bunny tales

I think I have lost something… I am totally lost at my actions…

Lethargy is in my limbs and I am aching all over. Oh, the summer heat! It is too much to stay up during the day and I have slipped into "summer hibernation" or turned into a nocturnal mammal. Such weird hours and lifestyle is having its toll on my body… I hope I will be ok. Hmm, maybe it is just "Natsu-Bate"? I have no idea. The red streak across my back from the sun burn I had from the beach is driving me nuts already.

Maybe I just need a nap right now and then work on my stuff in an hour or so… procrastination… Woe is this bunny!

I am so tired. I need sleep. Don’t ask me what I have been doing because I know the remark will be "Serves you right for having too much fun and lack of sleep."

We went to the beach again today–the Tuzis, Yanagisawa-sensei, Hawaji-imam, Ekpangi and I. This time we had Mark with us instead of Seth. The beach wasn’t as great as the one we went the other time. The waves were so-so. Hung out a lot playing sand on the beach though. Or maybe I was still tired since Sunday, when I felt a little under the weather.

Yesterday was a great day though. I had a Vietnamese lunch– that reminded me a lot about the food back home– with Okasan. We sat and had lunch for more than 2 hours just chatting and catching up. And, as usual, I get gifts! Yay! New music from Anne Sally and a dictionary to help me with my Japanese. I also have some snacks from Nagano which I am eating now to hopefully, take away the pain in my eyes, shoulders, head, and limbs. After lunch we hung out at the mall for a while before I had to make my way to Shibuya.

My business at Shibuya turned from a business meeting with a stranger, to a dinner, and ended befriending a really nice lady. I hung out with a 71 year old at the busiest Starbucks at Tokyo, chatting as peers. Haha… I just made it for the last few trains that goes back to my place coming back from THIS date!

Well, that was how things were since my date with Miyo. Need sleep… but I need to do some grocery shopping and go to the bank even though it is closed. And I have tonnes of laundry to be done. Aww… would someone do it for me, please?

P.s. As always there are pictures of the trip (both the one before and today’s) to the beach by our faithful photographer, Yanagisawa-sensei at http://www.flickr.com/photos/miwakoy/sets/72157594223698379/

Enjoy!

It is amazing how we are placed in time and space. I would have never imagined being in Japan and meeting people who became a treasure in my life.

Miyoko. I had no idea who she was when I entered TCU, and hardly know her at all for my first two semesters. As April 2003 came, I was arranged to be her room mate. I thought it would be difficult to cope with a total stranger at first, but soon found out that she–in many ways–was like me. We were roomies in the year of 2003 and then, once again in 2005. It was a great blessing. Fancy having someone who is so like you and we are just 364 days in age apart!

We shared the best memories of TCU together. We had Aimee and other friends over in our room all the time. We were there for each other, the ups and downs, Miyo provided the interior decorations to the room and I provided the fancy snacks I received from my English classes. Miyo has qualities for a great girl friend, wife and mother. She makes the best chiffon cake ever! We often help each other with our language classes. I can’t believe that through my toughest times, I was able to share with her through my cries and sobs in Japanese. Her bed and having her by my side when I cried myself silly over a breakup will never be forgotten. We were there for one another trough boyfriend problems, break ups, family hardships, etc.

What we have was a true bond of sisterhood. We even have a good set of matching accessories: rings, ear-rings, anklets, bracelets…

I spent the entire evening with her today. Meeting her at Nishi Funabashi station, Miyo took me out for a superb dinner at this cafe opposite her work place. We shared our food and enjoyed the evening over a nice full bodied red. We then went to Funabashi and went crazy with the "purikura" machines. Haha, a little tipsy and we didn’t have enough time to compose ourselves or to doodle on the picture in hiding unwanted exposures! (Laughs!) Great times. We then went
for another session of going through the nostalgic times spent together and the sharing of our dreams over snacks and drinks. I am so going to miss the great times we had together… (Sniff!)

To you Miyo. May you have happiness and all your dreams come through. To our friendship and our sisterhood!

One of my favorite Sean Connery movies is "The Untouchables." His famous line of "SO, what are you going to do?" strikes hard on me as he shoots the question to Kevin Costner. Good movie. However, this thought often comes into my head, paired with the question "So what?" when people forward stuff to me in emails. Articles about "useful" information, tragic events, chain letters of all sorts… seriously, do any of you out there do think about the content of such emails? And if you are one of those who are involved in forwarding such mails to almost everyone in your mailing list: Are you doing so because of your genuine concern for the matter? Or whether you are just "doing your part" in giving out information? Though not always pointed out, information is a form of power that can more often than not, be misused. In this world where people hardly give time to contemplate the outcome of the misuse or misinterpretation of information, it may lead to a lot of social problems. Thus the questions of "So what" and "What are you going to do about it?" should be contemplated.

Two mails were stuck in my mind for the past week, one was about a petition to stop once criminals from being pardoned for their past crimes, and trying to prohibit them in getting an education, etc. Another one which I would like to post here is one that is really serious. I have no idea what the original sender was trying to do, but I see that it might do more harm than bring about the right action. Allow me to practice my freedom of speech and share this with you.

The article goes like this. The subject heading of the email reads
"Malaysian?? Read this….What a shame with this!!!"

List of racial discriminations in  here  practiced by government as
wellas government agencies. This list is an open secret. Best verified by
government itself because it got the statistics.

This list is a common knowledge to a lot of Malaysians, especially
those non-malays (Chinese, Ibans, Kadazans, Orang Asli, Indians, etc) who
were being racially discriminated.

Figures in this list are estimates only and please take it as a guide
only. Government of Malaysia   has the most correct figures. Is government of
Malaysia   too ashamed to publish their racist acts by publishing racial
statistics?

This list cover a period of about 48 years since independence (1957).

List of racial discriminations

(1) Out of all the 5 major banks, only one bank is multi-racial, the
rest are controlled by Malays

(7) 5% of all new intake for government police, nurses, army, is
non-malays.

(16) 2 Chinese taxi drivers were barred from driving in Johor Larkin
bus station. There are about 30 taxi drivers and 3 are Chinese in October
2004. Spoiling taxi club properties was the reason given

(55) 12% is what ASB/ASN got per annum while banks fixed deposit is
only about 3.5% per
annum

———————————————(This is a "cut and paste" from the original message)

My comments: Ok, so you have found out enough information to show that there is unfairness and injustice, but, so what?  What do you aim in releasing such information? Personally, if you want to change the situation, you should have mention what you wish to achieve to the readers. Are you trying to let enough people know so that the right action will be brought about? Or are you trying to stir racial disharmony? I noticed that the email was forwarded to and by those mainlly of one race. If you are trying to let the public know, why not mail it to a Malay, Malaysian Muslim, a Bumiputera? I shall not be mean to point out other things as well, however, just a little note, if you really wanted to make an impact, please, at least, check your grammar and English!

I will leave this piece of information here, for those who really wants to know Malaysia as a citizen or as an outside observer. However, I wish my readers to seriously do their own study of the material with a research on why such policies were made, its effects, and what was really done by those who knew of such information and had experience relating to them, etc. I know that this is an unfair world to many. However, I am a firm believer of justice. Although judgment may not lie in our hands, but what we can do as responsible human beings is to strive for wisdom and righteousness that we may continue to search for the ultimate truth and find means to right the wrongs.

"So, what ARE you going to do?"

Have you ever wonder what it feels like to be sitting in an oven? Nothing being able to run away or avoid the crazy heat and humidity over here has driven many over their patience level. People need to cool down a little, and I know I definitely am one of them. IT IS SO BLOODY HOT!!! I have been awaken by the heat in the mornings, sweating like a pig. In the evenings, the temperature hardly changes. Sometimes it still remains as hot as day that I find difficulty in sleeping. Ahh… summer. Though I am from a warm country with year-long tropical climate, but this IS unbearable. At least at home, it is nice and cool, and sometimes a little nippy in the early mornings. The "mamak" culture is a big hit solely because we can’t be as crazy as the French and Italians to sit outside enjoying drinks during the day, but we ca do that in the cool of the night!

So, I guess it is by keeping one occupied as much as possible. This might help in trying to forget about it heat. However, there wasn’t much happening over here since I last blogged. Yeah, there was movie night at the Tuzi home. We watched DVDs with the kids, enjoying "Veggie tales," and "Angel Wars." We had a great home-cooked American Italian dinner of spaghetti, meatballs, salad, and for dessert, Tiramisu! I was singing my meatball song while I was dishing out my share of pasta and meatballs… "On top of spaghetti all covered with cheese; I lost my poor meatball, when somebody sneezed! … …"

I got to teach at Ginza for E.V. on Saturday. Yeah, some income. Anyways, the great part about teaching is that I was able to talk to some really interesting people like super businessmen and even an instructor of microbiology who asked my opinion about the Yasukuni Shrine problem! However, the best part of my Saturday was that going to the school in Ginza, I found a shop that sold tonnes of bunny stuff , generally in the traditional Japanese taste. PERFECT! I got myself some chopsticks according to the seasons. I wanted to get some chopstick rests too, but the were a little costly. After my day at the school was over, I just took a nice stroll (despite the heat) to the station, walking through the famous sights of Ginza.

However, I think it is best to describe the last few days that it was really hot. It gave me a splitting headache this morning as I traveled to church and in lasted the entire day! Man! That was a pain. I came back and tried to sleep it off as I was out of aspirins. When will the heat go away?

I remember during my first summer back home, MeiQi mentioned that I got more "physical"–willing to hug  and hold someone’s hand more–than she remembered me to be. Yes, I guess Japan has changed me a lot in this area. Being away from home, in the land where people don’t really express themselves much, it is really difficult to get a hug from anyone when you needed one most. Thus I have learned to give in my experiences of such need.

A hug always makes things better. You feel welcomed, accepted, loved.

It is not necessarily a culture thingy from the more open cultures of the West, but there is something to the human touch as observed by psychologists. Hey, I would not refuse a hug, and if I do, I deserved to be slapped. (You have the permission to do so.) It is the simple thing that I can do for you, for anyone… with an open and loving heart.

So, as how I greet my loved ones here and how much I know my high school boys love it when we exchange the peace of Christ in church during Sundays,  I wish to greet you with a hug when we meet.

Hugs to you.         d—(*^_^*)—b

A breath of fresh air will do me some good. I went out for some groceries at Jusco this evening after spending the whole day indoors working on emails and applications online. Yup, I sure needed the fresh air!

After preparing myself, I put on my contact lenses and cycled to the station area of Chiba New Town. There was a slight but dense drizzle of rain brought by Typhoon #10 but I arrived safely though a little damp. I my plans to have a productive day, I went over to the book store at the mall and read a book that I mentioned I would to Okasan a week ago. "Kira-Kira" was the title of the book and it was a good read. The story about sisterhood from the standpoint of the middle child brought tears to my eyes and I was even weeping at certain pages. I hope I didn’t cause a scene.(These days movies and books have been drawing tears out of my emotional well which is "de-stressing!") I enjoyed the whole book in my close to two-and-a half hours, in addition to reading another book about Japanese baths, screened through all the books in the English section and even browsed through a GRE prep book!

After my time of soul nourishing, time to shop for my physical nutrition. I hate to worry those who care for me with my lack of sense in taking care of myself. I marched to Jusco’s supermarket and got myself a good buy. I made and enjoyed dinner for myself listening to my Edith Piaf CD. It was SO relaxing! Just wished that I could have shared the dinner experience with someone or two. Rice was on the menu, with boiled "Mizuna" seasoned with oyster sauce, stir fried mushrooms with egg Asian style, and "Kaki-fry" (breaded oysters… ok, these were on a 20% sale and I was dying to have my share of kaki-fry for the year). It was washed down with plum juice (yup, I am capable of relaxing myself apart from the company of alchohol) and I had a pot of nice steaming hot tea with leftover black-sesame scones from this morning that Masako made. They were simply delicious! Good food, good ambiance with the lighting and music… being alone relaxing was good, but to be able to share it with someone, even better!

However, I think I am still a baby at this contact lenses business. Seriously I need optical care attention. I guess it is a bad idea wearing expired lenses. Better go dig up my new pairs in the storage or really figure out how to keep my hands clean when I put the lenses on. Yup, I do look bunny-ish with the red eyes I have right now. It will take a few days for it to go away. Sigh!

Apart from that, President Koizumi visits Yasukuni-Shrine again. Oh, what a follow up that would be.

Anniversaries mark the days where we normally celebrate the occasion of an anniversary–the annual recurrence of a date marking a notable event. This broadly refers to a date that follows such an event by a specified period of time measured in units other than years. (So, people, it is not entirely about a happy, joyous event that happens only once a year. It may be used and referred to some event of a different time or occasion.)   

As I celebrate the anniversaries of recent dates, I reflect on what blessings they are indeed that I was able to meet and be acquainted with people who the occasion calls me to remember. There are people who show me what is the most important thing in life, the practice of true love, friendship, etc. Every moment spent in deep conversation and thought, the times spent together enjoying movies, food, etc. But of course, above all these, was the times we were able to spend sharing our true selves, laughing and crying. Everyone who God places in my path have been there for a purpose. This purpose, I truly believe, is for me to know the love from above and how to practice it here on earth.

A friend and I were in deep discussion the other day about the meaning of "love" and how its practice should reflect our humanity. Are they rights and wrongs in love?  Is love just limited to a word or an emotion? Indeed difficult  to explain, but I know through my faith that love is one that casts out all fear and it is never selfish. It is through the acquaintance of the various people placed in my life that I experience what true love is, and to see how far I am from it in its true practice, but strive towards it for the betterment of humanity.

Thus, I spend today in reflection and prayer to the one who I love, care, and truly cherish. Be it close in distance or apart, what remains important is how much we have each other in our heart. This is my feeling of sincerity and honest concern. I love you, and I always will.

———————————————–    (*^_^*) V
"Thank you God for the wonderful people you have placed in my life. I pray, O Lord, that you continue to bless them, especially Masako on her birthday. I thank you for her existence. I also thank you for the brief meeting with Akemi-san yesterday. It was truly encouraging to spend sometime catching up with her."

Greetings. Allow me to extend my warmest greetings to all out there.

"Otosan, Okaeri nasai! Otsukare sama deshita!"
" Congratulations on your wedding day, Mon!!! I wish you all the best in your new life, and above all, I wish you happiness!" 
and "A happy weekend to ALL!"

———————————-(*^-^*) God Bless You!

Nothing much happened over the past few days. I went out for ice-cream and a little shopping with Mark on Thursday evening to kill the boredom we are suffering from. Received some mails in the post informing me of my rejection from yet another company, and a hefty phone bill as my student concession rate is no longer valid… the only thing uplifting was that I received a package from my RBC subscription.

I was over at Yanagisawa-sensei’s place for a movie night last night. Since we have all watched "The Last Samurai" umpteen times, we went out and chose another movie instead. We rented  "My Fair Lady" as Mark wanted to watch that. It was a good choice even though I had watched it before. Nothing beats a good classic. However, this time I paid more attention to things that I never noticed before like the message that it was trying to get through.

The use of language. It reminds me so much about the discussions I had with Dr. Poulshock during my independent studies in Linguistics. A lot of it was overlapped in my discussions with Dr. Tuzi and Dr. Gustafson about how people relate to you when you speak. Does the proper use of a language shows that one is refined and educated? Why do people put so much emphasis on that when they themselves do not seek to improve the use of their language? And isn’t it a shame if they can not master their first language or supposedly, "mother tongue"? What then amounts to the notion of a "native speaker" and the level of proficiency that is to be considered?  Being refined and educated sometimes have nothing to do with one’s choice of words, pronunciation, or accent, but what really matters is their actions and character, right?

So, please stop the hypocrisy about relating a person to their speech! I have to deal with the flexibility of the use of my language, but I wish people to know that what matters most is how I treat one and all. I strive to be sincere and will not hold a person to the language he or she uses. I do not claim myself to be an expert in any language, but I learn and try to be efficient in communication.

(Laughs!) But I am seriously peeling. The skin of my back and limbs are really coming off as I used a body scrub during my pleasure time in the bath earlier. Eew, my "mutilated" body. I wonder whether the crypt keeper is willing to have me on his show as a stand in for the horror roles? (Laughs)

———————————————————-d (^-^*)
Ok, that is not the main point of my blog today. It is 3:45am now and no wonder I am typing nonsense… (maybe) I am here to blog because I just found out a few hours ago that there are people who seriously read my blogs and they do it on a daily basis. So, in response to my love for such persons, I wish to blog as soon and as much as possible so that there will be something for them to read when they log on at any time of the day.

I was out spending quality time with Okasan today. Yup! 9 hours of it and I totally enjoyed myself. We went to watch "Tales of EarthSea," the latest release from Studio Ghibli. Not too bad, I must say. We were all mesmerized by the theme song. (Maybe because it is being advertised so much everywhere). Then, we did a little window shopping and had a nice coffee break at Doutour on the 3rd floor of the mall. (That explains why I am still awake! Hahaha… (^_^;)  ) After pouring our hearts out, catching up and talking about almost everything, we continued our conversations over dinner at "Gyukaku" a Japanese Yaki-niku (BBQ) restaurant. It was really a great time we had: Good fun, quality time.

Ever since a little girl, I have always admired friends who can openly talk and enjoy the relationship they have with their parents. On the phone, they chat as if they are best of pals and sometimes a little too mushy like young lovers. I have always wanted such a relationship with my mother, just like in "Gilmore Girls." I thank God I am given the opportunity to share and experience such closeness with an adult, a mother, especially in my times spent with Okasan. It is truly and inspiration and encouragement that one day, I hope to be able to sit down and enjoy a decent conversation with mom.

Yes, people… it is time to mature and learn how to see our parents as regular human beings. Know them as a friend and simply learn how to enjoy their presence and existence. You will soon find out that despite all that you dread and fear, they are pretty cool once you get to know them!