Just as I was flipping through FB just now... I came across this lady (who is my cousin's cousin actually) who used to dote on me alot when I was a kid. I can't really remember too much details about playing with her but everytime we meet, my aunt will ask if I remember how this lady used to carry me around so much till her arms ache. Then she will always end if, "but she can't carry you anymore now!" ( having double meaning to this phrase... ahem)...
I have a lot of this da-gege, da-jiejie ( esp gege) who were my playmates when I was young. One reason being, I am one of the youngest in the extended family so I will always have cousins' cousin, some neighbours' children playing with me. And also my cousin-in-law was the pastor of the church I used to go to so while the adults will always gather in their house after church ( pastor stays in the church premises) while I go off to socialise.
Deeply etched in my memory is the other pastors 3 grown-up sons.. ( so they must be like 40 plus now?) The eldest was pretty aloof, the second was super gentle and patient with me, the youngest always playing tricks but also doting a lot on me. There is also my cousin's cousin who carried me on his shoulders so that I could pluck rambutans grown in his house.
They are really warm memories that I kept all these while in the midst of growing up. really feel like meeting them again especially the da gege who is always so gentle with me.
This is life I guess... some come, go and never come back. some, come and leave some sort of footprints.
ok 3 more days to my cousins' arrival!
10.27.2009
10.25.2009
僕の初恋君に捧ぐ～
Roughly translates to, " I dedicate my first love to you".
A movie I told my friend I want to watch. And her reply is, " Haa as expected!"
Seems like my friends think I like such sob~ movies!
I haven't gone to watch it yet so I don't know what the story is about except it is about a pair of lovers' ( The guy having a heart condition) story from when they were children till adults.
Here's Hirai Ken's new song to go with it. Many people say it fits the story perfectly!
somehow I think there is always a tinge of sadness and "boh bian"-ness in his songs.
A movie I told my friend I want to watch. And her reply is, " Haa as expected!"
Seems like my friends think I like such sob~ movies!
I haven't gone to watch it yet so I don't know what the story is about except it is about a pair of lovers' ( The guy having a heart condition) story from when they were children till adults.
Here's Hirai Ken's new song to go with it. Many people say it fits the story perfectly!
somehow I think there is always a tinge of sadness and "boh bian"-ness in his songs.
Trials and Errors~~
I tried to make some chicken porridge last week.
My first attempt in my 2X years of living...
And I succeeded! It tasted really good ( at least in my opinion...) was healthy, ( no extras condiments of salt of whatsoever) and it was smooth too!
I better jot down the recipe in my notebook.
Actually there isn't much recipe to follow anyway, I just boiled some chicken breast meat with ginger, red-dates, dried scallops for 45 mins, oh yes carrots too to provide some vege and sweetness to the soup. Remove the chicken and then poured some rice in to cook for another 20-30 mins.
I tried to fry bee-hoon last week as well and I received positive comments from my colleagues. And they ask me if I liked to cook, did I learn from anyone etc....
The answer is No... Cooking is not my hobby so to speak. I do not hate it though. But it is just a means of survival to me because seriously speaking, it is too expensive and unhealthy to eat out everyday!
My mother was really worried if I can survived overseas alone when I first announced my plans to come to Japan. And I remembered telling her then, human have strong survival instincts, they will somehow learn how to do something if that determines they can survive or not.
So... some people out there may think this person is so brave to go overseas alone, so independent, can do this or that... think again, who is born with such skills? Everyone of us probably started with zero and then somehow worked our way out.
Just like how a baby will scream when they need something, or eventually learn to walk because they desire to move around, I believe too when you are put into a situation which you just have to do something so as to survive, you probably will.
So anyway having said that.... I am going off to iron my clothes, clean the house and prepare my bento for tomorrow~~~
My first attempt in my 2X years of living...
And I succeeded! It tasted really good ( at least in my opinion...) was healthy, ( no extras condiments of salt of whatsoever) and it was smooth too!
I better jot down the recipe in my notebook.
Actually there isn't much recipe to follow anyway, I just boiled some chicken breast meat with ginger, red-dates, dried scallops for 45 mins, oh yes carrots too to provide some vege and sweetness to the soup. Remove the chicken and then poured some rice in to cook for another 20-30 mins.
I tried to fry bee-hoon last week as well and I received positive comments from my colleagues. And they ask me if I liked to cook, did I learn from anyone etc....
The answer is No... Cooking is not my hobby so to speak. I do not hate it though. But it is just a means of survival to me because seriously speaking, it is too expensive and unhealthy to eat out everyday!
My mother was really worried if I can survived overseas alone when I first announced my plans to come to Japan. And I remembered telling her then, human have strong survival instincts, they will somehow learn how to do something if that determines they can survive or not.
So... some people out there may think this person is so brave to go overseas alone, so independent, can do this or that... think again, who is born with such skills? Everyone of us probably started with zero and then somehow worked our way out.
Just like how a baby will scream when they need something, or eventually learn to walk because they desire to move around, I believe too when you are put into a situation which you just have to do something so as to survive, you probably will.
So anyway having said that.... I am going off to iron my clothes, clean the house and prepare my bento for tomorrow~~~
10.18.2009
My collection part 1~
Ok here's the close up shots of my earrings part 1! I picked the ones I like better!
2. The black series. Currently my favourite because they are so easy to mix and match! I can change my style easily with them too. Jeans on days I want to be more stylish or skirts for work..
1. The flower series. I was very into rose at one time so that explains the collection. But the fact is, I hardly have any chance to wear them cus they go best with party dresses I guess....
2. The black series. Currently my favourite because they are so easy to mix and match! I can change my style easily with them too. Jeans on days I want to be more stylish or skirts for work..3. The knit lace series. Note the ribbon.... hee
4. The silver bronzy series....
Lastly but not least, my cheerful minnie-mouse heart studs!
Loneliness~~
The sermon in church today was about dealing with loneliness and the pastor's wife shared a story with us.
Loneliness is something each of us would probably experience often... if not at least once in a lifetime. It is not just plainly about the absence of people in our lives. It is in fact the presence of people but the lack of meaningful relationships that brings about loneliness and solitude. Someone once told me, being alone is not equals to being lonely. How true the vice versa too.
So anyway, she (Noriko) spoke at how she marvels when she sees our pastor(Talo). He doesn't seems to have any lack of friends, not alone attention from ladies! She felt that Talo is a person who probably doesn't experience any loneliness....
Then Noriko recalls how Talo has a friend in US whom he will always contact through the phone or Skype. This very same friend has NEVER ever took the initiative to call Talo before. In addition to that, he is always talking about himself during the conversation, what he has done or achieved, what he is going to do.... it was all a me , myself and I conversation.
Everytime they go back to US (Talo's from Hawaii), they will meet up and the friend has never offered to pay before. He would always expect Talo and Noriko to foot the bill.
In the midst of all this, she was just thinking to herself, how come Talo still wants to continue this friendship... and one day, she felt God speaking to her. " That is because, Talo doesn't sees things the way you do." ( I add or as many of us do)
When we do something for someone, though we do not expect 100% back in return, I think most of us expects at least 70% back... If I write a letter to her, I expect at least a card back, If I give her a treat at Crystal Jade, I expect at least a Mcdonald's back... ( ok no relations I know)....
But some many times, in the midst of giving, we become tired because we also subconsicously expecting something which unfortunately never comes back or comes back in a idea totally different from what we have expected. I have seen plenty of people on TV dramas and in reality alike who just exhaust themselves out mentally and emotionally because they don't reap the same amount of harvest they had supposedly sowed in the first place.
Of course it is human some might say that we all expect something back...
It is only polite, it is only nice to do so....
But my take is if you cannot give just for the sake of giving to this person unconditionally, just giving because you want to bless this person wholeheartedly, then perhaps it is not wise for you to give as well. The reason why Talo didn't feel the loneliness nor taken for granted because his main agenda was on giving and how he can try to do one more thing for the person. And it was just as simple as that, a condition of his heart.
I think I am guilty of that too. I often wish I could be treated better by some friends. Could receive more sms or phonecalls on my birthday, wish my friends can shower more attention on me etc.... I am weak and also lonely at times. But then today's sermon taught me that the way to overcome it is not ask for more but to change my mindset and learn to give more. It is also important too to keep seeking from the source, which is God.
Loneliness is something each of us would probably experience often... if not at least once in a lifetime. It is not just plainly about the absence of people in our lives. It is in fact the presence of people but the lack of meaningful relationships that brings about loneliness and solitude. Someone once told me, being alone is not equals to being lonely. How true the vice versa too.
So anyway, she (Noriko) spoke at how she marvels when she sees our pastor(Talo). He doesn't seems to have any lack of friends, not alone attention from ladies! She felt that Talo is a person who probably doesn't experience any loneliness....
Then Noriko recalls how Talo has a friend in US whom he will always contact through the phone or Skype. This very same friend has NEVER ever took the initiative to call Talo before. In addition to that, he is always talking about himself during the conversation, what he has done or achieved, what he is going to do.... it was all a me , myself and I conversation.
Everytime they go back to US (Talo's from Hawaii), they will meet up and the friend has never offered to pay before. He would always expect Talo and Noriko to foot the bill.
In the midst of all this, she was just thinking to herself, how come Talo still wants to continue this friendship... and one day, she felt God speaking to her. " That is because, Talo doesn't sees things the way you do." ( I add or as many of us do)
When we do something for someone, though we do not expect 100% back in return, I think most of us expects at least 70% back... If I write a letter to her, I expect at least a card back, If I give her a treat at Crystal Jade, I expect at least a Mcdonald's back... ( ok no relations I know)....
But some many times, in the midst of giving, we become tired because we also subconsicously expecting something which unfortunately never comes back or comes back in a idea totally different from what we have expected. I have seen plenty of people on TV dramas and in reality alike who just exhaust themselves out mentally and emotionally because they don't reap the same amount of harvest they had supposedly sowed in the first place.
Of course it is human some might say that we all expect something back...
It is only polite, it is only nice to do so....
But my take is if you cannot give just for the sake of giving to this person unconditionally, just giving because you want to bless this person wholeheartedly, then perhaps it is not wise for you to give as well. The reason why Talo didn't feel the loneliness nor taken for granted because his main agenda was on giving and how he can try to do one more thing for the person. And it was just as simple as that, a condition of his heart.
I think I am guilty of that too. I often wish I could be treated better by some friends. Could receive more sms or phonecalls on my birthday, wish my friends can shower more attention on me etc.... I am weak and also lonely at times. But then today's sermon taught me that the way to overcome it is not ask for more but to change my mindset and learn to give more. It is also important too to keep seeking from the source, which is God.
Found it!
Can believe my luck!!! I was just window shopping in this little shop at the train station near my place to kill time and I actually found the earrings I said I wanted in the earlier post!!
In fact, I managed to find other neat steals as well!
Then I went home to check and found out that the very shop I went to actually carries products from the brand (earrings). Gyaa!!
After that, I went to had my nails done! It has been a long while since I last did it.... so well really just to just get them in shape. I think the manucurist herself was more satisfied then me. She kept commenting that I have long fingers and good nail shape ( actually I felt like asking her what justifies a good nail shape... nails looks all the same to me!) So in the end, she requested to have photos taken too. There goes my first assignment as a nail model.. haa
Then I went to have dinner with my friend to celebrate her birthday!
Brought her to this shop I really liked and we had foie gras and scallop sashimi etc!
That's the guy who is doing the scallop sashimi on the hot plate in front of us. The insides are partitally raw while the outside is coated with breadcrumbs and pan-fried with garlic sauce.
This shop is pretty famous as it has been on several TV programs including the Iron chef!
It was rated as having the best Okonomiyaki ( Japanese style pancake) in Tokyo....
But.... while I really like the food there, I am also aware that foie gras is a "cruel" food as we know the goose are forced fed to produce fatty livers... does it make me a lesser criminal if I eat less foie gras?
In fact, I managed to find other neat steals as well!
Then I went home to check and found out that the very shop I went to actually carries products from the brand (earrings). Gyaa!!
After that, I went to had my nails done! It has been a long while since I last did it.... so well really just to just get them in shape. I think the manucurist herself was more satisfied then me. She kept commenting that I have long fingers and good nail shape ( actually I felt like asking her what justifies a good nail shape... nails looks all the same to me!) So in the end, she requested to have photos taken too. There goes my first assignment as a nail model.. haa
Then I went to have dinner with my friend to celebrate her birthday!
Brought her to this shop I really liked and we had foie gras and scallop sashimi etc!
That's the guy who is doing the scallop sashimi on the hot plate in front of us. The insides are partitally raw while the outside is coated with breadcrumbs and pan-fried with garlic sauce.
This shop is pretty famous as it has been on several TV programs including the Iron chef!
It was rated as having the best Okonomiyaki ( Japanese style pancake) in Tokyo....
But.... while I really like the food there, I am also aware that foie gras is a "cruel" food as we know the goose are forced fed to produce fatty livers... does it make me a lesser criminal if I eat less foie gras?
10.16.2009
SpotTED
Found this in some online shopping website. Really like the black one and the gold ( brown)but it is all sold out!
Then I found it on yahoo auctions!!
But!
Sadly, it is going at a unreasonable price.. about 20USD?
sigh.... better buys to come!
10.15.2009
Accessories
I was telling my friend today how much I am into accessories nowadays.
Accessories sometimes makes just a whole world of difference and that sparkle you need for boring simple days!
I am not a fussy dresser... especially on working days when EVERY minute in the morning is just so precious. So accessories just add some spice into my other wise plain black jacket and slacks!
Anyway I promised to show her how I store these accessories.
1. I simply hang the neckaces on little hooks onto a bar like this... They looked pretty jammed up together but actually it is really easy to take them on and off the bar! It is also great when you want to compare them at a glance.
2. Earrings are hanged on as below.
3. Those that cannot be hung up ( like studs) are placed into little transparent pockets.
So here are some of my favourites in my small and growing collection of earrings! I love dangling earrings of all sort!
Accessories sometimes makes just a whole world of difference and that sparkle you need for boring simple days!
I am not a fussy dresser... especially on working days when EVERY minute in the morning is just so precious. So accessories just add some spice into my other wise plain black jacket and slacks!
Anyway I promised to show her how I store these accessories.
1. I simply hang the neckaces on little hooks onto a bar like this... They looked pretty jammed up together but actually it is really easy to take them on and off the bar! It is also great when you want to compare them at a glance.
2. Earrings are hanged on as below.
3. Those that cannot be hung up ( like studs) are placed into little transparent pockets.
So here are some of my favourites in my small and growing collection of earrings! I love dangling earrings of all sort!
1. My most recent buy ( actually already way back in June). I fell in love with it on first sight! I love the butterfly and how it can be matched so easily with anything! ( jeans, skirt, tank, blouses etc)
This is my "winter" series earrings. Usually wore when I am in my black knitted top, skirt and boots. But I just love little fur balls so much! I have got 2 other necklaces with furballs too! But like I said, they are only active during winter.
Like butteryfly above, the below goes well with almost everything. I love its intricate designs and the purple! I have had this for years.... maybe 3-4? And it is still my all time favourite.
A gift from my Taiwanese friend! Something I never had before and good on days you want to be casual and cute! I am also into lace... hmm knitted lace? I just love necklaces with then too.
Last but not least, another gift from someone special and close! This is another faithful partner who had seen me through many occassions because of its simpicity and elegancy.
Can't wait for weekend to come so I can go hunting for more cute accessories!
I am really thirsty to expand my collection here!
This is my "winter" series earrings. Usually wore when I am in my black knitted top, skirt and boots. But I just love little fur balls so much! I have got 2 other necklaces with furballs too! But like I said, they are only active during winter.
Like butteryfly above, the below goes well with almost everything. I love its intricate designs and the purple! I have had this for years.... maybe 3-4? And it is still my all time favourite.
A gift from my Taiwanese friend! Something I never had before and good on days you want to be casual and cute! I am also into lace... hmm knitted lace? I just love necklaces with then too.
Last but not least, another gift from someone special and close! This is another faithful partner who had seen me through many occassions because of its simpicity and elegancy.
Can't wait for weekend to come so I can go hunting for more cute accessories!I am really thirsty to expand my collection here!
10.14.2009
Playing too much~~
I had a slight suspicion that I have been playing too much in Japan....
Then I looked back at how I spent most of my holidays...
While a hand can count the number of times I was home all day in weekends, all limbs add together cannot account for the number of times I went on trips...
I wasn't in Japan for all long holidays...
Then I look forward and found most of my holidays now packed with plans to go travelling or expecting people coming to visit Japan.
But well~~ this is life for me!
And all thanks to my friend. I am craving for Eggs benedict now. Any good shop in tokyo for that?
Then I looked back at how I spent most of my holidays...
While a hand can count the number of times I was home all day in weekends, all limbs add together cannot account for the number of times I went on trips...
I wasn't in Japan for all long holidays...
Then I look forward and found most of my holidays now packed with plans to go travelling or expecting people coming to visit Japan.
But well~~ this is life for me!
And all thanks to my friend. I am craving for Eggs benedict now. Any good shop in tokyo for that?
10.13.2009
Dreams~~
Long time no write...
Just had a long weekend and thus some time to stay at home and relax.
My idea of relaxation however is not really just lazing about and doing nothing... it usually involves cleaning and clearing up stuff. It is therapeutic as I see the clutter gone, my mind is usually cleared as well!
I also managed to finish catching a drama series I have missed in the midst of my busy schedule these few months...
And somehow I was led to think about "dreams".
I looked back in my life and I realised I never really had any major dreams nor should I say I never really stick to acomplish any dreams I had...
They just merely existed, remained and finally vanished in the same form they were from the beginning.
The only time and I would say the major dream I ever had was to study in Japan and especially finally making the decision to work in Japan
It was tough then coming back to Japan for 3 months with only faith and the passion to see my dream come true.
I would always remember the sights outside the window as I travel to and fro Tokyo and Okazaki for interviews. But then I will also never forget how I felt just so fulfilled everday because I know I wake up to a goal I have to achieve.
I remembered telling someone how blessed I think I am. There are people who go through life just trying to find out what their passions and dreams are but never, people who are contented just to hold a steady job but not doing what they like best or are best at.
At least I have already discovered my passion.
So... I need to remember what I am working for, why I am here, where I am going on from now.
Just had a long weekend and thus some time to stay at home and relax.
My idea of relaxation however is not really just lazing about and doing nothing... it usually involves cleaning and clearing up stuff. It is therapeutic as I see the clutter gone, my mind is usually cleared as well!
I also managed to finish catching a drama series I have missed in the midst of my busy schedule these few months...
And somehow I was led to think about "dreams".
I looked back in my life and I realised I never really had any major dreams nor should I say I never really stick to acomplish any dreams I had...
They just merely existed, remained and finally vanished in the same form they were from the beginning.
The only time and I would say the major dream I ever had was to study in Japan and especially finally making the decision to work in Japan
It was tough then coming back to Japan for 3 months with only faith and the passion to see my dream come true.
I would always remember the sights outside the window as I travel to and fro Tokyo and Okazaki for interviews. But then I will also never forget how I felt just so fulfilled everday because I know I wake up to a goal I have to achieve.
I remembered telling someone how blessed I think I am. There are people who go through life just trying to find out what their passions and dreams are but never, people who are contented just to hold a steady job but not doing what they like best or are best at.
At least I have already discovered my passion.
So... I need to remember what I am working for, why I am here, where I am going on from now.
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