Some random updates

There are no lessons for us today cos it's the last day of the first term, n we have the closing ceremony for the 1st sem. The kids must clean the classroom, get their results, have homeroom meetings, council meetings, etc. In fact, this week, I had no lessons on Tues (preparation for sports day), Thursday (Sports Day) and today! n next monday is a holiday (break for the last day of first semester) and tuesday, no lessons too (opening ceremony for 2nd semester!)

Ok.. have been wanting to blog a bit, n here goes. This is a random post cos u will get to see random bits n pieces of my life here. :D

This is me, on a tracking route up dunno-which-mountain in Kakogawa. This place has lotsa tracking areas, n if you love to walk n hike, it is really nice!


This is dear Beth. She is the wife of Nozo, the American missionary here in Japan. She's been wonderful n God-sent! Well, she's really good in her Japanese language. ぺらぺらしゃべる！


Daiei, my favourite shopping "mall" at the moment. Haha, basically everyone laughs when I say that. Well, this place has all I need, for simple everyday shopping. 5 levels in all, supermarket, groceries, stationery, clothes, shoes, bags, plants, electrical appliances... I always go there after work just to walk walk. keke.
You also see the train station. That's Suzurandai station, n it is on the Kobe Dentetsu line, which is well-known for being super super expensive! I heard that I am on the 2nd most expensive train line. MAN! n yes, it is very very expensive. Going to Sannomiya, the heart of Kobe, costs me 490￥, which is about $6.60, just for a one-way ticket. It is very X lei, considering that there are only a few stops in between. SIGH. Anyway, I try to walk from the school back to the station, and this takes me about 40 minutes. Alternatively, I can take the train for one stop to get to Kita-Suzurandai where my school is located. That's about $2.20 per trip!


This picture was taken on a day where I felt very very happy! I like the place where I stay now. Initially, I was a little homesick because I wasn't used to the mountain, n the forest! Felt really alienated in the beginning. No tall HDB flats, no hustle and bustle of life... Now I love it. It is quiet and nice, n at night, I would go out onto the balcony to just look at the sea and the forest, taking in the vastness. I can see the busy airport, the flicker of lights in the distance at night. Very beautiful. :)



Putting into practice what Pastor Kong preached

I remember how some time back, when he preached about finances, I was inspired and determined to keep a record of my spendings, n failed. Couldn't keep it going. This time, after the marriage seminar where he once again preached about managing your finances, I want to start keeping track of my expenses again! So, I went to buy a cute Cash Book to help myself! Here in Japan, there are lots and lots of different cash books / accounting books / housekeeping books to choose from. I spent a loooooooong time looking at the various books and chose this. My book is very kawaii rite! :D N yay... I have been doing it faithfully since 1st September! It is really true..

A habit needs time and effort to cultivate before it becomes a habit!

And finally.. well, I have been hearing this over and over and over again. "You do not know what you cannot do until you try"

Dr Bernard said this in his 2002 Excellence Conference. Well, this morning, as I was on my way to school, it really dawned on me that yup, I do not know what I cannot do, or what I can do, until I try. And many times, I don't dare to try for fear of failure, or because it requires too much of me. Well, here's how what was preached became so applicable in my life.

In Singapore, whenever I had a problem, especially if it is a technical one, I would turn to Steve. I always feel that I am not very adept at doing certain things, n really, turning to someone else for help straightaway is the easiest thing to do. So here, many times, I have been tempted to ask for help for the simplest things, though I know I could possibly be able to manage it if I try.

I bought a DIY closet to save money and when I took it home to construct it, at first, I really felt very helpless. So many different parts which looked identical, so many screws and hooks... HOW TO PUT THEM TOGETHER? And really, for about twenty minutes, I tried but to no avail. N then, I was frustrated but DETERMINED to make it work, and after looking at the instructions carefully again, I did it... n it was not as difficult as I thought it would be. NOT DIFFICULT AT ALL! N right at the end, I felt so proud of myself. I was so delighted at my small triumph such that I am now even contemplating buying another DIY table, n DIY my apartment. :) It is really fun, and as I think of the DIY-journey, I really feel happy. It is like you have emerged because you tried to do something, n discovered that it ain't so hard after all.

Here are 2 picts of my DIY closet - The Beginning and The End.

So tonight, I am going to DIY my way to Tokyo. Seriously, I would never have done anything like that in Singapore, pondering over maps, figuring out which bus to take, which route to go, thinking thoughts of what would happen if I take the wrong train, walk the wrong way... etc. Here, I have to, because I need to. It is good for me. It makes me feel more confident, though many times, when I was going through it, I felt unsure and wondered if I was on the right track, and I have lost my way and got on the wrong train here. Yet, it's never fatal. Ahha.. I just need to rethink and replan my next course of action and get to my destination.

The EL department

The department had a welcome party for Tom and I last Friday. It was solid!

Well, although I have only been here for a short one month, there are many things that I can see in the EL department that are so valuable in the work place.
1) People here work very hard.
2) People work together. Bonds are very strong, and the team is cohesive.
3) The atmosphere is good and friendships are built and cultivated. There is a certain camaraderie.
4) We talk and discuss lessons together.
5) There is communication.

The workplace is such an integral part of our lives, intertwined, inseparable and we spend so much of our time in the workplace. The workplace can bring you up or tear you down. Most of the time, it's the words that people say that either encourage or discourage you. No wonder the Bible says that the power of life and death lies in the tongue.

A good boss and leader brings out your best. There is no fear of failure and you know you are allowed to make mistakes, learn from it and move on. There is a certain energy and motivation when people work together for a common goal. So far, I have worked with Mr Fujiike (HOD), Ms Miyaura, Mr Hasegawa and Mr Koike. Really really enjoyable, n I have learnt lots from them too.

Well, the welcome party was a very successful one. We had Yakiniku at this very famous place in Shinkaichi. It's like one of our Katong laksa stalls, or Geylang Dou Jiang. When you enter the place, you see lots of pictures of celebrities and their signatures. And the food is really awesome. First time I had such great beef, n it's almost almost almost as nice as salmon belly. (Maybe u would think it's much nicer.. but i have such a penchant for salmon belly... oooo...) The teachers were really generous. If I am not wrong, we had the famous Tajima beef. Very very very tender and juicy and succulent. You put the whole piece into ur mouth, bite into it, feel its texture, and mmmmmmm, fatty and heavenly, and you savour the taste, and swallow it. How can I describe it to u?

And this is a picture of us, all happy and satisfied after the meal. :D


  

My lovely neighbours

I just came back from Chisato's house, bathed and now feel warm and fuzzy. Outside, the wind is blowing. There is a typhoon in Japan now, typhoon no. 13, but here in Kobe, we are not quite affected though my window's been rattling quite a bit. Thank God that the weather is still quite fine here.

Well, this post is dedicated to Takarada Sensei's family. His family has been a great blessing to me, every single one of them. Tonight, I had Bi Bim Bah, a Korean dish. Chisato is really a very very good cook. めっちゃおいしかった!!! And last Saturday, she cooked for me too. I was so touched! It's really the simple things that make my day. Sometimes, she would bring the kids up to my place just to give me some rice cakes, or a simple meal. Their generosity and kindness warm my heart so much. :D

My dinner on Saturday. :D

It's not only the food. Many a time, when I return home, I will have their three lovely children running up to me, shouting my name. They will shout "Orenji, Orenji" and run up to me. Haha, and I would hug them and talk to them for a while. In all ernesty, Mayu-chan always tries to tell me about her day, or she would hold my hands and ask me why I feel so cold. They are so innocent and lovable. Today, Mayu-chan told me about the Hiroshima Memorial. Wow... can u believe that she told me about the war?

Little Momo is very cute too. I dun understand what she says most of the time, but she loves my ear rings! She always touches them. Haha, she's quite fascinated by them, oh yes, and by the necklace I am wearing too. :) Maybe next time, she will become a jewellery designer!

N Broccoli-chan. He is Kosei, and well, he's the split image of Takarada sensei. They look really really alike! N he loves broccoli. The first time I had dinner with them, he ate so much broccoli! N he eats them with mayonnaise!! Today, I played with him too, and carried him, n wrestled with him. I think he had lotsa fun.. I did too. :)

Momo, Kosei and Mayu

Mayu-chan made a card for me. :)

Thank you very much dear neighbours.

A horsy discovery

When we go buy our lunches at 7-11, Tom and I have to walk quite a distance downhill, and there is always this picture of a horse, hmm, a cartoon-like picture, staring at us, on our uphill walk back.

So, one day, we decided to explore the area a bit. We went through some hidden tracks, and ahha.. we discovered a stable! To me, it was a huge huge surprise. Tom wasn't so surprised.. cos he said there were horses in England, ahhhha, but to me, I was fascinated.

Some time back, I dreamt that I was on the ECP, on a horse, catching some armed robbers. I was really riding it, feeling the wind in my hair, galloping to nab those robbers. Haha, that was a strange dream... Well, if you ask me for my 3 favourite animals, I would tell u that they are "Dog, Horse and Bear". Well, when I really came face to face with one that day, it was a little scary though. They looked so huge! Enormous, especially their mouths. N the care-taker was feeding them, and so I took in all these and asked myself if I would dare to pet them or stroke them. Haha, in the end, I din have the guts to do that. The horses really have huge mouths!

Scared yet wanted to go nearer

Aiyoh, quite the best I could manage. Look at its mouth! It is actually very big!

And Brave Tom. He looks so at home with the horse!

Today

It's really late now and I am supposed to be asleep, but am not. There was a cockroach in my fridge...

Sigh, when I opened the fridge and saw the dreadful and gross creature, I just couldn't say or think logically. I dun understand why I have such an immense fear of cockroaches. Even as I type the word, I feel totally grossed out. And it was in the fridge. How on earth did it get in? Unless it was already in some plastic bags... but then i dun think so, cos there was nothing much in the fridge. It was really very difficult for me to even look at it and I stood there thinking about how I should get rid of it. I really felt useless.

I called Holly for help. A good friend she is indeed. It was really late but yet she came up straightaway and helped me get rid of it. I felt so terrible.

It was the first time I saw the c in my house. I really thought I would be able to handle it if I ever see one, but I couldn't. There was just an indescribable intense emotion, n those who know me will know of my hate relationship with this creature, dating back to the time when I was 7 years old.

Sigh.. I pray there will be no more of these in my house.



Anyway, apart from this episode, my day was fantastic. I had 3 tremendous lessons today and really enjoyed myself. I love it when kids are motivated and desire to learn. The attitude is so important and everything begins with a desire. Some of these students are just so so so so shy.. yet when given the encouragement, they start to try to speak. :D

And that's not all why my day was great. Today, I went to the gym!

It's been 5 long weeks since I last ran. Wow... I felt so happy. Was on the treadmill for 40 minutes and I was so happy. Abel and I decided to go to the gym, n this place is very very affordable! 200 yen only! That's like less than $3.00! N the equipment was good, the trainers very helpful and friendly. I stretched and ran. Din really do much on the various pieces of equipment, but I tried this very interesting massage-like machine. It's very good! You use the machine strap on a certain targeted area and it will massage it... not with kneads, but with a very fast and strong pounding, vibrating. Hmmm, actually I call it a massage, haha, but I think, it's more supposed to relax ur tense muscles and help you do a warm-down.

After that, we went for sushi! It's like our genki sushi, except that it's nicer! Wow... I had lotsa salmon sushi and chawanmushi... finished it with a chocolate cake, washed down with green tea. Very very very ooisshiiii.

I am going to rest my tired body now. Tmr is Friday again. I love Fridays! :D

Thankful

I came back with Holly after shopping for groceries and it was dark and raining... n we were both soaked, cos we had only one umbrella. It was also cold and I was hungry too. Ermm... not exactly a very nice feeling...

However, when I reached my apartment block and saw the lights on on the 2nd n 4th floor landings, I really felt so thankful. Most of you may not know this.. but when I first arrived, I had no lights at all on the 2nd n 4th floors, n it was dark and creepy. It was strange why this was so, cos all other units in my block had lights on at their landings, except for my particular staircase. I stay on the 5th floor, so when I go home, and when it's dark, it's kinda unsafe and eerie.

And I tried to get the problem solved, n spoke to many many many many people. The problem remained for a month.. n yesterday, I had such a HUGE surprise, cos when I reached home, I saw the lights on. Someone must have helped me. I know it's amazing cos Jennifer, my predecessor couldn't get it to work when she was here, which means the problem must have existed for a looooooooooooonng time. I really thank God for the lights. Haha.. Let there be light! N also to the someone who has helped me with it. I really dunno who you are, but I really appreciate the kindness.

N...... Get ready for this.

So I climbed up 5 levels, n reached my house wet and uncomfortable... n
I SAW A PAPER BAG HANGING ON MY DOOR KNOB.


I was so so so surprised. Took the paper bag into the house, n tada.. there was dinner inside. My gosh.. for a moment, I stood there, stunned. I just thanked God in my heart, knowing that He is indeed a good and faithful God.

The dinner was made by my kind neighbour, Chisato. She is Takarada Sensei's wife, and the family is really kind to me. They have helped me so much, getting my fly screens fixed up for me and inviting me to their house for dinner... Totally touched by what I saw in the paper bag, I decided to make kaya toast for them a second time. Their kids love Kaya toast!

I had kaya from Ya Kun, a surprise gift from Steve.. n it was so good. Thanks dear, for this surprise!

Anyway, yup, i made it and brought it over... n it was such joy to see Mayu, Momo and Kosei eating them! :)

I came back n enjoyed the wonderful dinner too. Really delicious. Simple fare, but sooooo nice. I love the vegetables. Got lotsa tau gei! I like!!! Tasty and healthy. Chisato san is an awesome cook. Even the coffee she makes tastes different. Maybe it's cos there is love and warmth in it. :)

Thank God for His goodness and my kind neighbours.

5.10 pm

The sky is dark and looks threatening. It is raining here and this change is interesting and exciting for me. Last night was a cold night. Snuggled n tucked in comfortably, I slept well though I felt a little cold.

I am surrounded by so many people in the staff room. I can leave, but decided to stay back for a little while more to just blog an entry. Everyone is involved in some kinda work and chatter, talking about their classes, about their work... It just feels kinda surreal.

Mr Anpo, my colleague who sits beside me, is marking test papers. One of the students actually drew a Doraemon on the test paper. Haha, he showed me the cartoon and well... haha, students
are really students, whether in Japan or Singapore.

Mr Anpo is really a very nice and friendly teacher. He seeks to constantly improve himself and he is learning English. He reads the Time magazine and often tells me about the articles he has read. He asks me when he doesn't understand and I am just very encouraged by his desire to keep on learning and acquiring knowledge. Oh yes, and he is super helpful as well. He has helped me and Tom many times. He's sent me home, helped me look for tables, carried them home for me, bring me to the station in the rain... His mere presence beside me in the staff room, n his daily genki greetings do brighten my day. Thank you Anpo Sensei!

Anpo Sensei and me :D

















And Knowledge is Power.

These days, I have started catching more news. I am teaching 2 Current Affairs English Classes, so it is actually good for me too. I have to keep abreast on what's happening and I go on CNN and BBC and read about what's happening around the world. Indeed, so many things happen everyday and as I read and reflect, I find myself getting more interested in these things. There is this article that I read titled 'Why we do what we do' and it talks about a senior correspondent, Bobby, who has covered Baghdad for the past 3 1/2 years. It was a very good article and got me thinking.

Why I do what I do.
Why do you do what you do?

And in the last paragraph, it was mentioned that Bobby likes to dine with his beloved wife who is 7000km away in Singapore. Wow... I was so touched as I read on. There was a picture of him eating in front of the webcam on his laptop, with his wife looking on.

Brrrrrrr and school

This morning, it was very cold. For the second time, there was no need for the fan throughout the night. I felt a little excited yet apprehensive at the same time. This is cos I have never been in a country where I can experience the 4 seasons!

Tom said that at 20 degrees in Britain, people walk around in shorts! And that to them, that's the kinda weather they deem comfortable enough to be in just t-shirts n shorts. I told him I'd probably feel very cold at 20 degrees, n would need a thick sweater!

I just wanna give thanks for the beautiful family that stays very close to me. Once again, I had dinner with them last night. Kare Soba (Curry Soba). It was really good. The kids were lovely and Mayu-Chan, the eldest girl who is 6 this year, made me a card. Haha. So sweet! The 3 kids can't really speak or understand English, so I hope to be able to help them! Well, they call me Olen / Oren. :D


学校について
In school here, each period is 50 minutes, and there is a 10-minute break after every 50 minutes for the students and teachers to rest and go to the washroom, take a break, etc. School begins at 8.30am here, n at 8.30 am, there will be a short staff meeting where announcements are met out. It's kinda good I think. They have lessons all the way till 3.15 pm, with a 45-minute lunch break. Students bring their bento sets (lunch boxes). Their CCAs begin after that and gosh, some CCAs have activities every single day, even on the weekends.

Oh yes, there's something very special about this Senior High School. Unlike the standard Senior High School in Japan, my school offers a variety of courses. There are even Indonesian and Chinese classes. I was invited into a Chinese Language class yesterday and to my surprise, I saw 2 おばあちゃん　(obaachan - grandmothers) attending the lesson too. They will come to school just for the Chinese lessons. Yup, my school offers a variety of courses but to be eligible for them, you have to take a test and go through an interview.

Tom and I were very surprised by the number of students in sports CCAs. Here, sports is HUGE! Most students seem to be involved in some kind of sports. Baseball is BIG BIG BIG. There's also softball, volleyball, beach volleyball, basketball, kendo, judo, track n field, soccer, rugby, tennis, table-tennis, cheerleadin, swimming.... A LOT! Considering that the school population is only about 750 students, it is really really amazing.

And I have observed a few trainings with different sports. They are disciplined. VERY VERY disciplined. There is no coach or teacher around when they do their warm-ups, which can last 2 hours before the actual training begins. I really salute these kids. My school is apparently very good in the various sports!