Good morning!

I am feeling so refreshed this morning. :) These last few days, because we are having our final year examinations, there is nothing very much to do besides marking, marking and more marking. Teachers here take this chance to clear their 年休 (nenkyuu=yearly leave) because they said that otherwise, they won't be able to use it! Teachers here are granted 40 days of nenkyuu, but unlike Singapore, during the official spring, summer, autumn and winter vacations, they must still report to work and clock their attendance unless they take nenkyuu.

For me, I have only 20 days of nenkyuu, and they are precious. So far, I think I have used 5 days and so I have 15 days for the rest of my contract! There are many places that I still want to visit while here, so I must plan carefully. Also, I must allocate some days to friends who may still visit me! ahha.

Anyway, last night I was on the phone with Wanli and it was so nice to hear her voice though she sounded real sick. Friends are so important in one's life, and I am grateful to know that there are people around me whom I can turn to when I am in need, whether in Singapore or in Japan. Ok... we were basically just rambling and we talked about 'running'.

Running
I love to run. Since signing up for gym, I have been hitting the treadmill consistently. I remember that the first time I went to a professional gym in Singapore... that was California Fitness, about 8 years ago, I was kinda overwhelmed by the equipment, the trainers, the atmosphere...everything. And shy too. Then, I really wanted to explore the area or join the studio classes, but really, I was just a little intimidated by all the super fit-looking people, and everyone looked so pro in their workout outfits! So what did I do? I was just a greenhorn, haha, and so decided to do the only thing I really knew. (Everyone knows how to run, right?) I went straight to the treadmill and ran and ran and ran. Ahha.

Running makes me happy. While running, I realise that I go through different mental stages. The beginning - stepping on the mill and getting started - seems easy, till maybe about 10 minutes later. I reckon that's because it's the start and you are fresh and ready to keep going. Some 8 to 10 minutes later, I will feel a little tired... and then in my mind... (It's always in the mind that things happen), I will wonder how long I have run, and then I will take a quick peep at the time counter... and man... only 8 minutes?!

Haha.. but that's how it is. At this point, I know I will just have to press on. Just keep my legs moving and most importantly, focus on the right thoughts... Definitely not thoughts of tiredness, or of negativity, because such thoughts really bring you down down down. At this point, I will start to pray and medidate. I thank God for the day, the good things that have happened, His faithfulness in my life, for my friends... i can just go on and on. Also, I will think about problems that I must overcome, think of solutions... Verses will come into my mind... and I will feel encouraged. Or I will rehearse in my mind a certain plan that I have. Sometimes, I also sing to myself! There are many different things that will go through my mind. Ultimately... the key is that as long as you don't give up and have the right mindset and attitude, you will come to a point where it suddenly becomes so much easier to run!

And then the rest is history... I will be able to run on and with each step I take, the better I feel. I also carry my MP3 player with me. Sometimes I don't listen to it at all when I run, but it's there because I know there may be moments where I will be very tired mentally and I will reach out for my shiny gadget and listen to songs or messages that will perk me up. Focusing on the right things will definitely keep you going.

I believe that's also why some gyms have treadmills with a TV attached to it. They keep your mind off your tiredness, helping and aiding you to complete your run. I am sure all of us know how a favourite TV sitcom is always too short! The one hour just whizzes past, and yet the same hour spent running or swimming can be so dreadfully long. So thank God the treadmills in my gym here all have TVs attached to them. :)

At the last 10 minutes of every run, I will exert myself a little more. Though tired at that point and stopping is actually fine, I will tell myself to press on. C'mon c'mon... just 10 more minutes. Keep on going. Press through. That last part of the run, I will increase my pace. It's most intense, but most rewarding too. I know my stamina will definitely increase, and at the same time, I am looking forward to a certain breakthrough, knowing that I could actually accomplish the things that I have set my heart and mind to do. Just 9 more minutes, 6 more to go... 5, 4... 1! Hahaha... Am I a strange person?

爽快感ね。(soukaikan = feeling refreshed!) Anpo sensei taught me this word. It is indeed so true. Exercise is so important, and I always feel much much much better after a workout. My mind becomes less cluttered and I have more energy! So strange yah, you use energy to exercise, and at the end, have more energy!

And 'bu zhi bu jue' again, I have written a looooooooooong entry. I have lots more to write, but it will prolly be too much to stomach in one super-long entry, so I will put up some pretty picts for you to see. :)















I have a penchant for cute and girly stuff. Saw this and couldn't resist it... Also not too X and decided to buy it. :-D















The interior
And you could see my Japan ID. It's known as the 'Certificate of Alien Registeration'. It was so funny to me when I first arrived. I am an ALIEN?!















The Happy Takarada Family!















Laughing Cow Belcube Cheese
Since arriving, my list of favourite foods has continued to expand. Amongst it, the latest addition is munchable cheese. The packaging is also colourful and attractive, so pretty! And the cheese so ooiiishiiii! :-D


Special lunch for a special occasion
This lunch box costs 1000￥($13.50) and was served during the school's graduation ceremony.



Samples of the students' dream home


A painting by one student


ちゃんぽんらめん (Chanpon ramen)
This is really nice. Chanpon means mixed, so you can throw in anything and everything. The soup base is also very tasty. :)


Junior High School (JHS) students on their way to school
In Japan, Elementary school students wear their own clothes to school, but JHS and Senior High Sch (SHS) students have uniforms. The difference between JHS and SHS students lies in the bags they carry. JHS students carry the same type of bag!


A view of the neighbourhood from my school



Ooooooo... so pretty... :-D