Yet another great weekend (Updated version with more pics!)

I feel a little tired these days... I know the reason. I have been excited for some time and excitement, especially a prolonged one, can cause tiredness... Yesterday on the bus back from Kobe, I was slumped in my seat, closed my eyes and rested. Tired but my mind was wide awake... my brain was working hard... my thoughts were in a flurry... it's that kind of feeling. These days I wake up dreaming and I sleep dreaming too... very strange and yet I am not really that tired.. it’s just the constant stream of dreams and thoughts. I haven’t felt like this in a very very long time. It’s very difficult to explain this. :)

Anyway, again I had a tremendous weekend. I love my weekends and cherish them very much. Yesterday during service, Pastor preached a very good message. I think Pastor Umetani is a very family-oriented man. He always talks about the importance of families and I cannot agree more. Anyway, yesterday's message was about one's goals and aims in life and how we can reach our goals by overcoming obstacles in the Lord.
























This is Oshare Chi-chan! (Oshare = Fashionable) Chi is one smart girl! She goes to the top school in Kakogawa and yeah, not only is she academically-inclined, she's very teachable and hungry! She's always eager to help and takes her roles seriously and one day, she wants to become a wedding planner. Ganbatte Chi!

























And this is Kawaii Naho-chan! Naho is really a very cute and funny girl. She loves to imitate all the actors and actresses and she's so natural at that! She always teaches me all the very strange Japanese phrases and slangs. She's beri funny and never fails to bring laughter to the people around her!

Haha... notice their similar shades?? Those shades belong to me!!!! :D

ね　今日本語の勉強のために　昨日のメセージと自分の感想を簡単に粗筋べく！頑張って！

あなたはの生活の目的と目標は何でしょうか。勝る人はゴールをはっきり知っている人です。何をするにも目的と目標が大切。どんなに熱心でも　目的が分からないなら　無駄に空を打つボシングをしているようなものです。

その上に自分の目標を達するために　いっぱい困難が起こる状態を分かることが大切です。その知恵を持って　困難が当たり前と思って　神様と一緒に恐れず歩むことができます。なぜかと言うと　私たちは何か働きたい時　特にお大きい事をしている時　難しい状態が何回何回絶対起こる！問題の起こらない仕事、困難のない働きはありません。これを知っていると　心の準備ができる。

ゴールを達した最後　精一杯頑張らなければならない。この実は誰でも分かる。途中に誰でも疲れる時が起こる。妨害があったらどうすれば良いでしょうか。どんな妨害がありますか？

昨日牧師は妨害について教えた。妨害は三いろいろなあるけど　三つは嘲り、陰謀と噂です。妨害が起こる時　私たちを持っている態度はどんな態度ですか？すぐできないと思う？すぐ諦める？できない人はどうしてそうと思っている？できない人は自分を見て　自然な情況を見て　恐れてきたからです。

妨害を成し遂げるために何か大切ですか？ネヘミヤ4書を基にして　困難と問題を解決する第一歩は神様の前に行って祈ることです。そうすれば神様の知恵、力と平和を受け取れる。神様が私たちの願うと困難が分かるから　私たちを愛される天のお父さんから　解決の方法と指示を絶対教えくれます。

二番目は見張りを置くことです。妨害が起こることを備えらないといけないです。そうすると　困難があってもするべきことを知っています。

最後に目的を示すことです。何回何回繰り返して目的と目標を完成のために　頭に想像に描きましょう。口に言いましょう。

Lastly, recently I have been having a lot of fun trying to create interesting pictures or backgrounds with effects.




















And this is one of my favourite picts, taken at the airport before I left for Japan last year.

Friday afternoons

I am always exhausted after the last 2 periods of the last day of school... Today is no exception. Last 2 periods, 2 hours in all... it requires much energy to focus and to give it my all. Yet everytime after the lesson, I will feel happy and satisfied knowing that I have finished my work week well.

Friday afternoon classes are especially challenging cos students are usually lethargic, sleepy or restless. The challenges with teaching the Japanese the English language are numerous... And one of the greatest I face is to be able to lift up the atmosphere of the class... It's imperative for a good EL lesson here!

And this requires a lot a lot a lot of energy...

TGIF though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

日本語の勉強のために

今熱心していることがいっぱいけど　その中の一つは日本語の勉強です。日本語は本当に難しいです。私にとって一番難しいのは文法と会話です。新しい単語も覚えにくい！何回繰り返して読んで覚えるでも　すぐ忘れてしまった！今まで　もうほぼ九ヶ月間ぐらい日本に住んでいる。。そしてこの間の日本語の勉強の進むは　本当に上達になろうか分からないです。

時々私も本当に勉強したくないです。本当にいややな感じがする。逆にたまに非常に夢中している。この過程は第三言語を勉強する時の迷うとこですか？今年下旬に　日本語能力試験を受験したいから　精一杯がんばらなければならない。けれども本当に時々疲れる時も起こる。。。

だから私はいつも勉強を進むように新しい良い方法を試みる。例えば日本語でブーログを書く。シンガポールの友達は読めないけど　残念けど　ブーログを書く時　いい練習と思う。ほかの方法は簡単な学校に配分資料を読んでいる。その後　知らない単語を辞書とかインタネットから探す。





















今日ね一つの資料を読んだ。じゃアアア　その資料について　単語をもっともっと効果的に覚えるように　簡単に要約する。

この資料は最近の日本のニュースです。最近は日本に麻疹(はしか)という感染病気が起こります。麻疹は感染力が強いで　防ぐために以下のポイントを注意しましょう！

１）症状は何ですか？
三十八度の熱、咳、鼻水が見られます。その後、発疹期に再び高熱となり、赤い小さな発疹が耳の後ろから顔面に初めて出て　次第に手足などに広がります。

２）麻疹にかからないように　どうすればいいんですか？
感染を予防するために　政府は外出時にマスクを着用し　帰宅時に手を洗って口をうがいことするようにとお勧めします。
また　一番効果的な方法は　麻疹のワクチンを接種することが最大の方法です。すでに麻疹にかかったことがある人は　免疫が持って　再びかかることはありませんので　罹患者は心配することはないでしょう。

３）麻疹にかかってしまったら？
その人は自分のために　周りの人のために　早めに治療を受け取って受診しましょう。また麻疹患者は　無理をして　学校や職場などどこか行くこととは避けましょう。ゆっくり休んで、治しましょう。

終わり。。。難しいいい。。。数回で辞書を探して。。。

書く途中　私も昼ごはんを食べた。今日の食事はパンと胡麻ラテで、もうすぐりんごを食べようと思う。
　



















きれいいいイイイ！！！

Quiet Time
Yesterday after school, I had originally intended to go for a good workout at the gym but as I was walking towards the destination, I felt very very very much that I wanted to take a walk with the Lord.

And I did just that. Walked, listened to PnW, prayed and simply enjoyed God's presence. At one point, I was so touched that it was almost unimaginable... nearly cried, cos I was reminded once and again of how He never fails.

Pst Kong's series on 'The Sermon on the Mount' have blessed me so much. I know that as I enter the next phase of my life, there will be much more that God has in store for me, and I want to hear His voice and seek His face. I want the fresh manna. I want to be poor in spirit, to be meek, to be broken...

Exam Time
And well, this week is the exam week in school and during exam time, teachers here leave rather early. I think there are less than 10 teachers in the staffroom right now... I just made myself a banana fruit milkshake and heez, I have to say it is really tasty, and so awfully easy to make.

Shake Time
Got this brilliant idea from a TV variety show. You need only a small, transparent plastic bag and whatever mushy fruits you can gather. So I decided to try this concoction today.

Ingredients:
1) Banana
2) Tomato
2) Milk
4) Fruit Juice
5) Green Tea
6) Ice cubes

Hahhaha, if it sounds yucky, let me assure you it is quite the opposite. It is marvellous!

First, peel the banana and put it into the plastic bag. Add in the washed tomato and get ready to squash them both together! And it's actually quite fun to squeeze them in the plastic bag. wahahha. Then, after they are mashed and a little gross-looking, slit a small hole at one end of the plastic bag and squeeze the content out into a glass.

Add low-fat milk, soya milk or whatever milk you like and fill up your glass with it. I also added some supermarket fruit juice to the mixture. Stir it using a spoon and tada! That's a delicious, frothy and fruity shake you have! For me today, the mixture was a little too thick, so after taking a few sips, i decided to pour in some green tea. It really tastes very nice!

And on a hot, humid, summery day, add in some ice cubes and enjoy your very nutritious banana fruity milkshake!

























Himeji Time
And last Saturday, I visited the Himeji Matsuri (Matsuri = Festival) with Yuen Yee. Yuen is a Singaporean Australian Chinese. Wahahah. Born in Singapore, raised in Australia and Chinese by race. It's been some months since we last met and so, cos spring weather is cool and comfy for walks, I decided to meet her up at Himeji.

Himeji is famous for its castle. Himeji Castle is possibly Japan's most famous castle and it is also registered in 1993 on UNESCO's World Heritage list. What causes it to stand out is that it has kept its original form for nearly 400 years, never damaged by fire and warfare, even during the 2nd World War. This is pretty impressive considering that many castles in Japan have been destroyed by fire as they are made of wood. Himeji Castle is a wooden structure too and its towers, stone ramparts and earthern walls are extremely well-preserved.

Anyway, I really wanted to go into the castle, but could only admire its grandeur from afar that day because of the Matsuri! Still, it's ok... I have complimentary tickets from one Japanese ambassador, so I can always go back anytime. And Matsuris are always lotsa fun! There are many ya-tais (think pasar malam stalls) selling all sorts of food and snacks, drinks, trinklets, etc... And it's so nice to just soak in the festive spring atmosphere. :)


Himeji Castle in the background





Matsuri Picts


Yuen Yee and I at Mount Shosha

Shosha Time
After the Himeji Matsuri, we went to Mount Shosha. This place is the filming location for 'The Last Samurai' in which Tom Cruise was the leading man. Anyway, I have never watched the show before and maybe now I will! Visited a number of temples and shrines, did a bit of hiking and of course along the way, we talked and talked and yeah, it's really a nice way to spend a Saturday - quality time with a good friend!


The contrast between the various shades of green
























A coffee-cum-souvenir shop snuggled in the woods



Autumn has arrived?!

As I finish tap-tapping away on my keyboard, the staffroom gets quieter and quieter... bu zhi bu jue, it's time to go home le... ahha. Tomorrow is the last day of the examination, then it's back to some real classroom action again! Ganbarou!

マナ

マナは旧約聖書出エジプト記第16章に登場する食物。イスラエルの民がシンの荒野で飢えた時、神がモーセの祈りに応じて天から降らせたという。この時人々は「これは何だろう」と口にし、このことから「これは何だろう」を意味するヘブライ語のマナと呼ばれるようになる。
(このマナの説明は　きれい日本語でしょう。ウィキペディアから調べた。）

神様は超自然的に　天からイスラエルの民のために　マナという食べ物を下さいました。４０年間毎日毎日新鮮なマナを与えて続いていました。マナは　神秘的な力の源とされる概念であります。私も毎日毎日このマナを神様から受け取りたい。

下の聖書の文を見てください。

聞く耳のある人は、聖霊様の諸教会へのお告げを、よく聞きなさい。勝利を得る人は、天から下さる秘密のマナを食べることができます。また、めいめいに白い石が与えられます。その石には、本人以外は誰も知らない、新しい名前が刻まれているのです。
ヨハネの黙示録２：１７

マナは天から下さる秘密という！本当にイムペットされる考え。この文を読むとマナを欲しい人はもちろん さっき神様の声を聞かないといけません。よく聞きなさい！秘密だから　捜さないと見つかられない。私たちは聖書を読むけど　もしこの新鮮なマナを受け取れないと　神様との関係も進まない。だから私たちの神様は本当の生きている神様です。私たちを助けてくださるためにマナを与える神様です。私たちは毎日デボーションをする時　神様に聞いて　神様から聞かなければなりません。

ひもじい思いをさせたのも、謙そんを学ばせるためでした。なぜなら、そのあとで、マナという見たこともない食べ物を下さり、人はただパンだけで生きるのではなく、神様の命令を守ることによって真に生きるのだということを教えてくださったからです。
申命記８：３




















私はもっともっとマナが欲しい。

Hanshin Tigers

先週の金曜日　藤池先生と安保先生とトームと私は　四人と一緒　阪神野球ゲーム見に行った。相手はもっともっと強い横浜ベースターズです。結果は阪神が勝ち！良かったね。

この野球ゲームを見ることは　私の最初の体験です。日本には野球は本当に大人気なスポーツです。日本のスポーツを考えると　伝統的なのは　相撲を始めます。その後やっぱり野球と思う。私にとっては　野球は見慣れていないから　規則とか選手の名前とかあまり知らないです。でも　日本と言えば日本に滞在する時　絶対一回野球競争の経験が欲しいから　甲子園へ行った。

甲子園はその試合の野球場です。接近してると本当に生き生きな感じが溢れます。場所がにぎやかなで　人が多かった！甲子園の玄関の前野球お土産を売ってる屋台がいっぱい並んでいる。その時駅とか周りの街道とか本当活気に満ちたと思う！


Just outside Koshien stadium before the game between Hanshin Tigers and Yokohama Baystars

It was my first time to a baseball game and though I am not a huge fan of baseball, it was really worth the time and effort to make the trip to Koshien. The atmosphere was so good. Fans turned up in jerseys to support their teams, had all those wacky batons and the place was really lively. The picts show it all.


The crowd


An exhuberant embrace between a security officer and a fan


Balloons dotting the night sky after the 7th inning




The professional cheerleaders


Mi with some fans!


Mi with 2 handsome hunks!


Won The Game Tigers!!!
























And a beautiful picture of the night setting in... :)

Yeah, it was definitely quite an experience to attend a baseball game. It's one of those "must-do things" if you stay in Japan. I donned the Tigers Jersey courtesy of James. :) One thing I walked away with from the game was how uniform the Japanese were. They sang together, beat their batons together... everyone of them knew how to cheer and sway or clap unanimously. And each player has his own special cheer. Amazing.

また新しい週

また月曜日ね。月曜日は私にとって二つ意味がある。一つは疲れるぎみで　もう一つは主の日で特に最初の日だから美しいです。ふふふ。でも私は人間だから　二つ目の意味を知ってるけど　時々一つ目に感じられた。今日目覚まし時計に六時四十五分から目覚められた時　本当に起きたくなかった。でも仕方がなかったね。仕事があるから。そして朝の準備しながら　口に神様に感謝していて　｢今日は本当にきれいな日を認めます！新しい日は新しい希望もありますように！今週もいろいろなことをできるように力を与えてください！」

今ね私の気持ちは本当に明るくなってきた！ふふふ。

コーヒーを飲みながらブーログを書く。私の月曜日の授業は四時間目からので今ちょっと時間がある。日本語の勉強のために書くつもり！このブーログの内容は最近の生活についてです。楽しみ読んでください！

昨日教会の礼拝が終わったらゆかちゃんと会った。神戸祭りへ見に行った。ね。。日本は本当に文化が豊かなです。この特徴はいいいいなと思う。季節も四つがあるから　別の季節によって　いろいろな文化イベントが起こる。シンガポールの方はもちろん自分の面白い文化があるけど　日本と比べると　そんなに深くないと思う。最近は神戸祭りというイベントがある。

神戸祭りというのは神戸について紹介するフェステバルです。文化とか歴史とかを中心して　いろいろなパレードで舞台演技で歌うことと踊ることから皆に見せる。聞いた一つの子供の歌の歌詞から　神戸祭りの意味ははっきりわかる。｢神戸は素敵な町　忘れないように」写真を見てください。：）写真は神戸祭りのホームペジから取ったけど　全部昔の写真ので　意味深いと思う。

























And now I shall write in English. Basically what's written above is about the Kobe Festival which I went to with Yuka after service yesterday. :) Yeah, a disclaimer here.. I downloaded the photos from the official website because they look so old and historic.. and ahhahaha, cos I din bring my cable with me to upload the photos in school. Anyway, I really enjoyed it. The weather was perfect! Fine and breezy, just right for a really nice walk!

Ok, and what I really want to say is that Japan's culture is really rich. Also, because there are 4 seasons here, you kinda feel different emotions for each different season. And there are so many festivals and celebrations. So many that there is always something for everyone. There could be flower exhibitions, dances, hip-hop, songs, paintings, food fairs, sports... it's just happening all the time! I even went to the art gallery last week to view some paintings... I am becoming very cultural indeed. It's just so nice to discover and learn new things. And this coming Friday, I am going to a Hanshin Tigers Baseball game with my school colleagues and then, on Saturday, I will visit the renowned famous Himeji castle. :-D

And next, I wanna talk about OKONOMIYAKI!!!! Hahhahah, this is doubtlessly one of Japan's tastiest dishes. I can talk so much about how I love Japanese food, but I have to がまん(resist) for now. Just focus on Okonimiyaki first.


OKONOMIYAKI
Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き）is one of Japan's best creations.. hahah.. to me, that is. It is basically made of flour, eggs and cabbage ... and anything else that you want to throw in! Okonomi (お好み）means according to one's preference and Yaki (焼き）stands for baking, grilling, toasting, burning.. (that's how you get takoyaki, yakiniku... all the yaki stuff).

Anyway, I really like this dish. After it's made, you lace it with a generous layer of sauce (sweet or spicy again up to your own preference). For a very "saucy" person like me, it's sublime. Many people top it with lotsa mayonnaise, but I stop at that. I still can't take to mayo... eeeee.. and when I saw Yuka squeeeeezing the mayo out of the bottle... eeee.. haha, I balked at that... Heesh... but she, a mayo-lover, claimed that life is impossible without mayo. Haha. :) After that, you add very thin toufu flakes, all sorts of condiments and garnishes and tada! The dish is ready! Woohoooooo!!!! So nice!

And some people also like to add udon or soba into their okonomiyaki. It's really delicious too. I think Steve will love this! For a Bar Chor Mee lover like him, it will be simply too heavenly. Can you imagine Bar Chor and Mee in the Okonomiyaki? Hahhaha...


So when I go home, the point is I will so miss Japanese food!!!! Sigh....

Hahhaha... And now I am a little dazed and tired. Yesterday I bought a JLPT 1 book. It's so much cheaper here and I am thinking of taking the exam at the end of the year. It's very difficult and challenging though!

Saturday mornings

It's a Saturday morning again. Due to a sleep-deprived week, especially on Thursday night, and a topsy-turvy messed-up internal clock, last night, I think I slept quite soundly. Sweet, deep rest. :) But strangely enough, I feel a little sleepy again.

I like Saturday mornings very much. They are usually very のんびり for me - relaxing, therapeutic, restful. I like to sit down with a book, read some news online, watch TV variety programmes (or the more better if it's cultural or has something to do with food... :) ), write diary entries, surf the net, check email... you get the idea... and then have breakfast after finishing my household chores. It's a nice feeling for me.

After that, usually I try to study a little. :)

I remember Saturday mornings back home in Singapore. Then, I had to wake up very early as well and rush to BNSS for the basketball trainings. Hahahha. Quite memorable. The girls will be training hard. Sometimes I will join them for a game, other times I will watch them train and just be there to cheer them on. Or I will be in the staffroom busy marking! Those were the days!

OK! I must stand up from my kotatsu now, else I will fall asleep soon. People laugh when they hear I still use the kotatsu... but then, the weather's crazy and erratic here! On Wednesday, the temperature soared to 27 degrees, n then on Thurs, it dipped to 13 degrees??!?! I was so cold.. frigidly cold!! I am gonna hang out my laundry now and then I will ganbatte.




















Happy Ah-Cen

無我夢中

昨日の晩は　皆ちょっと想像してみて　私が何時寝ていたと思う？
ね。。朝の４時！
昨日ね　本当に活力がいっぱいあった。いろいろなこともできた。

学校は終わった後　私はジームに行って　その後安保先生と一緒にマクドーナルドに楽しんでいた。私は本当にいっぱい祝福された。：）いつもジームの後　安保先生か　ひょうごさんか　私に手伝ってくれた。いつも乗せて送ってくれた。本当に幸せです。。

安保先生と　マクドーナルドにいる時も習慣になってきた。時間があれば　ジームの後マクドーナルドに行く！一緒にジームに健康のためにがんばったら　その後　疲れって来たけれど　爽快感があふれる！その上に精神と活気も増えていく。すごいでしょう！その感じを持って　マクドーナルドに　ナゲットを食べてジュースを飲みながら　私と安保先生が　いっぱいしゃべれる！これはすごく二人に役に立つ。どうしてかと言うと　私が今日本語の勉強中　逆に　安保先生は今英語をもっともっと上手になりたいからです。

先週は私と直美とヅゥアング先生と一緒に熊本で三日間のJ-Impactコンフレンスに参加して行った。二人はシンガポールから来て　私は神戸からです。非常に楽しかった！！！神様の栄光と偉大さ偉大さははっきり見た。私はいっぱい受け取って　感動されて　励まされた。


無我夢中はこのコンフレンスのテーマです。
皆は今夢中していることはなんですか？




賛美時


なおみとヅゥアング先生


笑顔で


チーズ！

今日は私は睡眠不足かもしれないけど　元気！今日も金曜日だから　嬉しいです！週末に楽しんでいる！

It's been a long while since I last updated the blog and I want to say it has been a really really great and fruitful long while for me.

My heart goes out to the Japanese.

No words can sufficiently describe how I felt and am still feeling now....

So much I want to write, but I am in a state of delirium.

He is good and faithful,
His mercies never fail.

無我夢中