bunny tales

Ok… correction. I AM home for Christmas… [but then again, I have many homes all around the world... it is difficult to say as to where exactly I am...loving families or people who hold a special place in my heart often make everywhere/anywhere a possible "home."] So, allow me to clarify myself, I am at my birthplace, home alone with Su-Anne (my baby sis). Haha… [wild parties?]Well, all is good. It is great seeing people I miss. I will be catching up with you guys A.S.A.P.

I flew into Singapore early Friday morning and got myself really burnt on Sentosa Island beach before heading back to the Peninsular arriving early Sunday morning. I was wiped out then and caught up with my rest all Sunday… but I am good now. You will see one crazy, whacky, holiday bunny painting the town red. Christmas is just round the corner thus another good reason to go SHOPPPING!!!

I am missing the festive season in Japan too. During the year end, we have something called "bo-nen-kai" (litterally "forgetting the year party") It is more like a time of celebration and reflection, a "job well done" party in reflection of what the year has brought us. It is a time of food and drinks and enjoying the end of the year with tonnes of "fun"… so, since I am not in Japan, I will have to do whatever I can over here…hehe. People, whip out your dancing/clubbing shoes and come on over to pick me up… LET’S GO!!! I am all geared up/wired up for my share of holiday fun!

Keep in touch, ok? You can get me on my cell {the same number as in Summer}! I am waiting!!!

There she goes, terrorizing malls and departmental stores… and the latest target Harajuku! Due to the stresses of wrapping up the semester last week, and giving herself an excuse to cheer herself up from the exams… oh yeah, then, there is the all time favorite that Christmas is just round the corner, that with Christmas parties and all, she will need new stuff.

The obsessive impulsive shopper got herself a really fabulous Christmas dress last Wednesday and on Sunday on her raid to harajuku for a knitted top got herself a harvest in a pair of shoes before making off to Shibuya to attend Tokyo Baptist Church’s Christmas Event. Hmm, the list of her expenditure has been lengthened at high speed, pushing the limits on her budget and living expenditure. Let’s see….

Festive and occasion gifts for friends and family
A georgeous coat
a pair of boots
a few tops
needed warm clothing/underwear
food for self
ingredients for Christmas baking
THE Christmas dress and shoes

(hmm… what else?)

Well, it was a stressful semester, but since now it is over… time to pamper myself… with more shopping!!! catch you guys later… need to get some stuff done before the weekend. (winks)

School is out… and I am free! … NOT! Well, technically I still have one major paper left for Mr. Poulshock on my independant studies on Linguistics. However, I have to say that I amaze myself being able to finish the 2 book reports and a short research paper in 2 days. (pat on the back for you, bunny!)

Anyways…

December 9th was the last day of exams. After all was done, we had a Christmas service in our Chapel where I helped out in Yanagisawa-sensei’s bi-lingual chapel. I was really nervous. Usually, I would be translating in the itty -bitty audio room behind the stage, but since it was a bi-lingual chapel, I was standing on stage, next to sensei, translating for her. My hands sweat so much that it drenched the mic. I had to rest the mic on my left hand, fearing that it would slip out of my right!

It was ok… Miyoko was the m.c. and we had the oportunity to do chapel together, something we have always hope to before we graduate. After that, we had the annual Christmas party on campus at the Dining Hall. Funny to see how the zombie-like students (due to exams and finishing up papers) change into party animals within an hour! It was a "loud" party this year. We had a really funny version of the Christmas story done by the students as well as song presentations by our school’s "black gospel," and an interesting performance of the hard rock version of a Christmas carol.

Later that evening, we went carolling to the faculty member’s home. This year I went to Ito-sensei’s place and had a great time stuffing myself with delicious food. Motoko said that I have lost some weight during the exams period (which i don’t think so). Some did mentioned to me this week that the color of my face was pretty bad (kimori-sensei and others). Motoko said that it looked like there is a lack of blood circulation to my face… (saddistic laugh). So, a good reason to stuff myself, I guess…

We had a great evening. The Christmas mood is settling in soon. I went to do some Christmas shopping and started making some crafts. Hmm, even though school is out, I have to finish that paper of mine and have a final session with Mr. Poulshock on Wednesday before everything is really over for me.

Till then, Happy Holidays!

I AM SO BORED!!! (Bashing my head against the screen of the computer.) Well, technically, I am just sick of wrapping up my course work(s). Man! There is quite a load of papers, book reviews and all. Over and above that, I have to sit for 2 papers in the next 2 days. Sigh! Will this ever end??

Tomorrow will be Wednesday. Hmm, seems like my Wednesdays in this semester has been sucking life out of me. Though classes officially ended last week, my schedule for tomorrow is just as packed. I have to be up to do my dishwashing duty after breakfast, meet Mr. Poulshock for my independent study on Linguistics (which reminds me that I have to do the reading for it and start on the course work too), and sit for the paper on Japanese History. As if my morning is not already packed enough for the whole day, I will be translating for chapel and sit through a brain frying Systematic Theology make-up class in the evening to listen to 3 presentations. I am still at lost whether to join the English Prayer Meeting that will be having a pre-Christmas party or to head on over to Kobayashi-sensei’s place for the regular Japanese Prayer Meeting that I attend. It would also be the last time we meet this year.

Sigh! It is not that I am complaining, but sometimes I wish there is a little bit a variety to my life as a student. I know… the semester is ending really soon and it has always been like such. GAMBATTTE!!! I guess I just have to hang in there and do my best. Rewards come after this period of suffering… and I know mine will come next week! (Woohoo!)

Ok… back to work for me.
[Hmm.... it is too cold outside to get back to my room to get some notes and making my way back here to use the Mac computers... what shall I do?]

[come on, Suemae... don't be lazy! I know you will have a tendency to crawl under the covers and doze off... or sit on the electrical "hot" carpet in front of the TV and procrastinate your work... hut! hut! get some papers done!]

HAHAHA….. seems like I am crazy, right? … Seriously, I need professional help!

Time flies without you noticing. I am in my fourth year here and seeing people come and go simply pinches my heart, leaving it sore for a while. Who could have imagined that for me to study here in Japan I have made a network of friends from all over the world and when it is time for us to part, it is like they are taking away a piece of me.

I was brave. I didn’t cry. Well, maybe the blow was so sudden that the notion of Mervin leaving Japan for good didn’t really have a hold on me. We were supposed to meet on his birthday to catch up and celebrate… the plans were pretty wierd that weekend and we couldn’t meet. The next piece of news I heard about him was that he will be leaving. As it is the end of the semester, I really didn’t have the time to check that piece of news out till I texted him on my cell. There, he asked me to meet him at Narita. I teased him a little, saying that I have classes on Friday and couldn’t make it.

Friday morning came. Yanagisawa-sensei drove Rajiv and I out to Tokyo New-International Airport (Narita) and we arrived around 8am. We waited for Mervin to come with the Yamamine Family. There, I had the opportunity to catch up with them (Yamamine papa & mama) and met people (the Tokoi-family) Mervin had mentioned all the time.

We exchanged hugs, caught up a little and talked about our future. It was a pleasant see-off at the airport. Haha… it wouldn’t be long before I set foot at Narita again. Yanagisawa-sensei has been really into driving to Narita and back (practising her driving). She has been nothing but a darling since we first knew her. Not only she teaches us Japanese and helps us settle in with our studies. She has always been taking pictures and of recently uploading them online for all to see. She often give us meals at her home or bring snacks for us during intensive course(s). Once in a while she takes us on a sight-seeing/cultural study trip. The latest fad was that she got her driving license during Summer and now she is driving the ACTS-es students everywhere!

I can’t believe that Mervin is gone. Seems like he has always been here, will always be here… Well, India is not too far away. After all, we are family! Haha… we will meet again! I will miss you babes; missing all those crazy time we have had together. Be good and take care, ok?

*Do check out Yanagisawa-sensei’s site for pictures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miwakoy/