<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/a/ac/Taro03.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Taro Ikeda (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=257738.msg12730054#msg12730054)<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Cafeteria<br/><strong>Time:</strong>Flashback - a few days before school starts, breakfast time<br/><strong>With:</strong>Shizuma + Open<br/><hr/>When they returned to the table, the tray Taro set down next to his book held a cup of tea, a small bowl of steamed rice with salted seaweed mixed in, a bowl of miso soup, and a plate with a fried egg and a slice of toast. "I hope you will enjoy your meal," he said to Shizuma, a friendly smile on his lips.<br/><br/>"Now, me and Swahili... First of all, I am not more than an Advanced Beginner, at best. I learned that some years ago, and I just sometimes pick up a textbook to keep my memory fresh. I doubt I'll ever need it much, but I don't want to forget what I learned."<br/><br/>He continued his tale in small bits and pieces, punctuated by pauses to consume his miso soup.<br/><br/>"My parents always had this plan that, one day, we'd all go on an extended trip, half a year, maybe a year, to see the world. Originally the plan was to do it after I finished highschool, but...<br/><br/>"Well, they had their reasons to do it a bit earlier, when I was in 8th grade. I wasn't really happy then, but, in a way, it was my own fault.<br/><br/>"So, we traveled, stayed in a place for a few weeks or a few months. India, South America, Africa. We stayed in Kenya the longest. Mom and Dad volunteered at a refugee camp...<br/><br/>"run by the Red Cross. We sometimes did stuff like that. Actually we did things like that a lot. It wasn't all beach holidays or safaris. Hardly ever. But there was always someone who could need a few extra hands and offered room and board in return.<br/><br/>"So that's how and where I learned Swahili. I also picked up a little Hindi, and a little Spanish, but more on the tourist level."<br/><br/>Taro finished his soup and that part of his tale. A soft, nostalgic smile graced his lips and his eyes seemed to be elsewhere, someplace far a way for a moment. It had not all been a positive experience, but in hindsight he would not have wanted to miss it.