Rain n Dinner

This morning is a very cool and breezy one. The sky looks dark and it has just begun to rain. It's really so nice, especially after a month of stifling heat. The rain smells so sweet too; it's just like a time of refreshing. All activities ceased for a moment. The students stopped their training and ran for shelter. I too stopped for a moment and looked out at the fields.

Today, one of the teachers of my school will be giving me a party! Yay yay! N he has 3 adorable and lovely children. I am gonna enjoy myself.

Last night, Holly and I went to this very wondeful place to have our dinner. It's antiquated, n has been standing there for 30 years. It's really like what you have seen on TV programmes before. The brown, rusty Japanese inn, and when you go in, you see an old man and his wife serving dinner... there are tatami mats and low tables for people who want to drink sake and eat dinner, n those big clay jars / pots where they put vinegar, or sauce, or wine.

I had a very very nice dinner, with sanma fish and salmon. And lotsa other side dishes. Absolutely yummy. N there is this pumpkin stew too. Excellent!

He asked about our cultures and families. N he got mixed up and thought I was from Hong Kong and Holly from Singapore. When we went in and sat down, after a while, we realised that there was actually English music! It's really thoughtful of them. :)

Mi getting ready for my dinner! See that big beam on my face? I love fish! And with that raw salmon staring at me from the display, I couldn't help myself and I ordered an extra salmon dish. :-D

I thank God for Holly. Even though we have only known each other for about 3 weeks, the friendship has really blossomed. She's thoughtful, sensitive and caring. Reminds me very much of Xiaowei. :)

Sometimes, Blogger drives me nuts. It's so difficult to put in pictures or delete them. It just doesn't work!

My first completed Self-Introduction Essay in Japanese

It was not easy man. I have forgotten so many so many things! I spent like 2 hours trying to write this out so that I can speak to the entire school population on Wednesday. Already as I am thinking about it, I am feeling the jitters. It's a speech I have to make in Japanese in front of the whole school and I really hope I won't fumble!

I finally finished my speech 5 minutes ago, and got 2 Japanese Language senseis to help me check through it. :) Haha, I really feel like a student now. Really. Dr Bernard said that we will all have to go through stages and levels, n there will be an entire stage of learning before you go on to the next level. How true that is!

And I am enjoying myself learning. I will try to remember my mistakes and learn from them! And really.. as I write out this entry, I just think of 5D n the English lessons I had with them the past 2 1/2 years. Let's all work hard together people!

Yup, n I pray I will be able to articulate everything well, that I won't be tongue-tied!

And I end my speech like this. Guess what it means? One of my favourite quotes! :D

優勝者は　いつも負けない人じゃなくて、ほんとの優秀な人は　ずっとあきらめない人です。
Champions are not people who never lose but people who never quit!

Joy

I woke up this morning feeling exceptionally happy and refreshed. There is simply no way I can explain how I felt, and at this present moment, I am still feeling very happy. I know it is the joy of the Lord.

It is a certain strength in me. A certain inexplicable joy. I sang to myself and got about getting ready. I looked at my room and felt that it was nice, roomy and breezy. I looked out of the balcony and saw the wonderful landscape. Haha... I really felt happy lar.

I sent smses to some people and navigated my way down to the station. Last night, my neighbour, Abel, who is half-Australian and half-Japanese taught me how to do it the fastest way, n this morning, I walked that route!

I reached school half an hour early, and sat down for a cup of rich and creamy sugarless soya bean drink. Slurp. So nice!


This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Third week here in Japan

Well, I just registered for internet services and yup, I may be able to get my own access next week. :)

This morning, as I walked to school, i brought some breakfast for Tom and myself. The bread was very nice, like Breadtalk! Haha, n i finished everything, then realised i forgot to take some pictures of them.

Anyway, here are some pictures for everyone.

A picture of Holly and I having dessert last night at Sannomiya (三宮), the bustling city of Kobe. It's roughly the distance from Tampines to City Hall. There are lotsa restuarants there, n shopping too. I've been good at this point in time. I haven't shopped much or bought shoes or bags!















Some other picts of 三宮




























Oh yes, and as Holly and I walked along the streets of Sannomiya, we saw this provision stall that looks out of place! Japan is indeed an eclectic mix of the old and new. Holly said that it reminded her of Hong Kong.. n well, I think it looks like those provision stalls you would find in a wet market in Singapore.


My School
Well, when I stepped into Kobe Kouhoku Senior High School (神戸甲北高甲等学校), I didn't really feel very foreign. Haha, I think schools all over the world smell and feel the same? Maybe it's because of my 3.5 years in Bedok North. The students look the same, the teachers work the same, and the school atmosphere feels the same. :) As I walked around the school and took some pictures, I thought of the classes I've taught in BNSS. I miss my form class 5D. How is everyone there? Are all of you coping well?


The Staff Room

Me at my desk. And oh yes, the stunning pink 3G keitai (which means handphone) belongs to me. :) Tom has an even cooler one. Tom can watch TV on his handphone for free!

And this is Tom. :) He is a really unassuming and nice guy. He is from England and man, he is good with maps and roads. He taught me how to navigate through the hilly and seemingly impossible routes!

My School Principal, Mr Ijiri

He is a nice man. And looks like Yanjiang's dad. He's also a keen learner and would ask Tom and I into his room to talk about our cultures and the different education systems.

The school compound

Well, there is a swimming pool in the school and also a huge soccer and baseball field. Oh yes, and my school is also on the mountain, just like my house. I went to take a look at the kids who were having their basketball training and they were really shy. :) Saw the girls in training too. They were fast and tough. I might be able to join them for their trainings and help out, so that'll be good!

And the 7-11 is where Tom and I get our lunches. It's about a 15-minute walk downhill and they sell lots of packed lunches. I've had quite a variety of Japanese food and they are quite salty and tasty!

That's all for this post. Study hard people! n 5D and 4I, persevere!　

In Kobe

Dear friends, I am in Kobe right now, sitting in front of my desk in school. It's been rather difficult to get online ever since I got to Kobe, so finally...

Today is Friday, which means it's almost a week since I got here. I've been busy this whole week, especially after I arrived here in Kobe. It's been quite an eventful week, but that's good. I am kept busy by all the administrative work and it's only late at night that I would be back at my apartment.

I know many of you want to look at pictures... heez, but it'll have to be some time later! I have yet to get my own internet access.. n it'll take some time for me to get connected. That's really really difficult for me. Thank God this morning when we arrived at school, we were told that we could get online.

Well, this post is getting all over the place, but here are just some general updates.

トマス　（Tom - Thomas Pontefract）
I am working with Tom, who is from England. He's sitting beside me now, on the internet too! We were like 2 ravenous wolves.. online all the way... tap-tapping all the way, from morn till now. It's very nice to have one more person here with me.. cos it's hard to always make an effort to conscientiously listen and speak in Japanese. At least with him, I could speak English!

Well, we have to do up a website that talks about the cultural, education, etc of our home countries. That will be fun! I think I will go back knowing so much more about Singapore!

天気 (Tenki - Weather)
The weather is really really really blistering here. HOT HOT HOT! And what's more amazing is that the students play sports out here in the afternoon! They are used to it I guess. Tom and I looked at each other when we heard that n thought that they were crazy?!

日本語 (Nihongo - Japanese Language)
In Japan here, people seldom speak English. Most people have mastered the set phrases, but none could hold a conversation really well. This means it's actually a good challenge for me. It keeps me on my toes! I have to constantly practice. I really pray that God will help me and bring to my remembrance all the different words and sentence structures. I guess I also have to study very hard if I want to improve!

アパート (Aparto - Apartment)
My apartment is quite roomy. It's really very warm in it! I have to climb up 5 levels to reach my apartment and on the very first day I arrived, Watanabe Sensei and Kacho Sensei (The Principal) went with me to my house.... n guess wat.... They had to carry my 2 terribly terribly HUGE pieces of luggage up the stairs for me. I really really felt very glad that they were there, else I would be stuck! Keez, also, can u imagine the Principal carrying my luggage for me? :-}

感想 (Kansou - Emotions)
Haha, anyway, I'm getting on fine here. Leaving the airport and all my loved ones was very very very difficult. I shan't even dwell on it here cos I may just cry here in this staff room! Reading blogs also make me very emotional. :) I read Xiaowei's and Stefan's entries.. n kinda teared a little. It's amazing how powerful words can be. Also, some emails were very touching. As I read them, I can't help but thank God for the people in my life. My family members, my cell group, friends, students (especially those who have become very dear to me), and Steve... I couldn't have done it without my cell group members... I really couldn't. They made it possible for me... their prayers and their love for me. I will miss all of you very very much.. (Heez, I am getting EMO again...)

I thoroughly appreciate those who came to see me off.. n those who wanted to come but couldn't. I've replied plenty of emails, and I shall keep this blog updated as best as I can so that I could talk to everyone at the same time. :) I also just wanna say to all BNSS students, esp 5D and 4I, to work hard. GANBATTE KUDASAI!!!!!

In Japan

Right now, I am in Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku typing this. :)
Touched down Sunday noon, n since then, have been attending lotsa meetings and conferences. Met many different nationalities here. About 1000 of us here at this orientation.

Dear friends who came to send me off at the airport, I just wanna say a huge thank you. Hmmm, I read Stefan's blog. Thanks bro, for being my friend. :)

I'll be going to Kobe tmr morning on the shinkansen. That's the bullet train. And I heard that there's gonna be a typhoon tmr! Well, anyway, my thoughts are running all over, n I'm typing them just as they come to me.

I'll have lots to do when I reach Kobe. Meeting the Board of Education there, retrieving my luggage, moving into the new apartment, settling in, getting internet access, getting my keitai (handphone) line. I will be internet-less for at least a few weeks I heard. Let's hope i'll get it real soon! Oh yes, I'll also be staying at Hyogo's Education Centre.. which is pretty much like our MOE. :) There's a dormitory n hostel there.

Ok, that's about all for now.
Really wanna write more, but very tired.