4 posts tagged “people”

It was appropriate firing up 料理の鉄人 on the TV tonight, because we were hosting a farewell for a Japanese classmate.

Noriko has now finished her TESOL studies, and is heading home on Monday.

Her bravery is legendary in student circles;  she completed the first part of her course in 2004 whilst pregnant with Asuya.

Other students made of lesser stuff cave in when their bathrooms leaks or their pens run out;  but not only did Noriko saw through the first part of her course whilst experiencing a pregnancy and confinement many miles from home - she then finished the course with a lively (and very cute!) toddler in tow.

Whenever I feel weak at the prospect of a sniffly nose or a fractosed mardiella, I remember Noriko's refusal to lose sight of her goal and I feel at once inspired and ashamed of my own laziness.

On behalf of all Chronicle readers, I congratulate Noriko on her achievement.

• I'll place a picture here when the film is processed.
  

Greetings to regular readers Heidi and to John, both of whom Pauline & I visited yesterday.

Heidi is a former classmate and colleague on the International Students' Orientation program at our old university (2003 ish). She is now carving out a name for herself in her new profession in Sydney. And she cooks up a great lunch, which we then proceeded to demolish.

She is very excited about the prospect of her parents coming to Australia to visit for some time.  And they're arriving today!  On behalf of Chronicle readers, I welcome Heidi's parents to Australia.

John is a former school mate of mine (from 30 years ago!! aaagghh) and university mate of Pauline's. 

We had a lovely dinner in the high street of the Sydney suburb of Croydon.  Regular readers will recall that this is one of the few intact Edwardian-era main-streetscapes remaining in Sydney, and as such has considerable heritage value.

Our thanks to both these folks for their hospitality to us weary travellers.  Zhu kai xin!

Our other stop in Sydney today was to see Hui, Bob & Luke in their place in western Sydney.

Bob is a former classmate and colleague on the International Students' Induction program at university.  Chronicle readers will recall Hui & Bob minding our home whilst we were in California in 2003-4. 

As a result of that bout of house minding, little Luke arrived 9 months later - proof that our place must be comfortable.

Luke is now almost 2 years old, going on 6.  We spent the evening chatting about merry student times, Bob's new profession, and watching Luke pick up the sofa with his bare hands.

Cheers to you, folks!

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