGarva, told me to keep learning and to try and achieve more and more.  I feel that I have returned more motivated for my 5th year at university and that I should take every opportunity that is available to me.  I will be forever grateful for the opportunity the SaltireFoundation presented to me and want to help ensure that future students can get this experience too.

I look forward to exchanging stories with everyone at the scholar event next month.

Take care,

Craig