the 3 of us... my 2 korean neighbours and i... met in the afternoon for our weekly group study... to learn english... and japanese together...
but we are getting very sluggish... so i introduced the 5 love languages to them... got them to do the assessments to find out their love language...
it was really interesting... with no common language... it was rather funny... i had to explain the assessment to them... statement by statement... using gestures... and even role play..!
then my immediate neighbour prepared dinner for the 2 gals and her 2 daughters...
when the gals have had their dinner... my other neighbour's teenage daughter babysat the 4 gals at my home...
we told them that we;d be gone for about 1.5hrs... but we ended spending 2hrs at the joint... and then adjourned to the supermart for groceries... =P
really enjoyed ourselves... and i later found out that hubby was at the same joint last night with the guys..!
looking forward to more..? =P
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
activity-filled days... =)
thought that i would be super bored... and grouchy while hubby is away...
today is day one... and i really had no time to be bored...
not when you have such spontaneous neighbours..! =)
it all started out in the morning... i had wanted to walk over to invite my immediate neighbour over for dinner... it's really no fun cooking for jus 2 children and an adult... and it's really easier to cook more... rather than less... for me la...
as i was about to ring her doorbell... i met my other korean neighbour... jus 2 doors away... she said that she was out of toilet rolls and asked if i'd like to go with her to the nearby store to do groceries... i agreed...
and so the 3 of us met jus an hour later to do groceries together... we landed up in shinjuku... they brought me to a korean supermarket... and i found it most interesting... refreshing... and i actually found a frozen whole chicken there..! and it was very reasonable priced too...
then we went to another store... a huge store... much like our mustafa... a little cluttered... but stuff there is really reasonable... so nobody is really bothered by all the clutter... =P
after shopping... we did lunch at a authentic korean restaurant... we all had 炸酱面... nice..! =)
upon reaching home... immediate neighbour invited us over for coffee... and we all chatted till the gals returned from school...
then i had to take rachelle for her check-up... got back in time to prepare dinner...
in the end... my other neighbour dropped by as well... and dinner lasted till 8pm... and during dinner... we made more plans for tomorrow... thursday... and even friday..!
my other neighbour has 2 teenage daughters... and they are going to help look after the 4 younger gals... while the 3 mommies go for a nice dinner together...
so looking forward..!
today is day one... and i really had no time to be bored...
not when you have such spontaneous neighbours..! =)
it all started out in the morning... i had wanted to walk over to invite my immediate neighbour over for dinner... it's really no fun cooking for jus 2 children and an adult... and it's really easier to cook more... rather than less... for me la...
as i was about to ring her doorbell... i met my other korean neighbour... jus 2 doors away... she said that she was out of toilet rolls and asked if i'd like to go with her to the nearby store to do groceries... i agreed...
and so the 3 of us met jus an hour later to do groceries together... we landed up in shinjuku... they brought me to a korean supermarket... and i found it most interesting... refreshing... and i actually found a frozen whole chicken there..! and it was very reasonable priced too...
then we went to another store... a huge store... much like our mustafa... a little cluttered... but stuff there is really reasonable... so nobody is really bothered by all the clutter... =P
after shopping... we did lunch at a authentic korean restaurant... we all had 炸酱面... nice..! =)
upon reaching home... immediate neighbour invited us over for coffee... and we all chatted till the gals returned from school...
then i had to take rachelle for her check-up... got back in time to prepare dinner...
in the end... my other neighbour dropped by as well... and dinner lasted till 8pm... and during dinner... we made more plans for tomorrow... thursday... and even friday..!
my other neighbour has 2 teenage daughters... and they are going to help look after the 4 younger gals... while the 3 mommies go for a nice dinner together...
so looking forward..!
manga come alive
hubby was with us the whole of last weekend... it started out with us being clueless about where to go... but it ended up pretty well...
decided to visit the Tokyo Dome... never been there... really dunno wad to expect... but with no other suggestion... we headed there...
thought it's jus gonna be much like our indoor stadium... nothing much... large spaces... probably a small amusement park there... maybe good enough to keep the gals happy...
but it turned out to be a very interesting place..!
i was most fascinated by the cosplay there... so many of them...! so interesting... they'd jus be that character for that day... they'd behave like regular ppl... going on rides... eating... hanging out... maybe the only difference is that they are also busy taking photographs of each other...
i must say that some of them were really very nice... i was really so busy looking at them... there were so many of them... it was really hard not to stare... =p
gals have loads of fun on the many rides that they had...
all in all... a very enjoyable family day... =)
decided to visit the Tokyo Dome... never been there... really dunno wad to expect... but with no other suggestion... we headed there...
thought it's jus gonna be much like our indoor stadium... nothing much... large spaces... probably a small amusement park there... maybe good enough to keep the gals happy...
but it turned out to be a very interesting place..!
i was most fascinated by the cosplay there... so many of them...! so interesting... they'd jus be that character for that day... they'd behave like regular ppl... going on rides... eating... hanging out... maybe the only difference is that they are also busy taking photographs of each other...i must say that some of them were really very nice... i was really so busy looking at them... there were so many of them... it was really hard not to stare... =pgals have loads of fun on the many rides that they had...
all in all... a very enjoyable family day... =)
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
wise words
was in msn with a dear friend... sharing about family values... about wad matters... about money... about many many other stuff...
then some where in the conversation... i said...
life's luxuries are in its simplicity...
then i paused... re-read wad i jus typed... fwah... quite profound leh... =P
and it's so true... the luxury of time... of being there for your family... of being a happy unit... of catching a sunset together... of sipping coffee together... of waking up next to the one you love... of preparing meals for the family...
all these... are really simple acts of love... does not even cost much... but yet are labelled as luxuries by many... luxuries because life has become complicated... life has become clouded by the world's standards...
take a moment now...
and do a simple act of love for the one you love... =)
then some where in the conversation... i said...
life's luxuries are in its simplicity...
then i paused... re-read wad i jus typed... fwah... quite profound leh... =P
and it's so true... the luxury of time... of being there for your family... of being a happy unit... of catching a sunset together... of sipping coffee together... of waking up next to the one you love... of preparing meals for the family...
all these... are really simple acts of love... does not even cost much... but yet are labelled as luxuries by many... luxuries because life has become complicated... life has become clouded by the world's standards...
take a moment now...
and do a simple act of love for the one you love... =)
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
SAHM
have been wondering wad i should be doing when i return home in 2011...
really dun feel like going back to teaching... not when there have been so many more changes (not good ones) since i left... it's actually quite a scary thought... to go back to teach...
full-time ministry..? have been pondering over it... not too sure if it's the same capacity as wad i used to do... not even sure if it's gonna be in tpmc...
so i have asked my gals... on separate occasions... i asked for their views... wad do they want me to do when we get back home...
their replies were similar...
1st choice... mommy to stay home...
cos they like the idea of coming home and seeing mommy... and that mommy is there to help with school work... and cook...
then i said that we are jus living next to yeye... their reply was 'it's not the same'... i guess they are right... who could take over my role..? who could take over the role of any mommy..?
2nd choice... work in church...
then they went on recalling how much fun they had in my office... how they'd come and pick me after meetings... and after courses...
that's it... the option of going back as a teacher... is not an option for them... it's a firm NO...
when asked why... the reason was simple... they wanted more of me... they felt that when i went back as a teacher last year... they had lesser time with me... and they didnt like that at all...
well... i gotta keep praying... duno which doors will open when i get back... jus gotta keep ears and eyes tuned towards Him... and He'll illumine my path when i get there... =)
really dun feel like going back to teaching... not when there have been so many more changes (not good ones) since i left... it's actually quite a scary thought... to go back to teach...
full-time ministry..? have been pondering over it... not too sure if it's the same capacity as wad i used to do... not even sure if it's gonna be in tpmc...
so i have asked my gals... on separate occasions... i asked for their views... wad do they want me to do when we get back home...
their replies were similar...
1st choice... mommy to stay home...
cos they like the idea of coming home and seeing mommy... and that mommy is there to help with school work... and cook...
then i said that we are jus living next to yeye... their reply was 'it's not the same'... i guess they are right... who could take over my role..? who could take over the role of any mommy..?
2nd choice... work in church...
then they went on recalling how much fun they had in my office... how they'd come and pick me after meetings... and after courses...
that's it... the option of going back as a teacher... is not an option for them... it's a firm NO...
when asked why... the reason was simple... they wanted more of me... they felt that when i went back as a teacher last year... they had lesser time with me... and they didnt like that at all...
well... i gotta keep praying... duno which doors will open when i get back... jus gotta keep ears and eyes tuned towards Him... and He'll illumine my path when i get there... =)
sweet 姐姐
brought the gals out to a big toy shop yesterday... we had no intentions of buying anything there... jus there to see... and to get out of the house...
joanna has been asking for a pair of boots and a bag since we arrived here... it's not easy looking for a pair of boots for her... as her feet are too large for kid size... and too small for adult size... bag... cos she has no other bag than her knap-sack which she uses for school...
so while there... she spotted a bag and i thought that it was rather reasonably priced... and said she could get one... then rachelle wanted one too... but i said no as she has one brought over from home... then she became upset...
to make the trip a little sweeter for rachelle... i let her buy a pretty little notebook... and then joanna wanted one too... haiyo... made me so mad... this will never end..!
so i said no to joanna... and gave rachelle 1000yen to go get her notebook... leaving a sulking joanna with me...
as rachelle was taking a long time... i went up to see... she was jus at the check-out... looked at me... and said that she had bought 2 notebooks... one for joanna too... so sweet la this gal... but with my money worr...
i later realised that rachelle has bought 1 for herself... then realising that she still has enough money for another one... went to get one more for her sister...
i told rachelle not to tell joanna yet... let it be a surprise for her when we get home...
but joanna's chin was about to reach the floor already... she was still sulking... so i let rachelle tell her that she has gotten one for her too...
wad i witnessed for the minute was amazing... warmed my heart... =)
immediately after rachelle had whispered in her ear... joanna turned to hug rachelle... and with tears in her eyes... repeated 'thank you 姐姐!' many times...
then when i walked over... joanna turned to hug me... this time crying already... and thanking me oso...
so funny ah this gal... happy until cry... haha...
but it was nice to see lar... that's rachelle lor... though she does not always display it... she actually loves joanna a lot...
and i know that it true for joanna too... =)
joanna has been asking for a pair of boots and a bag since we arrived here... it's not easy looking for a pair of boots for her... as her feet are too large for kid size... and too small for adult size... bag... cos she has no other bag than her knap-sack which she uses for school...
so while there... she spotted a bag and i thought that it was rather reasonably priced... and said she could get one... then rachelle wanted one too... but i said no as she has one brought over from home... then she became upset...
to make the trip a little sweeter for rachelle... i let her buy a pretty little notebook... and then joanna wanted one too... haiyo... made me so mad... this will never end..!
so i said no to joanna... and gave rachelle 1000yen to go get her notebook... leaving a sulking joanna with me...
as rachelle was taking a long time... i went up to see... she was jus at the check-out... looked at me... and said that she had bought 2 notebooks... one for joanna too... so sweet la this gal... but with my money worr...
i later realised that rachelle has bought 1 for herself... then realising that she still has enough money for another one... went to get one more for her sister...
i told rachelle not to tell joanna yet... let it be a surprise for her when we get home...
but joanna's chin was about to reach the floor already... she was still sulking... so i let rachelle tell her that she has gotten one for her too...
wad i witnessed for the minute was amazing... warmed my heart... =)
immediately after rachelle had whispered in her ear... joanna turned to hug rachelle... and with tears in her eyes... repeated 'thank you 姐姐!' many times...
then when i walked over... joanna turned to hug me... this time crying already... and thanking me oso...
so funny ah this gal... happy until cry... haha...
but it was nice to see lar... that's rachelle lor... though she does not always display it... she actually loves joanna a lot...
and i know that it true for joanna too... =)
Sunday, 20 June 2010
couple time
before coming here... hubby and i were prepared that we would have no couple time for a year... cos we do not have another caregiver other than ourselves...
but since coming here... we do have quite a few couple times... =)
there were times when hubby did not have to go to college in the mornings... giving us time to sip our coffee leisurely together... followed by a simple lunch...
and jus over the past 2 days... we have had two 2-hr couple times...
yesterday was the gals' school's open day... which means they were in school... hubby took the opportunity to go to college in the morning... while i went to the open day myself...
then we met for lunch... a little shopping... then back home jus in time for the gals' return from school...
jus now... hubby and i wanted to shop at the shopping mall near our place... but the gals would rather go home... so we gave them the option of going back by themselves... while hubby and i walked on...
they agreed... so we handed them the house key... and my mobile phone...
our place was about 500-600m away from the train station... they were to call us when they arrive at the main gate to our place... and then again when they are home...
they did... =)
while hubby and i were shopping... we thought it'll be nice to have dinner at the singaporean restaurant in the mall... so we called the gals and asked if they'd like to have hainanese chicken rice for dinner...
of course they said yes...
so we arranged to meet at the mall at 6.10pm... and we did...
happy that the gals are independent... and also that they are used to us having our couple time... feel that this is important... to give the gals a sense of security... that daddy and mommy still love each other... they still go on dates together...
happy... =)
but since coming here... we do have quite a few couple times... =)
there were times when hubby did not have to go to college in the mornings... giving us time to sip our coffee leisurely together... followed by a simple lunch...
and jus over the past 2 days... we have had two 2-hr couple times...
yesterday was the gals' school's open day... which means they were in school... hubby took the opportunity to go to college in the morning... while i went to the open day myself...
then we met for lunch... a little shopping... then back home jus in time for the gals' return from school...
jus now... hubby and i wanted to shop at the shopping mall near our place... but the gals would rather go home... so we gave them the option of going back by themselves... while hubby and i walked on...
they agreed... so we handed them the house key... and my mobile phone...
our place was about 500-600m away from the train station... they were to call us when they arrive at the main gate to our place... and then again when they are home...
they did... =)
while hubby and i were shopping... we thought it'll be nice to have dinner at the singaporean restaurant in the mall... so we called the gals and asked if they'd like to have hainanese chicken rice for dinner...
of course they said yes...
so we arranged to meet at the mall at 6.10pm... and we did...
happy that the gals are independent... and also that they are used to us having our couple time... feel that this is important... to give the gals a sense of security... that daddy and mommy still love each other... they still go on dates together...
happy... =)
Friday, 18 June 2010
school on saturday
it's the school's open-day tomorrow... thought it was quite a creative way of allowing the parents experience wad a day in school is like... cos of this... the school is closed on monday...
school will function as per normal tmrw... the only difference is that... parents will be there... there will be time set aside for each level to play with their parents...
and since lunch is provided in school... parents have the option to eat with their child in class...
but lazy me... have opted to be there only till 10.30am... after play time with rachelle... then with joanna... then it's home for me...
when joanna asked why am i not staying till 2.30pm..? i told her that i wouldnt understand wad's going on... and her reply... 'i oso wad..?!?'
so true... but dun wan la... so i told her i wud be home baking cheesecake... ready for their return after school... =P
school will function as per normal tmrw... the only difference is that... parents will be there... there will be time set aside for each level to play with their parents...
and since lunch is provided in school... parents have the option to eat with their child in class...
but lazy me... have opted to be there only till 10.30am... after play time with rachelle... then with joanna... then it's home for me...
when joanna asked why am i not staying till 2.30pm..? i told her that i wouldnt understand wad's going on... and her reply... 'i oso wad..?!?'
so true... but dun wan la... so i told her i wud be home baking cheesecake... ready for their return after school... =P
Thursday, 17 June 2010
wad a week
finally... i have time to blog... time to drink my coffee in the quiet morning... munching a sandwich between web pages... =)
it's been almost a week...
the online conference that i had signed myself up for started last friday... the day that rachelle fractured her arm... with her at home... i hardly had any time to go into the conference...
rachelle's arm is healing well... jus that we have to keep going to visit the doc...
1st visit... to steady the arm and medicine to reduce swelling and prevent inflammation...
2nd visit... to change the bandage...
3rd visit... to put on the cast...
4th visit... this was the shortest visit ever to any doc... went into the room... doc pressed her right fingernails... said that the colour loos good... means that blood circulation is good... then that's it... all done in under 2mins...!
next visits are weekly... till the cast is off... doc said about a month...
we checked with our insurance agent last night and thank God... 100% claim will be made as we had the gals covered under some accident plan... which includes accidents happening overseas too...
so... back to the conference...
by wednesday midnight... every week... we have assignments to submit via a forum... rachelle was home on monday and tuesday... so i had planned to complete my assignments yesterday morning... then hubby told me that he need not go in yesterday as there were no classes...
rare... so cannot waste this opportunity to be alone with hubby... so we went on a date... shopped and lunched at places we'd not go with the gals... not cos these places were sleazy... haha... jus that our gals dun like to shop... and walking through the ladies department with them asking 'when are we going home?'... is a really pain...
so i had only last night to complete my assignments... and i had to be the hero to commit myself to 2 courses at the same time... =P
well... i completed the assignments without going through all the audio... video... and reading materials yet... almost there... but not all... so will make use of these 2 mornings to listen and be renewed in the mind... =)
with all that i have gone through... this is good stuff... a little deep... but it sets my mind thinking about worship... and cos i am doing the history of worship... it has opened my eyes and mind about how vast this is... how rich our history is... and how much it has built our worship of the present...
gonna go listen to the audio teachings... and do ironing...
the beauty of an online conference... =)
it's been almost a week...
the online conference that i had signed myself up for started last friday... the day that rachelle fractured her arm... with her at home... i hardly had any time to go into the conference...
rachelle's arm is healing well... jus that we have to keep going to visit the doc...
1st visit... to steady the arm and medicine to reduce swelling and prevent inflammation...
2nd visit... to change the bandage...
3rd visit... to put on the cast...
4th visit... this was the shortest visit ever to any doc... went into the room... doc pressed her right fingernails... said that the colour loos good... means that blood circulation is good... then that's it... all done in under 2mins...!
next visits are weekly... till the cast is off... doc said about a month...
we checked with our insurance agent last night and thank God... 100% claim will be made as we had the gals covered under some accident plan... which includes accidents happening overseas too...
so... back to the conference...
by wednesday midnight... every week... we have assignments to submit via a forum... rachelle was home on monday and tuesday... so i had planned to complete my assignments yesterday morning... then hubby told me that he need not go in yesterday as there were no classes...
rare... so cannot waste this opportunity to be alone with hubby... so we went on a date... shopped and lunched at places we'd not go with the gals... not cos these places were sleazy... haha... jus that our gals dun like to shop... and walking through the ladies department with them asking 'when are we going home?'... is a really pain...
so i had only last night to complete my assignments... and i had to be the hero to commit myself to 2 courses at the same time... =P
well... i completed the assignments without going through all the audio... video... and reading materials yet... almost there... but not all... so will make use of these 2 mornings to listen and be renewed in the mind... =)
with all that i have gone through... this is good stuff... a little deep... but it sets my mind thinking about worship... and cos i am doing the history of worship... it has opened my eyes and mind about how vast this is... how rich our history is... and how much it has built our worship of the present...
gonna go listen to the audio teachings... and do ironing...
the beauty of an online conference... =)
Saturday, 12 June 2010
signed up for conference..!
was searching for online courses...
preferably something to do with worship...
even asked around for recommendations...
after a week of searching... i found worshiptraining.com... it's an online conference... either works for an individual... or as a church...
looked at the line up of trainers and speakers... and noticed that it looked pretty 'safe'... so i asked shifu to take a look-see before i decide to dive into it...
very soon after... shifu said that it sounded really good and i should go ahead and give it a try... which i did... =)
there are weekly assignments... forums... online interaction... live sessions... it looks really interesting...
so here i go... into my first course... out of 4... each course takes about 4 weeks... and there are 4 courses... and 4 essentials to complete in a year...
looking forward to this conference... hoping to learn much from this... getting enriched along the process...
really wanna keep updated... and refreshed... dun wanna be going back to church and be stale and outdated in my trainings... wanna still be relevant and useful... =)
preferably something to do with worship...
even asked around for recommendations...
after a week of searching... i found worshiptraining.com... it's an online conference... either works for an individual... or as a church...
looked at the line up of trainers and speakers... and noticed that it looked pretty 'safe'... so i asked shifu to take a look-see before i decide to dive into it...
very soon after... shifu said that it sounded really good and i should go ahead and give it a try... which i did... =)
there are weekly assignments... forums... online interaction... live sessions... it looks really interesting...
so here i go... into my first course... out of 4... each course takes about 4 weeks... and there are 4 courses... and 4 essentials to complete in a year...
looking forward to this conference... hoping to learn much from this... getting enriched along the process...
really wanna keep updated... and refreshed... dun wanna be going back to church and be stale and outdated in my trainings... wanna still be relevant and useful... =)
Friday, 11 June 2010
dun complain
learnt a major lesson today...
had been lamenting how restless i have become... about how life is getting boring and monotonous...
this morning... after done with my chores... i settled nicely at my desk... ready to relax in front of my computer...
jus then... my mobile rang... it was a call from the gals' school...i was informed that rachelle is at the sick bay... that she has hurt her hand... and i was to get her to see a doctor...
within 20min... i arrived at the school...
from rachelle... i learnt that she was on the unicycle during free play time... was about to fall off the unicycle... she tried reaching out for a nearby bar... but missed the bar... and her right wrist hit the bar instead...
as i spoke no japanese... i requested for the school to call hubby's liaison personnel for help... and soon after... someone came and accompanied us to the nearby hospital...
the 5min cab fare there was about SGD$12...
at the hospital... x-rays show that rachelle has fractured both bones in her right wrist... she had to be in a sling till monday for the swelling to subside... before putting it in a cast...
today's treatment cost about SGD$450...
the school said that the expenses will be borne by the school as the accident happened in school... i am hoping that this is true... cos there's gonna be more expenses coming... as there will be more trips to the hospital...
we will have to go again tomorrow to check if swelling has subsided... then on monday for the cast... on tuesday for a check... then once a week till the cast is removed...
now with her at home... i face the challenge of keeping her occupied...
when she came home... she played Wii with her left hand... then she was jus watching a movie on my computer... but before she even finished the movie... she got bored... and wanted to do some work in ther assessment book... now she is playing with cards... but i can tell that she will be on to something else really soon...
better dun complain about being bored anymore... =P
'Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.'
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
had been lamenting how restless i have become... about how life is getting boring and monotonous...
this morning... after done with my chores... i settled nicely at my desk... ready to relax in front of my computer...
jus then... my mobile rang... it was a call from the gals' school...i was informed that rachelle is at the sick bay... that she has hurt her hand... and i was to get her to see a doctor...
within 20min... i arrived at the school...
from rachelle... i learnt that she was on the unicycle during free play time... was about to fall off the unicycle... she tried reaching out for a nearby bar... but missed the bar... and her right wrist hit the bar instead...
as i spoke no japanese... i requested for the school to call hubby's liaison personnel for help... and soon after... someone came and accompanied us to the nearby hospital...
the 5min cab fare there was about SGD$12...
at the hospital... x-rays show that rachelle has fractured both bones in her right wrist... she had to be in a sling till monday for the swelling to subside... before putting it in a cast...
today's treatment cost about SGD$450...
the school said that the expenses will be borne by the school as the accident happened in school... i am hoping that this is true... cos there's gonna be more expenses coming... as there will be more trips to the hospital...
we will have to go again tomorrow to check if swelling has subsided... then on monday for the cast... on tuesday for a check... then once a week till the cast is removed...
now with her at home... i face the challenge of keeping her occupied...
when she came home... she played Wii with her left hand... then she was jus watching a movie on my computer... but before she even finished the movie... she got bored... and wanted to do some work in ther assessment book... now she is playing with cards... but i can tell that she will be on to something else really soon...
better dun complain about being bored anymore... =P
'Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.'
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Mr Google
starting to get really... really restless at home... on weekday mornings...
many suggestions have poured in from hubby and friends...
brush up on your japanese
but i am too lazy... no motivation... the ppl i interact with each day... are non-japanese... so no chance to practice...
watch korean / jap / HK dramas
i am not a movie person... dun really like to sit around and watch for hours... =P
shopping
scary... sure to increase expenditure... besides... i dun really like to shop alone... once in a while it's ok... but generally... i dun like to do anything alone...
so... that leaves me with Mr Google... most of the time... and i am beginning to enjoy it...
from him... i have learnt to make so many new dishes to satisfy my family's tummy... like today... i learnt how to make chawanmushi... teriyaki chicken... and oyakodon... my gals' favourites... =)
actually... i am also searching for an online course that i can do... hopefully something to do with the study of worship... but have not found anything yet... so please give me a buzz if you have anything to recommend..."
many suggestions have poured in from hubby and friends...
brush up on your japanese
but i am too lazy... no motivation... the ppl i interact with each day... are non-japanese... so no chance to practice...
watch korean / jap / HK dramas
i am not a movie person... dun really like to sit around and watch for hours... =P
shopping
scary... sure to increase expenditure... besides... i dun really like to shop alone... once in a while it's ok... but generally... i dun like to do anything alone...
so... that leaves me with Mr Google... most of the time... and i am beginning to enjoy it...
from him... i have learnt to make so many new dishes to satisfy my family's tummy... like today... i learnt how to make chawanmushi... teriyaki chicken... and oyakodon... my gals' favourites... =)
actually... i am also searching for an online course that i can do... hopefully something to do with the study of worship... but have not found anything yet... so please give me a buzz if you have anything to recommend..."
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
differently
so... wad are the things that i do differently here..?
ironing
the same thing about ironing is... i still HATE to iron...
here... i sit on the floor and do my ironing... was not too used to it initially... so we put the ironing board on the table when we iron...
the ironing board here is designed for use on the floor... it's not even as long as the ones we have back in singapore... it's about half the length... so u can imagine my frustration when i iron pants...
but since... i have adapted to this new style of ironing... jus that i get pins and needles in my legs... each time i finish ironing...
handkerchiefs
think tissue paper... jus that ppl here use handkerchiefs...
when packing for the gals' outing... there was a given lis of things to bring for the trip... among the many... there were at least 3 different types of towels/handkerchiefs that they needed to bring...
one for wiping perspiration...
another for cleaning your after lunch...
yet another for drying your hands after washing them...
socks
hardly anyone here is without a sock... or a socking... or a legging... or tights...
this i have grown to love... =)
cos it's so comfortable..!
they have so many designs... i simply love the lacy ones that jus cover your toes... and are not seen after putting on your shoes..!
i tried getting such back at home... but they were all so disappointing... either too thick... or the heel always slips down after 10 steps...
ppl here are spoilt for choices here... and they dun really care if their socks or stockings show... i had thought it looked kinda weird with their socks showing... but some ppl here really do it quite nicely...
packing your own groceries
at the check-out... your groceries from your shopping basket... is taken out... item by item for scanning... and then they are placed neatly into another shopping basket... the cashier then places the required carrier bags on top of the groceries... smiles and says thank you...
then you carry that basket to a table-top nearby... and start your own packing...
at the packing station... you will notice a damp cloth... for those who find it difficult to open the carrier bags with their dry fingertips... there is a pair of scissors... plastic bags... strings... a dustbin...
i've seen ppl emptying their styrofoam trays of meats into the plastic bags provided... and discarding the trays in the dustbin... guess this is because of their disposal system here... which i will tell you more later...
after packing... ppl will return the shopping basket... though many ppl use the stations... i have never seen a dirty station in any store...
disposal system
the question that the gals kept asking since we came here was...
'is this plastic..? or paper..?'
there are no rubbish chutes here... not private ones... nor shared ones... nothing... jus a designated area...
we are to separate combustibles from non-combustibles... and we are to dispose of different types of waste at different days of the week... different places have a different schedule...
here in naka-megura...
every tuesday and friday... we get to throw food waste... combustibles... i usually look forward to tuesday... cos i will have 3 days of food waste in my house...! pee-yeeew..!
only thursdays are for non-combustibles... like cans... aluminium... pet bottles... plastic containers for food... cling wrap... i really cant wait for thursdays to come... cos there really is a lot of non-combustibles to throw..! so i have to rinse everything... especially meat trays and sauce packaging before discarding them... and they are so bulky... we usually have at least 4 plastic bags full of these to throw on thursday...
the 1st and 3rd saturdays... are for things made of metals... like scissors... and glass...
and if you wanna discard batteries... you'd have to bring them to a store that collects them...
many... many more differences...
that's wad's making this journey so interesting..! =)
ironing
the same thing about ironing is... i still HATE to iron...
here... i sit on the floor and do my ironing... was not too used to it initially... so we put the ironing board on the table when we iron...
the ironing board here is designed for use on the floor... it's not even as long as the ones we have back in singapore... it's about half the length... so u can imagine my frustration when i iron pants...
but since... i have adapted to this new style of ironing... jus that i get pins and needles in my legs... each time i finish ironing...
handkerchiefs
think tissue paper... jus that ppl here use handkerchiefs...
when packing for the gals' outing... there was a given lis of things to bring for the trip... among the many... there were at least 3 different types of towels/handkerchiefs that they needed to bring...
one for wiping perspiration...
another for cleaning your after lunch...
yet another for drying your hands after washing them...
socks
hardly anyone here is without a sock... or a socking... or a legging... or tights...
this i have grown to love... =)
cos it's so comfortable..!
they have so many designs... i simply love the lacy ones that jus cover your toes... and are not seen after putting on your shoes..!
i tried getting such back at home... but they were all so disappointing... either too thick... or the heel always slips down after 10 steps...
ppl here are spoilt for choices here... and they dun really care if their socks or stockings show... i had thought it looked kinda weird with their socks showing... but some ppl here really do it quite nicely...
packing your own groceries
at the check-out... your groceries from your shopping basket... is taken out... item by item for scanning... and then they are placed neatly into another shopping basket... the cashier then places the required carrier bags on top of the groceries... smiles and says thank you...
then you carry that basket to a table-top nearby... and start your own packing...
at the packing station... you will notice a damp cloth... for those who find it difficult to open the carrier bags with their dry fingertips... there is a pair of scissors... plastic bags... strings... a dustbin...
i've seen ppl emptying their styrofoam trays of meats into the plastic bags provided... and discarding the trays in the dustbin... guess this is because of their disposal system here... which i will tell you more later...
after packing... ppl will return the shopping basket... though many ppl use the stations... i have never seen a dirty station in any store...
disposal system
the question that the gals kept asking since we came here was...
'is this plastic..? or paper..?'
there are no rubbish chutes here... not private ones... nor shared ones... nothing... jus a designated area...
we are to separate combustibles from non-combustibles... and we are to dispose of different types of waste at different days of the week... different places have a different schedule...
here in naka-megura...
every tuesday and friday... we get to throw food waste... combustibles... i usually look forward to tuesday... cos i will have 3 days of food waste in my house...! pee-yeeew..!
only thursdays are for non-combustibles... like cans... aluminium... pet bottles... plastic containers for food... cling wrap... i really cant wait for thursdays to come... cos there really is a lot of non-combustibles to throw..! so i have to rinse everything... especially meat trays and sauce packaging before discarding them... and they are so bulky... we usually have at least 4 plastic bags full of these to throw on thursday...
the 1st and 3rd saturdays... are for things made of metals... like scissors... and glass...
and if you wanna discard batteries... you'd have to bring them to a store that collects them...
many... many more differences...
that's wad's making this journey so interesting..! =)
Saturday, 5 June 2010
happier now
after rachelle's manisfestation of school refusal... I met up with her class teacher that very day...
spent more than an hour with her teacher...
everything seemed to be going on fine in school... teacher reported that Rachelle is attentive in class... and will raise her hand to ask question when she is in doubt... and that her classmates are always encouraging her... and involving her in their play time...
we were puzzled as go what then could have caused so much anxiety in her...
then teacher recalled and showed me a stack of test papers that were used in class... even I thot that they were difficult..! it's all in Japanese..!
teacher told me that Rachelle actually cried during one of the tests... it was a kanji test... which she scored zero...
it was only then that I realized that it could be part of the reason for her anxiety...
she has never scored a zero for anything in school... and with her character... I dun think it went down well with her... and I am also guessing that she is becoming more aware if herself... and does not wanna be different from her peers...
understanding that... I asked if the teacher notifies the class of the test... he said no but will do so for the next test... I was glad that he is doing it all gir Rachelle...
so 2 days ago... Rachelle was informed of the kanji test for the following day... that night... she was so diligent... armed with hubby's kanji dictionary n his electronic jap dictionary... she found out ghe meanings of the characters jus do that she doesn't jus learn how to write them... but also know give meaning to what she was learning...
she came back the next day... beaming... she had scored 100% for the kanji test... :)
so very proud of her...
spent more than an hour with her teacher...
everything seemed to be going on fine in school... teacher reported that Rachelle is attentive in class... and will raise her hand to ask question when she is in doubt... and that her classmates are always encouraging her... and involving her in their play time...
we were puzzled as go what then could have caused so much anxiety in her...
then teacher recalled and showed me a stack of test papers that were used in class... even I thot that they were difficult..! it's all in Japanese..!
teacher told me that Rachelle actually cried during one of the tests... it was a kanji test... which she scored zero...
it was only then that I realized that it could be part of the reason for her anxiety...
she has never scored a zero for anything in school... and with her character... I dun think it went down well with her... and I am also guessing that she is becoming more aware if herself... and does not wanna be different from her peers...
understanding that... I asked if the teacher notifies the class of the test... he said no but will do so for the next test... I was glad that he is doing it all gir Rachelle...
so 2 days ago... Rachelle was informed of the kanji test for the following day... that night... she was so diligent... armed with hubby's kanji dictionary n his electronic jap dictionary... she found out ghe meanings of the characters jus do that she doesn't jus learn how to write them... but also know give meaning to what she was learning...
she came back the next day... beaming... she had scored 100% for the kanji test... :)
so very proud of her...
eco-friendly
of the four of us... lil joanna's the most Eco-friendly of us all... in fact... I think she's the only one..!
she will always switch off the lights whenever she leaves the room... and just before we leave the house... she will ask if we have switched off all the lights in our room... and when she sees any of us letting the tap run while we reach for soap... she'll come and turn off the running tap for us... the best part is... she does it without complaining nor nagging..! it's pretty amazing to watch..
when she noticed that a room light is not switched off... she'll ask the person standing nearest the switch to help switch it off... and I so love the way she asks...
'daddy... can you help ME to switch off that room light..?'
so cute rite..? she said to help HER when it wasn't even her who had left the light on..!
it's like she owns the responsibility to save electricity and water...
jus find it so amazing... :)
she will always switch off the lights whenever she leaves the room... and just before we leave the house... she will ask if we have switched off all the lights in our room... and when she sees any of us letting the tap run while we reach for soap... she'll come and turn off the running tap for us... the best part is... she does it without complaining nor nagging..! it's pretty amazing to watch..
when she noticed that a room light is not switched off... she'll ask the person standing nearest the switch to help switch it off... and I so love the way she asks...
'daddy... can you help ME to switch off that room light..?'
so cute rite..? she said to help HER when it wasn't even her who had left the light on..!
it's like she owns the responsibility to save electricity and water...
jus find it so amazing... :)
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
expands upon heating
this week... rachelle and i are covering the topic of energy... heat...
we did a few experiments at home... and all the time joanna was listening in... and looking silently...
today... we sort of wrapped up the topic... and got rachelle to state that... matter expands upon heating... and matter contracts when cooled...
then joanna asked...
'mommy... can you heat me up so that i can grow bigger..?'
cheeky lil gal... =)
we did a few experiments at home... and all the time joanna was listening in... and looking silently...
today... we sort of wrapped up the topic... and got rachelle to state that... matter expands upon heating... and matter contracts when cooled...
then joanna asked...
'mommy... can you heat me up so that i can grow bigger..?'
cheeky lil gal... =)
Tuesday, 1 June 2010
silent...
one of my friends asked me yesterday...
'hey... not many posts from you lately on FB... what have you been up to.. ?'
well... life can get a little boring here... especially when the hubby has assignment after assignment to do... i actually jus live for the weekend here... so if he needs to do his work... saturdays and sundays are jus another day spent at home...
yea... i could bring the gals out... but the gals dun like to shop... so i gotta get creative... maybe a picnic at the nearby park... but then... i get lazy get thinking of organising it...
spending monday mornings alone after all have gone to school... is something that i look forward now... maybe it's cos after the weekend with the family... i really want to spend some time being alone... jus doing the things that i like... like FB-ing... blogging...
then the rest of the week... is now very much a routine... i spend the mornings tidying up... washing and cleaning... laundry and ironing... then during lunch... the dinner menu will be planned and prepared... cutting the ingredients...
when the gals come home in the afternoon... it'll be their homework... and then homeschool... followed by cooking dinner... usually by 6pm... dinner will be ready...
then after dinner is when the family bonds... with conversations over the dinner table... over desserts... notes from school for hubby to read... then Wii game... or any board games that we have brought along...
very soon after... it's bedtime for the gals at 9pm...
life is simple... it's different... it's relaxing...
it's something that we would never had the chance to experience... if not for this opportunity... and i am grateful for this... =)
'hey... not many posts from you lately on FB... what have you been up to.. ?'
well... life can get a little boring here... especially when the hubby has assignment after assignment to do... i actually jus live for the weekend here... so if he needs to do his work... saturdays and sundays are jus another day spent at home...
yea... i could bring the gals out... but the gals dun like to shop... so i gotta get creative... maybe a picnic at the nearby park... but then... i get lazy get thinking of organising it...
spending monday mornings alone after all have gone to school... is something that i look forward now... maybe it's cos after the weekend with the family... i really want to spend some time being alone... jus doing the things that i like... like FB-ing... blogging...
then the rest of the week... is now very much a routine... i spend the mornings tidying up... washing and cleaning... laundry and ironing... then during lunch... the dinner menu will be planned and prepared... cutting the ingredients...
when the gals come home in the afternoon... it'll be their homework... and then homeschool... followed by cooking dinner... usually by 6pm... dinner will be ready...
then after dinner is when the family bonds... with conversations over the dinner table... over desserts... notes from school for hubby to read... then Wii game... or any board games that we have brought along...
very soon after... it's bedtime for the gals at 9pm...
life is simple... it's different... it's relaxing...
it's something that we would never had the chance to experience... if not for this opportunity... and i am grateful for this... =)
Monday, 31 May 2010
happy anniversary..!
the past 10 anniversaries were celebrated without the gals... this year... not that we do not have any caregivers cos we can always drop them off at our neighbour's... but rather... thought that it would be nice to have them around... and involve them in the celebrations too...
it started with shopping... hubby went on the shopping date with rachelle... while joanna was with me...
we went to takashimaya @ shinjuku... we separated for 2 hours... to hunt for a present for each other... it was a nice experience... the gals had a say as to what gift to buy... or a say in the choice of design...
the gals enjoyed the shopping dates... =)
we met up later and went for dinner at sizzler... the gals were so eager for us to open our presents during dinner...
hubby got me a purse from paul smith... rachelle helped choose the design... and they thought that the usual browns and blacks were too boring... and felt that this one was the most 'me'... =)
joanna and i really had a hard time... shopping for hubby is never easy... so we had to think through his daily routine... thinking wad could make his routine more enjoyable... something that enhances...
hubby drinks a lot of coffee when he reads or writes his papers... he usually drinks from his usual 100yen coffee cup... sometimes he forgets that he still has coffee... or that the coffee turns cold to fast...
and so... we got him a bodum desktop tumbler...
joanna felt funny that my gift to hubby was so cheap... compared to what hubby had spent on mine... but hubby told her that it's really the thought that mattered... and he liked the tumbler...
though hubby and i miss shopping together... and winding down in the evening after dinner over a drink... it was meaningful with the gals... =)
it started with shopping... hubby went on the shopping date with rachelle... while joanna was with me...
we went to takashimaya @ shinjuku... we separated for 2 hours... to hunt for a present for each other... it was a nice experience... the gals had a say as to what gift to buy... or a say in the choice of design...
the gals enjoyed the shopping dates... =)
we met up later and went for dinner at sizzler... the gals were so eager for us to open our presents during dinner...
hubby got me a purse from paul smith... rachelle helped choose the design... and they thought that the usual browns and blacks were too boring... and felt that this one was the most 'me'... =)
joanna and i really had a hard time... shopping for hubby is never easy... so we had to think through his daily routine... thinking wad could make his routine more enjoyable... something that enhances...
hubby drinks a lot of coffee when he reads or writes his papers... he usually drinks from his usual 100yen coffee cup... sometimes he forgets that he still has coffee... or that the coffee turns cold to fast...
and so... we got him a bodum desktop tumbler...
joanna felt funny that my gift to hubby was so cheap... compared to what hubby had spent on mine... but hubby told her that it's really the thought that mattered... and he liked the tumbler...
though hubby and i miss shopping together... and winding down in the evening after dinner over a drink... it was meaningful with the gals... =)
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
COSTCO warehouse
finally visited the much raved about COSTCO yesterday... heard of how cheap stuff there are... and i was really excited about getting there...
so together with my 2 korean neighbours... we set of in the morning... it was an hour drive...
when we reached there... i was so overwhelmed by the size of everything... everything was so huge..! things are definitely cheaper... cos instead of buying 10 eggs at a time... you'll have to buy 30.. at least... of course... the more you buy... the cheaper it gets...
after about 2hrs there... i was SGD200 poorer... =P
however... my fridge is now bursting at the seams... bought lots of pork and chicken... even prawns...
my verdict...
yes... costco is cheap... but unless i share what i buy with my neighbours... i'd be wasting more food cos i dun think we can eat fast enough before the foodstuff expire...
so for me... i'd still visit the nearby supermarket for the daily stuff like bread... ham... milk... and veggies... then for heavier things like rice and beer... i'd go online to order and let them deliver...
and maybe once a fortnight... i'd visit Jusco... to buy things like coffee and frozen stuff...
costco..?
only when my neighbours wanna go... then i'll tag along...
so together with my 2 korean neighbours... we set of in the morning... it was an hour drive...
when we reached there... i was so overwhelmed by the size of everything... everything was so huge..! things are definitely cheaper... cos instead of buying 10 eggs at a time... you'll have to buy 30.. at least... of course... the more you buy... the cheaper it gets...
after about 2hrs there... i was SGD200 poorer... =P
however... my fridge is now bursting at the seams... bought lots of pork and chicken... even prawns...
my verdict...
yes... costco is cheap... but unless i share what i buy with my neighbours... i'd be wasting more food cos i dun think we can eat fast enough before the foodstuff expire...
so for me... i'd still visit the nearby supermarket for the daily stuff like bread... ham... milk... and veggies... then for heavier things like rice and beer... i'd go online to order and let them deliver...
and maybe once a fortnight... i'd visit Jusco... to buy things like coffee and frozen stuff...
costco..?
only when my neighbours wanna go... then i'll tag along...
Friday, 21 May 2010
irony
it all started out with me thinking that i would probably be talking more with the idian lady next door... i mean... there is no language barrier... we both speak fluent english... she has a son that is the same age as rachelle... our children even go to the same school...
little did i think that i'd be spending most of my time now with Munjoo (korean lady next door)... the major problem between us was language...
funny how things turned out... i hardly see nor speak with the indian lady... in fact... i am now friends with 3 korean ladies in the building... one is Munjoo... then Munjoo's neighbour... and Munjoo's neighbour's friend who lives one floor down...
the 4 of us started going out... wad i thought initially was a shopping trip... and since then we have been to each other's house for tea... coffee... lunch... and we are often seen passing dishes of our own cooking for each other to try... especially at dinner times...
we have even started our very own english and japanese study group... which are on every thursday...
so how do we overcome our language barrier..? we act... charade... make sound effects... hand gestures... and though it often resulted in the meanings lost in translation... we do have a good laugh at each other...
especially for Munjoo... her neighbour (Yi-san)... and myself... we are closer... maybe cos we are on the same level... and the fact that we have 2 daughters each... =)
wad tickles me most is the sharing of food amongst the 3 of us... i would receive a plate of their home-cooking... and not wanting to return an empty plate... i'd prepare something and place it on the plate... and return it... then the cycle continues with Yi-san... then i'd share my chicken curry... they'll share their kim-chi rice... ... ...
it's fun... =)
little did i think that i'd be spending most of my time now with Munjoo (korean lady next door)... the major problem between us was language...
funny how things turned out... i hardly see nor speak with the indian lady... in fact... i am now friends with 3 korean ladies in the building... one is Munjoo... then Munjoo's neighbour... and Munjoo's neighbour's friend who lives one floor down...
the 4 of us started going out... wad i thought initially was a shopping trip... and since then we have been to each other's house for tea... coffee... lunch... and we are often seen passing dishes of our own cooking for each other to try... especially at dinner times...
we have even started our very own english and japanese study group... which are on every thursday...
so how do we overcome our language barrier..? we act... charade... make sound effects... hand gestures... and though it often resulted in the meanings lost in translation... we do have a good laugh at each other...
especially for Munjoo... her neighbour (Yi-san)... and myself... we are closer... maybe cos we are on the same level... and the fact that we have 2 daughters each... =)
wad tickles me most is the sharing of food amongst the 3 of us... i would receive a plate of their home-cooking... and not wanting to return an empty plate... i'd prepare something and place it on the plate... and return it... then the cycle continues with Yi-san... then i'd share my chicken curry... they'll share their kim-chi rice... ... ...
it's fun... =)
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
scrapbooking
got started after dinner...
managed to only paste pretty papers on 2 pieces of cardboard from the album... =P
but felt that it was fun... something that i can do... it was somewhat therapeutic...
right now... i need to choose the photos that i want... so that i can really begin on the album... but think choosing which photos go into the album would be the toughest part of the process..?
anyways... let's see how i progress from here... =)
managed to only paste pretty papers on 2 pieces of cardboard from the album... =P
but felt that it was fun... something that i can do... it was somewhat therapeutic...
right now... i need to choose the photos that i want... so that i can really begin on the album... but think choosing which photos go into the album would be the toughest part of the process..?
anyways... let's see how i progress from here... =)
cheese cake
and so the gals and i baked today...
as we began... i first measured out the ingredients... only to realise that i do not have a kitchen scale... so i was not able to measure 50g of sugar... nor 30g of flour... so how..? estimate lor... using tablespoons... =P
and also... i dun have a proper mixing bowl... nor a whisk... so we made do with the largest soup bowl that we have... and a coffee-cup sized metal stirrer as a whisk... and boy... it was really hard work to get the egg whites and sugar to fluff up..! think my right arm is aching from all the 'whisking'...
then it was time to bake it in our new rice cooker... set it to bake for an hour... and was actually not too optimistic about how it'll turn out...
after an hour... the rice cooker chimed... and we were so excited... so anxious... to see how it'll look like... if we had succeeded...
i opened the rice cooker... and we all squealed with joy... it looks great..! smelt delicious..!
as we began... i first measured out the ingredients... only to realise that i do not have a kitchen scale... so i was not able to measure 50g of sugar... nor 30g of flour... so how..? estimate lor... using tablespoons... =P
and also... i dun have a proper mixing bowl... nor a whisk... so we made do with the largest soup bowl that we have... and a coffee-cup sized metal stirrer as a whisk... and boy... it was really hard work to get the egg whites and sugar to fluff up..! think my right arm is aching from all the 'whisking'...
then it was time to bake it in our new rice cooker... set it to bake for an hour... and was actually not too optimistic about how it'll turn out...
after an hour... the rice cooker chimed... and we were so excited... so anxious... to see how it'll look like... if we had succeeded...
i opened the rice cooker... and we all squealed with joy... it looks great..! smelt delicious..!
carefully inverted the contents onto a dish... cooled it... and put it into the fridge... for dessert after dinner... the gals and i couldnt wait...
right after dinner... rachelle took the cake out... armed with the bottle of fresh cream... ready to devour the cake...
it was so easy to cut the cake... it felt moist as the knife glided through it...
the slice looked really good... tasted ok... nice... texture was right... maybe estimation for sugar and flour needed to be more accurate... but all in all... very good for the first attempt..!
shared the rest of the cake with our neighbour and the security guard (they call them managers here)... my neighbour was so impressed that it had come from a rice cooker... and had asked for a cooking demo tomorrow..! =)
next project... will try doing a sponge cake with it... rachelle has since asked that her birthday cake be home-baked... so i gotta perfect it in time for her birthday... i have about 3 months... haha...
baking and scrapping
went shopping yesterday... all by myself at Shibuya...
bought a new... and bigger rice cooker... and got myself a portable HDD as my lappie's memory is running low due to the many photos in it...
i'm especially pleased with the rice cooker... it's actually cheaper than my portable HDD... and IT BAKES..! =)
read thru the manual... yep... all in 日本語... took ages... and then realised that there is this cake function... and there were 2 cake recipes in the manual too..! but alas... after figuring out the ingredients... i jus couldnt decipher the instructions...
so i went online and searched for an english one... after much searching... googling... i found it..! the exact one for the machine..!
so i am gonna bake a cheese cake today...
another thing that came with the shipment... was my prezzie from ribena... a pack of scrapbooking materials to help me get started with the hobby...
as i opened the package that she had packed... it was loaded with little pretty things... i sure hope i do justice to the things that she had given me..! she even wote me a step-by-step instruction sheet to get me started... so sweet hor.. =)
this will be my first attempt at doing both things... never have i baked anything for a very long time... in fact... it was since home economic days in secondary school...
and never have i scrapped anything... ever... never had the courage to do so... cos dun wanna make pretty things look ugly after passing through me... =P
nonetheless... let's do it..! =)
bought a new... and bigger rice cooker... and got myself a portable HDD as my lappie's memory is running low due to the many photos in it...
i'm especially pleased with the rice cooker... it's actually cheaper than my portable HDD... and IT BAKES..! =)
read thru the manual... yep... all in 日本語... took ages... and then realised that there is this cake function... and there were 2 cake recipes in the manual too..! but alas... after figuring out the ingredients... i jus couldnt decipher the instructions...
so i went online and searched for an english one... after much searching... googling... i found it..! the exact one for the machine..!
so i am gonna bake a cheese cake today...
another thing that came with the shipment... was my prezzie from ribena... a pack of scrapbooking materials to help me get started with the hobby...
as i opened the package that she had packed... it was loaded with little pretty things... i sure hope i do justice to the things that she had given me..! she even wote me a step-by-step instruction sheet to get me started... so sweet hor.. =)
this will be my first attempt at doing both things... never have i baked anything for a very long time... in fact... it was since home economic days in secondary school...
and never have i scrapped anything... ever... never had the courage to do so... cos dun wanna make pretty things look ugly after passing through me... =P
nonetheless... let's do it..! =)
Monday, 17 May 2010
lost weight
in the shipment... was my weighing scale too... and it confirmed that i had lost some weight... hahaha... =P
it could be due to various reasons...
a lot more walking...
a healthier diet (jap food)...
or...
ngiao... cos everything here is so expensive... so eat less of the expensive stuff... like meats... seafood... =P
think it's a combination of all the reasons la...
wadever the reason... yeah..!
lost weight..! =)
besides jus losing weight... my clever machine tells me that i am healthier too... body fat has gone down... even the tough fats around the vital organs have decreased too... and my metabolic rate is increased..! woot..!
it could be due to various reasons...
a lot more walking...
a healthier diet (jap food)...
or...
ngiao... cos everything here is so expensive... so eat less of the expensive stuff... like meats... seafood... =P
think it's a combination of all the reasons la...
wadever the reason... yeah..!
lost weight..! =)
besides jus losing weight... my clever machine tells me that i am healthier too... body fat has gone down... even the tough fats around the vital organs have decreased too... and my metabolic rate is increased..! woot..!
shipment is here..!
after a long day out with a friend... about 10hrs of walking and shopping and eating at お台場(Odaiba)... we headed home for some drinks...
as we entered our building... the manager told us that there are 3 boxes for us..! the gals squealed with delight... and i was absolutely glad that they have finally arrived..! =)
the next day... we unpacked... gals were great... they unpacked most of the stuff... since most of them were their books anyway... and all their books were nicely sorted out and placed in their bookshelf... so proud of them eh...
my many packets of pre-mixes were in the boxes too... and as i looked through each one... i realised that the rice-cooker that we currently have... is not big enough for me to cook chicken rice... nor claypot rice...
the one that we have is a really tiny one... 3 cups of rice... max... and at times... the amount is not even enough for the 4 of us... the gals were often seen fighting over the last scoop of rice from the pot... =P
so with the anticipation of cooking for more guests to come... family and friends... we have decided to get ourselves a bigger rice-cooker...
i jus came back from the supermarket... chicken was on offer.! so i got ourselves 2kg of chicken... and we're gonna have chicken curry tonight...! singapore style...!
happy... =)
as we entered our building... the manager told us that there are 3 boxes for us..! the gals squealed with delight... and i was absolutely glad that they have finally arrived..! =)
the next day... we unpacked... gals were great... they unpacked most of the stuff... since most of them were their books anyway... and all their books were nicely sorted out and placed in their bookshelf... so proud of them eh...
my many packets of pre-mixes were in the boxes too... and as i looked through each one... i realised that the rice-cooker that we currently have... is not big enough for me to cook chicken rice... nor claypot rice...
the one that we have is a really tiny one... 3 cups of rice... max... and at times... the amount is not even enough for the 4 of us... the gals were often seen fighting over the last scoop of rice from the pot... =P
so with the anticipation of cooking for more guests to come... family and friends... we have decided to get ourselves a bigger rice-cooker...
i jus came back from the supermarket... chicken was on offer.! so i got ourselves 2kg of chicken... and we're gonna have chicken curry tonight...! singapore style...!
happy... =)
what happens after death?
heh... not that i'm being dark here... jus that the message i heard yesterday... had set me thinking on the topic... and also how the pastor is able to speak so freely...
i like the way the pastor preaches here... maybe it's cos it is not a multi-racial... multi-religious country like back home... so maybe he does not need to be overly sensitive..? but then again... are we to preach the Word differently in different cultures..? maybe so... the approach may be different...
but the way this pastor preached... i like... no apologies kind... hard facts... in your face kind of message...
he made a few 'spiritual principles' from the story of the rich man from Luke 16:19-31... saying things like... 'if you dont know Jesus... you are going to hell'... woah... made me really sit up and listen for a while...
but of course... ultimately... he speaks of the hope we have when we have Jesus as our Saviour...
i like this statement... or definition he made on death...
'death is the moving from a temporal earthly life... to an eternal life in either heaven or in hell'...
never really saw it that way... we always talked about eternal life after we die... but seldom do we question... if it's eternity in heaven... or in hell... felt that it was a very good gospel message...
looking forward to more 'tough teachings' preached... =)
i like the way the pastor preaches here... maybe it's cos it is not a multi-racial... multi-religious country like back home... so maybe he does not need to be overly sensitive..? but then again... are we to preach the Word differently in different cultures..? maybe so... the approach may be different...
but the way this pastor preached... i like... no apologies kind... hard facts... in your face kind of message...
he made a few 'spiritual principles' from the story of the rich man from Luke 16:19-31... saying things like... 'if you dont know Jesus... you are going to hell'... woah... made me really sit up and listen for a while...
but of course... ultimately... he speaks of the hope we have when we have Jesus as our Saviour...
i like this statement... or definition he made on death...
'death is the moving from a temporal earthly life... to an eternal life in either heaven or in hell'...
never really saw it that way... we always talked about eternal life after we die... but seldom do we question... if it's eternity in heaven... or in hell... felt that it was a very good gospel message...
looking forward to more 'tough teachings' preached... =)
Friday, 14 May 2010
thursdays
usually on wednesday nights... i'd begin to think of excuses to not go for the japanese class (crayons)... mainly cos of the company that i will be with... purely koreans...
not that i dun like them... they are beautiful people... it's jus that a lot of effort has to be put in jus to communicate... using a bit of japanese... a bit og english... a whole lot of animation..! =P
last week they were jus talking about having english class with me after lunch... after crayons... and gosh... they were serious..! i was not even prepared yesterday to conduct any class with them...
but they came prepared... korean-english dictionary in hand... and notebook and pen...
guess yesterday was rather informal... we talked over tea... they asked me a few questions... i taught them english while talking to them... getting examples of what they had jus talked about... i was even able to share some parenting tips to them too..! =)
after yesterday... i am more motivated to really prepare to teach them english... yesterday may jus be the 3rd time we have gathered... but i think the relationship between us is growing... very fast actually...
this group of ladies are actually quite fun... already... we have made plans to go swimming... leaving the kids with husbands... go for evening bicycle rides... go to a huge supermart (costo)... and even a date was set to drink together..! happy hour during one of the afternoons..! ha... =)
not that i dun like them... they are beautiful people... it's jus that a lot of effort has to be put in jus to communicate... using a bit of japanese... a bit og english... a whole lot of animation..! =P
last week they were jus talking about having english class with me after lunch... after crayons... and gosh... they were serious..! i was not even prepared yesterday to conduct any class with them...
but they came prepared... korean-english dictionary in hand... and notebook and pen...
guess yesterday was rather informal... we talked over tea... they asked me a few questions... i taught them english while talking to them... getting examples of what they had jus talked about... i was even able to share some parenting tips to them too..! =)
after yesterday... i am more motivated to really prepare to teach them english... yesterday may jus be the 3rd time we have gathered... but i think the relationship between us is growing... very fast actually...
this group of ladies are actually quite fun... already... we have made plans to go swimming... leaving the kids with husbands... go for evening bicycle rides... go to a huge supermart (costo)... and even a date was set to drink together..! happy hour during one of the afternoons..! ha... =)
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
mom's day prezzie
the place that we are staying... is a rather hilly area... and the nearest supermart is about 7min walk away... and buying milk and other heavy stuff can be a rather daunting task... not to mention... muscle building too...
so we have been looking around for a trolley bag... but the ones that we have seen around here... are either too large... or too expensive... like over SGD150 each... way beyond wad we were willing to pay for...
so we were jus shopping on mothers' day... when hubby chanced upon this trolley bag... i liked the print... the colour... even the price... jus about SGD53... it was jus perfect..! and i asked for it as a mothers' day gift to me... =P
the bag is so cool... and it's a reisenthel..! we jus love this brand of shopping bags... and their range of reusable bags...
when the bag is not in use... the wheels cleverly fold in... and the entire bag can be folded nicely into a pouch... such a clever design i tell you... =)
i have since used it twice... once to the nearby supermart... to get milk and yogurt... jus to test it out... see if it was easy to pull...
the second was today... ventured to jusco... which is jus a 20min train ride away..! was so happy to have gone there... all by myself... so proud leh... and i returned with the trolley overflowing with groceries... and another bag of veg in hand..! =P
i am so glad that i have this bag..!
so we have been looking around for a trolley bag... but the ones that we have seen around here... are either too large... or too expensive... like over SGD150 each... way beyond wad we were willing to pay for...
so we were jus shopping on mothers' day... when hubby chanced upon this trolley bag... i liked the print... the colour... even the price... jus about SGD53... it was jus perfect..! and i asked for it as a mothers' day gift to me... =P
the bag is so cool... and it's a reisenthel..! we jus love this brand of shopping bags... and their range of reusable bags...
when the bag is not in use... the wheels cleverly fold in... and the entire bag can be folded nicely into a pouch... such a clever design i tell you... =)
i have since used it twice... once to the nearby supermart... to get milk and yogurt... jus to test it out... see if it was easy to pull...
the second was today... ventured to jusco... which is jus a 20min train ride away..! was so happy to have gone there... all by myself... so proud leh... and i returned with the trolley overflowing with groceries... and another bag of veg in hand..! =P
i am so glad that i have this bag..!
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
lost in translation
korean drama continues...
there came a knock on my door at about noon yesterday... after much guess work... 金さん's wife (munju) told me that lunch (焼そば) @ namsan's house... asked me if i had forgotten...
still stunned... i said i'll be over in a while...
as i changed... i recalled that last thrusday... namsan's wife (李さん) mentioned something about 焼そば... 12pm... and when i confirmed with Munju if 李さん was saying that she had family coming over on monday and they are having 焼そば..? she said 'yes'...
so now i know that it was an invitation..!
as i entered the house... i saw another lady whom i have not met before... guessing that this is the 'family' whom 李さんhad mentioned... it turned out that this other korean lady (Pakさん)... speaks a little bit more english... but still... i was not able to understand much form her...
initially... after she had introduced herself... i reckoned that her husband works in the korean embassy... but then later... she mentioned that her husband is in the army... so as of now... i dunno who she is... =P
during lunch... korean drama began... they would talk for a good 2 min... and the translation offered me was jus a 1-liner... hmm... so i had to guess a lot... rather tiring... really... and still maintain a smile on my face...
then the conversation soon developed... and they had wanted me to teach english to them..! after our regular jap lesson on thursday... we'd do lunch and then continue to learn english... *faint*
how to say no leh..?
then we had to decide on a location... i would have gladly offered to open my house to them... but i really cannot 'tahan' one of the ladies son... about 2yrs... a rascal i tell you... and the korean's way of bringing up a child is soooooo different from wad i believe... you should read all about him in "little korean boy"
but the beauty of it all is that... amongst the 4 korean ladies... 3 are christians... and are praying that Munju will become one too...
so... let's see wad happens this thursday...
will we have english lessons..?
will we understand each other..?
will i eventually discipline the little boy..?
hahaha... i really dunno... =P
there came a knock on my door at about noon yesterday... after much guess work... 金さん's wife (munju) told me that lunch (焼そば) @ namsan's house... asked me if i had forgotten...
still stunned... i said i'll be over in a while...
as i changed... i recalled that last thrusday... namsan's wife (李さん) mentioned something about 焼そば... 12pm... and when i confirmed with Munju if 李さん was saying that she had family coming over on monday and they are having 焼そば..? she said 'yes'...
so now i know that it was an invitation..!
as i entered the house... i saw another lady whom i have not met before... guessing that this is the 'family' whom 李さんhad mentioned... it turned out that this other korean lady (Pakさん)... speaks a little bit more english... but still... i was not able to understand much form her...
initially... after she had introduced herself... i reckoned that her husband works in the korean embassy... but then later... she mentioned that her husband is in the army... so as of now... i dunno who she is... =P
during lunch... korean drama began... they would talk for a good 2 min... and the translation offered me was jus a 1-liner... hmm... so i had to guess a lot... rather tiring... really... and still maintain a smile on my face...
then the conversation soon developed... and they had wanted me to teach english to them..! after our regular jap lesson on thursday... we'd do lunch and then continue to learn english... *faint*
how to say no leh..?
then we had to decide on a location... i would have gladly offered to open my house to them... but i really cannot 'tahan' one of the ladies son... about 2yrs... a rascal i tell you... and the korean's way of bringing up a child is soooooo different from wad i believe... you should read all about him in "little korean boy"
but the beauty of it all is that... amongst the 4 korean ladies... 3 are christians... and are praying that Munju will become one too...
so... let's see wad happens this thursday...
will we have english lessons..?
will we understand each other..?
will i eventually discipline the little boy..?
hahaha... i really dunno... =P
little korean boy
i have learnt that the koreans have a different way of disciplining... their child up-bringing beliefs are jus so different... from mine at least... this is wad i witnessed over lunch yesterday...
this little boy... maybe about 2-3yrs old... emptied the contents of a dustbin on the floor... the mom... continuing her lunch conversation... went calmly over... picked up all the litter... and put the dustbin back to its original place... all the while... the boy jus stood and watched...
then... he did it again... and the mom... did the same thing again... she did not address the misbehaviour wadsoever...
then the boy went into the master bedroom... took out a little trinket box... and again... emptied the contents on the floor... and the mom... said nothing again..!
throwing his half-eaten bun into the pot of 焼そば repeatedly... slamming the piano cover... drinking from other ppl's cup... snatching... whining... were jus a few of the misbehaviour that i noticed during my very short time with them...
dare i play host to them..?
this little boy... maybe about 2-3yrs old... emptied the contents of a dustbin on the floor... the mom... continuing her lunch conversation... went calmly over... picked up all the litter... and put the dustbin back to its original place... all the while... the boy jus stood and watched...
then... he did it again... and the mom... did the same thing again... she did not address the misbehaviour wadsoever...
then the boy went into the master bedroom... took out a little trinket box... and again... emptied the contents on the floor... and the mom... said nothing again..!
throwing his half-eaten bun into the pot of 焼そば repeatedly... slamming the piano cover... drinking from other ppl's cup... snatching... whining... were jus a few of the misbehaviour that i noticed during my very short time with them...
dare i play host to them..?
Monday, 10 May 2010
Kobuchizawa
we got invited to our host family's house last weekend... a one night stay at their house in Kobuchizawa... in Yamanashi prefecture... which is about 2hrs away by train...
織田さんand wife picked us up from the station... as it was around 9pm... we couldnt see much during the ride to the house... from about 100m away from the house... he pointed to us which one was his... and we jus couldnt stop 'wow-ing' from there...
on his land... there were 2 houses... a small one... and a big one... we were ushered to the bigger house... it was beautiful... like a cottage... a lodge... so cosy... so relaxing... it was indescribable...
we were then shown our bedrooms... 織田さんand wife will be at the smaller house for the night... we felt very blessed... a little uneasy cos of the impeccable hospitality shown... but soon relaxed...
dinner was BBQ lamb from Hokkaido... yummy..! even the gals loved it...
after dinner... we stepped out of the house to see the millions of stars that were in the night sky... simply breath-taking..! never have i seen so many stars in my life..!
by the time we were done eating... showered and all... it was already 2am... and were to be up by 8am... the hosts have planned for us a day of sight-seeing in the Yamanashi prefecture...
i knew we were gonna have an amazing day ahead... when i opened my eyes the next morning... and looked out from the window... mountains...!
after a relaxing breakfast... we went about sight-seeing...
(photos are posted on FB)
the visit ended with 織田さんtaking us to the train station at about 4pm... we were all exhausted... but agreed that it has been the most memorable weekend since coming to Japan... =)
織田さんand wife picked us up from the station... as it was around 9pm... we couldnt see much during the ride to the house... from about 100m away from the house... he pointed to us which one was his... and we jus couldnt stop 'wow-ing' from there...
on his land... there were 2 houses... a small one... and a big one... we were ushered to the bigger house... it was beautiful... like a cottage... a lodge... so cosy... so relaxing... it was indescribable...
we were then shown our bedrooms... 織田さんand wife will be at the smaller house for the night... we felt very blessed... a little uneasy cos of the impeccable hospitality shown... but soon relaxed...
dinner was BBQ lamb from Hokkaido... yummy..! even the gals loved it...
after dinner... we stepped out of the house to see the millions of stars that were in the night sky... simply breath-taking..! never have i seen so many stars in my life..!
by the time we were done eating... showered and all... it was already 2am... and were to be up by 8am... the hosts have planned for us a day of sight-seeing in the Yamanashi prefecture...
i knew we were gonna have an amazing day ahead... when i opened my eyes the next morning... and looked out from the window... mountains...!
after a relaxing breakfast... we went about sight-seeing...
(photos are posted on FB)
the visit ended with 織田さんtaking us to the train station at about 4pm... we were all exhausted... but agreed that it has been the most memorable weekend since coming to Japan... =)
mothers' day
while snoozing in bed... about 6.30am... i noticed that my bedroom door was closed... remembering that we had kept it opened the night before... didnt think much of it... went back to snooze...
then i heard my microwave beep... this time... i got up and opened the door... rachelle immediately stopped me from getting out from the room... and asked me to go back to bed... told me to wake at only 8am...
i knew what she was up to already... =)
couldnt sleep after that already... waiting for her to call us up...
breakfast was ready by 7.30am... and she woke hubby and i up... she had made for herself a cheese omelet before making our breakfast... so clever... settle her own tummy frst...
hubby had a ham sandwich and black coffee... and i had a ham sandwich with japanese 0-cha... then as we were having our breakfast... she went on to make joanna a smiley faced ham omelet... and then woke joanna up in time for her breakkie...
i then asked her what made her think of fixing breakfast for me... her reply was the sweetest... she said she had awoken early... and was thinking that she has not done anything for mothers' day... and then thought of making breakfast for us...
then why not only for me..? why for the whole family..?
her response... so that i dun have to fix their breakfast... she even said she'd wash up after breakfast... but hubby beat her to that... =)
so sweet hor...
this gal is growing sweeter by the day... feel that she has changed much since coming to japan... she does not lose her temper as easily as before... and is also more loving towards joanna... =)
after breakfast... we headed for church... and then lunch... and then shopping at shibuya... and since it was my special day... they were instructed by hubby... not to whine nor complain... =P
hubby bought me a gift... a reisenthel foldable trolley... very mothers' day gift indeed..!
but a much needed one... as i do all the groceries on foot... and we're living in a hilly estate... it can get quite tough when i'm buying milk and other heavy stuff...
ended the day by getting half-priced sushi from the nearby supermarket... and sat under the night sky while savouring the sushi... gals had the space to play after dinner...
all in all... happy... =)
then i heard my microwave beep... this time... i got up and opened the door... rachelle immediately stopped me from getting out from the room... and asked me to go back to bed... told me to wake at only 8am...
i knew what she was up to already... =)
couldnt sleep after that already... waiting for her to call us up...
breakfast was ready by 7.30am... and she woke hubby and i up... she had made for herself a cheese omelet before making our breakfast... so clever... settle her own tummy frst...
hubby had a ham sandwich and black coffee... and i had a ham sandwich with japanese 0-cha... then as we were having our breakfast... she went on to make joanna a smiley faced ham omelet... and then woke joanna up in time for her breakkie...
i then asked her what made her think of fixing breakfast for me... her reply was the sweetest... she said she had awoken early... and was thinking that she has not done anything for mothers' day... and then thought of making breakfast for us...
then why not only for me..? why for the whole family..?
her response... so that i dun have to fix their breakfast... she even said she'd wash up after breakfast... but hubby beat her to that... =)
so sweet hor...
this gal is growing sweeter by the day... feel that she has changed much since coming to japan... she does not lose her temper as easily as before... and is also more loving towards joanna... =)
after breakfast... we headed for church... and then lunch... and then shopping at shibuya... and since it was my special day... they were instructed by hubby... not to whine nor complain... =P
hubby bought me a gift... a reisenthel foldable trolley... very mothers' day gift indeed..!
but a much needed one... as i do all the groceries on foot... and we're living in a hilly estate... it can get quite tough when i'm buying milk and other heavy stuff...
ended the day by getting half-priced sushi from the nearby supermarket... and sat under the night sky while savouring the sushi... gals had the space to play after dinner...
all in all... happy... =)
Friday, 7 May 2010
shopping trip..?
after our our first meeting with 金さん's wife (Korean)... hubby has encouraged me to bring her about... to my favourite haunts for groceries... and shopping...
and so... the very next day... i plucked up courage and walked over to her place... jus before setting off for my regular exploratory walk around the estate...
金さん was at home... and they were going to visit the ward office to settle some stuff... so was not able to go with her... so this was attempt #1...
attempt #2...
we were all in a little coach... on our way to meet all our host families... and in that coach... 金さん asked if i could take his wife out shopping... so thinking that both hubbys will be at shool... i suggested the very next day...
but in the coach... i felt that nothing was confirmed... i suggested 10am... but they looked doubtful... and then we were interrupted with instructions by another lady... so to me... nothing confirmed...
it was very much later that i knew that the next day was a public holiday... hubbys are not required to be in school... so yeah... we could go out... as a family...
then the next day... my doorbell rang... yup... it was 金さん's wife... all ready to go... hai... so i apologised profusely... trying to explain that i didnt know that the appointment was confirmed... since our husbands were gonna be at home...
then attempt #3... this time we got the day and time right... she appeared at my door... and i was ready to take her about the estate...
when we came out from the lift on the first floor... there were already 2 other korean ladies waiting for us... then she asked of we could go together... but of course... the more the merrier... i thought...
as we walked out from our compound... the other 2 ladies were walking in front... somewhat knowing exactly where they were going... never mind... i jus followed...
during the journey... machiam like i watching korean drama... hahaha... didnt understand a word they said...
then after about 5min... we entered a building... looked like an office building... i thought to myself... wow... there's shopping here..? so i asked... where are we... think i asked about 3 times... no one could tell me... all they could say was 'crayon'... so i figured... we;re here to get some art stuff...
then we reached the 9th floor... eh..? looks like classroom leh... then was directed to one of the rooms... we sat down... i was still blurr what i was in for... and we were given some forms...
it was then that i know... it was a japanese class la... crayons is the name of this group of ladies... all volunteers... to help non-japanese residents to learn the language...
chey...
so after 1.5hrs... they said let's do lunch together... one of them suggested ramen... and off we went...
it was crowded at the ramen shop... so we had to wait a little... while we were waiting... again korean drama began... then we were given the menu... they kept pointing to the 'special' for the day... and jibberish-ing... so i looked at the other menu... and was really looking forward to having a hot bowl of veg ramen...
then the lady walked into the ramen shop with the menu... came out empty handed... suspecting that she has already placed orders... i asked what they were having... she pointed to the 'special'... and then i asked again... are we all having the same thing...? she nodded her head...
oh great... i dun even have a say in wad i ate for lunch... hahaha... it was super interesting with them...
after lunch... i really needed my time alone to browse in the supermart... so i took my time and suggested for them to go back earlier... if they are done with their shopping... which they did...
haha... think this is gonna be a weekly affair... since this is jus the 1st time... will keep this going for sometime... and see how la... we should then develop our own language where we understand each other... i hope..! =P
and so... the very next day... i plucked up courage and walked over to her place... jus before setting off for my regular exploratory walk around the estate...
金さん was at home... and they were going to visit the ward office to settle some stuff... so was not able to go with her... so this was attempt #1...
attempt #2...
we were all in a little coach... on our way to meet all our host families... and in that coach... 金さん asked if i could take his wife out shopping... so thinking that both hubbys will be at shool... i suggested the very next day...
but in the coach... i felt that nothing was confirmed... i suggested 10am... but they looked doubtful... and then we were interrupted with instructions by another lady... so to me... nothing confirmed...
it was very much later that i knew that the next day was a public holiday... hubbys are not required to be in school... so yeah... we could go out... as a family...
then the next day... my doorbell rang... yup... it was 金さん's wife... all ready to go... hai... so i apologised profusely... trying to explain that i didnt know that the appointment was confirmed... since our husbands were gonna be at home...
then attempt #3... this time we got the day and time right... she appeared at my door... and i was ready to take her about the estate...
when we came out from the lift on the first floor... there were already 2 other korean ladies waiting for us... then she asked of we could go together... but of course... the more the merrier... i thought...
as we walked out from our compound... the other 2 ladies were walking in front... somewhat knowing exactly where they were going... never mind... i jus followed...
during the journey... machiam like i watching korean drama... hahaha... didnt understand a word they said...
then after about 5min... we entered a building... looked like an office building... i thought to myself... wow... there's shopping here..? so i asked... where are we... think i asked about 3 times... no one could tell me... all they could say was 'crayon'... so i figured... we;re here to get some art stuff...
then we reached the 9th floor... eh..? looks like classroom leh... then was directed to one of the rooms... we sat down... i was still blurr what i was in for... and we were given some forms...
it was then that i know... it was a japanese class la... crayons is the name of this group of ladies... all volunteers... to help non-japanese residents to learn the language...
chey...
so after 1.5hrs... they said let's do lunch together... one of them suggested ramen... and off we went...
it was crowded at the ramen shop... so we had to wait a little... while we were waiting... again korean drama began... then we were given the menu... they kept pointing to the 'special' for the day... and jibberish-ing... so i looked at the other menu... and was really looking forward to having a hot bowl of veg ramen...
then the lady walked into the ramen shop with the menu... came out empty handed... suspecting that she has already placed orders... i asked what they were having... she pointed to the 'special'... and then i asked again... are we all having the same thing...? she nodded her head...
oh great... i dun even have a say in wad i ate for lunch... hahaha... it was super interesting with them...
after lunch... i really needed my time alone to browse in the supermart... so i took my time and suggested for them to go back earlier... if they are done with their shopping... which they did...
haha... think this is gonna be a weekly affair... since this is jus the 1st time... will keep this going for sometime... and see how la... we should then develop our own language where we understand each other... i hope..! =P
so blessed
truly the Lord blesses beyond measure... beyond what we could ever imagine... or think of... my heart sings of His goodness... His loving-kindness forever more... =)
though we had great plans... before even embarking on this year-long trip... to visit... to tour... the many places in... and about japan...
and since coming here... with the gals in school... and hubby in the course... planning for a real trip seems difficult to do...
that is why it amazes my soul to see how the Lord has blessed us... with the many opportunities... to visit... to enjoy...
last week we had the privilege of visiting Saitama prefecture... where many ppl who work in tokyo stay... managed to experience the quietness of the suburban... the relaxed pace... the beautiful scenery... and of course... their impeccable hospitality... not forgetting the mouth-watering food prepared for us...
and tonight... we are making ur way to our host family's 2nd house... which is located a little farther than Saitama... where deers... wild boar... can be seen from their house..!
this is gonna be a great experience for us... i jus know it... =)
we have another 2 invitations from hubby's assigned buddy from the course... at the end of May... we've been invited to his place for a meal... and he too... has a 2nd house... which is about 50min... by plane..! wow..!
the buddy's mother is a teacher... she teaches others how to make tea... which means... we would have the privilege of having our own tea ceremony..! in his house..!
cant wait..!
then later in oct... there are plans to join a missionary from our home church... for a weekend chalet... at the foot of Mt Fuji..! i saw the photos of the chalet... and really wished i was there immediately... the sights were awesome..!
and for all these things... we are immensely grateful...
not that we have asked... but we have been blessed...
how great is our God... =)
though we had great plans... before even embarking on this year-long trip... to visit... to tour... the many places in... and about japan...
and since coming here... with the gals in school... and hubby in the course... planning for a real trip seems difficult to do...
that is why it amazes my soul to see how the Lord has blessed us... with the many opportunities... to visit... to enjoy...
last week we had the privilege of visiting Saitama prefecture... where many ppl who work in tokyo stay... managed to experience the quietness of the suburban... the relaxed pace... the beautiful scenery... and of course... their impeccable hospitality... not forgetting the mouth-watering food prepared for us...
and tonight... we are making ur way to our host family's 2nd house... which is located a little farther than Saitama... where deers... wild boar... can be seen from their house..!
this is gonna be a great experience for us... i jus know it... =)
we have another 2 invitations from hubby's assigned buddy from the course... at the end of May... we've been invited to his place for a meal... and he too... has a 2nd house... which is about 50min... by plane..! wow..!
the buddy's mother is a teacher... she teaches others how to make tea... which means... we would have the privilege of having our own tea ceremony..! in his house..!
cant wait..!
then later in oct... there are plans to join a missionary from our home church... for a weekend chalet... at the foot of Mt Fuji..! i saw the photos of the chalet... and really wished i was there immediately... the sights were awesome..!
and for all these things... we are immensely grateful...
not that we have asked... but we have been blessed...
how great is our God... =)
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Golden Week
we approached the week with no plans whatsoever... cos it was ridiculously expensive to be travelling or touring during this period... besides... the sea of people everywhere deterred us from planning a getaway...
but we still managed to spend the week nicely... rather spontaneous... rather fun..! =)
Ueno Zoo
on friday night... we sat around and thought what we should do during the golden week... then
we decided to visit the ueno zoo... cos it was convenient... no need to change train...
the zoo is huge... actually... i felt that it was more like a park... with lakes... bridges... lots of trees... and the animals were scarcely placed all around the zoo...
gals did not enjoy the zoo... largely due to the fact that the animals are in cages... that didnt make the gals very happy... unlike the singapore zoo... where animals roam freely in their large enclosures... the animals at the ueno zoo were kept in relatively small cages...
moreover... the zoo was filled with more people than animals... it was difficult jus to catch a glimpse of the animals...
but gals were still happy at the end of the day... cos there was a mini amusement park at the entrance of the zoo... hubby got them 3 rides each... and left them to decide and queue for which ever rides they so prefer... then hubby and i waited outside the park for them...
Saitama
then on sunday... we got invited to a friend's house for lunch... 上林さん is from the college that hubby is attending the course... he looks into the welfare of the foreign students... like our accommodation... and the family's needs... like getting the gals into the public school...
上林さん came to pick us up in his MPV... we were prepared for a 1.5hr ride to his place in saitama prefecture... however... on the way there... joanna felt queasy and threw up in the car..! she felt so bad and so did we... so we had to make a stop to wash her up... and clean the car...
continued on the journey... joanna sitting on her wet skirt... felt bad for her... but she was not complaining... but i knew that she was uncomfortable... so i requested for us to stop by any stores where i could get her a new skirt...
and so we did... and the rest of the journey was more comfortable for her...
there were traffic jams on the roads... all in all... we took about 3.5hr jus to get to his place...
lunch was great... sukiyaki... learnt how to make it their style and cant wait to try it out myself..! tried new foods... food that i would not buy when i am out alone at the supermart... but they were oishii..!
with the lunch... we had beer... followed by coffee liqueur... then some sake... and ending all off with a slice of strawberry sponge cake... and coffee... heavenly..!
the gals also had a whale of a time with his elder daughter... children are jus so borderless... with no common language... they played so well together... lots of laughter... and giggles...
their common language... pokemon... and NDS lite... thank God we brought along ours... =)
by the time we were done... it was about 7pm when we left his place... and by the time we reached home... it was about 9.30pm... then i made a quick dinner... dinner was served at 10pm...
it was a very tiring day... but it was meaningful... =)
Roppongi Hills
we had initially planned for us to go to Gotenba for some serious shopping... it is a place where duty free outlets congregated... placed is a famous spot for shopping... but hubby received an sms invitation for dinner...
his ex-japanese classmates had invited us for dinner... it was also to celebrate one of their friend's birthday... and so we postponed our Gotenba trip... anyways... we still had lots of time to do that one...
didnt do much on monday... hubby had an assignment due on thursday... immediately after the golden week... so he spent some time working on his assignment...
dinner was at Roppongi Hills... a very nice restaurants... it was a good time with friends... even the gals enjoyed the dinner... nice... =)
Yokohama
and so Gotenba was pushed to tuesday... but on monday night... we asked ourselves if we were planning to buy anything in particular there... both of us said nothing... and so we decided to postpone the trip there again... and do something that would involve the gals as well...
and so we spontaneously chose to visit Yokohama... jus like that... no planning whatsoever... jus go... =P
set off for Yokohama right after breakfast... it was jus a 40min train ride from where we are... reached the station... went straight to get ourselves a visitor's guide and map... and headed off on foot...
we fell in love with Yokohama... it was really nice... near the sea... cos there were ports and piers... we saw ships... tall buildings... even a big amusement park..!
the family went on quite a number of rides... it was fun... lots of screams and laughter... gals were very grateful to us for bringing them there...
but we were on foot most of the time... it was really tiring... think we walked over 3km... ending up in chinatown... which was very crowded... too crowded for us to settle dinner there... so we headed somewhere near home...
ended up back at Shibuya for dinner... went to a tonkatsu restaurant... and dinner was truly satisfying... nice... =)
yesterday was the final day of the golden week... we spent the entire day at home... hubby needed desperately to complete his assignment... which he did by 11pm... =P
phew..!
that's our week in a nutshell..! =)
but we still managed to spend the week nicely... rather spontaneous... rather fun..! =)
Ueno Zoo
on friday night... we sat around and thought what we should do during the golden week... then
we decided to visit the ueno zoo... cos it was convenient... no need to change train...
the zoo is huge... actually... i felt that it was more like a park... with lakes... bridges... lots of trees... and the animals were scarcely placed all around the zoo...
gals did not enjoy the zoo... largely due to the fact that the animals are in cages... that didnt make the gals very happy... unlike the singapore zoo... where animals roam freely in their large enclosures... the animals at the ueno zoo were kept in relatively small cages...
moreover... the zoo was filled with more people than animals... it was difficult jus to catch a glimpse of the animals...
but gals were still happy at the end of the day... cos there was a mini amusement park at the entrance of the zoo... hubby got them 3 rides each... and left them to decide and queue for which ever rides they so prefer... then hubby and i waited outside the park for them...
Saitama
then on sunday... we got invited to a friend's house for lunch... 上林さん is from the college that hubby is attending the course... he looks into the welfare of the foreign students... like our accommodation... and the family's needs... like getting the gals into the public school...
上林さん came to pick us up in his MPV... we were prepared for a 1.5hr ride to his place in saitama prefecture... however... on the way there... joanna felt queasy and threw up in the car..! she felt so bad and so did we... so we had to make a stop to wash her up... and clean the car...
continued on the journey... joanna sitting on her wet skirt... felt bad for her... but she was not complaining... but i knew that she was uncomfortable... so i requested for us to stop by any stores where i could get her a new skirt...
and so we did... and the rest of the journey was more comfortable for her...
there were traffic jams on the roads... all in all... we took about 3.5hr jus to get to his place...
lunch was great... sukiyaki... learnt how to make it their style and cant wait to try it out myself..! tried new foods... food that i would not buy when i am out alone at the supermart... but they were oishii..!
with the lunch... we had beer... followed by coffee liqueur... then some sake... and ending all off with a slice of strawberry sponge cake... and coffee... heavenly..!
the gals also had a whale of a time with his elder daughter... children are jus so borderless... with no common language... they played so well together... lots of laughter... and giggles...
their common language... pokemon... and NDS lite... thank God we brought along ours... =)
by the time we were done... it was about 7pm when we left his place... and by the time we reached home... it was about 9.30pm... then i made a quick dinner... dinner was served at 10pm...
it was a very tiring day... but it was meaningful... =)
Roppongi Hills
we had initially planned for us to go to Gotenba for some serious shopping... it is a place where duty free outlets congregated... placed is a famous spot for shopping... but hubby received an sms invitation for dinner...
his ex-japanese classmates had invited us for dinner... it was also to celebrate one of their friend's birthday... and so we postponed our Gotenba trip... anyways... we still had lots of time to do that one...
didnt do much on monday... hubby had an assignment due on thursday... immediately after the golden week... so he spent some time working on his assignment...
dinner was at Roppongi Hills... a very nice restaurants... it was a good time with friends... even the gals enjoyed the dinner... nice... =)
Yokohama
and so Gotenba was pushed to tuesday... but on monday night... we asked ourselves if we were planning to buy anything in particular there... both of us said nothing... and so we decided to postpone the trip there again... and do something that would involve the gals as well...
and so we spontaneously chose to visit Yokohama... jus like that... no planning whatsoever... jus go... =P
set off for Yokohama right after breakfast... it was jus a 40min train ride from where we are... reached the station... went straight to get ourselves a visitor's guide and map... and headed off on foot...
we fell in love with Yokohama... it was really nice... near the sea... cos there were ports and piers... we saw ships... tall buildings... even a big amusement park..!
the family went on quite a number of rides... it was fun... lots of screams and laughter... gals were very grateful to us for bringing them there...
but we were on foot most of the time... it was really tiring... think we walked over 3km... ending up in chinatown... which was very crowded... too crowded for us to settle dinner there... so we headed somewhere near home...
ended up back at Shibuya for dinner... went to a tonkatsu restaurant... and dinner was truly satisfying... nice... =)
yesterday was the final day of the golden week... we spent the entire day at home... hubby needed desperately to complete his assignment... which he did by 11pm... =P
phew..!
that's our week in a nutshell..! =)
blog time
yeah..!
finally... i have time to blog..!
it's been a week-long holiday here... they call it the Golden Week... 3 consecutive public holidays and a weekend...
have done many things... jus didn't have the time or the energy to do so... at the end of the day... i could hardly keep my eyes opened while manning my 'cafe'... hee... =P
now i realise... how nice it is to have the whole morning to myself... think i'm getting used to this... =)
finally... i have time to blog..!
it's been a week-long holiday here... they call it the Golden Week... 3 consecutive public holidays and a weekend...
have done many things... jus didn't have the time or the energy to do so... at the end of the day... i could hardly keep my eyes opened while manning my 'cafe'... hee... =P
now i realise... how nice it is to have the whole morning to myself... think i'm getting used to this... =)
Friday, 30 April 2010
20min
made sure that there was more than enough rice last night... so that i could pack the leftovers for the bentos this morning... oso made the pasta salad and garden salad last night...
got up at 6.30am to get the bentos ready... hubby waking at 7am... and gals were to wake at 7.10am...
bentos were done in 20mins... well... not the very pretty ones... but thought i had better start by making simple ones... and slowly get more adventurous... =P
guess it must be all the buzz in the kitchen... gals were up around 7am... by themselves... washed up... and rachelle even prepared breakfast for themselves... milk and cereal... =)
they were delighted to see the bentos... joanna will get hers soon... when she goes for her field trip...
hope they will enjoy them too..! =)
got up at 6.30am to get the bentos ready... hubby waking at 7am... and gals were to wake at 7.10am...
bentos were done in 20mins... well... not the very pretty ones... but thought i had better start by making simple ones... and slowly get more adventurous... =P
guess it must be all the buzz in the kitchen... gals were up around 7am... by themselves... washed up... and rachelle even prepared breakfast for themselves... milk and cereal... =)
they were delighted to see the bentos... joanna will get hers soon... when she goes for her field trip...
hope they will enjoy them too..! =)
chicken hamburger patties
rachelle's bento & hubby's bento
*sprinkles for the rice are in the cute mickey container... salad sauce in the fish-shaped container*
hubby's bento
*using joanna's bento set... so the cute mickey =P*
Thursday, 29 April 2010
first bentos
rachelle's going on her very first field trip tomorrow... and a bento is one of the many things she has to bring...
while planning her bento... i was thinking to myself... since i was already making one bento... and hubby's gonna be at class tomorrow... why dont i jus make him one too..?
and so... i planned to 'surprise' him tmrw...
after returning from his jog... he asked if it was any trouble for me to prepare a bento for him as well...
ha... no longer a surprise... and when he learnt that i already had intentions to make him one... he seemed pleased... =)
gonna wake up in 6hrs to prepare 2 bentos...
wish me luck..! =P
while planning her bento... i was thinking to myself... since i was already making one bento... and hubby's gonna be at class tomorrow... why dont i jus make him one too..?
and so... i planned to 'surprise' him tmrw...
after returning from his jog... he asked if it was any trouble for me to prepare a bento for him as well...
ha... no longer a surprise... and when he learnt that i already had intentions to make him one... he seemed pleased... =)
gonna wake up in 6hrs to prepare 2 bentos...
wish me luck..! =P
online groceries
jus finished doing my groceries... online... =)
visited the site introduced by the american's wife... it cost 105yen (SGD1.50) to deliver if i order more than 3000yen (SGD45) worth of stuff... and delivery is free if purchases are above 5000yen...
not too bad a deal... especially when i think of buying 5kg rice... milk... and other heavy stuff... this is really good...
so jus to try it out... i made the first purchase tonight... jus over 3000yen... delivery is expected on saturday...
let's see how it goes..!
visited the site introduced by the american's wife... it cost 105yen (SGD1.50) to deliver if i order more than 3000yen (SGD45) worth of stuff... and delivery is free if purchases are above 5000yen...
not too bad a deal... especially when i think of buying 5kg rice... milk... and other heavy stuff... this is really good...
so jus to try it out... i made the first purchase tonight... jus over 3000yen... delivery is expected on saturday...
let's see how it goes..!
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
well-stocked
after the meeting with our host family... the 3 families were ferried back to our homes... the koreans... the americans... and us...
on the ride home... hubby invited the other 2 families to our house for coffee and tea... then the american's wife turned to me and asked if it was ok... cos she realised hubby hadnt asked me... haha... of course it was ok... thank God i like to entertain... =)
so we had 3 families over at our house... a total of 6 adults... and 6 children... aged 3 months to 10 years...
boy... was i glad i stocked up on cookies... snacks... coffee... tea... even had bak kwa... and chili tapioca crisps to serve..! =)
now my cupboard is almost empty...
time to buy more..! =P
on the ride home... hubby invited the other 2 families to our house for coffee and tea... then the american's wife turned to me and asked if it was ok... cos she realised hubby hadnt asked me... haha... of course it was ok... thank God i like to entertain... =)
so we had 3 families over at our house... a total of 6 adults... and 6 children... aged 3 months to 10 years...
boy... was i glad i stocked up on cookies... snacks... coffee... tea... even had bak kwa... and chili tapioca crisps to serve..! =)
now my cupboard is almost empty...
time to buy more..! =P
host family
met them this morning... felt that they were really nice people... not as what i had expected them to be... =P
they even invited us over to their 2nd house over next weekend... it's about a 2hr train journey from where we stay... from how the couple had described it... it seems like a very big house... and we are so looking forward to spending a night at their place..!
it was a rather formal first meeting... rather stressed but it was made a lot easier that they speak english... and that hubby and them know a common friend... this friend has helped prepare us for our first meeting... by telling us about his friendship with the host family... and it really did help a lot...
thank God... =)
they even invited us over to their 2nd house over next weekend... it's about a 2hr train journey from where we stay... from how the couple had described it... it seems like a very big house... and we are so looking forward to spending a night at their place..!
it was a rather formal first meeting... rather stressed but it was made a lot easier that they speak english... and that hubby and them know a common friend... this friend has helped prepare us for our first meeting... by telling us about his friendship with the host family... and it really did help a lot...
thank God... =)
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
dress up
each foreign student has been attached to a host family... usually a retiree... an ex-officer... usually... rather high ranking...
so we're meeting ours tomorrow...
*stress*
that's the reason why i have been desperately trying to buy a pair of shoes... my nicer shoes are still in the shipment... and the only pair of shoes i have now... is a pair of walking shoes... and i thought that i had better be in a skirt or a dress...
spent some time deciding what to wear jus now... after deciding what to wear... i soon realised that i do not have a nice coat... it's gonna be funny having a casual jacket over my outfit tmrw... oh wells...
got my nails painted as well... figured that they wouldnt last 2 days with all the cleaning and washing and cooking... i got the nail polish from the nearby 100Yen shop... and did my own manicure... not too bad la... =P
anticipating such an event... i oso bought a box of merlion-shaped chocolates and a packet of dried mangoes... as gifts to the host family...
it may be jus a simple meeting... no need for all this fuss... but i believe first impressions are lasting... and they matter... first impressions set the tone... it tells the other party how you would like to be treated... it's respect...
that's why i bother so much...
besides... hubby looks good when i do... =P
so we're meeting ours tomorrow...
*stress*
that's the reason why i have been desperately trying to buy a pair of shoes... my nicer shoes are still in the shipment... and the only pair of shoes i have now... is a pair of walking shoes... and i thought that i had better be in a skirt or a dress...
spent some time deciding what to wear jus now... after deciding what to wear... i soon realised that i do not have a nice coat... it's gonna be funny having a casual jacket over my outfit tmrw... oh wells...
got my nails painted as well... figured that they wouldnt last 2 days with all the cleaning and washing and cooking... i got the nail polish from the nearby 100Yen shop... and did my own manicure... not too bad la... =P
anticipating such an event... i oso bought a box of merlion-shaped chocolates and a packet of dried mangoes... as gifts to the host family...
it may be jus a simple meeting... no need for all this fuss... but i believe first impressions are lasting... and they matter... first impressions set the tone... it tells the other party how you would like to be treated... it's respect...
that's why i bother so much...
besides... hubby looks good when i do... =P
best
maybe cos i'm rather competitive by nature... and some even say a 'perfectionist'... it has helped me enjoy my stay here... or rather... find meaning in the mundane things i do everyday...
i take pride in keeping the house clean and tidy for my gals and hubby... that when they return... they are happy... they are relaxed...
taking care of their dinner has now become my job... not only it's my job... it is my joy... making sure they are satisfied... and that the dinner table is a place where we share the happenings of the day passed... usually filled with laughter... =)
jus tonight... hubby commented...
that of the 3 homes...
he felt that ours is the cleanest and most organised...
i take that as a compliment... =P
i take pride in keeping the house clean and tidy for my gals and hubby... that when they return... they are happy... they are relaxed...
taking care of their dinner has now become my job... not only it's my job... it is my joy... making sure they are satisfied... and that the dinner table is a place where we share the happenings of the day passed... usually filled with laughter... =)
jus tonight... hubby commented...
that of the 3 homes...
he felt that ours is the cleanest and most organised...
i take that as a compliment... =P
korean dinner
3 out of the 4 foreign students' families stay here at meguro-ku... and all 3 families are neighbours... we being sandwiched between them...
before kim-san's (korean) wife and daughters arrived on sunday... we have been inviting him over for meals occasionally... so once his family arrived... they invited us for dinner last night...
dinner was a simple meal of rice cakes in soup... there's a special name but i simply cannot remember la... then there were at least 7 different types of kimchi on the table...
it was quite an experience for me and the gals... but glad they tried to at least finish their bowl of rice cakes... and even had black bean rice... =)
what is more interesting about the dinner was the conversations shared over the table...
here's who at the table...
kim-san... speaks korean and jap... little english...
kim-san's wife... speaks only korean... very little jap and english...
hubby... speaks english and limited jap...
me... speaks only english... very little jap...
hubby was like the official translator... so proud of him...
if kim-san wants to tell me something... he has to tell hubby... and hubby tells me... vice-versa...
what's more interesting... is when kim-san's wife wanna tell me something... she tells kim-san... kim-san then translates to jap to hubby... and then hubby translates to english for me...
then hubby tells kim-san that i could show his wife around... i was like... huh..? how to talk..? so stressful... see how la... =P
but it was an enjoyable night... the gals played well with his gals... =)
before kim-san's (korean) wife and daughters arrived on sunday... we have been inviting him over for meals occasionally... so once his family arrived... they invited us for dinner last night...
dinner was a simple meal of rice cakes in soup... there's a special name but i simply cannot remember la... then there were at least 7 different types of kimchi on the table...
it was quite an experience for me and the gals... but glad they tried to at least finish their bowl of rice cakes... and even had black bean rice... =)
what is more interesting about the dinner was the conversations shared over the table...
here's who at the table...
kim-san... speaks korean and jap... little english...
kim-san's wife... speaks only korean... very little jap and english...
hubby... speaks english and limited jap...
me... speaks only english... very little jap...
hubby was like the official translator... so proud of him...
if kim-san wants to tell me something... he has to tell hubby... and hubby tells me... vice-versa...
what's more interesting... is when kim-san's wife wanna tell me something... she tells kim-san... kim-san then translates to jap to hubby... and then hubby translates to english for me...
then hubby tells kim-san that i could show his wife around... i was like... huh..? how to talk..? so stressful... see how la... =P
but it was an enjoyable night... the gals played well with his gals... =)
Monday, 26 April 2010
Matthew 25: 21
'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
this verse stood out the most for me yesterday... it was not expounded on by the pastor... it was jus revelation to me... as i read the scripture text...
so many times we only hear the part about God putting us in charge of many things cos of our faithfulness... and many times... that almost sound like a punishment...
sometimes i get fearful of this verse... cos afraid of the MORE THINGS that will be added to me if i were faithful with the few things...
come share your MASTER'S HAPPINESS...
this is what spoke to me... what is this 'master's happiness' that Jesus is saying..?
applying the rules of the english language and understanding the context and syntax... this simply refers to the part where it says 'in charge of many things'... doesn't it..?
that being put 'in charge of many things'... is actually sharing my master's happiness... that actually He is making me in charge of more of His business... therefore... it should be a happy thing... a joyous celebration... isn't it..?
then why are we so worried of the 'more things' that He will put us in charge of..?
isn't this the fear that the 3rd man has in the parable of the talents..? therefore he hid his talent in the ground..?
i know it all sounds too easy... with the little that we are given... already 'cry father cry mother' liao... how can we even fathom about 'more things'..?
but duno la... it jus brought me joy when i read that last part of the verse... =)
this verse stood out the most for me yesterday... it was not expounded on by the pastor... it was jus revelation to me... as i read the scripture text...
so many times we only hear the part about God putting us in charge of many things cos of our faithfulness... and many times... that almost sound like a punishment...
sometimes i get fearful of this verse... cos afraid of the MORE THINGS that will be added to me if i were faithful with the few things...
come share your MASTER'S HAPPINESS...
this is what spoke to me... what is this 'master's happiness' that Jesus is saying..?
applying the rules of the english language and understanding the context and syntax... this simply refers to the part where it says 'in charge of many things'... doesn't it..?
that being put 'in charge of many things'... is actually sharing my master's happiness... that actually He is making me in charge of more of His business... therefore... it should be a happy thing... a joyous celebration... isn't it..?
then why are we so worried of the 'more things' that He will put us in charge of..?
isn't this the fear that the 3rd man has in the parable of the talents..? therefore he hid his talent in the ground..?
i know it all sounds too easy... with the little that we are given... already 'cry father cry mother' liao... how can we even fathom about 'more things'..?
but duno la... it jus brought me joy when i read that last part of the verse... =)
more spiritual nuggets
yesterday's message was video-taped... the pastor of the church was at the opening service of their new worship site @ misato...
initially... i was skeptical... not live... but video-taped... how much would i listen and learn..?
the message was on the parable of the talents...
i mean... how many times have we read that..? and how many times have we heard of a message from that parable..? how else can you preach that passage..?
anyways... i was amazed... think yesterday's message was clearest and meaningful for me... picked up a few nuggets along the way...
it was interesting that the pastor shared the message differently... it was not your usual message of using your talents well... about not burying your talents... but use it for the Lord and He will multiply what we have...
instead his message was all about 'risks'... about how the 3rd man never knew who Christ really was cos he never took the risk to do so... he was captured by fear...
another nugget was when he shared... 'your faith determines your vision'... at first i was puzzled... but as he taught... i began to see... he said that many ppl plan... have a vision first... then pray for faith to carry out the vision...
he is saying that faith should come first... when we have the willingness to risk by faith opportunities for the gospel... then we see the Kingdom purpose... the vision...
after the sermon... i am really wondering... what can i do at this church that we are attending... dun wanna 'waste' this year jus warming one of the seats there...
initially... i was skeptical... not live... but video-taped... how much would i listen and learn..?
the message was on the parable of the talents...
i mean... how many times have we read that..? and how many times have we heard of a message from that parable..? how else can you preach that passage..?
anyways... i was amazed... think yesterday's message was clearest and meaningful for me... picked up a few nuggets along the way...
it was interesting that the pastor shared the message differently... it was not your usual message of using your talents well... about not burying your talents... but use it for the Lord and He will multiply what we have...
instead his message was all about 'risks'... about how the 3rd man never knew who Christ really was cos he never took the risk to do so... he was captured by fear...
another nugget was when he shared... 'your faith determines your vision'... at first i was puzzled... but as he taught... i began to see... he said that many ppl plan... have a vision first... then pray for faith to carry out the vision...
he is saying that faith should come first... when we have the willingness to risk by faith opportunities for the gospel... then we see the Kingdom purpose... the vision...
after the sermon... i am really wondering... what can i do at this church that we are attending... dun wanna 'waste' this year jus warming one of the seats there...
church
after our move to meguro-ku... we have been attending Tokyo Baptist Church @ Shibuya... it's jus a train station and a 5min bus ride away from our place...
we usually attend the 9am service on sunday... which sees about 200 ppl at that service...
having been attending TPMC for the past 24 years... the experience is rather different for me... truly... there's no place like HIS home... =P
being in the worship ministry... my attention was immediately drawn to the instruments and vocalists... was very encouraged by the team... tho the congregation is not big and not young... their team is no smaller than 15... and most importantly... each team member played his part and it was not clashy... or loud...
yesterday... the team was made up of...
1 bassist
2 electric guitarists
1 synthesizer
1 organist
1 drummer
1 percussionist
2 trumpeters
1 violinist
5 singers
though there were many ppl serving on the team... it was not noisy... nor messy... each instrument played their small part at the right time... not anyone instrument was louder than another... nor playing too much...
and when the instrument is not being played... the musician worships... what a lovely sight...
it reminded me that we are firstly made to worship Him... with or without instrument... the talent of being able to play an instrument in worship... is simply to enhance OUR worship to Him... whether we play an instrument or not... it does not add pleasure to HIS enjoyment... if we had worshipped from our hearts...
we usually attend the 9am service on sunday... which sees about 200 ppl at that service...
having been attending TPMC for the past 24 years... the experience is rather different for me... truly... there's no place like HIS home... =P
being in the worship ministry... my attention was immediately drawn to the instruments and vocalists... was very encouraged by the team... tho the congregation is not big and not young... their team is no smaller than 15... and most importantly... each team member played his part and it was not clashy... or loud...
yesterday... the team was made up of...
1 bassist
2 electric guitarists
1 synthesizer
1 organist
1 drummer
1 percussionist
2 trumpeters
1 violinist
5 singers
though there were many ppl serving on the team... it was not noisy... nor messy... each instrument played their small part at the right time... not anyone instrument was louder than another... nor playing too much...
and when the instrument is not being played... the musician worships... what a lovely sight...
it reminded me that we are firstly made to worship Him... with or without instrument... the talent of being able to play an instrument in worship... is simply to enhance OUR worship to Him... whether we play an instrument or not... it does not add pleasure to HIS enjoyment... if we had worshipped from our hearts...
Saturday, 24 April 2010
焼そば
weekends are here again... as hubby has to catch up on his reading... we have decided to spend only one day out... instead of on both days... so we are home today... and will be out tomorrow... which includes church... and SHOPPING..! =)
usually i plan not to cook on weekends... i need a break too wad hor... =P
anyways... we were all too lazy to go out... though the sun shining really bright today... we are still staying home... after 2 loads of wash... which will definitely dry in the sun by evening... i looked into my fridge and decided to fry soba...
never done it before... so wasnt sure if it'll turn out right...
pictured in my head how a 焼そば is served outside... and started to prepare the ingredients... it began to turn out really well... colour and smell were familiar... =)
usually i plan not to cook on weekends... i need a break too wad hor... =P
anyways... we were all too lazy to go out... though the sun shining really bright today... we are still staying home... after 2 loads of wash... which will definitely dry in the sun by evening... i looked into my fridge and decided to fry soba...
never done it before... so wasnt sure if it'll turn out right...
pictured in my head how a 焼そば is served outside... and started to prepare the ingredients... it began to turn out really well... colour and smell were familiar... =)
joanna decided to take a pix of me while i cooked... as you can see... my kitchen is super small... 2 burners... a very shallow frying pan... in fact... for the 4 of us... i have to fry 2 rounds... cos the pan was jus too small... 
the finished product..! not too bad eh..? and it was so easy to do... guess we'd ba having more of this more often... and it costs under Y500 for the 4 of us..!
いただきます。。！
i love school..!
yes i do..! =)
not that i attend school... but i simply love wad it's doing with my gals..!
lunch is provided for in school... and since day 1... i've been checking with them... what was being served and if they finished their lunch in school...
the first couple of days... they confessed that they have difficulty finishing their food... but since 2-3 days ago... they have been reporting to me that they finished all that was given them..!
joanna said it's cos her friends kept encouraging her by saying 'がんばって！'... and she will try her very best to finish her meal...
to date... they have eaten more veg than they had in months... including raw lettuce... strawberries... onions... strawberry sauce... parsley...
quite impressive eh..? =)
not that i attend school... but i simply love wad it's doing with my gals..!
lunch is provided for in school... and since day 1... i've been checking with them... what was being served and if they finished their lunch in school...
the first couple of days... they confessed that they have difficulty finishing their food... but since 2-3 days ago... they have been reporting to me that they finished all that was given them..!
joanna said it's cos her friends kept encouraging her by saying 'がんばって！'... and she will try her very best to finish her meal...
to date... they have eaten more veg than they had in months... including raw lettuce... strawberries... onions... strawberry sauce... parsley...
quite impressive eh..? =)
Thursday, 22 April 2010
nerves
both gals had their own complaints this morning...
rachelle woke up... and jus before she was gonna wash up... she threw up... and complained that there seem to be gas in her tummy... making her feel bloated... and thus does not wish to have any breakfast...
joanna complained that her throat still hurts... coughed a little... sniffled a lot... said that her nose was stuck...
gave rachelle some medicine for the gas in the tummy... and hubby asked both gals if they were ok for school...
both did not say 'no'... but hesitated to say 'yes'... but finally... they mustered enough courage to say that they did not wanna go to school today...
and so... hubby and i agreed... i wud monitor both gals to see what's really the matter...
hubby left for class at 7.30am... and usually gals would leave by 8.10am...
but by 8am... gals were already asking for omelet for their breakfast... one with pork floss... and the other with cheese...
and for the rest of the day... they were perfectly normal... joanna was still coughing and sniffling a little... but other than that... they'd definitely would have survived school...
verdict... NERVES...
as long as they get to school... be amongst their friends... they'd usually come home happy and report that they enjoyed school...
let's see what happens tomorrow...
rachelle woke up... and jus before she was gonna wash up... she threw up... and complained that there seem to be gas in her tummy... making her feel bloated... and thus does not wish to have any breakfast...
joanna complained that her throat still hurts... coughed a little... sniffled a lot... said that her nose was stuck...
gave rachelle some medicine for the gas in the tummy... and hubby asked both gals if they were ok for school...
both did not say 'no'... but hesitated to say 'yes'... but finally... they mustered enough courage to say that they did not wanna go to school today...
and so... hubby and i agreed... i wud monitor both gals to see what's really the matter...
hubby left for class at 7.30am... and usually gals would leave by 8.10am...
but by 8am... gals were already asking for omelet for their breakfast... one with pork floss... and the other with cheese...
and for the rest of the day... they were perfectly normal... joanna was still coughing and sniffling a little... but other than that... they'd definitely would have survived school...
verdict... NERVES...
as long as they get to school... be amongst their friends... they'd usually come home happy and report that they enjoyed school...
let's see what happens tomorrow...
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