Farewell Speech

English Version	Japanese Version
I practiced hard to learn this in Japanese, so that for our last moment together, you can understand me completely. Though we may not share a language, I've always felt we've shared a heart... a great bond that no words could ever describe.	Minna-san to sugoseru saigono jikann wo taisetsuni surutame , minna-san ni, watashi no kotowo, zenbu wakatte moraeru youni, kono speach wo, isshou kenmei, kangaemashita. Watashi-tachi no Kotoba wa chigattemo, kokoro wa hitotsu desu. Kotoba dewa ienai, katai kizuna ga watashi-tachi niwa arimasu.
There is a poem, written in Japanese, that I found a very long time ago. It is the reason I decided to come to Japan. I wanted to see the land and meet the people that inspired such beauty. This is that poem:	Kokoni, watashiga mukashi deatta, nihongo no shi ga arimasu. Kono shi ni deai, watashi wa Nihon ni kitaku narimashita. Kono shi ni aru, utsukushii fuukei ya subarashii hito tachi ni, deaitaku narimashita. Sore ga, kono shi desu.
We watched the fading vapor trails They were so dazzling, I ran away - I was always weak. I let go, frustrated by the fact that I couldn't stay unchanged since that day; Couldn't stay unchanged forever.	Kieru hikouki-gumo boku tachi wa miokutta; mabushikute nigeta itsu datte yowakute. Ano hi kara kawarazu itsu made mo kawarazu ni irarenakatta koto kuyashikute yubi o hanasu.
That bird still can't fly well; But someday she will know the feeling of cutting through the wind. The place she can't reach is still there in the distance; She gazes at it, keeping her wish to herself.	Ano tori wa mada umaku tobenai kedo, itsuka wa kaze o kitte shiru. todokanai basho ga mada tooku ni aru, negai dake himete mitsumeteru.
Children walk on the railroad tracks in summer; Exposing their bare feet to the blowing wind. We place in the distance the days of our childhood We place in our hands hope that springs forth	Kodomo-tachi wa natsu no senro aruku; fuku kaze ni suashi o sarashite. Tooku ni wa osanakatta hibi wo; ryoute ni wa tobidatsu kibou wo.
Chasing, chasing the fading vapor trails; It hasn't changed since the day we crossed that hill, and never will; So that we will always have it, We'll guard the strength of a sea god, surely.	Kieru hikoukigumo oikakete, oikakete kono oka o koeta ano hi kara kawarazu itsu made mo. Massugu ni boku-tachi wa aru you ni, watatsumi no you na tsuyosa o mamoreru yo kitto.
The blades of the windmill that turn in the sky always have the same dream. The dream of a bird, her wish kept to herself, gazing at the place she can't reach.	Ano sora o mawaru fuusha no hane tachi wa itsu made mo onaji yume miru. Todokanai basho o zutto mitsumeteru negai o himeta tori no yume wo.
I look back; the sun-baked railway tracks are hidden by stormclouds... Even if they change their shape, may we always remember the yesterdays left behind by the seasons.	Furikaeru yaketa senro oou nyuu-dou-gu-mo katachi o kaete mo bokura wa oboete ite douka kisetsu ga nokoshita kinou o.
Chasing, chasing the fading vapor trails, the signal is given too early... we start laughing. So that we can always look straight ahead, even if it's slippery with sweat, I won't let go of your hand, ever.	Kieru hikouki-gumo oikakete oikakete, hayasugiru aizu futari waraidashiteru itsu made mo, massugu ni manazashi wa aru you ni. Ase ga nijinde mo te o hanasanai yo zutto.
We watched the fading vapor trails. They were so dazzling, I ran away... I was always weak. I let go, frustrated by the fact that I couldn't stay unchanged since that day. Couldn't stay unchanged forever	Kieru hikoukigumo boku tachi wa miokutta, mabushikute nigeta itsu datte yowakute. Ano hi kara kawarazu itsu made mo kawarazu ni irarenakatta koto; kuyashikute yubi o hanasu.
I came to Japan to teach you, but I think it is YOU who taught ME. I am honored to have been your English teacher. I am thankful for every moment we shared. All of you have treated me so kindly. I have always been proud of all of you.	Watashi wa, minna-san wo oshieni kitakeredo, hontou wa, minna-san ga watashi ni oshiete kuremashita. Minna-san no eigo no sensei ni nareta kotowo hokori ni omoi masu. Minna-san to sugoshita subeteno jikan ni kansha shimasu. Minna-san wa watashi ni totemo yasashiku shite kuremashita.
But now, our time together must end. Not because I want it to, but because it has to. In America, we have a saying, "Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened." In Japanese, it means, "owariwo kanashimazu, hurikaette, waraou." I will always look back to my time here with fond memories. The time I spent here will be forever cherished. Thank you for letting me be a part of your school and a part of your lives.	Demo, owakare no toki ga kimashita. Sayonara wa shitaku arimasenga shikata arimasen. America niwa, konna kotowaza ga arimasu. “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Nihongo dewa, “owariwo kanashimazu, hurikaette, waraou.” Watashiwa korekara, kokodeno tanoshikatta, omoidewo itsumo furikaeru deshou. Itsumademo kokoroni nokoru deshou. Minna-san no gakkou, soshite, minasan no jinsei no ichibu ni nareta kotowo kansha shimasu.
I think of you all as my little brothers, my little sisters. I LOVE YOU ALL.	Minna-san no kotowo otouto ya imouto no youni omotte imasu. Minna-san ga daisuki desu.

**************************************************************************************************************************

* oh, and the "poem" I referred to was actually "Tori no Uta" by Lia, the OP to Air. Haha, I wasn't going to sing in front of those crowds, nor did I want to admit that they were from an anime... or dating-simulation game. >____>

Still, it's quite a beautiful poem. Anyway, good luck to those who will decide to enter in the "GTX Summary Essay Contest." Remember, the deadline is June 30th!

Previous Page (2/3)

Copyright © by Anime-Source.Com All Right Reserved.

Published on: 2010-05-09 (1287 reads)