Jan 2, 2007

This 2nd of January 2007, I am sitting in my living room, writing an entry, with music playing, in my little house enshrouded in a fog atop a mountain in Suzurandai in Kobe, with my white lamp to my right and the orange electric heater to my left...

I am happy to be back home after a 5-day visitation in Tokyo. It was nice to meet up with Keiko after a 5-year hiatus and we spent the day chatting and catching up... 5 years ago this day, I was still in NUS, and I had just returned from a month-long exchange programme in Tokyo. 5 years ago, life was about Eusoff Hall, heartaches, friends, dreams and ambitions... and studying, of course.

Last 2 nights, as I was in my host-stay family's house, I was quite overwhelmed by many emotions... especially last night, and I gave thanks to God for my entire life... for all that's taken place in my life in 2006 and for all the loved ones and friends in my life. Maybe it's the new year atmosphere and I guess it's inevitable to reflect and to have new dreams and hopes for the new year.

New year in Japan is huge. This is the most festive time of the year and everyone gears up to usher in the new year. It's just like Chinese New Year in Singapore and households do a massive clean up and decorate their houses. They buy lots of of new year goodies, prepare traditional food, go visiting, etc. A whole host of variety shows is lined up and the countdown begins... 2007 has arrived.

Well, when I was on the night bus to Tokyo 5 nights ago, looking out of the bus window, I could see the housing, lights dotting the entire land. I was on the highway then and as I looked out, I couldnn't help but compare the sizes of Singapore and Japan. I was at Mount Faber once, and well, from where I was, I could see the end of our tiny island in a few directions. As for Japan, it really isn't the case. Though Japan is not the biggest country, to me, it is certainly vast. I could see the land and the mountains in the distance. In the bus, sometimes, I could see into the peoples' houses, though only for that short moment. I always like to imagine the lives and the stories of different people... :)

Anyway, going to the shrines on New Year is a must for the Japanese and they go there to seek peace and pray for the New Year. They pay a token amount and get to pick a fortune lot (おみくじ). That piece of paper foretells their fortune for the new year. I was at the shrine with Otousan and Okaasan yesterday and it was really crowded. There was a bazaar as well and after offering their prayers, families will enjoy themselves at the bazaar.

At the shrine, Otousan and Okaasan were quite surprised when I told them that I would just observe but not take part in all the prayers or fortune lot-picking. I explained to them that to me, Jesus is my protector and with Him in my life, I have the peace and joy. Seriously, the best thing that has happened to me in my life is knowing Jesus. :) Sometimes, I am overwhelmed by emotions too when I think about His goodness in my life and how He never fails.

Ok... this quiet evening, I am going to read a book. This book is called "Novel without a name" and it is written by Duong Thu Huong, a Vietnamese author. :)

Happy New Year.