My favourite Kouhoku Class!

Tonight, I just dun feel like sleeping so early. A bit excited and happy. Why? :D Cos tomorrow is Friday and more than just that, it's officially the last day of lesson for me as a JET. Next week, exams begin... so this week is the last teaching week for me. Hmmm, actually I do have another lesson on Monday on the 5th period, but I really dun consider that a proper, usual lesson cos I know I will be having so much fun with this class, so much so that it seems more like PLAY rather than WORK. Suddenly, I remember this very interesting quote Pst Phil said. (Actually I had to re-listen to his "Loyalty" message so that I can write out exactly what he said.)

You've got to do what you love and love what you do. If you don't do what you love, start to love what you do or else change what you do until you are doing what you love.

I simply love the way he puts it. Don't you?

Yup, back to this class. It's my favourite class on this entire JET programme and I so enjoy meeting these 8 students and teaching them together with Nakai sensei. I am going to miss them! Personally, I think I do better when I teach motivated students. I get so genki and excited when they try and one of my greatest and happiest moments as a teacher here was hearing Hako (the only thorn among all the roses) making a great effort to eliminate all the vowel sounds during the oral test. Really, WAY TO GO!

And Nakai sensei is great too! It's been a tremendous school semester with him. Co-teaching with him has taught me many things. Now I understand perfectly why Tom said his OC1 1st year class last year was his best class. :)

Well, Nakai sensei has an amazing way with the students and he is very patient with them. He has creative ideas and he is very organised and plans his lessons well. Also, his laughter and mannerisms are really cool. Today, I heard him guffaw during a game we played. It was so funny. It was a hearty, boisterous and manly laugh... so infectious and contagious and the whole classroom atmosphere went up another notch. This OC2 class wouldn't have been the same without you, dear Nakai sensei. 本当にありがとうね、なかい先生。

So today, we had a great 2-hour lesson and at the end of it, we took many pictures and a video clip. Here are 2 pictures. Say Chiiiii-Zu!





Luma, Hako, Yuka, Pippi, Anne, Saho, Saori, Maluco,
一緒に頑張りましょうね！

UPDATES!

お早うございます！
最近　すごく忙しくなってきたので　あまりブログを最新のものにしなかったね。。。でも私は本当にこのごろいっぱい主イエスの祝福と恵みを受け取りました。本当に神様は忠実である。今朝の天気は少し霧気味けど　雨が降らないから　私も嬉しいです。今梅雨の時期から　時々雨がバット降ってきた。激しい雨の日はもしその時外にでっている場は　もちろん大変でしょう。でももしその時家にいると　とても幸せと思う。私はそんな感じが大好き。家に安全感があるし　雨の匂い雨の音とか　本当に皆の心を癒されると思う。そしていろいろな考え、思いもでって　祈りまして　幸せです。

私ね　最近まで　本当にもう一回学校に入ることがあまりはっきり考えなかった。けど福岡から帰るとそうするつもりです。今度ＪＥＴの契約を終わって日本語学院に一ヶ月間で集中して勉強します。これはどうしてかと言うと夢を持っているからです。最近一つ忙しいの理由はいい学校を探していることです。今申し込んだ学校はとてもいいと思う！私も先生と相談した。。今ね本当に授業のを楽しみにしている！

今少し疲れた！簡単な朝食を食べながら　書き続けます！
濃いコーヒーとチーズを添えているクラッカーを食べました。簡単でも嬉しいです。今も一つの大好きな聖書のみ言葉を思い出す。。。

ピリピ４書11-13節
生活に困っていたから、こう言うのではありません。私は、物が豊富にあろうとなかろうと、楽しく生きていくすべを学びました。文なしの時にも、何でも揃っている時にも、どのように生活すべきか知っています。満腹の時にも　空腹の時にも、豊かな時にも　貧しい時にも、どんな境遇でも満足する秘訣を見につけのです。なぜなら、力を与え、強めてくださるキリスト様に助けられて、私は、神様の要求を、何でも成し遂げることができるからです。

ふふふ。だから簡単な食べ物も満足してできる！感謝してできるです！




















Well, and now, I am really a little tired! Japanese language is difficult but fun. :) A brief translation of what I have attempted above... First I talked about the morning and the rain. It's the rainy season here and well, the rain here is quite different from what we have in Singapore. Hahhahah. The feeling is just different. When it rains, it isn't exactly those thunderstorm kind that we experience during the monsoon season.. these days, the rain here goes pitter patter.. a little milder than what I would have expected. However, weather conditions here are super volatile and unpredictable! It could be sunny in the morning, then suddenly, suddenly, BATTO! The rain pours! And then, after a while, it stops. Hmmm... what is challenging here is being out in the streets when it rains when the wind is strong. My umbrella has gone koyak many times... but haha, you can grab any nice cheap umbrella at the hyaku yen shops (the 100yen shops) or combini (convenience stores) that dot the streets everywhere.

And well, I love the feeling of being at home, cosy and snug, when there is a thunderstorm or heavy rain. Nothing beats that safe and protected feeling, knowing that I am warm and dry in my santuary up the mountains though the whole world outside is being trashed by the winds and storms. Hahhahaha. I dunno if you know what I mean. And of course, at the same time, you could read a good book, surf the internet, mull around the house, do housechores, be jolly and happy... and enjoy a good, steaming cup of coffee or cocoa!

Next up... Recently, I haven't been updating the blog much cos I have been pretty busy! Towards the end of the JET contract, must finish all the school work, set exam papers, email successor, sort apartment stuff, administrative matters... and that aside, I am going to study the language intensively for a month at one school here before jetting home. So need to search for school, settle accommodation, check out courses... lots to be done! And well, seriously, I have never really thought that I would go back to school again... and I am really excited about it. God has really brought me thus far and I know my adventure with Him has just begun. I have a dream and I am going to keep dreaming bigger dreams for Him and I am so looking forward to starting school. :)

And also, I have been busy meeting up with friends and and and... Steve is coming to visit! So have to plan the itinerary, check out the cheapest yet most luxurious accommodation, best way to travel, interesting places to explore... book stuff online, aiyah... many things to do, but I am so enjoying the process and I am getting happier and more excited by the day. I already told him I envisioned meeting him at the airport, imagining his coming out of the arrival gates, wondering how much he has changed... what hairstyle, what clothes, leaner and fitter perhaps! And wahahahaha... I leave the rest to your imagination. It is so good to have a hope to look forward to.

And then I wrote about eating breakfast. Hahhaha. I was eating Premier Brand lightly salted biscuits with cheese and drinking my Nescafe Expresso (Italian Roast) just now and enjoying, savouring every bit of it. It ain't the most luxurious or delectable spread, but I simply love it. I love its simplicity and then while I was eating it, I was reminded of these verses.

Phil 4:11-13
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

I love it! In Japan here, I am truly learning to be content with whatever I have, despite the circumstances and situations. I want to continue to grow to be like Paul, to be able to be more content in all things! And I know I can do it because Christ gives me the strength. :D

And now, I am wondering what pictures I should put in this blog. Of course I dun necessarily have to... but it's nice to show you beautiful Japan. :D

Vending machines














Kawaii Menu























Kobe Kouhoku School Festival


Last year's Sports Day


Cows!!!!!





















Have a very very nice day ahead!

ガチャピン（Gachapin)

One of my newly-found friends told me one day I look like Gachapin! So I asked her what Gachapin is.... Here it is... Wahhahahahha.
























Do I look like Gachapin? Is there a tinge of resemblence?
























Hahahahhaa...

So I did a search on Gachapin... n here is what Wikipidia has to say about Gachapin.

Gachapin is a child dinosaur, a popular Japanese children's television character, usually accompanied by his friend Mukku.

Name: Gachapin
Age: 5-yrs old
Birthday: April 2
Birthplace: Tropical Island (Singapore?!)
Special Abilities: Sports
Secret: The energy balls on his wrists enable him to fly, dive underwater, and gives him strength and courage whenever he faces a challenging situation.


Ok... and last Saturday, it was the school culture festival... HUGE event and a real eye-opener for me. ESS did an international cafe... Some picts. :)

England and Singapore!
















Akane, Me and Hisako... Some of my favourite students in this school. Akane is such a warm and affectionate girl. She always comes to me and hugs me from behind. Ganbatte Akane. :D And Hisako just came back from Australia after a year there, so she will be rejoining Kouhoku soon. :)

Ok, i gtg soon. :)

欲しいィィィィィィィィィ

Updated!

This morning, I was awoken by "beep" "beep" "beeeeeeep" "beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep" of my doorbell and still in a daze, opened the door rather cheerily cos through my peephole, I saw the school nurse outside. I mustered a genki "Ohaiyo Gozaimasu" and she was so apologetic cos when she saw my face, she knew she must have awoken me from zzzzzz land.

It was already 10.00am! Man! First time I slept in till so late in J-land... and it was nice for a change. :D

Well, apparently, her veranda (She lives in the apartment just below me) got flooded because rain water seemed to be seeping down from my veranda to hers. It's the rainy and thunderstorm season in Japan now and last night, there was a huge storm. Lightning, thunder, wind... So the contractor came up to check my place... hmmm, i hope the problem will be solved soon anyway, cos i really understand now the inconveniences of a leaking pipe, unseen cracks, torn nettings, clogged toilet pipes, faulty flushing system, etc, etc, etc...

Hahhahahaha... anyway, I don't really know what I wanna write about this morning. It's already 11.30 am and I just finished my breakfast/brunch and actually, i wasn't even thinking about updating the blog till i decided to just check how it's coming along and saw this person "Update" asking for an update, and I got so encouraged and happy.... and now decided to update.... What should be my blog title?

And get ready for a loooooong loooooooong update because suddenly, I just feel like typing away with my coffee in front of me, laundry waiting in the washing machine... and the rain ceasing... and the birds starting to sing.... lalalallala.

And after 2 hours, I am back again. Ziwei was talking me on Skype... and we yakked for 2 hours!!!! hahahhaha.... and now I am stuck under my kotatsu table... i need the toilet urgently!!!!
Will be back either in a jiffy or maybe tonight!

And I am back! It's 2pm... doing laundry now and just talked to Anpo sensei on the phone... I made a mistake! In my excitement.. also dunno what I was so excited about actually... maybe it was the looooong skype call with Ziwei... yeah, I told him I woke up at 12.00 when I was talking to Ziwei at 12.00.. or did I say 12.00? I also couldn't remember... whahahah.. anyway, yeah, he is prolly running hard at the gym now... maybe later I will go gymming too and bike or run or swim a little... then take a nice, loooooooong hot shower at the gym.

Ohhhhhhhhh... and talking about showers, how I love the onsens and public baths in Japan... It's so nice and so convenient; you can easily find one public bath and enjoy a good soak that will leave you refreshed and energised... very good and strongly recommended if you feel stressed out or tired... Well.. I really enjoy the public baths and onsens here but unfortunately, there is no such culture in Sing! Anyway, maybe next time I will write about onsens and public bath culture!


This is Anpo sensei and I at Arima Onsen. We went there after visiting the Fruit and Herb Garden last week cos there was practically nothing blooming at the Garden!! And man, were we disappointed... so anyway, we decided to go onsen! And this place is scenic and pretty... but i wouldn't really say the Kin Onsen that we visited was so great... cos it was really crowded and quite small. Hmmm.. but beautiful famous onsen village anyway.

Ok, some Fruit Garden Picts.... Unfortunately, nothing much we saw there... guess we went during the wrong season!!!
Still, thank God for beautiful roses.. :)


And the pretty entrance.


And me at Harbourland. Was there with Yuen Yee and we went shopping... Harbourland is one of my fave places here... by the sea.. lotsa restaurants, great view, lovely shopping crowd, big shopping malls, trendy shops, quaint pushcart stores, affordable prices, nice parks, good atmosphere, ferris wheel, romantic nightview, trusty MacDonalds, chic Starbucks, new stores, mountains and more mountains, LOVELY LOVELY HARBOURLAND!























A display at Comsa, one very "designer" kinda store that sells apparels, bags, accessories and also kitchen ware, cute household items, etc.. I think "Comsa" is not spelt like this.. probably it's spelt wrongly... heesh.... So many people were taking picts of this. It's really very impressive. And this store just opened recently in Harbourland... it's mega huge! Will definitely visit it again some time soon!


A close-up























Ok... last night, Beth and I talked for so long in the car. It was so nice to just talk to a good friend. We talked about our lives... about our future, about our dreams, about God... I really enjoyed it. Thanks Beth. :) And after cell group, we made some posters cos there is a flea market today and the Dream Girls are selling popcorn! Take a look at this! A very popcornish effort by Yori, Raimu and Me!


And I was at KICC... oh... so hisashiburi. Haven't been there for a long time. This was the place I used to be at to study Japanese last year and this is a view taken from the toilet, 20th storey. :) Really nice view right!

























And this morn, I woke up missing my cell group friends back in Singapore so much. :) It was so funny... some days, I wake up missing certain aspects of home so much! Today, I thought of cell group the instant I awoke! They must be all at Kel's house now.. wahaha. Ok. I am gonna stop writing now. Dear "Update", this update is specially for you. :)