Kyoto Life

Off to new Pastures

2007-06-03T00:57:46+02:00

Hello, I'm off to blog on Yahoo 360 now. This blog won't allow me to put any more photos, and I can't be bothered deleting my 100s of photos one by one to make space for new photos. So, please click here for my new blog.

http://360.yahoo.com/victan45

Love,
Victoria

Comments

New Departure Date.

2007-05-28T00:53:04+02:00

As you can see, I have a new countdown device on my blog. Michael and I have recently found out that we are not leaving on July 25th like we originally thought, our contracts actually end on AUGUST 1st! So we have to stay one extra week in Japan. Not so incredibly bad, considering we already stayed 2 years longer than I would've liked...but that means we only have 6 days back in NZ to prepare for the wedding. Stress.

On Saturday, we went to the travel agency to find out about flights back home, we wanted a flight on the 2nd of August, but they had flights on every single other day, but not on the 2nd of August! How ridiculous. I nearly cried right there. So, we had to settle for flying out on the 3rd of August, and arriving in Christchurch on 4th August. Sooo late. But I talked to my Mum and Dad and they think we will be crazily busy during that week, but we will be able to get everything done. The dressmaker has been spoken to, and she said that my evening dress and winter coat can be done in a week, but I just may have to make trips to her house twice a day.

Mum thinks that I should ask if we can leave on 1st August, after all, it's only one day out of the contract, but she doesn't know how scared these people are to break a little rules. I talked to some friends yesterday who are leaving early, and they had real trouble getting permission to leave early, and they had paid leave days owing to them! Michael and I don't have any paid leave days left, and taking 'unpaid leave' is just not done here. So stupid, seeing as it'll be the blimmin school holidays anyway. Formality is so bloody important here, to the point of ridiculous.

I am so annoyed, but I will not talk about it again, as I can feel my blood pressure freaking out.

Comments

The Miscellanious Cupboard

2007-05-17T01:43:03+02:00

Michael and I cleaned out one of our cupboards last night. It was a large cupboard for "miscellanious" things... 3 years of throwing "miscellanious" in there made it a mission to clear out! We threw out 2 large bags of rubbishy stuff, and made a pile for stuff we want to bring back to NZ and stuff we will leave for the next person. Amazing the piles of paper and junk that can accumulate over 3 years.

We made a promise to file all our papers neatly and not keep junk in our next house...because, despite what you think, that thing you kept never comes in useful one day.

Comments

Relaxed Weekend

2007-05-14T02:04:42+02:00

I spent the weekend doing nothing much but reading books in the sun, curled up with my stray cats. It was so relaxing. Michael thinks it's gross that I hug those cats...but they're so cuddly and they look clean...and they really de-stress me. They're really not so much 'stray', um, more like 'neighbourhood' cats, who belong to everyone.

Oh, and apparently some people in NZ have received our wedding invitations already, that's great!

And one of Michael's close family friends has offered to sing something at our ceremony! Apparently she has a wonderful voice. I'll just trust him on that one! haha. But that's great because I didn't want to have to twist someone's arm to fill in that "space for a song/poem/short speech" in the ceremony. As we are not having a Christian ceremony, there won't be the obligatory Hymns to be sung by the guests, so I was wondering what we would do to fill a little time instead. Now that's sorted!

Called my Mum to say "Happy Mother's Day" appparently my brother is making dinner for her... It'll be Omelettes for dinner, as it's the only thing he knows how to cook! How sweet of him!

Comments

Farewell to Chomo

2007-05-11T00:34:01+02:00

Chomo died on Wednesday. He was 18 years old. By cat years, I think that exceeds 100 years. He lived a relaxed and pampered life. Exactly as any cat's should be. He ate fresh crab meat every day and he loved gourmet cheese and oddly, pumpkin. He slept in his human's bed every night. He had these amazing huuuge eyes, green and luminous usually, but they changed color in different lights. In the end, he got so old that he wasn't able to move or eat or drink, and he died peacefully.

Chomo belonged to my tea ceremony teacher, (who has adopted me as a daughter while I'm in Japan). She has a son and a husband, but they are hardly ever home, so Chomo was her constant companion and gave her so much joy. I think she may get a small dog in a couple of months, and that's good news, as it's sad to think of her all alone in her new house (busy woman as she is, it is nice to have someone to greet you happily when you come home, eh?).

Every thursday, I go over for dinner. My teacher would feed Chomo scraps of fish and cheese from the table while we were eating. He was very polite. He wouldn't jump on the table. But he would put a paw up to pat her when he wanted some food. Two weeks ago, when I was over for dinner, he fell down the stairs because his legs wouldn't work. That's when I realised exactly how old this cat was getting.

When I went to her house last night, I saw a wee shrine had been put up in the entrance-way for Chomo, with a photo of him and some flowers. It was so cute, and sad. But as my tea ceremony teacher didn't want to talk about him that night, I tried my best to talk about happy and funny things to keep her mind off crying. Even so, I noticed she had to rush off to the 'kitchen' a few times more often than usual.

Comments

Perhaps I'm becoming a Bridezilla

2007-05-07T01:13:30+02:00

I think I understand the Bridezilla better now...

I mean, I've been trying to organize wedding invitations for over a month now, and I'm so sick of talking about paper and designs!!! Any more emails regarding the technical difficulties, and my head will burst with fustration!

Never organize your wedding from overseas.

Also the hair ornament that I ordered 2 MONTHS AGO hasn't arrived. And I keep emailing the lady, but she doesn't get back to me! That was a lot of money I spent on an invisible hair ornament!

I won't even get started on Europe and money dilemmas.

Okaaay, let me think positively.
My Dad and Michael are being really really supportive. Dad is helping me out lots with the invitations, which would be really expensive if I got a professional to help me out. And Michael is helping out willingly with everything he can. They are so sweet and patient, I am a very lucky girl. No worries. There is still a couple of months to get everything sorted. I think I'm not stressed out about the timing, I think it's just fustration, because it's something that I've been planning for so long, that when it comes to actually getting things done, I want them done efficiently and straight away, but real life just doesn't work like that.

Comments

We have decided to go back to NZ

2007-05-07T01:02:20+02:00

Gee I have found it hard to write anything interesting lately. Hmm I guess I haven't been doing much...

It's just been "Golden Week" here in Japan. It's the time where there are so many public holidays in a row that we just about get a week off work. Everyone looks forward to it, and Kyoto gets so crowded with Japanese tourists, wanting to check out their 'cultural capital'. I went shopping yesterday, and the department store was a mosh-pit!

By the way, for my friends in NZ who don't know yet, Michael and I have decided (for sure this time!) that we will come back to Christchurch for a couple of years after Japan. I will (probably) study veterinary nursing (I just can't see myself teaching English for the rest of my life) and Michael wants to find a job in a library (and then get a Masters in Library work).

Why have we decided not to keep travelling??

Because I have been feeling quite emotionally unstable, and Michael thinks it's best if I can spend some time around supportive friends and family again. This travelling around and teaching is not so good, as I take time to make close connections with people, and by the time I do, they move back to their home country or to another teaching job in a different country. And the 'friends' we have right now, are not really my friends... they're more Michael's friends...they talk about computer games and anime and zombies...they don't see the point in makeup or fashion or dancing, or a bit of girlie gossip. It was the other way around last year, I was going out with 'the girls' lots... but they left Japan. Also, I just don't mesh so well with asian culture (funny cos I am asian...) who can be a little behind when it comes to how they view women (especially young women in the workforce) and all that... no offense, just my opinion.

So anyway, been quite 'down' lately. Probably why I haven't been writing much in the blog too - found it hard to write anything that didn't sound whiney! But I am determined to start thinking more positively, and enjoy my last 2 months in Japan. And I feel very peaceful about our decision to go back to Christchurch for a little while at least. Will probably end up in Melbourne though...my friend Danielle says it's a great place to live. And Michael checked out the pay rates in Aussie compared with NZ, wow, big difference. No wonder the brain drain out of NZ eh.

Comments

Our desks are waaay too close together.

2007-04-27T04:02:01+02:00

The man next to me is driving me crazy. He seems to want people to hear what he's eating for lunch. And he has a problem with breathing at the same time as eating, so here I am trying to eat my lunch, and right next to me is this snorting, grunting, munching pig!!!!! Feel like throwing up. Hmm thinking positively, he might help my diet...

Comments

Banksy Art

2007-04-26T03:32:58+02:00

I was just reading bbc news online and found an article on a graffiti artist that has recently become very popular. Mainly because his art is cynical about society and the fact that no-one knows who he really is. Anyway, I found a few pieces of his art that I'd like to share...

Comments

Thursday...

2007-04-26T01:33:10+02:00

Well I baked those cookies yesterday with my ESS club students. I had enough stuff for 7 students (as I was expecting) but 11 showed up! Plus 3 teachers!!

So, not enough cookies left for the staff room (again!). Ah well.

As I was saying yesterday, I went to get some boxes from the post office, to start packing some stuff to send back to NZ. Well, it was the worst day to be carrying huge cardboard boxes home! We had some torrential rain as I was walking to the bus stop, and I carrying an umbrella, a school-bag, and the boxes. Then, I had to go to the supermarket to buy some dinner-groceries, lugging these huge wet boxes with me.

Oh I should have just left them at school that day, but I was determined to get those boxes home so I could feel like I was making a progress towards packing and leaving!

Comments

Good Stuff

2007-04-25T02:10:42+02:00

Today is shaping up to be a good day. I don't have any classes, and school finishes at 1:30, so I'm making Cookies with my ESS (English Speaking Society)club students! and I won't even have to stay at school late. Usually when we do cooking, it goes waay overtime, but today we're starting so early.

There are 7 students coming! Normally, there are 3 regular members, but when it comes to cooking...my club expands...

Hopefully we will have some cookies left over today to hand out to the teachers in the staff room too.

Another thing that's good...only 3 months left till we go back to NZ! I'm going to the Post Office today to get some big boxes to pack some stuff we want to ship home! Things like books and winter clothing can be posted by ship. They'll probably take a couple of months to arrive back in NZ.

Comments

A Miracle has Happened...

2007-04-23T05:10:22+02:00

My cellphone light (which I thought had died due to endless dropping of my cellphone on the ground...) has come back on after about 6 months of darkness.

You'd never imagine how much hassle it is to have a cellphone who's screen doesn't light up. I had to turn it this way and that (to catch the sunlight at a special angle) to see what someone had written to me, or to check the number of someone who'd called me...oh, and writing messages was really really difficult. Not to mention I couldn't take photos because I couldn't see what was on the screen.

How did this miracle happen?
Well, I was getting embarassed at the sharp, loud ringing tone that was on my cellphone (and I couldn't see the screen to get to the menu section to turn the ringing off). It went off in the teacher's office a couple of times (giving me and everyone else a heart attack). So, I turned the phone off for the day...and when I turned it back on at the end of the day...hey presto...the light went on!

Looks like it just needed a break?
Electronics seem to have unpredictable moods!

Comments

A bit about School...

2007-04-23T05:06:47+02:00

Hello, well sorry for the long-ish silence. I just couldn't think of anything to write for a while.

Classes started again last week. After about a month of holidays! I do have a very cruisy job.

I've embarked on a long project with my second year (16 year olds) classes. Most of them are taking the 'cultural course' or 'social sciences' course, so we are doing a project on different countries. Basically each group of 4 has to research a different country and end up presenting it on a large poster, in front of the class (a challenge when they have to memorise their sentences in English). And I feel quite good when I see them learning something new about a country they may have only known by name previously. Also, projects are less 'Lecture and controlled time' for the teacher, and more time for the students to be in charge of their own learning, which I really enjoy (maybe I'm lazy...).

Comments

Cookies and Curry

2007-04-13T05:22:58+02:00

Not eaten together of course!!

Thursday (after my "how to learn English Vocabulary" seminar - which turned out very well, thank you) I bumped into Michael after school at the supermarket! I was there to buy butter to make cookies, and he was there to buy ingredients for the Thai curry he'd promised to bring to Ashley's house.

He made a Thai green curry with prawns. yummy. Apparently it takes a while to boil it down for the flavors to mix well, and we didn't have much time, so Michael boiled the curry on full heat. Consequently, we had green curry splattered all around the kitchen that night. I was not looking forward to scrubbing it! (Good news, I didn't end up scrubbing it, because I was too tired that night, and then I went out the next night, so Michael ended up scrubbing it...thank you!)

The curry turned out very well. Apparently Ashley doesn't feel like she's eaten curry unless her nose is running, so it was a spicy one! It was fine with me and Michael, as we are used to eating rather spicy things, but poor Irena seemed to be struggling...

I baked choco-chip cookies while the others watched a video. Some movie based on the classic board game 'Cludo' (or 'Clue' if you're American). I used Ashley's Mum's very addictive choco-chip cookie recipe. Basically requires a tonne of butter, white sugar, brown sugar, lashings of vanilla, and a heaping mound of dark chocolate chips...we should re-name them "Baked Artery Cloggers" or "Diet Killers" or something similar" class="middle" border="0">. I was very well behaved, and only ate 1/2 a cookie! I packaged some up for my tea ceremony teacher and the school principal. Didn't have enough to give to the other teachers in my school though...due to 3 friends drooling over the freshly baked cookies...Oh, but they are good when they're just out of the oven!

Comments

Teacher's stuff

2007-04-11T03:09:34+02:00

I'm going to help out with a seminar for our first year students today. The seminar is on "How to Memorize English Vocabulary". Gee how thrilling. Poor students. Poor us teachers too, we think the topic is just as boring! But the principal wants us to do it. So, we will try to make the topic a bit more interesting by turning it into a game/competition.

Tonight I'm going to bake cookies at Ashley's house as a 'thank you' for my tea ceremony teacher who so kindly took us out on Sunday. My house doesn't have an oven, so baking cookies is a special occasion for me!

Comments

Miyako Odori (Geisha & Maiko Spring Dance)

2007-04-10T03:41:34+02:00

I was very excited to be going to the Miyako Odori on Sunday. >" class="middle" border="0">
It's one of the 'must see' Spring events in Kyoto. An opportunity to see Geisha and Maiko dancing for an hour! Michael and I were very lucky, because Ohta (my tea ceremony teacher) organized everything for us. She bought us reserved seat tickets, and a ticket to have a tea ceremony with the Maiko. By the way, "Maiko" are trainee Geisha.

So on Sunday, Ohta took us to lunch first. We drove into the mountains of Uji, to eat at a small (but excellent!) soba noodle restaurant. It is owned by one of her previous student's parents. It was such a cute and peaceful place. We ate traditional 'farm/mountain style' cooking. It was so delicious...

Here we are taking in the mountain views.

The old man who owns the place made us some of his home-grown tea. It was really strong, but tasty! Apparently he's a bit of a rich man and owns a few mountains!! He's also in to collecting antiques, and we were sitting next to 1000 year old pottery! We were really careful when we moved around his small room. He also owns a real samurai helmet! It's rare to see one out of a museum case.

After that, we made our way to the Miyako Odori in Gion. There were a lot of tourists from around Japan and also many foreigners. It really is 'the place' to go during Spring. We took some photos by the cherry trees...

Tea Ceremony with Maiko:

All their hair ornaments were so pretty and dazzling. Their hair looked very heavy. I assume they are wigs... it was great to see the Maiko so close-up. From time to time, we might catch a glimpse of them walking around Gion, but we are usually too shy to take photos or stalk them. So this was a wonderful opportunity to take some closeup photos. However, we were a bit disappointed by the "tea ceremony". The Maiko 'making the tea' seemed to be there just for show, and we were herded in and out of the room with cold efficiency. Not a very zen experience. A loudspeaker announced that we had to eat our sweets and drink the tea quickly to make room for the next crowd of tourists. That was a mood spoiler! Ah well, got to keep the dish my sweet was on...

The dances were wonderful! So many bright colors and beautiful scenes. They moved very slowly and gracefully, and all in sync. I was really impressed with the precise way they would turn their heads with each movement, like living dolls!

Hope you enjoyed looking at all the photos! We sure had a great Sunday!

Comments

Hanami 2007

2007-04-10T02:43:28+02:00

Hanami means "Cherry Blossom party". I agree with the Japanese tradition of sitting under the cherry trees and eating and drinking all day! It was a bit of a mixed lunch, with sushi and sake, french stick and cheeses, and wine, and sangria...hey it all mixed together quite well.

We went to Maruyama park (the central park in Kyoto with a famous 'weeping' cherry blossom tree). Irena had been there since about 8am, saving us a spot under the cherry trees, and next to the stream. It was so nice of her to do that. Lots of groups put their plastic tarps out early in the morning to 'save' their choice spot, and arrive again later to eat and drink.

Hanami craziness, let's blame it on the sake eh?

Free Hugs anyone?? We couldn't pass it up, and gave the man a big group hug. The lady, however, was finding it a bit more difficult to get free hugs. I think men here feel uncomfortable hugging strange women... we thought that if she were in NZ, she would be mauled by lots of men wanting their free hugs.

In the early evening, it started to rain quite heavily, so we ended our Hanami.

Comments

Paper cut-out gift

2007-04-10T02:25:10+02:00

Remember my post "Random acts of Kindness"? Well, finally, here are photos of the paper cutout and the printed silk that the old man gave me. First, he cut out the picture and my chinese name from the paper. Then, the old lady used the paper as a stencil to paint the design on the piece of silk. Think I'll frame it when I go back to NZ.

Comments

Oops, Premature Farewell...

2007-04-05T09:43:08+02:00

Well, when I unsubscribed to the pro account, I forgot that I'd already paid for a year's subscription, so I get to keep the pro account till May 23rd! >" class="middle" border="0"> hehe.

Comments

Moving on...

2007-04-04T05:59:33+02:00

Hello all, sorry bad news but I will be changing my blog to a different site soon. Reasons is, that this one is not free to upload my many many travel photos. I cannot join up myspace, or blogspot, or yahoo 360, etc. because the firewall on my school computer won't let me log-in to those supposedly "dating" sites. So, I am setting a blog up from a free travel-blog site. Not as nice of a set-up as this one, but good for free and I can upload as many photos as I want, and even video!

Will get back to you with the new website address when it is ready.

~Vic~

Comments

Random act of Kindness

2007-03-27T02:46:13+02:00

Well we were walking through Kyoto Station, and there was this little 'arty' tent. I caught a glimpse of pottery and pretty art and had to take a look. Inside, there was an old man (with a curiously young face...) doing some very intricate paper cutting. Displayed were detailed scenes of Kyoto, all cut out of paper. So I was looking around and marvelling at his skills, when the old lady running the place with him told Michael that the old man wanted to give him one of his paper cuts. Michael said "oh no...thank you" but then the old man said he'd give it to me. So he got me to write my name (I wrote it in Chinese, so he could kind-of read the characters) and he copied it with a calligraphy brush. Then, he got me to choose a pre-cut picture. I chose a picture of a crane doing a dance or a bow, and he
made a cut-out of my name on that paper.

Then, using the cut-out picture and my name, the old lady painted it on lilac-colored silk! And gave it to me! Free! Nice eh?! Then we took a photo outside. >" class="middle" border="0">

Michael and I felt really fazed, we weren't used to being given something so nice for free! Under no obligation to give anything back! It was a funny feeling. Happy and bewildered. We wanted to give him something, but we are in his country and didn't have anything to give that wasn't already 'Japanesey'. Oh, I should take a photo of the silk. Will post a photo of it soon.

Comments

The Golden Pavillion

2007-03-27T02:28:39+02:00

We finally went to see "Kinkaku-Ji" (the Golden Pavillion). This temple is covered in gold leaf. Probably the most touristy of all temples in Kyoto, most people count this as a "must see" when they visit Japan. So it was kinda odd that Michael and I hadn't gotten around to seeing it in nearly 3 years of living here. Well, here we are. It was golden. It was pretty. It was old. It seemed like more of a tourist trap than anything else.

The "I was Here" photo:

Comments

If you do crave bread...

2007-03-20T07:37:55+01:00

and you can't be bothered going to the supermarket to buy some... you can bake your own bread in the toaster-oven. Yes, you can. Ask Michael.

Comments

"Wasuremono Nai Yo!" (Don't Forget Your Things!)

2007-03-20T07:31:57+01:00

Saturday was so stressful! First, Michael was diagnosed with the influenza that has been going around all the schools. Then, we did some shopping (that was nice..) but then I had to bus back up the hill with the heavy bags coz Michael was biking up the hill. And when I got off the bus I realised that I'd left my handbag (with cellphone, important cards, and lots of recent payday money!) on the seat! Maybe a stressful occasion for anyone, but I was so stressed because I didn't know who to call or talk to, and how to say what I wanted to say in Japanese! This called for higher levels of Japanese language and comprehension than what I was used to.

Michael was so kind. Even though he was down with the flu, he chased the bus on his bike... but didn't manage to catch it. He even rode back down to the original stop in the town where I caught the bus, because suddenly I couldn't remember if I had my handbag on the bus or left it at the first bus stop!

I tried calling my cellphone a few times, but no one answered. Then, I ran down to the bus stop to catch the next bus driver, hoping that he could radio the bus that I'd left my handbag on. He gave me a phone number to call, so I ran home and called it. It was so difficult to speak in Japanese when I was in a panic. I couldn't think of the simplest words! And couldn't understand what the man on the phone was saying. In the end I understood enough to give him my phone number and he said he'd call me back in a few minutes.

In that time, I ran down to the bus stop again, thinking that maybe my bus did a 'round' and I could catch it on the way back down the hill. Well, it was the same number bus, but the driver told me "wrong bus!" and shut the door in my face and left in a hurry. When I got back home again, the phone was ringing, and it was the man in the office that I'd called earlier. This is what I gathered from my megre amount of Japanese: 1500yen, take a taxi to "Hirakata Shoten", and "bag=OK!".

I knew Hirakata was a place, so I looked up "Shoten" and found out it was a "garage" or "car shed". So, I went to the bus stop yet again... caught the bus down to central, caught a taxi, asked to go to Hirakata Shoten. I must have looked so worried in the taxi. The driver gave me 2 lollies. 20 minutes later, I was there. It was a central bus depot, and I managed to ask the taxi driver to wait for me while I collected my bag.

When I walked into the office, there were about 5 burly bus drivers sitting there in their uniforms, smoking. They stared at me as I walked in. One of them got up and dangled my wee handbag off his finger. "Is this it?"

Reunited! I was so happy.

They got me to check inside my bag to make sure everything was there. It was. Luckily I'm living in one of the safest and most honest countries in the world! Whoo hoo also one of the most expensive! Cost me a good NZ$60 for the taxi ride to collect my bag and back home! Ah well. Expensive mistake, but could have been a lot worse.

Did I learn from my mistake??
Well, on monday I was just about to pay for my bus ride (we pay at the end) and thought, "hmm wasn't I carrying something before?" and walked back to my seat to check, and there was my book, sitting there all alone... think I'm gonna have to tie my things to my wrist if this keeps happening!

Funny, cos on the bus, there's an announcement that always says "don't forget your things!" at every stop. But I guess I got so used to hearing it that I forgot my things anyway...

Comments

F@%# the Wedding Diet!!

2007-03-15T05:09:35+01:00

I've been so good lately and eating so many healthy and boring things. Michael has been helping and we don't eat carbs for dinner. But today my cravings said "F@%# the Wedding Diet!!!:-[" class="middle" border="0">" and for lunch, I ate a huge, melt-in-your-mouth, sweet cinnamon roll with hazelnut-coffee icing. I savored every precious bite. It was so good. But probably had enough calories to require my starvation for a week. Why is healthy food so boring??

Comments

Got the tickets!

2007-03-14T02:47:53+01:00

Yay! We've bought our plane tickets to Athens! >" class="middle" border="0"> We are getting closer and closer to our Europe trip! It was fun choosing our seats on the plane, and also because Michael is Pescatarian (haha. Vegetarian and fish eater), we looked at the different types of food you can pre-order for our flights. There's all sorts! Vegetarian-Indian, Vegetarian-Chinese, Halal, Seafood-meals, diet-meals... I even found one called the 'soft and bland' meal! eww. poor person who has to eat that.

Well, this past weekend wasn't so exciting to write about, but here goes...
We went to an Ikebana (flower arrangement) display in Kyoto Museum, because a work-collegue of Michael's was displaying her flower arrangement, and had invited us. It was very pretty and creative and all that, but I don't really know much about flower arranging so I find it hard to be very enthused...

Afterwards, we had a nice time walking around parts of Kyoto we haven't walked before (i.e. we got lost), but eventually found our way. It was quite pleasant being 'lost' actually cos we weren't in a hurry, and there were a few cute shops along the way. We ended up at Kyoto Station, and bought cheese, wine, pesto, and olives from the foreign food store. Michael had been craving European food as he'd just finished reading a book that described all the different foods there.

Wedding Update: We have decided on the wording for the wedding invitations, and also created a unique design to put on the invitation cards. Michael also created an elegant design to be embroidered on my winter wedding coat. Oh, and we decided on the yummy cake too. Lots of things to 'decide' eh?!

Personal Update:
Still doing Yoga 2x a week with Ashley! (ok, sometimes we cancel, but we have good intentions...)
Now I'm having dinner every Thursday with 2 old ladies, (my tea ceremony teacher and her neighbour), because they want to have 'English Conversation'. Surprisingly, we don't run out of things to talk about! My tea ceremony teacher is a skilled conversationalist!
Now is the end of the school year, so I have no classes to teach until mid-April! So I am paid to read books, drink tea, and surf the net. Lucky me.

Comments

Do you Agree?

2007-03-09T01:30:09+01:00

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Or, as my Mum says, "everything in moderation!" has become my motto (with the occasional chocolate and wine binge...) Not as fun as the first quote, but I do feel good and healthy. I could never live the first motto (despite how much fun it sounds), cos I'd always be worrying about becoming obese and lethargic and getting health-problems and various diseases.

Comments

Honeymoon Plans

2007-03-09T01:12:50+01:00

As most of you know, Michael and I are planning a trip to Europe for our honeymoon. We have finally got the plans sorted and went to buy our tickets online last night!! However, it was a bit of an anti-climax, as I pushed the 'enter' button for all the money to drain out of my credit card, and to confirm the tickets, and turns out I didn't have enough money on my credit card!! haha. Well, everything sorted now. We'll confirm the payment tonight or tomorrow.

This is the big (40 day!!) plan. Fly from Christchurch to Athens, stay in Athens 4 nights, then off to the island of Sifnos for another 4 nights. Back to Athens, fly to Frankfurt, Germany to pick up our campervan!! Drive from Frankfurt to Munich for lots of expensive beer drinking at the Oktoberfest. Then (a day or two later when we've recovered from the Oktoberfest) drive into Italy (through Austria) and visit Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Siena, Pisa, and the Cinque Terre towns. Then drive into France, and sample the bread, cheese and wine in various small towns in Provence. From Provence, we'll drive to Barcelona and spend a good amount of time there soaking up the athmosphere and Gaudi creations. Then from Barcelona, we'll plan a route back up to Frankfurt to give back the campervan (hopefully without a scratch on it!!).

Thank you Japan for having compulsary Pension Savings!!

Comments

Hina Matsuri

2007-03-06T03:07:48+01:00

This Saturday was supposedly 'Hina Matsuri' (Doll's day or Girl's day). So we went to a couple of shrines, expecting to see little girls in brightly colored kimono, but ... nope. Didn't see any. Ok, saw a couple of kids running around, but none in Kimono. Perhaps this celebration is mostly done at home, or perhaps we slept in too late and missed the festivities. Oh well. Michael and I still had a good day walking around Kyoto.

Before hitting the shrines, we stopped at a rotating sushi restaurant that Michael has had his eye on. I didn't really feel like eating sushi, but we went anyway, and I was glad, cos there were cute Hello Kitty things to eat! This style of sushi is called 'Inari Sushi'. It's a sweet tofu skin wrapped around rice.

After lunch, we took our full bellies to the Shimogamo Shrine (famous for being in The Tale of Genji), where there was a display of dolls in traditional royal kimono. Also saw a couple of dolls in straw baskets bobbing on the shallow river that runs through the shrine's grounds. These dolls represent floating away disease and bad luck. But, no kids were floating the dolls nor did I see where to buy the dolls so I could float away any bad luck.

Pretty Views at Shimogamo Shrine:

Must be a good time and place for a wedding, as there were 2 weddings going on at the shrine! I took a sneaky photo.

We took a bus to another shrine, wanting to see people there supposedly dressed up in the royal kimonos like the doll stand in the first photo. But, umm we couldn't find the shrine, and then we thought we found it, but there was a huge stone wall that we walked around and around and couldn't find the entrance! Then, we saw another place that looked like it was maybe the shrine, but by that time it was nearly 4pm and the dress-ups were supposed to finish at 4. So we just walked back to Kyoto Station! Ah well, it was a nice walk.

Lastly, we went to the huge department store (Isetan) in Kyoto Station, to buy some chocolates for my tea ceremony teacher (she's invited us for dinner) and for Michael's mum's birthday. The confectionary range turns me into a wide-eyed drooling thing. So, I had to buy a little cute something for myself to eat at home. Michael can withstand the temptations of confectionary much better than me.

Comments

Teaching has it's rewards...

2007-03-02T05:32:14+01:00

Just a few of the cards my students made for me. One of my classes was sweet enough to write me 'Thank You' cards for teaching them this year. A little 'Thank you, I enjoyed your class' is such great encouragement. It really made my day!

Comments