Welcome and Farewell Party We had a welcome and farewell party at my house last Saturday. The party was for our two coworkers, one person is newly assigned from Japan last month, and another person will go back to Japan this month after his 3 and half assignment in the U.S.. That was a potluck party and 18 people came. We offered the place but we had to borrow a table and chairs from members. I was worried about how the party would go because I had never invited such a large number of people in my house, but every food was delicious and we enjoyed conversations. In overall I think we spent a very good time. The coworker who will go back to Japan said, his life was changed in both work and his personal life during his assignment. In the beginning, he could barely speak English and spent a hard time at work, but when his boss was told the internal announcement of his assignment, his boss tried to keep him here. Also during his assignment, he got married and a baby was born between them. He and I used to had lunch together. After lunch, we went out to walk and talked a lot of variety of things. I wish his and his familie’s happiness in Japan. 先週土曜日に会社の同僚と先月赴任した新任者と今月帰任する方のための歓送迎会をしました。パーティーは持ち寄り形式とし会場は我が家だったのですが、総勢18名という大人数で、テーブルやイスなど色々なものが足りず、足りないものは参加メンバーから借りなければなりませんでした。これまでこんなに多くの人を招いたことがなかったのでどうなることかと心配でしたが、食事もどれも美味しくとても楽しい会になりました。帰任される方は3年半アメリカに赴任されていましたが、初めは英語も全く話せずとても苦労したそうですが、最後はこちらの上司から帰任しないで欲しいと言ってもらたそうです。また赴任の間に結婚、第一子のご誕生と私生活でも大きな変化があり、公私ともに人生が変わった3年半だったとおっしゃっていました。彼とはいつもお昼ご飯を一緒に食べ、食後に散歩をしながらいろいろな話をしたことが思い出されます。これからも彼と彼のご家族が日本で幸せに暮らすことを願っています。