Merry Christmas!

and i am working....

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....and it's raining...
it's more depressing than i thought...

but it's ok...i still love Japan

Wish you all a Merry Jolly Christmas!!

風船太郎 the balloon guy

Guys...
this guy is FUNNY!!!!

i couldn't stop laughing after watching it.

hope this will make you laugh too!

Christmas is coming soon~

being in a small town in Japan

you can't feel much Christmas in the air

but...BUT...

somehow... i am teaching kids Christmas vocabs or involving in activities that are somewhat Christmas related...hehe..

first...my Christmas tree!!!

I LOVE IT!

in japan...somehow eating CAKES is a Christmas tradition here..

it's kinda strange but i adapt this tradition with a BIG smile~ (who would refuse cakes?!?!)

here are some of the cakes the grade 7 kids decorated!

it's december!!

before i realize, it's already december...

what's new lately??

hmm...


-i went to Tokyo last week for the annual conference (work related)
it was definitely good to be away from my little town for a while and go to the CITY for some excitment. it was good to get to see old friends and visit some museums and galleries....and to see Shina Ringo's live. (she was AMAZING!!!)


-the coming 2 weeks are just packed with jr high, elementary schools and daycares visit...Kids, kids and more kids!! YEAH!! hehe! on top of that...all my english classes and chinese class will be finishing soon so lots of parties are lining up...hehe!! and of course there is the Christmas party for the kids in town...and the end of new year party of work...haha!! how fun!!



-the wedding rush around me doesn't seem to stop
i just found out a friend of mine from HK got married and became a mom 2 years ago (!!!) and in 2009...2 of my cousins are getting married, Feb and March...a friend of mine from HK is getting married in June, friend from Osaka is getting married in March...who else? my other cousin just got engaged... i am pretty sure i missed someone...but you get the point...well, i am happy that it's wedding rush!! not funeral rush...><

that sums it all...i guess...

and i got to start making my new year resolution list soon too...

just one recent photo of me teaching in jr high yesterday

back to life without parents

so...my parents were here and now they are gone

their visit this time was a blessing for me

i never spent so much time talking and laughing and enjoying each other companies before with my parents

i thank God for giving me wonderful parents

people asked me and my parents: "don't you feel lonely (living so far away from each other)?"

our answer: "yes... but the three of us all trust in God and God is the link of our relationship. God is the focus and the Lord of our family. God is the heavenly father of us 3."

my parents not just provided me material goods
more importantly, they introduced me to the most powerful and loving provider who can satisfy all my needs.

thank you, daddy and mommy
thank you, my heavenly father

tomorrow

my parents are coming to visit!!!!!!
YEAH!!
it's kinda surreal but it's definitely exciting!!

i have nothing plan yet...haha!!
well, they mainly just want to see me...i guess...hahaha!

i gotta start planning tonight...

anyways...i have hula lesson tonight~
i love hula...the 75 mins lesson is a healing time for me

------------------
ps. i just found out 2 of friends are getting married...
what is this with the wedding rush??

to all those who are getting married and to all my newly weds friends
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS3d3bnK3-4

i stole this link from my bean's blog

let me introduce you guys to my...

personal 24/7 trainer

hehe!!

yes...i couldn't resist.

i tried it in Canada and i found it fun

and actually practical

winter is coming and soon it would be too cool and too dark to go for a jog or a walk in the evening

in order for me to keep in shape

i figure i will need a personal trainer...

and now...

i've got one!

back and back

i was back in canada for the last 2 weeks
and now i am back in japan

i like canada
i like montreal
i like having my family so close by
i like having old friends around
i like the city
i like the open-air cafe
i like the green and the river

but i think i love japan....
hehe...
don't scream at me!!
i don't know why either!!
God just put the passion in my heart!

but it was good to be back HOME

i was back!
i am back!

photos will be uploaded soon...

red poka dots

my body is filled with red poka dots

itchy red poka dots

ugly red poka dots

on my legs

on my arms

on my back

and i think is spreading to my tummy

the doctor said :no specific cause...

it has been 5 days

no sign of recovering

i am thinking about visiting another doctor

for a 2nd opinion

on my

red poka dots


------
sidenote: red poka dots aka rash

promise

'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'
Hebrews 13:5

WOW!!

i am so loved by God

and this is Paul's reponse:
'So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"'
Hebrews 13:6

WOW!

'What can man do to me?'

that kept echoing in my head today

i envy Paul's faith in Christ
i envy his intimacy with God

recently...

attended my friend's wedding~
my first wedding in Japan!!!
Congratulations!!



with bride and bride's mom (aka haha)




the Hula team...hehe!!
yes...the four of us were asked by the bride to dance at the reception
it was so much fun!!!
too bad i don't have any picture of us dancing
haha!

fulfilled my job as a coordinator of international relations

which means promoting Canada

a long day of saying Hello!! and Thank you!!

but lots of fun!!

he is so cute with the canadian maple leaf!!

YEAH CANADA!!

attended and participated in my town jr high sport day

i danced yosakoi (japanese traditional dance) with them

yea...i was trying to pretend to be a jr. high student..hehe!

again...too bad there is no picture of me dancing with my students...

ate indian food...

hmmm!! so good!!

the funniest thing is the waiter in the restaurant

it's my third time there but i had the hardest time trying not to laugh when he greets...hehe

biked along the lake

it's one of the five lakes in Fukui

the size is nothing compare to the 5 great lakes in Canada

but it was abosuletly beautiful~

a list of..

things i have been enjoying recently

-listening to Coldplay
-reading 'Blindness'
-listening to 熊木杏里
-eating cakes by myself...(haha!)
-taking a walk in the evening
-dancing Hula
-driving
-cooking with nabe
-watching DVDs


things i need to improve (work harder on)
-spending time with God (especially praying)
-getting started with my study
-hmm...there are more...

childhood movie

魔女の宅急便

in English it's translated as KiKi's Delivery Service

i was probably 6 or 7 when i first time i saw this film

and it became my favorite ever since

not only the main character has the same name as me 'kiki'

she can fly too!!

when i was 6 or 7

it was just a film filled with fantasy

when i watched in at 25

it's still a film filled with lovely fantasy

but the understanding of it is so different

i never thought this film could make me teary

but i just couldn't hold my tears...

the way KiKi said goodbye to her parents

started a new life in a new city

met new people

surrounded with kindness

but also challenged in many ways

lauhging cyring
learning and growing

it's like seeing myself

leaving canada behind

coming to Japan
meeting amazing people
but also facing different kinds of challenges

i love this movie so much!!

キキになりたい

純粋な心を持ち

いつか　人のために飛びたい

september already

after 25 years, i finally realized which season i like the best.

SUMMER

how did i come up with this realization?
end of spring i am looking forward for summer
end of fall i am not at all excited for winter
end of winter i am so excited not because spring is next but because summer is coming soon
as for end of summer i become nostalgic
i don't want it to end

despite the humidity and the heat in japan
i like being under the sun
i like the fact that i can wear flip flop
i like the fact that everything is green
i like the fact that i can enjoy ice cream, shakes, coffee..or just food in general...outside
i like the fact that i can just leave the house without worrying on putting scarfs and mittens
i like the fact that daytime is longer

i miss summer
but fall is coming already
fall is always nostalgic
with the sentiment of missing summer
with the falling leaves
with the gray sky
everything is getting already to welcome winter
hmmmmmm.....maybe i should join hibernation

sidenote:
Happy Birthday Debbie!!!

an afternoon in Kanazawa

what can be better than taking advantage of the sunny weather by taking a walk?!?
i actually ended up on the top of the mountain..well, hill... and was blessed with a wonderful panorama!!
Gosh! i love Kanazawa!

yea...i was stalking the couple from the back...call me a freak!!HA!

and how can i end the day without a nice little treat?
hehe!! hmmmmmm...delicious!

Mr.Children GIFT

this is my song for the month

memoir of summer 02

where am i?? (where are we??)


Answer: BEACH!!! Sea of JAPAN!!!

enjoying the sunset....with

my deart beautiful friend Hikari

before i realized, we have already known each other for about 4 years!!

来てくれて　ありがとう！！！


in this crazy hot and humid summer...obivously kakikori (shaved ice) with green tea and red beans topping!!! HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM! YUM!



and how can we forget about alcohol and delicious sake!?!? HAHHAA!!!

long girl talk at night is THE BEST!!!!

Arigatou, Hikari!!!

memoir of summer 01

where am i??
sunflower field!!!!!!!!!!

it's a sunflower maze....

all the sunflowers are like 2m tall!!!

getting lost....><

but,

I found the way OUT!!!!!!!! YEAH!!

it was beautiful!!!

first time in my life to be in a sunflower field

i was in awe!!!!

ありがとう！！！

HOT!!!

ok!
i love Japan
but as much as i love Japan
i really wanna get away from here for many couple weeks
at least until it's not humid and hot

GOSH!
it has been 35℃ everyday for about a week
if it's just the heat
i can handle it
but in Japan
there is no 'just the heat'
humidity goes hand in hand

heat and humidity
i don't know about you
but personally I don't think it's a very pretty combination

am i ready?

yesterday
i went to Nagoya University for the psychology grad program open campus
lots of info
lots of worries
lots of challenges

i don't know if i am up for it
future in a year is unknown
and it's scary

yet
when i was driving home today
a hymn was ringing in my mind
'His eye is on the sparrow
and i know He watches me'

surrender
i thought i have already learned the lesson 2 years ago when i was waiting to get accepted to my present job
but i guess i have to learn it again
surrender

it's not easy
yet, it's necessary

am i ready?
i don't know

but i am willing to walk on the path that You have planned for me
and i know that You will lead me step by step

a drawing

by my daddy!!