Last train on weekends

haha, look at this guy. Must have thought that it is his home so took off his right shoe.

Sometimes you can see this scenery if you are on the last train (around 0:00am) on weekends. I wonder who will wake him up and take home...

Delightful Afternoon

I saw a rainbow today.
It was one of the most beautiful rainbow that I have seen. It had a perfect semicircular shape all the way to the end, and there were two! I took some pictures but the camera didn't capture how beautiful it is...

When I see a rainbow, somehow it makes me happy. I feel lucky and think that today is gonna be a good day. Isn't that same for everyone?

Work, work work...

I haven't written anything about my life recently... Maybe because I didn't feel like writting, not many good news these days.

I've been stressful with my work since we entered 2009. One reason is because I'm feeling too much responsibility for my work and second is I feel difficulties dealing with one of my biggest client...

It's been almost 2 years since I joined this company, and I became to understand my company, job, my boss etc just recently. Since we are very small company, there's no one to teach you, you have to study, research, think and act yourself. That is interesting until they put you under too much pressure. Recently, I feel pressure towards me is more than my ability. If I can make an excuse, there's no one to teach, no past experience, so I have to figure out all by myself. In those cases, if they put me under pressure, I can't do anything... I'm too scard to do something. If they are gonna ask me for responsibility, I want more education, experience, someone to teach me, lead me.

This is one of the biggest differnce between big companies and small companies. In big company, they give you lots of opportunities to develop yourself. In small company, you have to figure out yourself. This is good and bad. Just studying and not putting into practice is meaning less ( I know many end up like this), however, you can't develop yourself unless you have the ability.
I quit my former company because the organization was too big that I couldn't do what I wanted to do, and now I'm doing what I dreamt of but asking for education like big companies... I guess humans desire for what they don't have. Such an ironic thing...

Anyway, hope my work situation will be bright. At least I like my company and like my boss, co-workers a lot. There's no one that I don't like in my company. Everyone is nice so work enviroment is very comfortable.

Only half year left until 2010... Time past so quickly...

My new cell!!

I finally got a new cell phone and it is soooo cute!

I put on a sticker and also some sparkeling stone with a glue.

I love it!

In My Garden

How many 4-leaf clovers can you find in this photo??
In our garden at home, there were a pile of clover leaves and there are lots of 4-leaf clover!! Isn't this amazing?
I also found 5-leaf clover! In Japan, we have a saying that if you find 5-leaf, it means bad luck.

Art of Taro Okamoto

I had friend coming over from Nagoya and went shopping in Aoyama. Aoyama is a very nice area to walk around and do shopping.
While wandering around, I saw this interesting statue and had to find out what is is. It also reminded me of something familiar... I went closer and noticed what it was. It was the same artist of "Tower of the Sun" in Osaka Park; Taro Okamoto.
Very interesting figure, I enjoyed them.


Also, it was funny to see this cause I have been reading this manga (comic book) called "20th Centry Boys" recently, and this Tower of the Sun plays a big role in that story. This manga is very popular in Japan now, not my type of the manga, but sooo interesting that I cannot stop. Mystery and futuristic story. I cannot read alone at night because it's too scary ... I heard that it'll be a movie soon and maybe it'll come out in foriegn countries sometime. I know there's already an English translation book.

Anyway, the Golden Week Holiday has started in Japan! Just sharing with you some of my activities and update you more later.

Snowman

It's was snowing a lot this weekend all around Japan even in Tokyo and Osaka. I couldn't go out because of the heavy snow....but

me and my sis made a snowman next day! Isn't it cute? "smiling snowman" :)

Below is the backyard of my house.

My Recent Activities

My recent activities...

Went to work seeing the sunrise...
Had udon in Roppongi (huge size!!) at 12 am during weekday...

And gave myself a present to become beautiful!
Isn't it nice?

Date with my dad♡

Recently, it's a routine to have dinner with my dad every Sunday night.
Last time we went for teppanyaki steak, and today shabu-shabu in Ginza. Dinner in Ginza... the most expensive place in Tokyo. Aren't we romantic?
Some people are surprised and say "what do you talk with your dad just two of you!?" I guess it's not common for a Japanese family to go out just the dad and his daughter when you get older. It is really nice though. We talk about business, work, family etc. He is more like my adviser than a father now.
Plus, this Sunday dinner helps me to charge my energy and nutrition for the whole week. I eat very bad(little) during weekdays cause I finish late and don't have a chance to have a proper dinner.

Anyway, I really appreciate my father these days. The reason I can have this life, what made me now, is my dad.

Blue Tokyo

I was walking toward the station and saw this blue tokyo tower. I was very surprised, couldn't help to take a picture. It had totally different looks.

I don't know why it was blue though. If someone do know, plz tell me...

Actually, I've also seen Pink and Green tokyo tower. All of them by accident.

I wonder what's the next color.

Tokyo Life

View from my balcony. When I see this, I feel that I live in Tokyo.
Roppongi hills on the left and Tokyo tower on the right.

3 min walking from my place.

No matter how many times I see, I'm always impressed by it's beauty.

Moving

I just moved to a new place and I'm so sick of doing things to make my room. I had to buy bed, frige, microwave, washing mashine, desk, chair, TV table, kitchen stuff, toilet stuff, curtains, and many other small things. Also, I had to have Internet connection, have electricity, gas, water etc. Gosh, it takes time and I have to carry heavy things, have to clean up, and the worst is that I have to wait for the delivery to come which you don't know when, so you have to stay at home for 3 hours just waiting. plus, it takes 1 week to come so untill then, I don't have them. Today, I bought dest and a chair so it'll come next weekend. I still have many things I need...
It's not just stress but it cost a lot!! ahhhh...

well, fun things is that I can make my own room in my own taste. My room is basically white, cream white and dark brown color with a little bit of red. My bathroom is mostly pink. looks nice!

5 Star☆

I met up my friends from high school yesterday. We all live close but haven't met for a long long time. probably about an year. It's so nice to see friends from old school days. Talking about how much fun we had together and laughing at the crazy things we did, make you return to your youth. Remembering the pure heart we used to have. (I still have though! i hope...)

We are 5 member group and surprisingly, we are totally different in every way. Personallity, how we dress, looks, interests, work etc. Everything's different. Walking down the street, some people might wonder why we are together. Probably the only common thing is the fact that we went to the same high school, same class.

We're like a 5 star☆ We are all facing different directions but somehow stay connected. Funny but that's how we are. Usually, somone brings up the topic, "hey, we haven't seen each other recently. let's meet up!"(this time it was me) and we schedule for the next meeting. One is living in Chicago, so it was only 4 of us. We miss you, Aki! We'll definately meet when you come back:)

Picture taken at "diner's eve" in Osaka.

結婚式。Wedding

今週初めて友達の結婚式へ行ってきました！

親戚のは行ったことあるけど、友達は初めてだったから「もうそんな歳のなったんだなぁ～。」ってしみじみ思います。。すごく素晴らしい結婚式でした☆神戸の結構式場で、もう超ゴージャス＆ラブリー☆
その友達はディズニー好きなので、曲や映像とかDisneyで揃えてたり、演出もシンデレラ♪ 驚いたのは最後のデザートビュッフェ。すごい種類のケーキやデザートが並んでて、どれも超おいしそうだし、シェフはどんどんお皿にのせていくし。もうおなかが破裂しそうだった。あと、感動したのは最後に新婦が歌った歌。彼女はオペラをやってて、ジャズクラブとかで歌ってるほど上手やねんけど、一番好きな歌の歌詞を自作の母に向けた感謝の気持ちに替えて歌って・・思わず目が潤んでしまった。感動ました。ありがとう。

結婚。
私は早く結婚したいっていうよりは、この人と一生一緒にいたい！と思った人が出来たときに結婚したい。だから今すぐでもいいし、10年後でもいい。If there's the right person. 私だけの王子様が現れればね☆ でもその王子様が今、どこで何してるのかは気になる。もう出会ってるのかなぁとか。年頃の女の子なら誰もが気になるところよね？

っていっても、やっぱ結婚式に出席すると、「いいなぁ、私も結婚したいなぁ」って気分になる。永遠の愛の誓いに華やかな衣装と披露宴。私そういうの大好きだから、早くしたくなっちゃう。
チャペルや教会で真っ白のウエディングドレスもいいけど和装もいいかもと思った。それまでは絶対ドレスと思ってたけど、日本人だし英語で話す牧師さんにちょっと違和感を感じたから。日本人しかいないのに、何故に英語！？と思わずつっこんでしまったもん。でも牧師が日本人でも変だしね。う～ん。。まぁ実際結婚するときに考えたらいいか。

でも華やかな衣装の裏には厳しい現実や問題があるのも事実。結婚式2日前に友達に会っていろいろ話聞いたけど、人生ってうまくいかないなぁとしみじみ。その日どんだけのろけられるのだろうと思ってたら、実際はいろいろ大変そうで。。家族やお金も絡んでくるしね。あと、もう一つ思ったのは、人生何が起こるか本当にわからないということ。結婚しないと思っていても、いつどこで出会って、いつ結婚するかわからないよ。その友達も超意外だったしね。うん、びっくり。

とまぁいろんな感情がごちゃごちゃ渦巻いた一週間でした。でも結婚式は本当に本当に良かった！！
Congratulations, Rie♪　お幸せにね♡

I went to my friend's wedding for the first time!!

I've been to my family's wedding but never friend's. It was a beautiful beautiful wedding.
It was held at a gorgeous wedding hall, Christian style. It's very popular to have a christian wedding in Japan. Yes, even though you're not christian. Priest, chapel, carol, white wedding dress... etc. My friend is a big fan of Disney so all the music and entertainment was Disney♪and at the end, the bride sang an Opera. She sings opera at jazz bar sometimes so she's very good but this time she made her song to her mom, putting her appreciation into her own words. wow, her song moved me into tears. It was just beautiful.

Marrige.
A lot of women when they get into their late 20s, they feel in a rush. (I'm still 23, btw) Especially in Japan, I think.　There's a famous ironic phrase for 25 yld women, I forgot though... :(
Anyway, I don't care what age I get married. I want to get married when found a guy that I want to get married. If I felt I want to be with him forever, that's the time. So it can be right now or 10 years later. If there's my prince:) But I do wanna know where's my prince right now?? Have I already met? What's he like? I'm sure all the girls are wondering about this.

But if you attend a wedding, it makes you feel you wanna get married, you know? vow for the eternal love, gorgeous wedding dress and party...etc. I love all those lovely, sweet things. I kinda felt "Japanese traditional style" wedding is good too. with white, gorgeous kimono and hakama for the groom, sake, shrine etc. I felt a little wired at the chapel cause priest was speaking English even we were all Japanese, singing and saying "amen" even though we're not Christian. Isn't this wired? But you know, we're Japanese. Japanese love fancy things. same for Christmas.
Anyway, one thing I thought is that even people look very happy, you never know what's underneath that fancy dress. I met the bride 2 days before wedding. I was prepared to hear this all love-love story but...there was the reality. She had problems and was not 100% happy about the marrige. Life doen't go that well, I guess. One more thing I thought is that you never know when you meet your partner, when you get married. Anything can happen in your life! My friend was the example. I was so surprised of her marrige and of him too. He was totally different from her type.

Ok, I wrote enough. well, I had many feeling going through my mind this week.
But I just wanna say that it was a wonderful wedding!!

Congratulations Rie and may you be happy forever!!!

Wiredest Couple

先週4連休だったので、またまた東京行ってきました！今回は大学時代の友達と会ったり、会社の同期と会ったり、お父さんと飲みに行ったり。すごく楽しかった♪やっぱ東京は面白いなぁ。東京住みたい。

東京のおもしろさはいろんな人がいるから。本当に多種多様な人が入り混じっていると思う。
街をゆく人たちを見ていると、他の都市にはない、独特のオーラがある。

そして今回、目を疑うようなカップルを見た！！
それは新宿で山手線の電車を待っている時。 反対のホームのちょうど私のまん前に、メイドの服を着た彼女と、アニメから出てきたようなビジュアル系の彼のカップルがいた。とまぁこれはまだありえることやねんけど、なんとその彼女、首に首輪つけて、クサリで繋がれてた・・・。そして彼がそのクサリを引いていた・・・。これにはまじびっくりしたね。
世の中にはいろんな人がいて、どんな格好をしようと個人の自由だけれども、これはないでしょ。この人らはなんでこんな格好をしたのだろう？？SMの趣味があるのか？縛られたい or 縛りたいみたいな。せめて家でやれよ、と思った。それか人と違った格好をして、注目されるのが気持ちいいのかな。

これはほんと東京でしか見られないよ。写メ撮りたかったけど、周りに人たくさんいたし、その勇気がなかった。でもちょっと後悔。。みんなに見せてあげたい!

I had 4 days off so I went to Tokyo again. It was so much fun! I met some of my friends from my college and my co-worker. I also spend some time with my dad. We always go out drinking when I go to Tokyo and I really enjoy it.

Anyway, the interesting thing about Tokyo is that there are various kinds of people living here. You'll be surprised how people look crazy. and this time, I saw this wiredest couple ever!!
Here's the story.
I was waiting for my train at Shinjyuku and there was one couple right in front of me in the other side of the platform. The girl was dressed up like maid (it is kinda popular now, some guys love it and even girls enjoy dressing up like a maid) and the boy looked as if he just came out from the video game ( i don't know how to describe but like nerds dressed in heavy metal fashion).

Well, this is not that surprising if you live in Tokyo. The thing is, this girl had a collar on her neck and was attached to a chain!!! and her bf was holding it like a dog on a leash... !!!
Oh my god, I coudn't believe this...I mean people DO have rights to dress as they like, express themselves as they want but... but...I don't understand why they wanted to do this in public? Maybe they are sadist and masochist...? but hey, can't you do that at home? or it's just that they wanna look different from the others, outstand and feel pleasure from people looking at them.

Oh I wish I could show you guys their picture. I wanted to take one with my cell but since there were many people standing behind me so I couldn't:(

梅雨（tsuyu）- the rainy season

Here comes this season again. In Japan, June is the rainy season which is called tsuyu in jp. Most people don't like it cause it rains all the time which makes them depressing. yeah, that's true but I kinda like it personally. Don't know why but I don't mind the rain. Plus, during this season, we see this flower called ajisai everywhere. cute, huh? I don't remember if I saw this in the U.S. Is there?

One more thing about June. June has another name; June Bride. It is said that if you get married in June, you can be happy forever. Just a legend but why June? I don't wanna have a wedding on a rainy day, you know. is this June Bride thing only in Japan or all over the world??

Time flies...

今週、塾の先生が亡くなった。
原因は癌。中学のときからお世話になっていた人で、勉強だけでなく人生や考え方などいろいろなことで影響された人。最近はあまり会わなかったが、年に何回かは今でも会いにいっていた。

先生は決して良い先生とは言えない。タバコ超吸うし、お酒も超飲むし、いいかげんだし、やさしくないし。。でも人間としては素晴らしい人で、なぜかみんな惹かれてしまう。だから先生の周りにはいつも人がいたし、塾やめてもみんなしょっちゅう遊びに来ていた。私はもう10年以上の付き合い。先生とはいろいろあったなぁ～。ムカついたこともあったし、もう嫌！と思うこともあったけど、私たちのことを真剣に考えてくれてるから嫌いにはなれなかった。倒れてからも塾だけは続けたいと決してやめなかった。生徒といること、塾が生きがいらしい。

そして先生のお通夜にいってきた。たくさんの人が来ていた。5年ぶりに会う人や、遠くに行った人なども大勢いて、先生のお通夜というよりは塾の同窓会みたいだった。私が教えてもらっていた先生や私が教えていた生徒もいて、うれしかった。これも先生のおかげだね。先生がみんなを引き合わせてくれたみたい。

先生はきっと幸せだったと思う。もちろんやり残したことはあるたくさんあるだろうが、自分の思うように、好きなことばっかりやってたし、そして何よりも最後に多くの人に見送られたから。その人がどれだけ周囲から好かれていたかはお葬式で分かると思う。本当に大切なひとのお葬式には参加するだろうから。先生のところには多くの人が訪れていた。

最初は先生がもうこの世にいないこと実感がわかなかった。そんなにしょっちゅう会っていたわけじゃないし。けど、帰る前にもう一度先生に会いに行ったとき、じっと先生の顔を眺めているとどんどん悲しくなってきた。もうあのうるさい声が聞けないんだ、困ったとき相談しにいけないんだと思うと。前会ったのは去年の10月。お見舞いに何度かいったが、もう話せなくて会話はできなかった。そして元気なときに、もっと前に会いにいっとけばよかったとすごく後悔した。その後悔がだんだんと大きくなって涙が出てきた。

その時、私が数年前に教えていた生徒が隣にやってきた。そして私が「もっとたくさん会いにいっとけばよかった」と言ったら「僕もそう思う」と。そして「これからおばあちゃんとかおじいちゃんにもっと会いにいったほうがいいですよ。おばあちゃんたちのためじゃなくて自分のために。後悔しないよう、自分のために会いに行くんですよ。」と。その通りだと思った。

ということで、今日おばあちゃん家に行ってきました！最近は体がどんどん弱くなっていって、あまり元気がないから心配。私すごくおばあちゃんとおじいちゃん大好きだから。私が会いに行くといつもすごく喜んでくれる。これからは本当にできるだけ会いに行こう、そう決めました☆

なんかちょっと暗くなっちゃったね。すみません。。m(._.)m

Sorry to those of you who can't read JP. But I'll write a little bit about it.

One sad thing happend to me this week; my teacher died. I've known him for more than 10 years. He was my teacher when I was in junior high and since then, he taught me so many things, not just studies but also about life and advised me when I had problems.

He's not the best teacher cause he smokes a lot, drink a lot, not nice, do what he wants....but he was a great great person. He had the character that attracts people and he influenced many people including me. So even though he's like that, there were always people around him.

I think he passed away happily. Many many people came to say goodbye to him. I think you can tell how much that person was loved from the number of people who came to the funeral. First, I didn't realize that he's dead because I didn't see him often recently but when I lookedk at his face, tears started to fall. When I thought I'll never hear him yelling at me or I can't ask his advice anymore, tears came out. I regretted so much that I should've seen him more often and talked to him more.

Then one person who I used to teach years ago came next to me and said, "you should see your grand parents as much as you can. Not for your grand parents but for yourself. You should see them for yourself, so that you won't regret." He's right.

So today, I went to see my grand parents! My grandma has problem with her legs so not very well so I'm worried about her...:( I like my grand parents so much that I don't know what I'm gonna do if they are gone... don't wanna think about it. I'm gonna go and see them as much as I can from now on.

Anyway, sorry it's a little sad story. I just wanna say that you should see your grandma, grandpa when they're healthy and spend time with them as much as you can! And also your parents. If you can't meet them, call them and talk to them. Time flies so fast, you know...

OMG

I got a parking ticket... right across the street from my grandma's house.
No more Gold Card for me...:( it was my first ticket (well, actually I had one in the U.S.) and it cost me 15000 yen!! which is about $130. and plus what makes me sad is that the police came in 4:05 pm and I came back 4:30 pm. if I was a little earlier...
well, I'm more upset about having a record and not be able to get Gold Card anymore than the money. Oh, I went to the police office but they were very nice. I was surprised. Nice & polite.

駐禁取られた・・・。しかもおばあちゃん家の前で。 初違反です（アメリカでは一度スピード違反したけど・・）。あ～ぁ、これでゴールドカード無理になっちゃった。だいぶショックだなぁ。しかも1万5千円でした。高いなぁ。これで何かが買えると思うとショック。まぁ仕方ない。
大きな警察署に行かされてんけど、警官みなさんすごくいいひとだった。警察って態度悪い人多いけどほんと親切だったよ。

刺激的な友

昨日、今日と、とても刺激的な友達に会った。
　昨日は3年ぶりくらいに会った高校の同級生。彼は将来BIGな夢を持っていて、それに向かって一生懸命突き進んでいた。その夢というのも俳優。俳優の卵は山ほどいるが、彼は本気。夢見てるわけでもなく、今はまだモデルだが、真剣に俳優になるための道を見つけて、一歩一歩確実なものとしていた。すごいなぁ～と私は思った。しかも舞台は世界！私は信じてるよ、彼が大きく羽ばたくことを☆ 　
　そして今日会った友は今年から中小メーカー企業で働いている人。海外営業部だそうだが、その部の社員は彼ともう一人と部長の3人。そのため、仕事を任せられている、というか本当にやらざるを得ない、人がいないらしい。まだ入社して数ヶ月なのにもう出張にバンバン行っている。明日からタイに出張らしい。小さな会社ならではのことだろう。
　私も仕事で世界を飛び回りたい。その思いは強い。だが、私が内定しているのは大手企業。名があって、規模が大きい安定した大手企業と、小さいが、その分新人でもどんどん使ってくれる中小企業どっちがいいのか。いまだに迷ってしまう。だが、せっかく手にいれたチャンス。大手に就職できるのはそうあるわけではないし、一度日本の伝統ある大手企業で働いて、「日本企業」を体験するのも勉強ではないかと思って大手に決めた。そしてそこからまた違う道へ進めばいいのだと。 でも、彼の話を聞いて、本当にうらやましかった。生き生きしていた。大手に入って、彼のように毎日刺激でいっぱいで、わくわくするような仕事ができるだろうか。両者とも両者なりのBenefit、Costがあって、どっちがいいとは言えないが、私にはどっちが合っているのだろう。。ﾍﾞﾝﾁｬｰのような企業の方が合っているのかもしれないと思ってしまう。無いものねだりなだけだろうか。。 　　　　　　＊写真は彼がくれたロシア土産