NO PERFECT RULER FOR ...

So many things I can't measure.

Look at this dude for instance. Stretching out his arms, probably tiptoeing on his ladder at the same time, holding a ruler way too short for the thing he wants to measure.
THE SKY.



So many times I try to measure the immeasurable things.
Why waste Time?
Instead of trying to find the perfect ruler to measure the immeasurable, wouldn't it be better to just lift up my head and enjoy the sight of it?



'That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.'

---Ecclesiastes 3:13-14

28 degrees in September?

Highlight of Past weekend - ピキと加賀市の祭りへ〜


Going back to FUKUOKA
View of the cotton candies in the sky from window seat. . . . . heavenly, almost.


Friday, at my favorite Izakaya here with my favorite Izakaya company, メギーちゃん


Deliiiiiiicious dessert. We had HOT FRIED YAM WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM and THREE TINY MONT-BLANC STEAKS - stuffed with MOCHI inside.... m m m.


It's been a LONG summer, a HOT summer, and a FUN one to say the least.

GOODBYE, SEPTEMBER 2007

HELLO, OCTOBER!

Let's hope it'll get cooler soon.

'... Skies above can't be stormy...'

I adore this song...

So, so much!
(Piki, you know to what extent...!)

T.G.I.N.F

This week, I'm at one of my Jr Highs, and again, having a blast.
In fact, I was enjoying my time at school so much that I mixed up the days...

Then, I recalled that it happened more than once when I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I woke up one morning, glanced at my alarm clock and the '8:25am' display made me jump out of bed and got ready in a crazy rush. I ran as fast as I could - and got to school out of breath, in a total mess, and worrying about detention during lunch. No one was in sight, and a few minutes later, I see the janitor walking towards me.

'Qu'est-ce que tu fais ici?!' he asked, waving the broom at me as if he was going to shoo me away with it. (now I remember he wasn't exactly the kindest janitor)

And then I realized that it was Sunday.
He then realized that I was an idiot, crackled like Gargamel (from 'Les Schtroumpf') and went on his way, delighting over the fact that a poor student had dragged herself all the way from home, mistaking the Glorious, Relaxing Sunday morning for a Dreadful Monday that was lurking somewhere in the background.

Needless to say, I couldn't fall back asleep - I was too shocked at my own stupidity, and stayed wide awake for the entire day.

Other instances include days when I would wake up, thinking that it was Sunday morning, when in fact Monday had already pranced through the time tunnel, allowed itself back in my weekly schedule. 'Yuck', I would think back then.

Today, I was walking down the hall of my school, passing by students who would greet me; the approchable ones, the shy ones, the 'gigglers' - boys and girls alike, and me, thinking for some reason that it's Friday afternoon, and greeted them all with: 'Have a nice weekend!!!'

Then I felt a bit sad, this little emotional drama always occurs at the end of a week when I'd have to leave one school to begin the next week in another. And though I enjoy being at each schools quite equally, I just wished that each Friday would last a little bit longer.

(Of course, if it actually was Friday today.)

And as I was going through my mental agenda, thinking of what lesson plans I should come up with next week -- it hit me -- today is THURSDAY!

(No wonder a few of them stared at me funnily when I was bidding them farewell. 'Crazy teacher', they must have been thinking. 'Bad enough she fell from her bike by the main gate on the first day of school...' Yes, I embarassing incidents still happen all the time in Japan. I still haven't tripped in front of them though, maybe that'll happen on the last day of school.)

So.... I have ONE MORE DAY at school!

And there I was, SMILING ALL THE WAY DOWN THE HALLWAY.

T (hank) G (oodness) I (ts) N (ot) F (riday)!

Funny how this kind of HAPPY REALIZATION would never occur in High School, where I wished everyday was Friday and anticipating T.G.I.F. on tv at night.

Well! Growing up for a change, eh?

石川旅行 ２００７

Last weekend - visited Hiukei and had a FA-BU-LOUS time.
A few pictures - highlights of the trip.

MUSEUM...
My dream come true! Living under water... Now all that we're missing are fish tails and seashell tops to transform me into the Ariel I've always wanted to be since 7.



Tribute to pictures we took last year in Lachine, Montreal.



And... this picture speaks for itself. Look closer.


Our FIRST TIME wearing Yukata out-----!


To the KOI KOI MATSURI we go!



And of course.... CAKES. I know some of you were wondering where the sweets went. We had PLENTY!


All in all, it was one of the BEST trips I've had in Japan. And, that also makes it the most tiring, spent so much energy on chatting, eating, singing, walking, and just having a heck of a time with my SISTER ENCARNACION! We both have panda eyes now.

Miss you!

GOOD NIGHT.

On Friendship

Today, I had a lovely evening with my lovely friend from New Zealand.
Of course, the content of our conversation remains exclusively confidential.
Just would like to ponder on a few things...

I realized that for each stage of my life so far, I've had different groups of friends, different people to help me grow and grow with me.
I try to keep the good times in my memory box as long as possible, and to open it once in a while when I need to be reminded that I've been blessed with so many wonderful people - when I'm feeling just a tad blue.
I've not given much thought, though, to what I've contributed to my friendships, or what I should contribute.
Or...
I've just had one drink too many tonight.
Hang on, I only had one.

I'm going to let that thought hang there tonight and escape into this picture.



Good Night!

To my Dear Students:

Sometimes I wonder if my next job would be as pleasant as teaching English as an Assistant Language Teacher in Japan.
I'd like to think that it would be.
But just in case reality fails me--yet again--(i don't blame it though, I just dream too much) I would like to record some of the most enjoyable moments I've encountered while working my fabulous job, here in Dazaifu, my favorite city in Japan.

The most recent ones, I'd like to share here and now -- in case my short term memory steps in again and snatch these precious moments away, hehe...

This afternoon, I was cleaning with my Jr High students, after we swiped the floor spotless, we began to move the desks back to their proper places, and arrange the chairs - a routine task I find fun - while my students think it unbearable - I don't blame them, they've been doing it since they were in grade 1 elementary, and the clueless, foreign teacher is only in her second year bound to this repetitive duty. Anyhow, as we were carrying the desks back, I accidently brushed my finger against the rough wooden surface, and, let's just say that it stung a bit. Two students looked my way, but then quickly turned away. After the cleaning time bell chimed, I went to the bathroom to check my poor, injured finger (oh, allow me to have pity on myself...) .... only to find that nothing was there. Relieved, I walked back to the Teacher's office - where the two students were waiting for me outside.
'....Rushia-sensei, Daijyoubu desuka?'

'........'

Then I broke down in tears.



.......




Actually, I didn't.
But I was slightly moved.
Ai, my dear students.... they are shy but they are one of a kind! (these incidents occured at the much shyer school compared to the other one I go to, much more outgoing, but equally adorable)

Second heartwarming event. (I'm quite the drama queen, aren't I?)
Earlier in the day, I dropped in one Third graders' English class, and walked around the classroom as they had a practice Listening Exam. Coincidentally, they were doing the exam from last year, and I was asked to record the questions with another ALT from the UK. It was funny to hear my own voice from the CD player, but it was funnier to see some students looking perplexed, and kept turning back, wincing with suspicion. '... To whom does this BEAUTIFUL VOICE belong to?' they all must have been thinking,



.........




No, they weren't.

But I had fun by throwing my hands in the air and pretending I didn't know whose voice it was.

Two students had the courage to ask me whether if it was my voice or not.
'Rushia Teacher... you, SHI-DEE (CD), voice desu ka?'

To my dear, dear, shy students: I will miss you all very much when you graduate.
Let's hope March 2008 will be a slow month.

* * * * *

And, despite the wonderful time I had at school today, I do have one tiny, tiny complaint I need to vent out....

IT IS HOT!
HOT! HOT! HOT! in Japan.... STILL!

I won't post anymore Christmas pictures, I'm getting the feeling that it's not helping the heat, it is only working the weather against me and all the other Autumn Lovers.

Rather, I will post this lovely picture.