Monday, January 28, 2008

A shocking movie!

I saw a movie "An Inconvenient truth" yesterday. I was very shocked to see all the facts Al Gore presented. Also I couldn't help but think of how things are going if he had become the President of the United States! The Iraq war occurred? What about the current economy crisis? The relationship between our country and the US would be better? He seemed to be a very persuasive speaker.

I wonder how much a good leader means to a country. In my prefecture, Osaka, the new governor was elected yesterday. Honestly, I don't like him very much. But at least he is very young, 38 years old, currently the youngest governor in Japan. So I do hope he is wrestling with the difficult challenges and brings good results using his enthusiasm of youth!!!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Lots of things going around in my mind....

Last night, I talked with my husband about my possible future.

me: What do you think what I can do next with my English? If anything is possible, being a translator, an interpreter, or.... what? Do you think I can do something new for the rest of my life? I have to tell you there is one thing I want to do using my English. I want to just talk with people, listen to people's stories!! Especially, elderly people. For example, what if I go to NY again and work as a volunteer in a nursery home or something like that. I don't know if it's possible in the current circumstances, or if I could find an institution I can work, a place to live, get working visa or anything.... But it's not productive at all, I suppose. What do you think?

he: I think, among your picks, working as a volunteer at nursery home would be suitable for you because you are good at talking with people, you are doing the same thing now, look, you've been teaching music to elderly people, or in the past you taught challenged people singing also. Everybody loves you and you seem enjoying the time with them.

me: But.... it's not a business so I can't earn any money from it. Is it OK for you?

he: You do what you like to do as long as our financial situation allows. If you are happy, I feel happy, too.

me: Oh, you're so sweet.....

The conversation went on like this.
I don't know what I can do next, but I want to think about it seriously. Even if it seems silly to do, I should do what I want to do when my circumstances allow me to do.

I'm 45 years old now and will turn 46 this year, not so young, I have to admit. I don't know how many years are left in my life. I often question myself if I can do new things over the next few years or a decade. Sometimes I feel I can't do anything new or challenging any more. Other times, I feel I should try something because not much time might be left in my life.

What can I do? What do I want to do?

Lots of things were going around in my mind all day today, on the train, on the streets, even at home.

But, that's fine, thinking about my life is important, should be a good thing to do! I hope I can reach a good answer.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

My appearance on the radio show!

I've been learning English language not because I want to get a good job, nor pass the major exams, but because I want to communicate more people in the world, understand other people in the world, and hopefully do something meaningful or helpful to others using my ability.

One of my motivations to continue to learn English is my favorite radio program, "The Brian Lehrer Show" on WNYC, New York Public radio station in the US. One day around 5 years ago, I happened to find the program when I was surfing on the Internet. Although my English ability at that time was fairly poor, I loved the show somehow. I liked the atmosphere where newspaper reporters, politicians, scholars, any specialists appeared and at the same time ordinary people called in to join the conversation. At first, I just could understand the greeting expression like, hello, how are you, or how are you doing... It was fortunate for me that the station has archive system so I could listen to the segment again and again. It helped me improve to understand what they were talking about. Gradually, I understood more things on the topics and got more interested in the program. I started to e-mail them after a few months or so. And I called in for the first time in fall of 2004. It was totally exciting! I could communicate with my favorite host, Brian, even a little bit, I was very motivated that I wanted to improve my English more and more and someday to talk to him about more deep things.

To make long story short, I went to NY in 2005 and met them and even appeared on the show at the end of my stay. It became one of the most memorable events for my life. After coming home, I continue to listen to it on the net and e-mail them once in a while.


Yesterday, it was Martin Luther King Jr. day in the US. Every year, the program does a one-minute reading tribute by listeners where listeners call in and read some excerpt from any source about any ethnic group other than their own.

I CALLED IN!!! I read excerpts from the introduction of a book, "The Negro In The Making Of America” by Benjamin Quarles (published in 1964, Collier Books). I got so nervous that I became tongue-tied!!! Anyway, I managed to do it, I hope.

I spent the whole weekend to choose what to read. I went to the Internet and read speeches, new articles, and went to the library, borrowed books about MLK, read a book in my bookshelf about other ethnic group.

After deciding what to read, I checked every word's pronunciation, stress, intonation. I put slashes, dots to help my reading. I recorded my reading again and again. First, I was disappointed with my poor reading but as I repeat it again and again, it seemed to be better.

Once I thought "Why I try to do it? Waste of time, My English is not good, cannot improve at all!!!" But it was not true! We can improve if we continue to practice! So it was a fruitful time after all! I feel grateful for the show's 17 year consecutive annual MLK day event!



This morning, I got an e-mail from my friend living in NY that said she happened to hear my voice live on the air!!! How wonderful!

Nowadays, I tend to lose my motivation to continue to learn English. But I got refreshed with this event and now feel I can be going on! I want to improve my English in all aspects and someday meet my friends in the world again and talk with them about more things!

If you are interested in my reading, you can visit here and push the play button. My appearance is around 36 minutes after the segment starts.


I read the following.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Excerpt from the introduction of “The Negro In The Making Of America” by Benjamin Quarles (published in 1964, Collier Books)

When our history books do not mention the Negro, significant omissions result.
When he is mentioned solely with reference to problem areas, an incomplete, distorted picture emerges. In either case, a more balanced focus is desirable.

Such a proper perspective of Negro history would be of value to those well-meaning persons who believe that the colored man has an unworthy past, and hence has no strong claim to all the rights of other Americans. Books which seek to present an accurate picture of the Negro's past are, in effect, bridges to intergroup harmony--the Negro would be more readily accepted into the full promise of American life if his role in our history were better known.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I loved the expression "Bridges to intergroup harmony". I love music. When we make harmony with other musicians, we have to listen to others carefully. When you don't listen to others the music will be ruined even if you have excellent technique. So when we want to build a good relation ship with other group, ethnic group or religious group, whatever. We have to listen to what the other group is saying, understand their culture, their value, their religious.

The "Negro" can be Latino, Asian, or even Iraqi. For Japanese, it can be Korean or Chinese. Or how about women? The excerpts teaches me that ignorance is no good. I want to expand my knowledge about various things as long as I live in this world. And hopefully, I myself want be a bridge to intergroup harmony.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Hyogo -Kobe- earthquake memorial day.....

It was today 13 years ago.... the extremely sad event occurred.
I remember that morning.
The day before, several member of our chorus group came to our house and had a rehearsal for the concert which was supposed to be held in spring of the year. We said good bye and never knew what was going to happen next morning.

When it happened, I woke up in the bed, my husband was sleeping next to me. I woke up not because of the quake but because our cat, Buuko, was running around very nervously, and then I realized the huge shaking!

Fortunately, our house was OK. But I never forget the event. I never forget the faces of the children of the school where I later went to play with them as a volunteer after the quake.


My prayer for the victims and their families.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Soymilk-Udon

We had Soymilk-Udon for tonight dinner at nearby Udon Restaurant!


Ingredients were:
Udon
sesame
Welsh Onion(Negi)
Seaweed
Broccoli
Fish sausage
Soy-milk
Banana!!!!




It tasted like cream soup with fresh cream.
So yummy!!!!
Accompanied with the Udon, white rice, uncooked egg, salad, and pink pickle were served. We put the egg on the rice and add a little bit soy sauce, then just mixed it up. It became a egg rice!

On such a cold night, we often eat Udon. It warms us up!!


Monday, January 14, 2008

Good holidays

This weekend, we are having three-day holidays since today is the Coming of Age day. Young people who newly became or will become 20 years old until the end of this March, celebrate their entrance to adulthood. We've seen a lot of young ladies wearing special kimonos, Furisode, so beautifully!!!

As for us, we've been having a good rest during weekend. Yesterday we attended worship service at nearby protestant Christian church. We'd been looking for a good church in our neighborhood for a few years but couldn't find it. One day, as we were having a walk, we find a cozy church , 15-minute-walk from our house. But we hadn't have enough courage to go there until the end of last year. We were worried about if the people welcomed us or not..... A week from yesterday, we dared to enter there for the first time! People there were so kind and have u a warm welcome! We went there again yesterday. We think we are going there next Sunday, too. We feel very glad we could find our church again after a few years of absence.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

It was raining all day on Saturday

Takao and I went to my mother's house to help her write her New Year Cards. Last night, she faxed the script to me and I inputed the texts into the Word and printed the final version. Today, we brought the printed paper and xeroxed 350 copies. We wrote addresses and names, maybe around 300 people's! She was thankful to us. She's going to add her own comment on every card and drop them into a mailbox.

After getting home, we enjoyed watching videos of "F.B.eye". Have you seen the TV drama? The main character is a woman who lost her hearing when she was a child and became FBI agent! I love all characters, especially Levi, a guide dog!! He is so lovely!


Oh, it's time to go to bed now. Good night, everyone!

Friday, January 11, 2008

It's been a hectic week!

It's been a hectic week!

On Monday, I attended the translation class in the morning. After lunch time, another auditor student, with whom I became friends a few years ago, came to my house and we studied together until 5 pm as we've been doing on Mondays this semester. Later, when I was preparing for dinner, our cats' doctor called and said, "I have a big problem!! The computer in my office went down this afternoon and has never run again!!" So we went to her office after dinner and tried to fix it. Unfortunately, we couldn't make it and came hope exhausted. The doctor was grateful to us anyway.

On Tuesday, I had two private students, one in the morning, another in the afternoon. In the intervals of the lessons, I practiced the viola for my lesson, and oral reading for the test of the intro interpretation class.

On Wednesday, I had oral reading test in the morning. At first I thought I wouldn't been called my name because I am an auditing student. However to my surprise, my name was called at the end of the student list!! I was impressed with the teacher's kindness and read the text wholeheartedly. Thank you! Also I was impressed with everybody's improvement in their reading. After getting home, I practiced the viola for a few hours and went to my lesson at Umeda. Usually my lesson length is 30 minutes, but my teacher spent almost an hour this time because the next student was absent on the day. I was lucky and I thanked to her kindness and enthusiasm in her teaching! I am such a lucky student to have wonderful teachers! I started the viola lessons since last spring and can't improve very well yet. But It's fun always to try something challenging and far-reaching to the goal!!

And!!! After the lesson, I went to Nakanoshima Kokaido to see the public debate by the candidates of the Osaka gubernatorial election. I met my husband at the hall and we listened to their debate together. It was so fruiteful day for us that we needed something energizing us after the debate. We went to a Ramen restaurant and had Seabura Ramen!

On Thursday, It was not hectic at all, only one day in this week. So, I read a book, titled "The Pilot's Wife" by Anita Shreve (translated into Japanese). I started reading in the morning. I felt like doing nothing else so I read and read and read.... And I finished reading it until the midnight! It was over 350 pages!! It kept me in suspense right till the end. How entertaining!

And today, on Friday, I had 2-hour choir practice in the morning. This time I could teach the members very well, which brought me to a little bit blue mood. It was the first practice this year. Although everyone was not in their swing after the new year break, I was not patient, I think.... I needed to be calmer..... But to my thankfulness, everybody seemed to enjoy the practice anyway, and my husband, who is also a member of the chorus, said afterward, "You did very well! It was a great session! You should be proud of yourself!" His words encouraged me a lot. Thanks!

I attended the world news class in the afternoon after lunch. I felt a small pain in my head during the class, and yet, the class was fun!!!

After getting home, I practiced the viola and prapared dinner.....and inputted the New Year greeting text for my mother's New Year cards.

Not I finished today's mission and am very relieved. I think I'll have a cup of coffee from now!

Have a great weekend, everyone!!!!

Thursday, January 3, 2008

New Year family gathering!!

My husband and I went to his parents' house today.
Surprisingly, there were 22 people in the house!!!

His father, mother,
His first elder sister and her hasband, their 2 sisters, their son and the son's wife and 4 daughters,
His elder brother and the brother's 2 sons,
His second elder sister and her hasband, their elder daughter and her husband and their younger daughter.

It was so crowded and full of energy!!!

I'm an only child and have only my mother since my parents were divorced when I was a small baby. I'd been raised in a small family until I got married. Now I feel very happy to be surrounded by such a wonderful family members!!!

Tuesday, January 1, 2008


Happy New Year, everyone!

I saw the new year sunrise at Awaji Service Area in Awaji island.
Though it was cloudy, we could enjoy seeing the sunrise among the clouds. Especially, I was impressed by the shadows of people who had been waiting for a few hours until the sun rose. I thought the shadows were full of hope and expectations!!!