My Secret Place

Have you ever had a secret place? A place you go by yourself and only you knows about this place? Well, I have.

When I went to Japan and stayed a year for an exchange program, I stayed in a dormitory especially built for the international students in the university. That dormitory is located on the top of a hill, so one has to climb a very steep hill in order to get there. Being a person used to plains and fields, the everyday climb was really a workout. The first few days gave me ‘running out of breaths’ before reaching the dorm, especially when I had to buy groceries or any materials I need. Those first few days made me feel lonely not because I miss my family or my home. I felt lonely because the dormitory was so gloomy. Even though there are people living inside the dorm, it was so quiet. Outside too was really quiet that it felt like I am living in a ghost town. The only noises I would hear are sounds coming out from the vending machines, stop signals and ambulances. That time, I thought I would never like the place. Not until one day, it was my turn to bring all the garbages from the common kitchen outside the dormitory. After putting all the garbage bags to the place where all the garbages are collected, I tried using a different route going back to my dorm. However, I found myself having difficulty going back to the dorm. In other words, I got lost. Well, not for a long time. I realized later on that I was actually at the back of my dormitory. Anyway, while searching on my way, I found myself at the edge of a cliff. I was in awe, not because I was on the edge of the cliff already but because I did not expect that I will find such place. Right before me, the spectacular scene of twilight. The colors of the sun kissing the sea and waving goodbye to the mountains and hills surrounding it (The place I lived in Japan is a hilly and mountainous place near the sea, with a very clean air). I could see the indigo and blue colors mixing together. I could feel the faint red and orange colors touching my face like I was painted with the colors of the sunset. There were camellia flowers and they looked like they were bowing down like how the Japanese do it, thanking the sunset for giving them a different shade of color at that particular time. It was really breath taking. I could not even describe it into words, how beautiful it was.

Since that day, it has been my secret place. I always go there whenever I am stressed or whenever I feel lonely. And everyday I would see a different scenery. I do not know if the other students have discovered it. I have not seen other people whenever I go there. Even so, it would always be my secret place. It is such a shame I did not have any photo of it. The only photo I got there was the plum blossom in its full bloom.

Even though now that I am back in my home country, I would still love to go there again. If I have the time to visit Japan again, I would definitely visit that place.