My big sister in Washington D.C. Saori Suzuki

I will like to take this opportunity to thank a very friendly and beautiful Japanese lady I got to know in Washington D.C., Saori Suzuki. I will not forget how I first met her. I was entering the Washington Center HQ where we bumped into one another at the entrance. We started to chat and she asked me if I am from Singapore. I was actually very surprised as I did not expect a non-Singaporean to distinguish my Singapore accent when I am speaking proper English to a foreigner (without my Singlish). The mystery was solved when she told me that she has many good friends from Singapore and that she has been to Singapore many times.

Saori was an air stewardess in Cathay Pacific in the past and that was where she met many Singaporeans. She would also often converse to me in Singlish and Malay. But what I was most impressed with is that she has a good knowledge of Singapore and Malaysia culture to the extent that she actually has a better command in Bahasa Malay than me. I am also absolutely impressed by her diverse cultural exposure and perception.

However, in all honesty, after the first time I met her in TWC HQ I thought she will just be another acquaintance that I made. This is because most people are friendly but there is barely any followup relational friendship after a first "get-to-know". However, this first encounter with a Japanese lady is different. She asked me over to her flat one Sunday afternoon for lunch with her with some other Taiwanese friends. I was very surprised as I did not expect such a generous gesture after meeting her only once. Since then we hit of as good friends. We will often cook for one another and I had the privilege of attending some classes with her.

Saori and me at convocation

I will never forget one sentence she said to me during our first lunch, "I am like a mother to you here." She has indeed been that figure. Always warm and frequently ask me to join her for various activities. Lend me her rice cooker and even taught me how to make sushi.

Saori teaching me to make sushi

I remembered that one night we had an international festival and I went up the stage to speak. When I was up there, I saw her running up to snap pictures of me. It felt like a proud mother taking pictures of her son. Even though I did not have the chance to thank her for that, it was really very heart warming and I am really appreciative of what she did.

We also attended Model NUM together and I am very thankful for APEC cause that was how I knew her in class. She often brings me to meet people and through her I met an APEC delegate from Indonesia. There are so many more other people I got to know through her from all over the world - Moldova, Japan, New Zea land, India, etc... She is also so generous with her praises to me and I feel shy about them as I know I do not meet such high standards as she describes. 

 Me and Saori in NUM APEC

It is my greatest honor to have known a friend like her and I know one day I will visit her in Japan. As of now this special friendship will be kept in my heart. Thanks for everything Saori, I will always remember you.