easy going

March 11

2011-03-13T04:33:00.000-07:00

While I was in the office and feeling sleepy last Friday afternoon, the one of man staff said, 'Oh, we will have earthquake...' I didn't worry about it because we have got many earthquakes here in Japan and have never had such as bad affection in my prefecture. But this time was different. We got quite intense swaying for a while and were totally panicked and then run away from the office immediately. I thought it was unusual, something was wrong, the end of this world...
This huge earthquake was named '東北地方太平洋沖地震' and registered the hugest in history of Japan.One of small town in northern part of Japan was destroyed completely as if i were seeing the picture of hell. The moment Tsunami swallowed everything...
I have been recognized that I should think I am happy to just living, don't want nothing but life.
But we will be forced to have many trouble from now on. What will become of economic situation of this country? I just can't be easy going now.

good news

2011-01-31T07:31:00.000-08:00

First, I could have lunch at very reasonable price which is only 170yen Because the rugby team of my company's client won the championship and then their canteen provide all meals at half of the price today. I ate the set meal of flied fillet. I was lucky even though I had to be with male staff and then eat in a little bit harrier than usual.

I got the part time job requires English. I will start that job from tomorrow.
I work during the day and after 5:30pm. and then sometimes have tutoring. It must be tough but i can make it for next trip...

I was odd looking? ヘンな格好だった?

2011-01-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

I found this morning that the clothes of me was eccentric. Since I just took up the tights, the skirts and the scarf randomly. It was very cold and I was upset then. Anyway how strange combination of my clothes today ! I worn the tights in checkered patten, the skirt in stripe pattern and then the scarf in banding pattern. Just only one saving was that the tights is not color tights so its pattern was not so conspicuous.

インプロゲーム　improvisation game

2011-01-14T02:16:00.000-08:00

I took part in the prototype improvisation game in the office. One of staff at my current division, HR is developing the training for employee of our customer and then, she wanted our staff included me take this game to verify this training before she provide it to our customer in real. I heard this training is useful for making high intuition or preventing being get nervous when someone is faced on important moment.
We took some games. As an example, it's called '職業当てゲーム'(The game to guess what is one's job), one person act out a pantomime of the job which is come upon in his mind without verbal explanation and then others guess what is that job. I tired to act as the staff of gas station and the modeling. I could make them get it very quickly.
Or other is, 秘密の言葉(the secret words), three person are given one word individually it should be used while skit but they don't know their words each other and also situation of that skit and then they must say or get action of their secret words while they play a role in the skit. I couldn't help laughing because during our team's skit which is the scene of 'センター試験'(the exam for enrollment of the national university in Japan) one man gave the word 'ソリ'(a sled) as the one of the transportation means for returning from that exam. (maybe that's because it has been cold here and then it will be snow tomorrow. hahaha!!)
Anyway I felt it was very short today. I always feel toooooo long everyday when I am in the office, though. I wished I could always spent the time like today in the office. Well, but i will be able to leave the office in about 2months so all I have to do is just keeping patient for a short time.

I wonder it is authentic french restaurant??

2011-01-09T07:28:00.000-08:00

I went to the restaurant named 'four en pierre' all you can eat bread in Ota city of Gunma.
They serve the big bawl salad (you can choose the dressing among 4kinds of ones), soup(you can choose the kinds and it's large quantity ), beverage(it also has 4kinds of ones) and you can all eat breads as you want at only 1,000yen.
Many kinds of bread are baked and set on the table one after another. I wanted to have all kind of breads but I had already fulled with only salad and soup.
There is french (oh,what a surprise!It's rare around here.)as a one of staff and then the ambiance is real French cafe.

私は空気が読めない?　Am I insensitive to the situation?

2011-01-06T02:52:00.000-08:00

We had morning meeting in the office.
Although we had never have it since I got the job at this company.
Maybe that's because of the beginning of this year?
We were asked how we spent during the New Year's holidays by our general manager.
All of stuff told about their holidays being satisfied with what they done.
For example, going to worship, jogging, meeting relatives, food prepared
for New Year's.About me, since it was my first time to be in Japan during the New Year'sholiday for 4 years.And then I had been felt quite boring.I don't like crappy TV program of new year, the shrine crowded by many people,
So I just told my feeling at the place but seems I was frowned at by everyone.I just told my true mind ,thoughAnyway I determined to be in anothercountry next New Year's holidays.I hope it can be tropical island...

the first day of this year to work

2011-01-05T05:51:00.000-08:00

As my resolution of this year, to keep writing up this blog everyday, to get the qualification of Japanese teacher, to visit to Croatia (I have decided it suddenly...)
So I would like to something here even if it would be only one sentence.
About today, it was first day for working this year. It was really hard to get up this morning.
I killed the time in the office as usual and I left office at just end of the office hours.
I got lottery on the way to home. It's LOTO 6 and all I have to do is that just choose 6 numbers and then make on the sheet. I was take a chance.
Now I am getting sleepy so I will close this blog for today. Zzz...

the job done first thing this year

2011-01-03T01:01:00.000-08:00

I was stuck by teaching math today. I taught simultaneous equations ,though...before that my student seemed not understand how to put plus/minus sign when the numbers are transposed to the right/ left side of a mathematical equation. I couldn't explain when she asked me why the sign are changed like that. I got them very naturally and I never thought about it such deeply. And I also have to tel her know the meaning of each word, 代入(substitution)　項(term),　値(value) and so on. I really wonder what do the teachers teach their students teach in the school. Well, that's why I can get the second job like this even such economic slump in Japan,though...

at the end of this year

2010-12-29T18:11:00.000-08:00

I am worry about my mother because she said she has had something wrong on her head. Seems she feels that her back of the head is pulled by something. Besides she got the result of medical check which says she needs to have treatment gets down her high cholesterol. So I think that is the reason of her feeling. Anyway I want her to have medical exam immediately though Unfortunately every brain surgeons don't accept the outpatients because it's already end of the year. So only I can do is that I will take her to the hospital first week of January. I wish she doesn't have that serious condition.
Looking back upon this year, many sorts of incedents happened to me. That caused me have feeling swung back and forth between joy and despair. I want this year to pass away soon so that I can forget everything caused me trouble and then I will take back myself being easy-going just next year!

account of the year-end party

2010-12-24T17:01:00.001-08:00

There was funny story in the office. The thing is, the company's year-end party was held last night.Although I couldn't be there because of my second job of tutor. (rather I didn't want to take part in it. :p) So i asked one of staff how was it next morning. According to him, he got drunk completely and then he took a bath after he came home, next morning, he felt something wrong under his body when he woke up and then he noticed that he was wearing his wife's pantie....Hahaha He said, 'We have small closet of underclothes at dressing room. Seems I used my wife's drawer unconsciously since I dead drunk'
He is really funny man, actually except this incident.
I heard another story at that party one of staff objected something being againt our general manager so it got bloody mood at that moment .Um-mm... I was lucky not to be there !

girls wearing heavy makeup

2010-12-05T14:40:00.000-08:00

While I was heading to Sinjyuku in Tokyo by train, I found some girls wearing heavy makeup. What can I say... It's totally incredible. Especially the eyes wearing very very long false eyelashes...maybe more than an inch? I'm not sure about exact length since it's curled. I wonder they don't feel heavy on their eyes or what is an advantage? They never look cool rather kind of strange. I recalled then one of my coworker in Osaka told she noticed the young flashy girls are increasing these days again. They wearing very high heel unusual boots, too short skirt, gold hair, absolutely heavy makeup with very long false eyelashes. And then she muttered like this 'It's deplorable.There's no decency left in the world.' That made me laugh because I think it's not the only reason cause the end of the world. There are a lot of problem in this world. Besides that coworker is still young.

I'm relieved to hear that as a tutor

2010-12-03T08:44:00.000-08:00

One of my students who is 2nd grade of junior high school had semester exam this week.
I asked her if she could make it well or not and reviewed the answer together.
Seems she will get higher score than the midterm exam. I was really worry about her when I started tutoring for her first because she had refused to go school for a year. I had to make an effort to retrieve her delay. But now she has already got enough motivation of studying.
That makes me be encouraged. Although I had been pretty depressed due to personal matter for a few weeks.

my niece

2010-11-14T01:15:00.000-08:00

My niece is really cute.

Today, I could meet her after long time and then spent together all of day.

I read book for her, made her eat meals, taught her simple English or took a nap together...

According to my sister, she is sometimes against with what her mother says but she seems follow everything what I said.

She started to cry when I said 'see you again' and then I also cried drawn by her. I had been so sad on the way to return.

I want to see her again soon. I wonder I will go to see her next week too. Although It's a little bit far from here.

私の姪は本当に可愛い。

今日、久しぶり会えて、一日中一緒に過ごした。本を読んであげたり、ご飯を食べさせたり、簡単な英語を教えたり、一緒に昼寝したり・・・。

妹が言うには時々彼女はお母さんの言うことを聞かないけど、私が言うとちゃんと言うことを聞くみたい。私が家に帰るとき、「またね」って言ったら泣き出してしまった。私もつられて泣いてしまった。帰り道もずっとさびしかった。

また早く会いたいな。ちょっと家から遠いけど来週も会いに行こうかな・・・

「りおちゃん、しっぽ見せて!」

「りおちゃん　踊る♪」

resumed tutoring

2010-10-29T23:29:00.000-07:00

I restarted to being tutor after a half of year.
when I read the profile of her, I was worried about teaching her because as a qualification of her tutor, it should be not have blood type B and young. I think how rude that is. That's why I refused this job offer first. But the agent said, anyway please try to see and teach her once. So I tried to tried to do that nothing to lose.
But she is just average second grade junior high school student and has good motivation of studying. According to her she didn't go to school when she was in first year. So she doesn't have knowledge of what they learn in first year.
I think I can help her catching up on her studies during that time.
Ahhhh, I am relieved because she never doubts about my blood type B and my actual age. haha...

Taiwan restaurant

2010-10-28T03:59:00.000-07:00

I ate out with co-workers at Taiwan restaurant for lunch. It's very popular restaurant around my office because it's really reasonable, enough amount and good taste. There is set menu for lunch. We can have ra-men(noodle) and donmono(bowl of rice with something) at only 650yen. Oh also you can get almond jelly as a dessert.
Besides they serve very quickly so we can have enough time for eating and rest even at lunch time in the office.
I had leftover again...and I was quite full so it was very hard to keep my eye opening.
Anyway, I am sure this price would never happened at city area.

information
＜店舗情報＞
台味館　Taimikan　

【住】群馬県邑楽郡大泉町寄木戸758‐5
758-5 Yorikido Oizumi Oura-gun, Gunma
【電】 0276‐63‐7688
【営】 11:00～14:30　17:00～24:30
【休】なし

Ah, I should have taken some pictures meals I had.

It's not autumn of appetite for me

2010-10-25T04:49:00.000-07:00

It's the time for eating a lot here in Japan. But about me I don't have any appetite rather I did in summer. I just have serial for breakfast, Japanese meals it's not oily for lunch, only apple for dinner. Am I okay? yeah, I am good in health. Every women takes care of their body and then spend a lot of money for keeping good shaped their body. It's kinda stupid.
When will I get usual appetite? I am not sure. Since I have already lost 3kg over a couple of weeks I have to go to see a doctor if I will keep this condition from now on, too.
I am sure I am not anorexia because I can EAT just not feel hungry... It's wired.

promise with my niece

2010-10-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

I went to my sister's house to see my niece aged two to get away from it all today. Although she had never seen me without crying before, she didn't just today. She just almost started to cry when she saw me first but was in good mood soon. I was relived. She is really talkative and restless. I was pulled to her world completely.
For some reason, I was asked to take her to Anpanman museum
http://www.yokohama-anpanman.jp/main.html
in Yokohama. Since I am familier with Yokohama and seems it's interesting even for adults (no...just because I am childish) I decided to take her there next month.
I will be busy from this week because I will re-start home tutor keeping my current office work in midday. But I will have a couple of consecutive holidays next month.
Rio(the name of my niece)was saying again and again that she will go to Anpanman museum with Nya-neechan(she calls me like this because I keep my cat in my house).
But just I also look forward to going there rather much more than her,maybe...^^

fish-shaped pancake 2

2010-05-31T04:40:00.000-07:00

I was surprised with this big pancake. One of my bosses gave me it after lunch time. It is stuffed with 2.5 times of bean jam as ordinal one. I ate two-thirds of it and then was really full to have been able to skip dinner. Since I have got many kinds of sweets and snacks in my current office I might gain weight.

drinking session

2010-05-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

I ate out for dinner with my coworkers and went to the Karaoke bar. We didn't have plan going to the Karaoke first but one of them was excited so much and suggested we would go there. He is by far older than me so I don't know all of songs he sang. After all we got carry away and extend time for singing.
Now I got sore throat. Seems I made merry too much.

on the early shift

2010-05-19T02:46:00.000-07:00

I was on the early shift for 2days in a row so I had to get up 1h earlier than usual and then I felt sleepy in the office. Especially I had to be a proctor of the vocational aptitude test for the employment exam after lunch. I just have to be there to monitor the prospective new employees next year. So I almost got sleep but one of them asked a question to me, I was awakened suddenly.
I felt like eating chocolate intensively after I was back home. I ate some sweets instead of dinner. It's like sign of that I am getting tired when I want to eat something sweet. I wish this week would be finished very soon.

what will become of ash chaos

2010-05-18T02:16:00.000-07:00

Since I heard about some airports in Europe are closed because of ash I have started to worry about my flight to Paris this summer. I will supposed to meet my friend there and he will take the holidays for the days I will be there. But nobody knows what it will be going on. I just wish it will not cause affection to my flight.

hot day

2010-05-17T04:18:00.000-07:00

It was summer day. The temperature rose to 29.5 degrees at my place. The city next to my town is the hottest town every summer. So seems it had hottest today too. The weather forecast says it will be summer day tomorrow too. I have to think about clothes for r while when I get up. It still cool early morning. But I can get up easily if it's not cold. I will be on the early shift tomorrow. Aww...I have to go bed earlier.

nightmare

2010-05-16T15:23:00.000-07:00

I had heartburn and felt nauseated suddenly last night so while I was watching movie. So I went to bed earlier and then got nightmare as expected. I was had been teased by that older female owner at my previous company. I had forgotten completely about her, though...Anyway the existence of such as good-for-nothing women are really annoying.

The TV show

2010-05-15T02:04:00.000-07:00

土曜日の夕方、何気なくテレビを付けたら、カンボジアで活躍している地雷探知犬の特集がやっていました。現在もカンボジアでは地雷が沢山埋まっていて、地雷探知犬の存在が必須だそうです。

今までは探知犬を国外からの輸入で賄っていたのですが、コストがかかるため、カンボジア出身の探知犬の育成をに力を入れているそうです。今回は初のカンボジア生まれの犬が地雷探知犬としてのテストに合格するかどうかにスポットがあてられていました。結局その子(犬)はテストに合格し、現在も沢山地雷が埋められている、タイとの国境近くの現場での任務を与えられて現地へ向かうという所で番組は終了しました。

日本では考えられない事実に衝撃を受けました。また、以前カンボジアへ旅行した時に聞いた「カンボジアではつい最近まで戦争をしていたので、人々の生活はまだまだ困難で食糧事情に至っては、クモでもネズミでもゴキブリでも何でも食べるよ」と可愛い顔をした現地ガイドさんがサラッと言った言葉を思い出しました。

この様な国の事情を聞かされると日本は不景気と言っても本当に平和な国なんだなぁと改めて実感させられます。私と言えば、日々の食べ物にももちろん困らず、真剣に考えることと言えば次の旅行計画ぐらいで、本当にお気楽に毎日を過ごしています。せっかく恵まれた生活環境にいるのだから、こうした貧困国の人々のために私にも出来ることは何かないか・・?と再び考えさせられた週末でした。実は前から考えていることがあるのですが、これはまた次の機会にお話ししたいと思います。まとまりませんが今週のチェックインとさせて頂きます。

When I turned on a TV unconciously on a Saturday evening, I found out in a TV show about dogs who search for land mines in Cambodia. I hear many land mines are buried there even now so the dogs searching for land mines are indispensable.But it is very costly so they have put a great deal of effort into bringing up the dogs born in Cambodia.The highlight this time is that if the dog born in Cambodia could pass the exam for searching land mines or not. After all, the dog who passed the exam got the duty on the site nearby the border of Thailand, it has many load mines even now at the end of TV show.

I was very shocked by the truth I can't imagine that happening in Japan.
Also I recalled the words of the local cute guide. She said, in Cambodia our life is still very hard and the food situation is terrible, we eat everything like spiders, mice, cockroaches and the likes.

Whenever I hear about the situation of countries like this.I recognized that Japan is still a peaceful country even it has been in recession. Like me, I have no trouble with my daily food and only the thing I think of seriously is the plan of my next trip. I live an easy-going life. I thought about the things I can do for poor people on other countries just this weekend. Actually I came upon something but I would like to tell it about someday. I can't organize my thought well though I would like to make above my topic of today.

eye doctor

2010-05-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

I went to the eye doctor after work. Since I couldn't finish the job on the fixed time I couldn't be on time accepted at the clinic I always go. So I went to the other clinic at first time. That clinic was really crowded because we can get seeing a doctor until later time than others.I waited about almost 2h. Although I thought I got the scar on the surface of my left eye the doctor didn't mention about it. He just said, the pupils of the eyes are pretty dilated so you must have been felt everything was very slowly today. But he never gave me eye drops. I think it's a quack.
I have to be check-up again at the usual clinic. It was really waste and money today.:-(

cold

2010-05-09T18:27:00.000-07:00

I caught a cold last night. I felt chilly in the morning but I had continued to do chores. I thought I can remove that chill if I had sauna so I went to the spa after drinking vitamin drink. I felt it was getting over at first 1h but I started to feel ill soon. I went back to home immediately ( It was very hard to drive ) and then rushed to bed.
After all, I absent from the office today. Since i don't have high fever now, I might go to the office if I tried to do that. I wonder I got tired?? Even I got long holiday just one week...

jogging

2010-05-08T05:22:00.000-07:00

I jogged after 2days today. Although I decided to keep jogging as my daily exercise I tend to skip it when i worked in the office. After all I jog only weekends. I don't know it's effective for maintaining my health.
Some people jog in the park and they run by far faster than me. Actually I feel tired very quickly and then I walk most of the time. Want to believe it's better than doing nothing...

got job offer though...

2010-05-07T23:46:00.000-07:00

I got the job offer from the company I worked for there about 1.5 years ago. What a ironic this world is ! It's too late. I have already started my new job for a month. Although current job is not the one I really wanted to do. All of staff are very nice and the boss is also gentle and considerate. Actually I have never seen such as good office ever. My contract will be finished by the end of June but seems I will be able to renew it again and then it is possible to be there as long as that company isn't in financial difficulties.
Since I got the other job offer from the temp agency I wonder the economy situation in Japan is getting better as the medias says??

back to work

2010-05-06T04:03:00.000-07:00

Golden week have passed in a instant. I had something to have to do ,though couldn't do a half of them.

I went to Yokohama and then tried to some Chinese foods but all of shops I wanted to have meals were crowded unusually. So I gave up them.

anyway I was back to work from today. I had been slept all of day. I yawned over again and again during the meeting. They are talking too much long time. It's just about the contents of training they tried to offer to their clients. In my opinion they have to start something if they could have enough time for meeting.

I decided to keep writing this blog everyday even if it would be short one and jogging as well.
But I had already skipped jogging because it was blowing a gale around this evening. :p I don't want to be outside when it is bad weather.

ベルリンの風景1

2010-04-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

one of the entrances of Tegel airport.

Since I can't understand German I could find the bus stop with picure. It was easy to find it.

テーゲル空港のエントランスの一つ。

私はドイツ語がわからないので、絵でバス乗り場を見つけることが出来ました。とっても見つけるのは簡単。

at Alexanderpalz 　Many bulidings are under construction in Berlin like this picture.

アレクサンダープラッツ　沢山の建物が写真のようにベルリンでは建設中でした。

Police car It's kind of cute compare to Japanese one.
パトカー　日本のものよりなんとなく可愛らしいです。

Tram　I heard the area where trams run is old east Germany.

路面電車
トラムが走っているエリアは旧東ドイツだそうです。

my favorite foods in Berlin ベルリンで好きな食べ物

2010-03-30T06:21:00.000-07:00

　　　　　　　　　　　　　Knödel クノーデル　with mashroom white sause　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　€5.40
　　　　　　　　　　　　　SPAETZLE & KNOEDEL
　　　　　　　　　　　　　WUEHLISCHS TRASSE 20 10245 Berlin

I could finally have Knödel on just before the day of return flight. Personally that restaurant serves good Knodel. Besides one of waters is very kind and give me a good advice and explanation.There are a few traditional Geran foods restaurants. On a contrary there are many Italian restaurants there. I heard the german people don't like eat out their traditinal foods.

Berliner Weiße ベルリーナヴァイセ
I was thinking I can't have Berliner Weiße this trip because it was not summer.But I could find it on the menu at Italian restaurant my friend took me. I ordered red first. Since the taste was very good so odered green next getting carried away. Athough I don't like beer so much because it's bitter fo me, this alcohol is sweet and easy to drink. Aftrer all I tried other kinds of beer and then now I like even not sweet beer like I got beer at the return flight.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Currywurst mit Pommes カレーソーセージ

It's the specialty of Berlin. I thought the spice is added when the process of making sausage but it was that the curry powder is sprinkled on the ketchup. But I had never eaten such delicious sausage in Japan. They should open their stall in Japan. Since it is served with many french flies if I ate all of then I could skip dinner on that day.

on the 9th day in ベルリン (ベジタリアンフード＆雑貨やさん)

2010-03-25T04:01:00.000-07:00

vegetarian plate w/bread €8.00

bar gagarin http://www.bar-gagarin.de/

I tried to look for nice restaurant in Berlin after check in at the hotel. Since I really wanted to eat a plenty of vegetables I ordered vegetarian plate. I can recommend this meal as well as the guide book o f Berlin.

But I got lost again while I was looking for this restaurant. Well, it's just as usual though...and then I asked to german woman seemed very kind. She gave me correct direction. I thought german are very difficult to get along with thougth. That's hardly the case.

While i got lost on the way to that reataurant found cute sundries shop. I'm sure that name is....'Twinkle Twinkle'. Seems all kinds of goods are hand made because there was the atelier on the basement.
Although I wanted to get more articles...got only nametag, accessory case and coin purse. All of them are at around €5.00

にゃんダルマ(=^・^=)　snow cat

2010-03-11T18:30:00.000-08:00

We had heavy snow on last Wednesday even here Kanto area. It was more than 20cm of snow to accumulated on the ground.

One of my cat-lover friends sent me one picture. I heard her friend made snow cat at midnight around 3am ! I think she did great job...

Since it's white it looks like my cat.

About my cat, she hates cold so was looking for the warmest place in my house. And then seems she noticed the heater makes something warm. So she was on the top of the heater. But she should be in front of the heater...It's beyond her. haha

Yakiniku

2010-03-01T06:03:00.000-08:00

I ate too much at lunch because I went to the Yakiniku restaurant today. I wonder why I can pig when I eat out...

non alcohol beer. I ordered it first.

why non alcohol? because I have to drive my car.

the plate heaped with Kimchi

I never go to Yakiniku without ordering this plate.

Bimbimbap bowl

Although it looks like small quantity, it is too enough for me.

cow tongue (we call it Gyutan)

usually eat it with squeezed remon juice after light grilled

the Kalbi of highest quality

dip in special sauce

the ice cream mixed charcoal.

I heard charcoal affects intestinal disorder and halitosis.

I didn't feel that chacol is added. It was just taste of vanilla ice cream.

I ate too much at lunch because I went to the Yakiniku restaurant today. I wonder why I can pig when I eat out...

White fish-shaped pancake / 白いたいやき

2010-02-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

Since I got known that the stand of fish-shaped pancake (たいやき/Taiyaki in Japanese) was opened around the end of last year nearby my house I tired to get it.

Speaking to Taiyaki, we usually imagine the one which is brown color though...it's not brown but white and it has a elastic texture. I hear it is getting popular nowadays.

There are four kinds of flavors at that stand, custard cream, chocolate cream, black sesami jam, sweet potato jam. Also there is white bean jam as selling period of this season.

I tried to get black sesame and sweet potato. It was not too sweet. That is good for me because i don't like too much sweet. And then certainly it is a little bit sticky.

the inside of black sesame jam. Oh, the looking is a little bit bizarre...

sweet potato jam

It is attached the small memo mentioned how to eat with the best way.

I have made up my mind

2010-02-16T20:21:00.000-08:00

I had job interview today. Although I was thinking I will never have it anymore when I got the job at that importing agency, I just wanted to try the company which they give me by far higher salary. But the interview was not good, I think. About me, 'I just tried' but the other applicants are quite different from me. Seems they want to get the job enthusiastically and are very competitive. Almost of them came here in my prefecture from other ares all the way to get the job and appealed their skills and job background. I was really overwhelmed by the ambiance like that. I simply can not contend with them. I almost gave up that company even while i was in the interview. That's why I can't anything right, I know...

If I can pass the interview I will get the free time by the beginning of April. So now I am thinking I would like to take part in the volunteer activity in foreign countries. It must be very short time though. I had been thinking about it since I had trip to Cambodia. Actually I could find this idea last night. Rather I would like to be there if I had enough time and money.

Why Cambodia?It's just a start and I was recognized their severe situation during my trip. So I feel like helping something for them. Even though it must be tiny help.

Even if I can't get the job at that company I am sure I will get other temporary job and then I will fly to Cambodia.

snow scene

2010-02-02T03:46:00.000-08:00

I tried to take a picture this morning on the way to the office.Because it was snow scene all around me. Why do I have inner reserves in spite of the time for commuting.

what a deserted view this is..

It was a little bit congested road. I drove slowly...

This river is the same as usual. It flows gently.

I thought as if i was in the snowy country.

I was relieved because this scope didn't freeze...

Snow:-(

2010-02-01T04:16:00.000-08:00

it is snowing now. we have snow after a long time here. According to the weather forecast it has been under a heavy snow warning from tonight to tomorrow morning.As i have been already found by world news it is quite cold this winter. I actually got frostbitten toes. I don't like cold ...I am thinking i was happy because i was in warm country, Philippines around this time of last year. Besides i was in Vietnam and Cambodia one month ago.
Seems the ground is covered 1cm of snow to accumulate. I really don't want to drive my car. But it is not allowed to take day off. phew....

stick shift car

2010-01-20T15:01:00.000-08:00

I drove ultra light truck in the office today. Rather I had to do it. Because I am only one employee currently so I have to do everything. I went to the welding plant to pick up the repaired luggage curt. Besides it is stick shift car. I tried to drive it after several years. Even though it has been a long time since I drove stick shift car last time I got the drivers license with MT car so I still remember how to use the clutch. But I almost got a stall again and again during starting car. Furthermore when I tried to turn a car around that's because I was on the footpath with a slope I couldn't move forward and moved back more and more. So I shifted into neutral and stopped the engine. Just then, the owner of that plant came running and helped me. Anyway...I escaped by the skin of my teeth.

Let's have massage after Angkor

2010-01-11T02:10:00.000-08:00

I always to try to have massage at Spa when I visit to another country. So I had it this time too. Although I had it at reasonable price in Vietnam, it was more reasonable in Cambodia. The prices was about a half of Vietnam but the massage-rs have a natural gift.

Angkor Home Hotel
Khum Svay Dangkum Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia
http://www.angkorhomehotel.com/

アンコールワット観光の後はスパでマッサージしましょう。^^

海外に行くと必ずその国でスパに行く私ですが、今回のベトナム＆カンボジアでも、もちろん試しました。ベトナムはフットマッサージUSD24.00/1h ぐらい、カンボジアは何とその半分の価格で質もエステシャンの腕も驚いたことにとても良いです。宿泊したホテル(アンコール　ホーム　ホテル)にあるサロンで試しました。エステシャンはとってもフレンドリーで、一時間コースのフットマッサージなのに30分ぐらい延長してくれて、背中や腕もマッサージしてくれてとても気持ち良かったです。アンコール遺跡村を一日中歩き回った後だったので帰りのフライトでも疲れ知らずでした。

Banteay Srei / Jan.6

2010-01-11T01:17:00.000-08:00

I visited to Bantei Srei which is about 32km from Siem Reap before the flight to return.

A Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and one of the smallest sites Angkor. Banteay Srei means 'Citadel of the Women'.The carvings are well preserved the most.

It has been speculated that the temple's modern name, Banteay Srei, is due to the many devata carved into the red sandstone walls.

My cat has bad physical condition...

2010-01-10T19:46:00.000-08:00

Seemed my cat got something bad in her mouth because her lower jaw shakes when she eat something as if her mouth ached. So I had her to see the vet. According to the doctor she has a canker sore and gingivitis and also got plaque. She has got older that's why she has such us problem. Although the canker sore and gingivitis can be healed with medicine, it needs general anesthesia to remove plaque. About general anesthesia I fear the worst even though the vet says nothing would happened...
Anyway I will wait a little longer and see while I give medicine to her. I hope she has big appetite soon.

Ta Prom / Jan.5

2010-01-09T23:58:00.000-08:00

Pass under the narrow gate and go to Ta Prom temple cloaked with the roots of banyan trees.

The banyan tree grabs the cloister. They say the age of a tree is over 300 or 500 and even now growth of roots is eroding the ruins.

Ta Keo / Jan.5

2010-01-09T21:55:00.000-08:00

North of Ta Prohm, Ta Keo is a stark, undecorated temple that undoubtedly would have been one of the finest of Angkor's structures, had it been finished.

No-one is certain why work was never completed at Ta Keo, but a likely cause may have been the death of Jayavarman V. According to inscriptions,Ta Keo was struck by lighting during construction, which may have been a bad omen and led to its abandonment.

Phimeanakas / Jan.5

2010-01-09T02:40:00.000-08:00

Phimeanakas stands close to the centre of a walled area that once housed the royal palace.Phimeanakas means 'Celestial Palace'.

I hear it is the tower,the place where the Leper King was forced to sneak into the snake sprite's room at night and make love to her night after night.

ピミアナカスは、かつて王族の宮殿であった城壁の中央近くに立っている。ピミアナカスは「天空の宮殿」という意味。

ライ王がよなよな蛇ナーギーに夜ばいを強制させられた、その塔だそうだ。

Bayon / Jan.5

2010-01-09T01:06:00.000-08:00

Bayon temple which is main area at Angkor Thom has 54 pagodas. Currently restoration is proceeding by support of Japanese government.

The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak

アンコールトムのメインエリアであるバイヨン寺院には54の塔がある。
現在、日本政府の支援で修復が進められている。

バイヨンを特徴付けているのは、中央祠堂をはじめ、塔の4面に彫られている人面像(バイヨンの四面像)である。

dawn of Angkor / Jan.5

2010-01-08T20:19:00.000-08:00

I got up very early morning to enjoy the rising sun on Angkor after a long time. The guide picked me up at 5:30am.
The sun was rising as if Angkor Wat had a halo around behind itself. That spectacle took me breath away. It was well worth coming there.

アンコールワットの朝日を見るために久々に早起きをした。ガイドさんが5:30amに迎えに来た。

まるでアンコールワットに後光が差すかの様に太陽が昇って行った。この光景に私は息をのんだ。来た甲斐があった!

arrive at Siem Reap / Jan.4

2010-01-08T19:40:00.000-08:00

I arrived at the Siem Reap airport in Cambodia at 17:05pm in local time. It was tooooo hot compare to Hanoi. I was bowled over by high temperature so I forgot to pick up my suitcase and then had to ask the officer of the airport to have me enter the arrival lobby. I done it again...I cant have a trip without making a blunder:p

シェムリアップ空港に現地時間の午後5:05に着いた。ハノイに比べてとーーーーーっても暑かった。高い気温に頭がぼうっとしてスーツケースをピックするのを忘れた。で、空港職員に到着ロビーに入れてくれと頼まなければならなかった。またやっちゃったよ・・・旅行でいつもドジるんだよね。

leave Hanoi / Jan.4

2010-01-08T17:40:00.000-08:00

I had flight to Siem Reap from Hanoi (flight no.vn843) saying thank you and good-bye to guide. I am always sentimental at this moment. A good-bye comes together with a trip though...

ガイドさんに感謝の言葉と別れを告げてシェムリアップに向けてハノイを発った。私はいつもこの瞬間感傷的になる。旅に別れはつきものなんだけど・・・。

Vietnamese Water Puppetry in Hanoi / Jan.3

2010-01-08T16:59:00.000-08:00

I could finally see the water puppet show I had really wanted to see for a long time. I couldn't understand Vietnamese but the each actions of puppets and background music are funny so I enjoyed. I heard from the guide the stories are different each theatre.

長い間見たかった水上人形劇をついに観ることができた。ベトナム語は分からないけど、おのおの人形の動作とバックグラウンドミュージックが滑稽で本当に楽しめた。ガイドさんによるとストーリーは劇場ごとに違うそうだ。

Thanglong Water Puppet

57B Dinh Tien Hoang Str.,Hoan Kiem Dist.,Honoi

http://www.thanglongwaterpuppet.org/

Vietnamease Restaurant / Jan.3

2010-01-08T16:28:00.000-08:00

I had the north Vietnam cuisine for dinner on the return way to the hotel. The taste was the same as in Japan once again rather all of meals seasoned lightly. I couldn't eat a lot because I ate too much at lunch.

ホテルへの帰り道、北部ベトナム料理を食べた。味はまたまた日本で食べるものと同じっていうか、全体的に薄味。お昼ごはんを食べ過ぎたので、あんまりたくさん食べられなかった。。。

Sen Xanh reataurant
40 Trieu Viet Vuong

Halong Bay / Jan.3

2010-01-08T05:52:00.000-08:00

The sky was overcast when i was in Halong Bay. So I couldn't see the scenery I saw the pic before but hazy sea and cliffs are also fantastic. Besides I had no words about the creature of　nature when I was in cave. How great the power of nature !

ハロン湾では曇っていた。なので、以前に写真で見た景色は見ることが出来なかった。でも霧がかった海と崖も素敵だと思う。また、洞窟では自然が作り出した産物に言葉がなかった。自然の力ってすごい!

BAT TRANG / Jan.3

2010-01-08T05:21:00.000-08:00

I visited to the home of pottery, Bat Trang village on the way to Halong Bay. I bought the tea set after I was completely taken in by the shop clerk's wards 'You can't get the green pattern in Japan we just export only red one' I wonder that ward is true?

ハロン湾に行く途中で陶器の里、バッチャン村を訪れた。店員の「青い模様の陶器は日本で買えません、私たちは赤い模様のだけを輸出してます。」の言葉にのせられて、茶器セットを買ってしまった。

あの言葉はホント?

Saigon Hotel / Jan. 2-3

2010-01-08T03:55:00.000-08:00

The room at the hotel in Hanoi was not so bad. But I couldn't use hot water continuously in the bath room. After all just I usually take too much time for bathing.:P So I had patient without bathtub then. I ate Pho(Vietnamese noodle) at breakfast right away. The taste was just one what I always get at the Vietnamese restaurant in Japan. That restaurant nearby is great...

ハノイのホテルの部屋はまあまあだった。でもバスルームで続けてお湯を使えなかった。そもそも私はお風呂に時間をかけすぎなんだけど。なので、その日はバスタブなしで我慢・・・。

朝食で早速フォーを食べた。日本のベトナムレストランで食べるのと同じ味だった!! あの近所のレストラン、すごい・・・。

Saigon Hotel

80Ly Thuong Kiet Str.,Hanoi

Arrive at Hanoi / Jan.2

2010-01-08T03:40:00.000-08:00

I arrived at the airport in Hanoi at 3:15pm local time.

As I expected the ambience of Vietnam looks like India. The streets is very crowded with many bikes and it is very noisy with horns !!

現地時間の午後3時15分、ハノイの空港に着いた。

予想どおり、ベトナムの雰囲気はインドに似てる。道はバイクで込んでいて、クラクションでとってもうるさい!!

Flight to Vietnam / Jan.2

2010-01-08T03:28:00.000-08:00

I had flight(Flight No. VN955 Narita-Hanoi)Vietnam on 2nd Jan.

It was very early morning for me. This is the start of my trip to Vietnam and Cambodia for this new years holiday...

1月2にベトナムにフライトだった。

私にとってはとても早い朝のフライトだった。

これは今年の正月休みのベトナムとカンボジアへの旅の始まりです。。。

a new year's card

2009-12-09T07:28:00.000-08:00

I made the new year's card with computer in the office but it is just put the picture of next year's Chinese astrology to the format. I used to make the cards with handwriting when I was younger but nowadays almost every Japanese make it with computer so it is not full of warmth.

They just exchange the cards as a common practice. It is kind of silly, I think...

Although I could make the format only for 3mitunes, the 25 pcs of cards was printed upside down by mistake because I made it chatting with the ownner...omg !! She was in bad mood when she was got known my mistake. We can exchange the newyear's card spoiled in writing to the new ones at the post office. But seems she will use them for private. Anyway it's none of my business.:p

I was asked to fill out the profile card by my student. She wanted to get known my address and send newyear's card to me . But I had to write up about myself in great detail.

It requires describing kind of everything about myself; address, phone-number, birth-date, blood type, favorite foods, TV program, the best thing I would like to get, song I usually sing at Karaoke, favorite color, movie, words...even Love Talk.

Somehow I made it seriously and was thought about myself carefully again. But I spent all of the time of my class to do it. Phew...I feel I fell right into the trap of her.

2009-12-08T15:06:00.000-08:00

I went to the office after 4days holidays and then found only one coworker have left the office. Although I knew she seemed be dissatisfied with the owner, she quit the job in a quite short time, maybe only one month? Now four people already left the office since I started the job at that company. I am sure the owner is quite strict about entire jobs but they should do nothing but just follow her. That is the job, I think. They took care about too much about what the owner said. Actually I am not affordable to take care of what she got mad at me one by one. I am very busy my second job. :p And I can work hard as long as I have plan travelling overseas.

When it comes to travelling it's almost the time I have to prepare for trip to Vietnam and Cambodia for new years holidays. I have already asked the agent to arrange the entry visa for Cambodia and will apply for travel insurance on weekend...and what's else? Ah, about others I can make it just before the departure...

busy these days...

2009-12-05T16:54:00.000-08:00

I had been very busy this weekend so couldn't write up this diary. Maybe I am not good at make time for myself.

Anyway I got a lot of thing to have to do on this weekend. But I could finallygoto the beauty shop after a long time. Shamelessly, I asked hair stylist to make my hair like Japanese popular actress Erika Toda. :p

After beauty shop I went to my student's house. My student noticed my new hair style at a glance and then said, "Did you have your hair cut? Cute!" Wow...She is very good girl. hahaha.

I taught her how to learn Japanese ancient writings like Genji Monogatari, Tsurezuregusa, Makurano Soushi.

She doesn't know ancients words even it's very simple ones. So I made words cards it should be learned a thing by heart for her. And advised she can learn those stories with Manga. Actually I always read manga and could understand all of stories when I was students.Especially Genji Monogatari was very popular among girls then. Am I not good teacher?

I am looking forward to ...

2009-11-28T00:28:00.000-08:00

I talked about our job with my friend at lunch. How should we do to be rich? We talk nothing but being rich recently. We used to study hard to get the license related to trading before but it seems we will not able to take advantage of that license due to global recession. My friend is looking for the license which can bring much profit. She is dreaming of getting luxurious car Lexus of Toyota when she would be rich.Why Lexus? I have no idea.:p

After lunch I went to the bonesetter to strengthen my bandy legs. Seems it will take a long time to be strengthened completely. But I will try to keep straightening there.
It is a trustworthy office. The doctor's fee is just one-third of the one when I have it in Tokyo.
I was learned about how to stretch myself which has good effective to strengthen bandy legs. I have to do it as much as I can a day. But it pretty hard to keep that posture even 1 minute.
Anyway I should work on it. I am looking forward to getting well-shaped my legs after sevral months. hehe

thinking about my job

2009-11-26T15:34:00.000-08:00

I went back to home late last night because my students asked me to extend the time for tutoring since they will have the semester exam today. I arrived at home around 10:30pm and noticed the mail from another student. He asked some questions of math. The questions are very easy besides I taught him how to solve over again and again. Seem he still can't understand them.:-(
Anyway, I am getting very busy these days with tutoring compared to the importing company at the daytime. Maybe I'd better have job only as a tutor on concentrate. I tried to calculate the amount of my benefits when I have 2 times of students I have currently. Oh, I can expect gain pretty much.

2009-11-25T15:31:00.000-08:00

I wasn't busy in the office because the owner wasn't there.:p Even though she gave us some chores so that we couldn't spend freely we could get through them immediately. We picked some herbs in the afternoon. Actually there are many kinds of self-cultivation herbs in the garden of the company. They are very useful to release my stress.

According to my today's student, her school is almost be closed due to swine flu. She says some of her friends got flu now. Now I feel the flu issue is closing to just around me. It is my first time in ever all of my life the flu is such as serious problem. I should be careful but I don't know what to do aside from frequent washing my hands and gargling. I doubt the vaccination is the most effective.

quick lunch box

2009-11-24T15:23:00.000-08:00

I usually take my lunch box when I have work in the office on weekdays and have make it by myself. Sometimes I feel it very troublesome so get it at the convenience store. But the best way is using frozen foods. I can make it only for 3min. And it looks very colorful and delicious. Actually the taste is worse than what it is homemade, though...

Since I was spaced out I left my bag which has all of my belongings like wallet, cosmetic poach, cell-phone, digital dictionary, handkerchief, eye-drops,etc. in my house. I noticed that on the way to the office and then I retrieved it from my house. I had bought only lunch bag. I am very clumsy. Fortunately I was not late on the time for the office.

Ah, I just have to note. The lottery which is annual the end of the year started to be sold from yesterday. I should get it later.

my labor thanks giving day

2009-11-23T00:04:00.000-08:00

I started gardening about three months ago. I planted young tomato, lettuce, basil and so on.

Now I am waiting ripen petit tomato but it still have not been enough. Maybe that's because it got colder suddenly last week. I picked two kinds of lettuses and Italian basil as today's harvest. Actually I had forgotten to pick them so they were grown too much.

Although today was the national holiday as the labor thanks giving-day, I had work of tutoring at night. I really wanted to skip it but I couldn't. Because my student will have the semester exam in 3days so if I would skip I would be disgusted by him.
Today's subject was how to prove congruence of two triangles. I was in trouble to explain about vertical angles.
I tried to ask him which high school he would like to go. He wants to enter the high school with recommendation from succor and be a professional. I just have known he is belong to the succor team but I didn't know about that. He was speaking enthusiastically with sparkling eyes.I want him to be active as a J-leaguer in the future. I wonder I should get his autograph before it is too late? haha

Spa & etc.

2009-11-21T04:46:00.000-08:00

I went to the Spa again. But it's not the one I always go. It is 'Ganban-Yoku'(Ganban means bedrock and Yoku means bath) which is one kinds of the sauna style bath and you can sweat lying on the warmed natural stones or rocks, they call it the bath needless bath.

It causes good effect for the poor blood circulation. But just about me I broke into a sweat and lost my weight in a short time. Actually I don't need to be on a diet because I am thin so seems someone takes care of their weight would better use it. I prefer ordinal Spa which has hot spring.

Around at 6:30pm I was heading to the my student's house and passed by UNIQLO crowded with many people.Seemed the shop was holding sale. I think the reasonable shops like UNIQLO are getting popular around the world. So far I still have not found nice item there,though. I am excited getting something luxurious which has big reductions in the prices.

My students will have the semester examination in a week so he asked me to tell the measures of math. I gave him some questions and found he is poor at the application of equation. If it would be composed by the fraction he always takes a long time to solve it. He also doesn't like the question requires reading comprehension. I explained about how to make the formula carefully. I hope he can get the high score of math.

Atelier of Japanese paper

2009-11-19T04:52:00.000-08:00

I visited the workman of Japanese paper to ask her to make the trial product made of Japanese paper. It was very cold just today. Besides that place is located in the mountains so it was cooler than city area. But the Atelier was great. We could see many kind of Japanese paper crafts and some famous people in this field.

We had lunch at the popular Soba restaurant around that area after meeting.

We went to back to the office in good mood ,though we got the announcement from the customs brokers and then was upset terribly. Because it says that we will not able to use the certification of foods inspection needed when we import the goods related to foods from overseas. That expire date is the end of this year which means we have to get the certification again next year. According to the owner the inspection fee is very expensive so we can't expect the profits at least for a year. So we placed an order mass of products immediately. Anyway I really have grudge the person who decided this system. There is always someone who stand in the way of our business.

I was very sleepy last night.

2009-11-18T15:02:00.000-08:00

Since I went to bed before I knew it last night. So I'm writing up this dairy now.
Yesterday, I had labor work in the warehouse of the importing company . I leaned about how to move the pallets and use the PP bands. I can admire the person who invented the PP bands.I guess he must became rich thanks to this patent. Anyway...I'm sure I can be hired by the packing agent when I lose the job next.:p
About tutor, the student was elementary so I could make it easily. I taught how to get the volume of cubic, triangular prism and so on. That student is very talkative and she always change the subject to her favorite Japanese idol,Hey say Jump. Actually I didn't know about them ,though recently I am getting familiar with that idol. But for me they don't quite make the grade. They are too young for me. But I can make a sense because the girls who are 12-15 regard the men more than 25 as old man. haha.

Oh, It's almost the time for leaving home. I have to visit to the workman of Japanese paper with the owner today.

addicted to hotspring

2009-11-17T15:03:00.000-08:00

It's getting cold day by day these days. Just yesterday, the temperature was the same as the middle of December. It had been very cold in the office all of day so I was thinking about going to the Spa after work. I don't like taking a bath at home during the winter because there is the coldest place in my house. So I usually go to the Spa near from my house when I have time. Luckily my class was canceled just last night so I went there after dinner. I could warm up my body,release my stress and the swelling of my legs was gone.

Seems I will be a regular customer of that Spa this winter too.

got something new

2009-11-16T06:11:00.000-08:00

In the office I was taught how to use the electric screwdriver by the owner. Actually I had never thought about that I have to do such as works in my daily life before. But just in that company requires some handiwork. We have to assemble the carts for luxurious hotels like Birdcage luggage cart, Bellman's Hand Trucks before we ship them our customer when we received the shipments from overseas . I tried to use the electric screwdriver following owner's advice. I could use it by far better than I expected. I can make it very well so I should try do-it-yourself carpentry next time even at home.^^

About tutoring I was in trouble in the difficult question of math like this: required the area of triangle surrounded by the straight line of liner function and the curve quadratic function. Phew...I don't like math.

Now I feel sleepy and have to go to bed soon because I have to get up early tomorrow again...

real Japanese meal

2009-11-14T23:40:00.000-08:00

Nowadays I usually eat out with my friends for lunch on weekends. But there was no person who has time to hang out with me today...so I spent alone all of day. I went to the beauty-treatment clinic to have facial massage in the morning and went back to home and then cooked my lunch. But I cooked in a very short time. Just baked fish(a Pacific saury), made instant Japanese pickles and Miso soup, boiled rice,sliced sesame Tohu...that's all. How healthy and simple my lunch is!
Although I love Italian, French, Indian, Korean and other countries foods, I sometimes feel like eating simple Japanese foods like today's lunch. I knew it.

rainbow

2009-11-14T00:53:00.000-08:00

I could find the rainbow around 4:30pm today while I was driving my car to get something at the supermarket. When I noticed it I didn't have camera so retrieved it from my house unconsciously. Maybe it has been a long time since I saw the rainbow last time. It can't be come out badly on just the picture but the original was fantastic.

Japanese handmade Paper

2009-11-13T16:16:00.000-08:00

I visited to Ogawa-town in Saitama prefecture with my coworkers because we are trying to think up the new products used Washi (Japanse handmade paper) for the guest room at first-class hotels. We thought we have to learn about Washi first as the start. That town is famous for the home town of Washi.

Ogawa-Town
The history of Ogawa-town can date back to far the Jyoumon-Era. It was known as the important point of the Kamakura Highway which connected Kamakura and Jyosyu in the Medieval Period and interesting town for the touring Japanese old history because there are the place of Umegaoka remains the legend of Miya Shogun Morikuni Imperial Prince who escaped safely to there after the fall of the Kamakura government, the ruins of Sengaku-Risshi (priest) who achieved research on Manyou-syu, Daishou-Ji(temple) which has Rokkaku-Touba(stone Monument) of the important cultural property designated by the government.

We could see many kind of the paper crafts. That made me realized again the beauty of Japanese traditional culture

Hiraizumi

2009-10-12T16:10:00.000-07:00

Chusonji

It is designated as a special historical site, the head temple in the Tohoku Tendai Sect and the mountain number is Sekigou. Constructed by Kiyohira Taira, had about 40 of temple tower and 300 of Zen Buddhist seminary when it was in the heyday. Only Konjiki-dou was remained as the constructure at that time due to repeated fires. Konjiki-dou is called Hikari-dou as Matsuo Basyou composed 'Samidareno Kounokoshiteya Hikari-dou ' has floor, ceiling and walls gilded with gold. It keeps the corpses of Kiyohira, Motohira,Hideuhira and also the head of Yasuhira under the alter.

I have started my blog again.

2009-09-27T04:14:00.000-07:00

I'm writing my blog after a long time. I had been really hectic over a couple of months. Actually I'm very busy even now. One of reasons is that I have two jobs now. One is the clerical work at the sole import agency and another one is home tutor. I have to work at both of them on every weekdays. Another reason is that I've got new my hobbies which is gardening and aromatherapy. I get many kinds of young plants of herbs, flowers and vegetables and then plant them to my small garden. Maybe I'll be able to get some tomatoes, blueberries and strawberries soon. About aromatherapy just I get some essential oils like lavender, lemon and so on and I light candle to evaporate oils and enjoy the smell of them. It makes me very comfortable and release my stress, feel refreshment.

When I feel like having something sweets I can eat my fill healthy.

I cooked very healthy pudding because it must be quite low calorie. I sometimes get the pudding at the market but I always feel the store-brought one is too sweet for me even though it says it's not too sweet on the package. I used lowfat milk, butter and zero calorie sugars. It must be less than half of calories of the store-brought one. I skimped some process like strainer but it is enough because it doesn't that I have to serve it for someone. Though looks is not good but...I can sing my own praises. It is very pleasant to taste.

Have I got hey fever?

2009-05-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

Over a couple of week I have sneezed a lot of times and my eyes itches. These symptoms are just hey fever. I know you sometimes get an allergy suddenly. So have I got hey fever or something like that now? I have never had those kind of allergy until now so I didn't know how they who has a allergy feel but now I really know. I sneeze over again and agian and then have to blow my nose. My eyes itches so I can't put on contact lenz for a long time. It's really irritated me...

I hope my allergy is not just cat allergy.

草木万里野 ~dishes~

2009-05-23T18:42:00.001-07:00

First we ordered ethnic Pizza(upper left) its taste is spicy with tacos source and it was pretty larger than I expected. Next (upper right)is 'Chinese rice baked in hot pebbles' which is Chinese boiled rice mixed with sea foods and vegetables and it was sizzling in the baked pebble pot when it was put our table first. The last (lower left)is Vietnamese Pho ga. (I don't know exact English name though) I always order it when I eat out there. The taste is quite light so we could eat it easily even we had felt full. I still have not eat the authentic Pho yet though I think this Pho is quite similar to Authentic one.

There are plenty of drink menu there.

We ordered Iced Vietnamese coffee(left) and Topical fruits shake(right).

Actually...I forgot the name of the fruit. The menu says it good for anti-aging with vitamin C and citric acid.

We ordered dessert too. Did we eat too much??

The below is Affogato which is Italian dessert refers to the act of topping a drink or dessert with espresso. The sweet vanilla beans gelato is an ideal match to espresso.:-)

草木万里野

2009-05-23T05:58:00.000-07:00

I sometimes eat out with my friend for lunch or dinner at this restaurant and went there for lunch today.

The name of the restaurant is '草木万里野(Kusakimarino)' I heard they opened the restaurant on the premise 'The owner Sheff Marino opened the Asian restaurant after she remodeled'

The building is like half in Japanese style and half in European style. We can open the small sliding door with stooping down for entering the inside. Ah, in my case I don't have to stoop down because I am very short...:p

The foods menu is also semi-western style and you can find many kinds of dishes like Italian, chinese, Japanes foods.

Kusakimarino is kind of chain store so you can find it in Kita kanto area (located in more than about 50miles northeast from Tokyo like Gumma,Saitama, Tochigi prefecture) There still aren't in Tokyo. Personally, I don't want to them to open in Tokyo but only in Kita kanto area.

stupid public servant

2009-04-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

I went to the public office to pay government pension tax reluctantly. And then I witnessed by chance the two men were looking at the some pictures (I guess they were taken at some one's wedding ceremony.) despite they were on duty. How stupid and rude they are! They must be not busy in the office. I can't forgive them. It doesn't that I am willing to pay tax in my recent severe situation due to economy crisis. And the public office can be paid by our taxes. In spite of that why they are fooling around during office hours without consciousness? If they held surplus people they should cut their staff like private companies. Anyway I can't help raising an object about it to the public office.

job interview part2

2009-04-19T08:45:00.000-07:00

I went to the job interview today. That company is that they imports foods,oils,soaps and so on from France and sell to the nationwide shops. I am interested in that company it is different from the company I applied for it three weeks ago. I really thought I would like to work for that company while I was having job interview. I am interested in the goods they are handling. The goods are the things most of women taking care of their health or beauty must like and buy. And the owner said to me my job background and license are enough for handling their business because I was working for the customs brokers at the job before last. But there are some problem. First,the location is in very far from my house and it takes 1.5hours even I use highway by my car. I can sleep or read just on a train or a bus even if it takes such a long time. But I have no choice because there are no suitable train or bus line to get there from my place. Second, they are look for the person instead of the female staff who became pregnant. According to the owner, their business will going well over next near but if it would be poor and that woman went back to the office after maternity leave I should leave the office one year later. The most difficulty is that now they are accepting more than 40 applicants and it seems they have excellent job backgrounds. For example; worked for famous Japanese trading company, resided at Italy for 6 years with job, speaking English as like native and so on...

Anyway, all I have do just now is waiting the result of the job interview as well as looking for other jobs.

She is in a good mood.

2009-04-11T04:52:00.000-07:00

How cute expression she is!

I am acting like a doing parent...I took a picture of her without meaning to.

Japanese style Pasta?

2009-04-11T04:10:00.000-07:00

I cooked very low calorie pasta for lunch. actually just I didn't have pasta sauce and it was hassle going out to get it. The ingredients are pasta(absolutely!), basil, hone-wort, olive oil, a little of salt and consomme powder...that's all. I wonder I am on a diet? The taste was pretty simple but not bad. But I can't serve it for guests.

incense-burning

2009-04-09T04:05:00.000-07:00

Today was very hot as if it was early summer. The temperature rose to 25 ℃and still 21℃ even in the evening. I always feel like going somewhere on such a good day. but I stayed at home all of day. Because I'm really into incense-burning nowadays. I have interested in the incense before but almost of them are made in India or Thailand. Absolutely I like those taste but now I like Japanse taste. My favorite smell is Sakura. When I burn Sakura incense I feel as if I am in full cherry blossoms. I burn incense almost every day and my cat always sleeps next to it So the smell of her hair is also Sakura. Maybe she is also enjoyed that smell. ^^

Sakura

2009-04-04T07:26:00.000-07:00

Now it is the season for the Sakura tree or better known in English as Cherry Blossoms to bloom in Japan. However of recent, cold weather still persists here in Japan.
In addition, I went to a local liquor shop and something caught my eye. I noticed that they are selling some sort of wine made from Cherry Blossoms. Unfortunately, all of the Cherry Blossom wine stocks had earlier been sold. So I asked the shop clerk when the next shipment of the wine would arrive. Unfortunately still, the clerk told me that no more shipment will arrive for that certain wine since the Hanami (Flower Viewing) Season has already ended. I am really curious of how that Sakura wine would taste like.

my cat

2009-03-30T01:51:00.000-07:00

My cat sometimes sleeps like a human being. She uses a pillow when sleeping and she even wakes me up to take a pillow and even takes my space in sleeping. I wonder if she even thinks that she’s a cat and not a person.

job interview

2009-03-28T03:51:00.000-07:00

Before I begin I still want to mention some experiences I’ve had in the Philippines.
But, considering the reality of my situation here in Japan, being unemployed is really hard. So, I applied for a job. And here I am, preparing for a job interview scheduled today. This job I am talking about is not really the type which makes me excited. However, since it is the job which the unemployment office strongly recommended to me. I decided to apply for it. But, this particular experience for me is not quite good. The job exam was a difficult one. It’s practically a math exam. And math was a thing of the past for me. I really forgot how to solve those problems. I was wondering, why I had been given such difficult problems. Why not give me an exam on kanji or something? In addition, the interviewer gave a hard question for me to answer. I started hating the person in charge of the unemployment office, that old man! I really do not want to work for him any time soon. But I quickly realized that working for these kind of men are not avoidable. I also realized it is going to become harder for me to keep my lifestyle if I keep on going unemployed.

sweets and snacks(in Philippines)

2009-03-14T04:47:00.000-07:00

In the Philippines, I can get a lot of sweets, snacks, and instant noodles for reasonable prices. They come in handy, because I skip meals at my dormitory.

The leftmost photos are not sweets. It is a pack of powdered fruit juice. It is prepared by adding 5 parts of water to 1 part of the powdered fruit juice. But the first time I’ve tried it. I did not read the instructions and I end up drinking something too sweet. .I thought that it was suppose to look viscous and pulpy when you pour it to your glass. I felt stupid doing that. But I think that made my sore throat better. Anyways, I like the supermarket in the Philippines. They even recognized my nationality.

Healot (in Philippines)

2009-03-12T05:24:00.000-07:00

Hilot means body massage in the Visayan language in the Philippines. I found many good spas in Cebu, Philippines. The offer top of the line services at reasonable prices and fees. I think their prices are a tenth of that of Japanese Spas. Fortunately for me, a spa is located near my dorm. So I go there every other day. I tried every service offered by the spa. But I hear that foreigners go to this spa are not quite common. And I noticed that Philippine students come at the spa a couple of times. I also tried other spas in Cebu, but I found my spa near my dorm to be better than all of them.

The girl shown here is a good therapist. As long as she’s in the spa, I can virtually try any service they offer. However, It looks like the staff do not know how to operate a machine used for facial massage. Anyway, that spa in Cebu was the best. It made me comfortable all the time.

Jeepney (in Philippines)

2009-03-09T02:30:00.000-07:00

It is the most common transportation means in Philippines. But I always use taxi because it was a little bit scary getting on the Jeepney when I was alone. I could try it when I was with Philipino. There is no a/c but I really enjoyed with the warm wind and the view on the street from the window. And I felt heartwarming because the passenger seating far from the driver can hand to the their neighbor the pay and then other passengers pass the pay to the their neighbor so that the driver receive it.

I felt that I was in Philippines the most when I was getting on Jeepney...

The meals of the dorm (in Philippines)

2009-03-04T02:22:00.000-08:00

The pic is the dinner of one-day. After all, I never could meet good meals there. It seems that they cooked for Koreans because there are many Korean students in that dormitory. But even Korean are saying the tastes is terrible.

I was wondering why they could cook such as terrible meals...I thought they should borrow me their kitchen. But I could not complain about it when I the staff of canteen smile at me.hahaha...

catch a cold (in Philippines)

2009-03-04T00:17:00.000-08:00

I caught a bad cold. I went to Manila while I was in Cebu and my flight return to Cebu was delayed so I had to wait long time at the airport. I was lightly dressed so I felt I caught a cold then. The night I went back from Manila I had high fever. Although I didn't know exact temperature because I didn't have clinical thermometer then. I took some medicine from Japan. But it didn't work well. After all I absented from school for two days. No matter how I lied quietly in bed I couldn't get over. I decided to call a doctor with using travel insurance. When I contacted with them they arranged immediately. They picked me up at the dorm but they judged that it was not good for me to bring to the hospital as a outpatient they saw my face.So the doctor came to my room and examined. I was given the injection, some medicine and even thermometer. It was difficult for me to swallow each medicine because its drops are quite large compare to Japan. I could get over very quickly after that. I should have contacted earier...

Anyway the system of travel insurance is useful and marvelous!!

I had been in Philippines for a month

2009-03-03T23:00:00.000-08:00

I visited to Cebu for studying English and stayed there for a moth(Feb.8th-Mar.8th) Why Philippines?...they asked me, though. It's very reasonable compare to other countries; UK,USA and so on. In addition I wanted to escape from cold winter in Japan.
I stayed the dormitory next to language school. I spent there almost the time in Philippines.
There were many different things from that I had expected.
I think I should write down all of them before I forget...

economy slump in Japan

2009-01-19T17:45:00.000-08:00

I went to the unemployment office to make procedure of unemployment benefits. I was recognized again that there are many jobless people at the moment. I have never been experienced such as big recession. I really worry about the future of Japan. Many Brazilian are in my prefecture and they are also looking for their job. But I think it is difficult for them because there are no enough job even Japanese here...
I heard from the news that one Japanese famous cardboard company decided to hire their temporary staff as their regular staff in coming spring. The company says that temporary staff are very important manpower for their business that's why they took place that employment. I want other companies to follow this cardboard company example. But I'm sure it is impossible for them because almost every company around here is suffering from their recession.

jet lag (In Paris)

2009-01-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

Three days have passed since I went back from Paris. But I haven't gotten over my jet lag.It is my first time to have such a terrible jet lag. I wonder I'm suffering from jet lag this time. I usually go to bed at around midnight but right now I'm wide awake untill 5:00am. But even if I was like that there is no problem on my current daily life because I'm out work just now. Is it good thing or bad thing? I have no idea...

But I have to return back to my usual daily life by this month at least.

I had one misfortune on top of another in Paris.

2009-01-11T01:44:00.000-08:00

It had been almost bad weather while I was in Paris. I had even snowing. In addition, the flight to London was behind of the schedule so I missed the second flight to Tokyo. I had to wait for a long time at Heathrow airport. But I could get known one Japanese traveler thanks to this delay.

We could talk a lot about our trips each other.He said that he didn't want to go back to Paris anymore. Hahahah... somehow I can understand his mind. Certainly I was an unwelcome guest just only at the point of the weather. But I could meet a lot of French people (including cute French boy,hehe). I was thinking that French are hard to get along with but they are very friendly and kind and then they spoke to me with even Japanese.

I hope I can go back to Paris some days. Absolutely it should be another season except winter.

St.Sulpice (in Paris)

2009-01-10T06:10:00.000-08:00

It was established in the 6th and the current con structure is in the 18th.

-By Da Vinci code-
It is the place hidden the key stone that leads the Chalice.

Oh, I forgot to check the sundial...

St-Germain des Pres (in Paris)

2009-01-09T09:27:00.000-08:00

The oldest church in Paris. It is quiet church surrounded with small garden. Although the appearance is so simple. I felt the stately atmosphere when I entered by one step.

Modonna of the Rocks / first version (in paris)

2009-01-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

The mystery that Dan Brown and researchers showed

Ⅰ. John the Baptist seems a higher rank than Jesus

Ⅱ.Jesus and John the Baptist looks just like each other.

Ⅲ.The Virgin Mary seems threaten Jesus.

Ⅳ.The mystery of Archangels Uriel

For the reasons mentioned above Da Vinci was forced to draw the another picture by the side of church.

Mona Lisa (in Paris)

2009-01-08T03:28:00.001-08:00

'Wow, what a small it is!!' that is my first impression when I saw Mona Lisa. Although I had been heard that Mona Lisa was quite small picture. I could not have any especial emotions. Maybe because there are so many people in front of it I couldn't have enough time to think of it...

I'm sorry Mona Lisa

Paris 1

2009-01-08T03:10:00.000-08:00

My hotel in Paris was in front of the Louvre museum across the Seine river. So I visited there again and again. They say that it takes about one week to look at all works in Louvre. Certainly it was quite specious than I had been expected and crowded terribly with the visitors from all over the world.

I've arrived at the hotel in Paris.

2008-12-28T21:40:00.000-08:00

I could finally get in Paris. It's cold here.

But I LOVE Paris.