Christmas Party

Wooh... had a great time celebrating Christmas yesterday... really made up for the sadness I felt for the past few days with people leaving me.

The party was held at Mi-chan's (a Korean lady) house which is like twice bigger than any normal rooms every Yamasa's student was staying at. Well.. after all her company pays for everything she is using now and naturally her things are in better shape than ours. And she sleeps on a proper thick mattress! Envy Evny... haa ok lah, I am pretty use to futons by now.

Anyway, I know about only half of the people the party because most of them are from Mi's class. I kinda know them by their face but not personally. But no worries, we did a quick round of introduction. And really, I can't help but be amazed at how each of us from very different countries, cultures and even continents can come together to learn a common language and even just the simple fact to know each other. This is really one of the most fantastic thing about goig overseas, you get to know more people and cultures all over the world.

Ok, as everyone turned up promptly at Mi's house, we started our first activity of the day. Making dumplings! Yeah, Korean style. (though I think it is very similar to chinese style) But anyway in the end, it was "free style" as cindy promptly puts it. Everyone just kinda wrapped them in any shape they fancy. The finish work was really interesting. There were flat ones, triangular ones, round ones.... super big or super small...

After that was pigging out! Ate until I couldn't move... ah.. and the dumplings were super delicious. No doubt about that.

We had gift exchange next. I got this really great present from Kya-na (Mi's Korean friend). There were 2 beautiful clay pots and a dish for aromatherapy. It comes with a candle and lavendar incense! I was pretty pleased with it. On top of that, must thank Cindy, Alyssa and Mi for buying presents for me too! Ahh.. went home with my hands full. Thanks girls! It was very thoughtful of you all.

Last activity of the day, we watched Polar Express together on Mi's laptop. It wasn't a fantastic show but then the mood was really right for christmas. I enjoyed it nevertheless!

Anyway think we had so much fun yesterday that Mi suggested another gathering before we all start school. Looking forward to it!

Kya-na in Action.. the dumpling Sensei!

Our queer looking dumplings...

The gifts!

A Merry Christmas posting...

Merry Christmas to all!

It's a beautiful morning here as I wake up to a sunny day with clear skies. Well, the weather is still a little too cold for me, my throat still itchy from the cold I caught last week but it is a great day nevertheless!

I got up and called home to wish my family Merry Christmas. Great to hear my mum's cheery voice over the phone. She told me they just had a party at one of my relatives place. So fun! Wish I was there too!

But anyway, it will not be a lonely christmas for me here. I will be going to a friend's house for party later. But of course the main reason for Christmas is not just about finding places to party or wondering what to buy as gifts or what to eat.

The real reason for Christmas is to remember again how Jesus came in flesh 2000 years ago. Born in a manger to be with us. He came with love, only to carry our sins on himself to the cross. As I was thinking about this last night, my heart became really warm again. The past few days hasn't been too great for me, as I have sort of mentioned in my blog. But I see there is no reason for me not to rejoice over Christ's triumph over death! Praise Be to Christ!

Ok... after Christmas I will be expecting Carol from Tokyo. From there, we will be going on a little adventure.. Going Hiroshima I think. But probably just on JR trains and no Shinkansen! It is always something I wanna try.... to just sit in trains for hours and travel like nobody's business. I am doing it!!!

WIll update u all on how it goes!

I need to pack my room badly...

I seriously need to pack my room now... it is in a horrid sight. A big mess.

Clothes strewn over one corner of the room, the other food from Singapore with compliments from my family and cousins who came over. The other, some things I brought back from the Osaka-Kyoto trip. Have to plan the trips I will be going after christmas... sigh seems like i got to do quite a few things...

Maybe becus I played and enjoyed so much these last few days that now I feel weird all over again being in Japan all by myself. Esp when Steph has gone on a trip and not here with me. I suddenly have no one to talk to. My classmates were very nice too. They somehow knew I am feeling sad inside me. Some of them somehow guessed it cus, well... so many people left me all of a sudden yesterday. Thanks to Grace who offered to go out with me this afternoon to cheer me up. She even treated me to a cake set meal at a local cafe. Arigatou!! I really appreciate how you guys are ging out of your way to cheer me up =) Feel so blessed all of a sudden again. I guess I will still feel the loss even for a while more, especially the times when I go home. But it will be over soon. Thank God for the convenience of internet and speedy mail services... of cus, web cams!

Ok better get to doing my things.. going Nagoya to buy some books tomorrow!

A day full of departures...

Dec 21 2004 marks a day full of departures...

Firstly, I sent my dad, brother and cousins to the airport first thing in the morning. We had a really fun week romping in Okazaki, Osaka and Kyoto. But all good things come to an end.. I wonder when will the next time we will meet again since I probably won't be back for Chinese New Year. Anyway, I was really pretty sad when they were queueing up to clear the customs... I just stood there beside the customs as I slowly saw their backs disappear...

Ok.. made my way back home and had a sleep... I was so tired from the trip especially when I was having cough and diarrhea for a few days.. ok... slept a while till 1pm. Then got up to do something for my friend who is leaving...

4pm: Suddenly got a phonecall from another to say that Shaggy is leaving Okazaki today! I got a shock cus I thought he was only leaving tomorrow. Turns out he was taking the train to Tokyo tonight so as to catch the early plane home tomorrow. Anyway, my friend said that Shaggy came to look for me but I wasn't in. Oh my god... I only went out for a mere 5 mins to look for someone... I really panic... cus I want to pass him something. I called another friend and told him to call Shaggy while I rush off to school. (heard he went there to say bye to the teachers)
Thank God before I hopped onto my bike, Shaggy called me so we arranged to meet in school. Told him I will be there in 5 mins. I really never cycled so fast in my whole life. I didn't even care if I will get into an accident, just wanted to be in school fast.

Ok side-track... but it was really quite funny when the people from the office was after him with a stack of bills and also he didn't cancel his phoneline. I smiled to myself. This is the Shaggy I always know, he would be stumped for an answer and then laughed out loud at his own silliness.

It wasn't really an emotional farewell but then I could feel the tears surging out. Thought we only knew each other for barely 3 months but he was really a nice friend and also was part of the numerous good memories I have of Okazaki. He is just someone I really like a lot and also treasure so much as a friend. Tears flowed down my cheeks when he gave me a hug. Sigh... really don't want to let go of him. Perhaps it is just the feeling of everyone leaving at one go... it feels really lousy. But of course he had to say good bye to other people so well had to let him go.

Ok... finally all the good byes and all his friends are gone. Only left both of us. Wanted to walk with him to the station but he insists that I go home. Says that he will be alone for the next few days so he will be alright. Another rush of fresh tears coming out. Ok... I bear with it. He promises he will come Singapore for a visit. I stand there in the cold for a few seconds as his back disappears into the dark. At this juncture, I feel really terrible inside me. It is like a very sad feeling to see him going off alone by himself. Regretted it. Should have insist on going to the station with him. I swallowed my tear. hiazz... he is gone.

I was walking slowly home when I got a call from Shaggy again. He wanted to pass his room keys to me. Ok.. I hop on my bike and went down to the station. One last look and last long hug from my dear friend. This is really the very last of him as we say our good byes and then one last photo taken of him till he finally goes to take the train.

I really hate this feeling... the feeling of seeing people leave. It really feels so bad especially when you don't know when is the next time you will see them again. Another friend of mine leaving to go Tokyo soon. Sighz... cannot take it...

To my dear friend Shaggy: Hey you said you will be reading my blog and writing down your comments. Remember to do so! I will surely miss you greatly. You better email me quick before I flood yours! Take good care and till then when I see you again.

Christmas Cookies Making Party

We had a christmas cookies making party yestersday and lots of fun exchanging presents and simply digging into the sumptous potluck. It is this early cus I will leaving for a short holiday with my family who is coming next week. After that Steph will be leaving...

Anyway look at some of my creation! Ok Cindy made half of it too...

Our little Park... Notice everything is in pairs??

Our names! Karen, Stephy and Cindy

The little bears we made!

Ok... obviously I ain't that good at making beautiful cookies. Just weird and funny looking ones. Hee... But anyway, I was beaten up by Alyssa yesterday for eating one of her cookies. Argghh... that hurts!

Ok..11 plus time to go home when Mi (oh... a Korean lady who join us too) Couldn't find her bicycle key. It was so funny when she told Cindy that she needed a knife (to cut the wire) and Cindy held up a jam knife, "This one ok" Both Mi and I was stunned for 3 seconds and we burst out laughing!! Jam knife to cut the chain?? See, that's Cindy, so blur and cute. Ok, fortunately we bumped into Brandon who was outside for a smoke, he lent her his extra bike. But of course, he had to pump it and all.

Ahh.. finally reach home. Was going past Shaggy's room when I saw a mysterious figure peering into his room thru the mailbox hole. Ah, it's Owen again. He is always doing weird things.. haa. He just finished a round of drinks with Jan and thus came to look for Shaggy. So 3 of us starting chatting for a while outside Shaggy's door and they ate some of my weird cookies. Both of them were laughing at how funny it turned out to be...

Was about to reach my door when I saw something sitting in front of it. It was a big soft toy and I got a shock. What is that thing doing there? Pick it up, no note, no name... Strange. Did anyone left it behind? Look around again, no one in sight. ?? I went to look for Shaggy and Owen and they told me it was from Jan. Strange.... but that thing is lying on my table now...

Ok... too tired to do anything... sleepzzz...

Mega Shopping Trip!!

It's friday again and time to go shopping! Just went Nagoya last Sunday for Miyazaki's latest movie, Howl's Moving Castle with Steph, Alyssa and Cindy. It's was really a great despite us only understanding part of it cus it was totally in Japanese without subtitles. But well... animation means the main point is the illustrations and for me, Takuya Kimura's voice and the absolutely breath-taking soundtrack. It is most frequently played on my WMA nowadays...

Anyway, I met up with Cindy to go shopping together (she's the Taiwanese girl in our group) We went down to Sakae, another shopping area in Nagoya. It somehows reminds me a little of Shibuya with a few major shopping stores and then plenty of little stores selling differentiated products.

Our first stop was Uniqlo which prompted Cindy to buy 3 jackets? and I think 2 tops, a few scarves... socks.. Her basket was already spilling over with clothes but her hands still cannot stop. We went over every shelf trying on almost everything. I din buy much tho cus I just went Uniqlo about 2 weeks ago? But Cindy and I bought the same red jacket to wear the Christmas Cookies-making party the next day. Ok... time check. WHAT??!! 1.5 hours in that small shop?? Oh my gawd, terrible time management. Cannot.. must move on soon.

Move a few steps and we were sweeped in this small shop that sells speciality goods. Cute clocks, rugs... any things.. and everything looked so amazing that the whole routine of going thru shelves were repeated... Cindy bought some stuff there. I managed to stop my hands from digging for my wallet.

wah.. time check again. 5+.. the day outside is dark. We were debating whether to go Nagoya or not. Cindy still wanna shop. Me too.. so we continue to walk down the streets when my eyes caught Haagen Daz. I muttered under my breath, "Haagen Daz". The next thing I knew, Ice-cream Fanatic Cindy grabbed my hand, dash across the flashing green-man street and I was ordering a sundae at the counter. Cindy simply love ice-cream and she couldn't resist it. I should have knew that...

Ahh.... satisfy from the heavy dosage of ice-cream and chocolate. We walked past Starbucks and Cindy wanted to buy a latte which she said will be her dinner. Ok... went in and saw this small flask which both us like a lot. I bought it for the gift exchange at the party.

Walked again... Once again. my sharp eye (for food perhaps) caught the small and unassuming sign board that says "Okinawa Cuisine". Wow interesting, Cindy went over to look at the menu and viola! We were in the shop happily tucking into the food. So much about the latte being her dinner...

Ok.. really full and cannot make it le... getting late. We zoomed of to Zara. Was another round of madness trying on clothes and shoes.

Ok, Cindy bought a pair of pants and boots. It was 8.45pm already! Oh my god... Thank God steph had Grace to accompany her home. We wanted to get Hard disk so we had to zoomed to Nagoya next. Couldn't make it to the Computer store in time so dashed across the road to Big Camera. Just in time for closing.. Bought our hard disk at at bargin!

Ahh.... by this time we were really super tired. Especially when we had to lug so many shopping bags home. Mostly Cindy's I must emphasis. I think we are really super "cold" when we are together. As in cold jokes. The whole train was practically quiet cus it was filled with working people home. Only our occassional squeals and shrills created some noise there.

I walked Cindy all the way home cus her basket cannot contain everything. Had a good chat all the way home and was talking about our own stuff, our classmates, people... not gossiping, just plain sharing thoughts.

Looking forward to more before Cindy goes to Tokyo next year!!

Okinawa Food! Yumz Yumz.. Chompz Chompz.. Drooooool....

Matching Jackets

Mega Mega Shopping Bags!

Noise Noise and noise

Didn't have a very good sleep yesterday night. That was because there 2 parties going on where I stayed.
8.45pm: Firstly, I was about to go and do my laundry when Shaggy came knocking on my door. Ok, let him in and we chatted for about an hour plus till nearly 10. When he finally went off, I did the tedious chore of packing my clothes all into 2 bags and then on my bike, ride to the laundry shop some distance away. It was possible to wash clothes at the villa but the dryer wasn't working well. Sigh...

10pm: Ok sat at the laundry shop for an hour waiting for the clothes to be done. Met the care-taker of the student village and he sat down to chat with me for about another 30 mins. He was really a very kind and nice old uncle. He was telling me how to study Japanese and how I could improve my conversation skills. Also told me that I could go look for him any time I have problems in my Japanese. Think he is a pretty well travelled person, was telling me bits and pieces of his experience in US, in companies... And the best thing was he wasn't doing a monologue, he was asking me questions and encouraging me to speak in Japanese more.

11.10am: Back home.... was about to pack the clothes and then sleep. Then saw Owen at the party at my place. Arranged with him to come over to see photos.

11.40pm: But waited for half an hour and he didn't turn up. Ok... want to sleep already. But ok, I dun think i could get to sleep anyway. My neighbour, party queen Anna was making a din in her room as usual. Her friends are all over and screaming and talking at the top of their voices. I am ok with that actually cause she is a pretty nice girl and we get along well. But well at near 12am in the morning... hmm....

The people from the party were also standing around the areas outside our rooms. some obviously pretty drank, some smoking.. sigh.. for a min I thought I will go crazy from the noise. At that, the door bell sounded. Owen. Opened the door and I was greeted by a loud "hello" and a hug. *sigh* this boy. Wanted to tell him off but ok, forgive him. He just went on and on about the party while laughing at the KTV photos.

12.10am: Finished the photos... the people from the party are going KTV. So came to ask me along... Nah.. I am already in my sleeping attire. Owen insists I put on some clothes and go with him. Nope... rejected him and chased him out of the room.

12.30pm: ok... finish with some things I want to do and ready to sleep. off lights. Lay in bed and hear Anna and friends' chatter

1.00am: Still rolling about and flipping. Anna still partying...

1.40pm: Noises begin to die down slowly...

Sigh.... I dread friday at times cus I know everyone is out partying. Can't imagine when the JLPT is over this Sunday. More partying I guess. Next week have another party... till then.

Winter is late but surely creeping here....

This year's winter is apparently going to be a little later than usual. It's December 1st today and yet the autumn leaves are only about 85% red. In any case, autumn is really beautiful. It is so amazing to see the usual green leaves bursting into splashes of red, yellow, orange and even pinkish everywhere. Autumn is great cus it is cooling and strolling on the streets by yourself is such a fantastic experience, provided the weather is not too cold or windy.

Anyway, I went to Koran Kei, (pronounced as xiang1 lan2 xi1 in chinese) last Sunday. It is a roughly 1.5 hours journey from where I stay. It is supposedly very famous for their beautiful lakes, streams and of course maple leaves. Indeed, it was breath-taking. Except that there were so many people around. Not just Japanese but people from all over the world coming together to admire the scenery. Shan't say much about it. Let the pictures do the talking =)