Back to Life...Back to reality

Well, I have been home for almost two weeks now...My brain however is still on vacation mode.  It wants to sleep in and not think about work, I have a hard time kick starting it in the morning.

It seems that each time I go to Toronto it gets harder and harder to leave.  With my two dozen Krispy Kreme donuts in hand, I begrudgingly walked into the airport in Toronto.  I am not sure if I got strange looks cause of the number of donuts or because I was all teary eyed and sniffly.   I felt so sad about leaving that when I went through the metal detector and it beeped, and they asked me to remove my birkenstocks, I nearly burst into tears.  It was a sorry sight to see me walking through the metal detector bare foot sniffling.   

Previously I was complaining about the fact that I was unemployed and was feeling like I was not doing anything.  Well, I am now a functioning member of society, contributing to the work force.  Albeit in a less than self-desired level.  I am not going to complain though.  I am determined to do the bestest job I can and be the bestest person I can be. 
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It is strange to be going back up to university everyday.  I spent the better part of 4 years at that place and once I graduated I never thought that I would be back there so soon.  It is some ways it is a little unsettling.  Probably attributed to the pavlovian training we endured as undergrads.  Just walking past the large lecture halls of first year Physics and Chemistry makes me cringe with fear.  I can remember the stress of sitting inside that cold fluorescent lit hall trying desperately to write as much information down as possible before my brain released all the information. 

Some days it still feels like I am a student again, when I walk into the student run coffee shop and buy my breakfast and think to myself," man this food is overpriced".   I am surrounded by these kids who are untainted by the realities of life and the lack of possibilities with just only having a silly bachelors degree.  ;)
Boy do I sound like a jaded crusty bitter old woman at the ripe old age of 26...aiya, really I am 26....

Seriously, I am happy to be employed and with that financial freedom and other travel opportunities.  I am itching to do another trip again.    There  is so much more of the world I have yet to see, I have only seen the smallest part of it.

Wedded Bliss

I finally made it to Toronto after traveling via bus, car, and train across upper New York state. I arrived in Toronto late Thurs night sitting on my butt for 5 long hours from Buffalo. I must say that I enjoyed spending time with my friend Marie and meeting her family and friends.

I arrived in Toronto to a house full of family and friends, which I would later discover to be the first of a weekend long of partying for the wedding. I was promptly introduced to everyone and welcomed into the family like their long lost sister. It was nice to be so quickly and readily accepted to be a part of the family.

We spent Friday prepping for a party for more family due to be arriving for the wedding. When I casually asked how many people were coming, I was expecting 50 at the most, but to my shock, I was told "only about 120" or so...Just a small family get together. This was only the brides family too...Uncles, aunts, cousins, second cousins, half brothers and half sisters.....I could not keep everyone straight, but was introduced to everyone among hugs and kisses.
It was a big party, with lots of food and good times. They hired African drummers to provide the music for the dancing. Little did I know that this would African dancing, let's say that it puts the lambda to shame, I have not seen so much hip gyrations and grinding in so many people at the same time. I was happy to clap along, until someone grabbed me and pulled me into the circle. I was desperately grabbing at anything to prevent humiliating myself. Alas it was futile and I had to accept my fate, so with a deep breath and a quick silent prayer, I attempted to shake my booty like there was no tomorrow. Lets say it was not pretty and not even that appealing but for the sake of the party I was willing to sacrifice my pride.

The wedding went beautifully and everyone had a lot of fun. I pulled out the good ol' dress and the healy things they call shoes, put on some make-up with my newly manicured hands, and headed out in a rolls Royce. The rolls was arriving too late for the bride to go to the ceremony so I was designated bride stand in and got to ride in the rolls to the ceremony, along with 3 cousins.

Stephi and Ken, looked so much in love and the ceremony was fun and light hearted. Everyone seemed to enjoy the wedding very much. There was a lot of personal touches, like hand made cards, wine, and personalized CD's. Their family loves to party and have a good time. Everyone was on the dance floor having a ball. Even after my previous nights humiliation, I figured that I would dance too. That of course, was helped along by some liquid courage. We danced so much that at one point we all took off our shoes and hiked up our dresses and put our sore feet in the fountain. It was an interesting sight to see a bride with her shoes off and her wedding dress hiked up with her feet in the fountain. It was so much fun to let loose and enjoy it. This has probably been one of the most enjoyable weddings I have been to.

The family has been absolutely welcoming and lovely. I was introduced as their adoptive sister/daughter and welcomed as one of their own. Of course the father having 11 siblings and the mother having 9 siblings, I have picked up a lot more uncles, aunts, and cousins, not to mention second cousins. The only problem with getting to know all of this family, they inevitably decide that they know of someone that they can set me up with to rightly marry into the family.

I am having a wonderful time in Toronto, it is nice to surrounded by such kind warm hearted people, who so quickly and unequivocally accept you as one of their own.

Mad Wanderings

I spent a week in the city wandering around from one tourist attraction to another. Armed with my trusty subway map and my credit card, I managed to have a good time in the big apple. I figured out the complex puzzle of the subway system without getting lost too much, but mostly I just walked around the city. It was a great way to get a feel for it and to be able to see a lot more of it, the only down side is that with walking 40 blocks a day your feet inevitably rebel against all the walking and you develop blisters. My feet definately had enough of my walking and decided that it would no longer fit into my sandals. My trusted Tevas which have accompanied me on many of my trips were one of the worst shoes to wear.

I probably hit most of the famous must see sites in the city. However, I think that my favourite ones would have to be the empire state building and the Guggenheim. I went to both the Metropolitan and Guggenheim museums of Art. Each had their own charm, but I have to admit that I was partial to the Guggenheim, because of its beautiful architecture and design.

No trip to the city would be complete without doing some shopping, unfortunately due to my limited funds and the limit of my credit card, I could not shop as much as I wanted to. There is a plethora of shops that I could have spent a fortune on but alas the life of a poor twenty something.

After lugging my big ole bag onto the greyhound bus, and sustaining an injury in the process, I managed to avoid talking to some dodgy Chinese men on the bus, to arrive safe and sound in Albany New York to stay with my friend Marie. I am having a great time with her and spending time catching up. I am a serial friend floor crasher. Heck, what are friends for....

I (Heart) NY

So, finally after what seemed like an endless bus ride filled with fitful sleep and a very uncomfortable seat, I made it to NY city from Toronto. It was one of the worst bus rides I have ever experienced. I was not a happy camper at the end of it.

I have been in the city for several days now and am slowly checking off my to do and to see list. Most importantly I was able to spend some time with some friends of mine that I have not seen in a while. My friend PAK, (there, satisfied I mentioned your name) came up from Boston to see me. He was a fellow JET and one of the first people I met in Japan. As well as Elita, she and I came up from TO together.

Our first day we spent wandering around getting a feel for the city...umm...getting a feel for the shopping more accurately. There is some great shopping to be done here. Then Pak and I ventured to Little Italy for dinner. It was a great experience. It was a street that was blocked off and full of open air restaurants. It is if I were actually in Italy, well at least how I imagine Italy to be.

Day two started off in time square. We lined up for tix to a broadway show. Unfortunately, Pak could not come back with us because he had to take the dodgy Chinatown bus back to Boston. He missed out, we saw RENT. We were pretty close to the front so we had great seats. It was a really neat experience. We did some more wandering through the city. Elita and her friend Connie, had to catch their bus and train respectively back to Toronto. So I was left to wander around by myself.

I have a NY moment to share, I went to Rockefeller Centre and sat down on this round bench to eat a sandwich. I have just taken out my sandwich, when a police officer starts heading towards me. I make eye contact and smile, and he keeps walking towards me. I start to worry..uh oh...have I done something wrong, maybe I cannot eat here. Just as soon, as I start to become nervous. He approaches the guy next to me and says, "what are you doing here?, What's this? Why is it open? The man says, well officer I was going to go to the bathroom. The officer tells, him to put it away and zip it up and then takes out his baton. He tells him to leave this area and escorts him away from me. The officer then walks back to his post and starts whispering to the guy next to him. I swear, he is whispering about me and how naive this west coast girl is. I simply continue to eat my sandwich, swearing that I will be more conscious of who I sit next to from now on.

That probably has been my only real negative experience in NY and it was quickly remedied. I have done quite a bit of touristy things, like the Empire State building, lady liberty, and the UN. Besides the Jay walking, the constant honking traffic, and the pushy people, New York definitely has its charms.

Last English Class

Yesterday, I had my last volunteer English class. I have really enjoyed my weekly visits and lessons. It was a chance for me to stay connected to the Japanese community and to hang on to a bit of the JET life. I will miss it a lot. The classes were never really well planned...my fault, but nonethless really enjoyable for me. It was a combination of teaching English and a chance for me to practice what little Japanese I have left. They were a fun group of ladies.

It seems that this trip will mark the divide from my post-Japan floundering and the next step of finally participating in a grown up life. I am happy to take this step, but at the same time conscious of the challenge of it. Hopefully, when I get back from my trip, I will finally settle in and have a bit of direction in my life.

Friendships....

I am happy to announce that a few of my friends have finally moved back to Vancouver. I am excited to be in the same city as them. It has been too long since we last lived in the same part of the world. Hopefully, we will be up to our old mischief again.

Friendships is something that is hard to describe, it is just something that is there. I have always been blessed by some incredibly special people in my life whom. They have stood by me and encouraged me on some of my bluest days. It is nice to know that there are people out there rooting for you.

Some friendships have changed over the course of the last few years, some have become closer while others, we have drifted apart. I guess, that is a part of the way things work in life. I figure that it is about kharma, those people meant to be in your life will stay in your life, those not meant to be will not be....

Harry Potter

Last night, I went to see Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It was definately my favourite Harry Potter movie by far. This one was more interesting and more as I had pictured the book in my mind. The story line was true to the book, while not being caught up in trying to have every detail of the book in the movie. It was scarier than the other ones but not as dark. If that makes sense. I definately recommend going to see it if you have not seen it yet.

Finally

After 8 long months, 2 less than stellar "jobs", unfathomable job applications and cover letters, and numerous thoughts of unworthiness and self pity, I finally found a job. I got a real job that pays real money and I do not have to sell my soul or sell anything. I will be working as an administrative assistant at Simon Fraser University, my alma mater. I will be working in the institite of Nutrition, Metabolism, and Diabetes with Dr. Diane Finegood. It should be a challenging position. It will be similar to my previous job at SFU before I left for Japan. It is a familiar environment and probably will remind me of my undergrad days. I just cannot get away from that place.

As well, I have decided about school and what direction to pursue. I want to do the MSc. in Public Health at SFU in 2005. I plan to do the stream relating to working with non-profit organizations. It is finally something I am excited about. Yippie!!

Life

It has been a while since I have updated my blog. It seems that I spend very little time on the computer now. It is a definite change for me. I remember the days in Japan where I would check my email several times a day, now I check it about once or twice a week. Strange isn't it. I guess it is because, email/internet is not the only link with the outside world for me now.

I have not really contacted anyone. Ever since my return home, I have been sort of a recluse, not entirely sure why I have been anti-social. I think that I am in a reflective mood, a bit self absorbed in my own inner chaos. That is not to say, that I do not think about you guys out there once in a while. I do miss everyone.

I have been reading quite a bit, from very deep and thought provoking books dealing with self-help and differences in cultural identity to total garbage fictional stories, which I can finish in a day. I have also been exercising my creative energy by doing some design work. I hope to have a website showcasing what I have been doing, up and running soon. Wish me good luck. I will keep everyone posted on the progress of that.

I have also been working. I got a job as a hostess for a real estate company. I definitely do not have to sell my soul in this position, like I did at the BAY. It is quite relaxing and I get a lot of reading done there, but sometimes I feel like I need to be challenged more. I have this brain, which I barely use and it most certainly is well on its way to turning into mush. The ideal job has still alluded me but the only thing I can do is to gambatte and keep on it. (gambatte is the Japanese term for persevere). I am sure that something will work out, be it sooner or later. Hopefully sooner than later though.

I guess, the only thing I can do is approach life with a great big smile and face it head on as best as I can. I am confident that good kharma will help me out.

Dalai Lama

Last weekend I had the opportunity to see the Dalai Lama give a talk on "Universal Responsibility". Ever since reading the "Art of Happiness", I have wanted to hear him speak, so when I heard he was coming to Vancouver I had to go to his talk.

Unbeknownst to me, Archbishop Desmond Tutu was also there and he introduced the Dalai Lama. You would think that these two great spiritual leaders from oposite ends of the religous spectrum, would be very serious and unapproachable. However, this is not the case, both are very charismatic and have this quirky sense of humour. I can now see why those two are best of friends. It is like sitting down with two of your grandfathers.

I think the message that the Dalai Lama presented was universal regardless of religion. The fate of humanity lies within each and everyone of us. Each of us has a responsibility to act compassionately towards our fellow man. With this ideology, many conflicts and wars can be avoided.

The Dalai Lama is serenity personified and he just fills you with that same sense of peace and calmness. He can pack a stadium like a rock star but yet hold his entire audience captive to the point where there is utter silence around you. It was a truly unique experience.


Now on a less spiritualy enlightening experience....

Random Man

On a different note, I had an encounter with another random man while driving the other day. I made the mistake of looking over to the car beside me and making eye contact. He motioned for me to roll down the window. We proceeded to have a little bit of a conversation while stopped at the light. Without getting into the details I could have had some Italian man's phone number and a coffee date.

It was a small reminder that even when you are not feeling your most attractive, something like this reminds you that you just might not be as ugly as you think.

Serious Thoughts

When I was little I would always fall asleep in the car during a long car trip. I remember all the times that I would pretend to be still asleep when we got home, so that my father could carry me to me room. As a child you believe that your father is the strongest and smartest person in the world. No matter how old you get , that idea is always in the back of your mind and you carry that with you always.

Well, I have been faced with confronting that notion of invinsibility. Several of my friends' dads are facing very serious forms of cancer/disease. All the sudden, at 26 my friends are dealing with their fathers becoming dependant on them and eventually not being there. My friends' dads have made me realize that I do not value time with my father, I often take him for granted. Over the last few years, I have noticed that my dad is no longer the same invinsible super hero that I had always pictured him to be in my minds eye. Although, I have known for a long time, I rarely talk about my father's degenerative eye disease. Still now, it seems weird to be writing about it on my something like this and still not comfortable with talking about it. With each passing day, my father becomes more human and more dependant on those around him. It is a tough idea to face that your father is no longer that same person, who carried you up to your room.

So, I guess this is just a small reminder to tell your dad that you love him...a bit cheesy perhaps, but tell that to my friends faced with potentially losing their dads.

Sandals Report

Due to the unseasonably warm weather we have been having in Vancouver, I have been able to release my poor feetsies from the confines of socks and shoes early this year. I love the feeling of being able to wiggle your toes and allow the fresh air to touch my gross feet after months of stuffing them in icky thick socks and shoes. This weekend we had a record high 26 degree Celsius- beautiful blue skies weather here. It was wonderful to feel the warm sun on your face and chase away the drab dreariness of the winter blues. It is amazing how a little bit of sunshine can lift your spirits and make the world seem so much brighter.

Quarterlife Crisis

It is sort of like the mid-life crisis but it happens when you are in your 20's and 30's. Defined as the time in your life from when you finish school until you figure out where you are headed in life. It can be confusion about a career, your love life, the decision to start a family, etc. It supposedly is very common but not talked about.

What are your thoughts on that? I have picked up a book on it and have been reading about it. I am curious to find out what you faithful bloggers out there think about this topic. For those of you who think you have a quarterlife crisis or those of you who think they have gone through their quarterlife crisis, I am interested in your opinions.

For those of you interested in the book, it is called "quaterlife crisis and is written by something Robbins.

Bringing Japan to Vancouver

It was just like I was in Takaoka again, surrounded by noisy 15 and 16 year old kids, giggling and excited about all the damage they could do shopping. It was great. On Monday, 18 of my former students had a 3 day stopover in Vancouver and I was invited to meet them.

I was looking forward to seeing them and catching up. I met them at Granville Island and joined their little tour group. I cannot believe that over 6 months have passed since I was last in Japan but it was like nothing had changed at all. I felt like I was one of them, in fact almost everywhere I went, everyone thought I was Japanese. It was fun to be immersed in it all over again.

On day two we went to Victoria and left at the ungodly hour of 7:30 to catch the 9:00 am ferry. I was super tired. However, it was fun to hang out with them all day and get to know some of the kids that I had not taught. They were a good group of kids and made me feel welcome.

Ohhh, my little kiddies....

Random Man...

I was waiting for the bus on Saturday morning, reading my "What should I do with my life book", when I look up to see a man staring at me. I make eye contact and smile, yes, I know I probably should not have done that, but he was wearing cute overalls and I cannot resist overalls. They remind me of kids.

Well, he proceeds to ask me what I am reading and I tell him about the book. He does not seem to get it and asks me, what kind of jobs are they doing? I try again to explain the premise of the book but again he does not seem to get it. He then asks me where I am going, I tell him I am going to work at Oakridge. He then starts talking about all the hockey games on that night and how it is all Canadian teams playing. He says that the Canucks did well the night before. I smile and ask him if he likes hockey, he mutters something and then starts walking off.

It has been a while since I have run into random men, so I guess it was about time. He was harmless and seemed nice. Plus it was on a busy street with lots of cars going by so if he tried something I could just run into the street for help. No worries.

Proud Aunty!!

I have just added some more photos of my nephew onto my online photo album. Just click on the link to the right. Enjoy.

Teaching English...

When I left Japan, I thought that I would never again teach English again. Heck, after 2 years of unruly highschool students anyone would feel the same way. Well, today I volunteered to teach a group of adult Japanese people conversational English. I actually really enjoyed it. It was fun and something I am totally comfortable with, it was like second nature. In fact, it reminded me of Japan and all the Eikaiwa lessons I did. Sugoku nasukashi!! I hope to continue doing it week after week.

What should I do with my life?

Recently I picked up a book called "What Should I do with my Life?" It is a collection of real life stories from people who found careers/jobs/a passion in life. I have started reading this book in the hopes that it will inspire me to get out there and do something. So far, I have read about a doctor who left her job to work on robotics and an advertising agent who became a hortoculturalist. Interesting changes those people took, hopefully like them something will spark the passion in me and I will find my calling in life. Wish me good luck.

On a more positive note, I have started doing Yoga and Pilates. I find that the Yoga is good for relaxation and dealing with some of the stress in my life. The pilates is good because it forces me to use those core muscles that I have taken for granted, all the slouching I did at my desk in Japan over the computer. It makes me feel good to be using all those muscles that I had to learn about but now have forgotten the names of.

Here is a picture of my new nephew

Meet Caleb.

I am very very happy to announce the arrival of Caleb Isaiah Wu. He weighed in at 7 lbs 9oz. I have to say that he is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. Usually, when they are first born they are all wrinkly and red, not very attractive at all but he is simply perfect. I am not saying that cause he is my brand new nephew but in actuality in a totally unbiased opinion he is beautiful.

I sense our bond already, afterall we almost share the same birthday and when I picked him up today he was crying but soon after he stopped crying and fell asleep. I think we will get along well, I am going to be the bestest ever aunt in the whole wide world to him.

Happy Chinese New Year!!

Sorry, it was a little late but I have been preoccupied as of late and completely forgot to wish those faithful blogheads out there a very Happy New Year! Gung Hay Fat Choy! Wishing each and everyone health and prosperity over the upcoming year of the monkey.

Supposedly a good year for the horse folk out there.

I was a good Chinese New Year surrounded by my family eating traditional Chinese foods, a far cry from the lonely New Years I had last year in my cold apartment eating sushi.

Aunty Char!!

You know how it is, you are in the perfect REM sleep dreaming that you are on a white sand beach, sipping a margarita, enjoying the view of the ocean, and as far as the eye can see you are surrounded by nothing but coconut trees and your very tall, dark, handsome, and highly intelligent personal masseuse, then from out of nowhere you hear the phone ring. You groggily think, hey there are no phones on my beach, then you wake up and realize the phone is ringing.

I was woken up at the un-godly hour of 7:00 am this morning by my brother-in-law. It seems that he took my sister to the hospital because she was having contractions. So, for the whole day I have been patiently waiting and waiting for the stork to drop off my little niece of nephew, it has been 12 hours so far and nothing, nada...hope he/she comes soon. I cannot wait to be Aunty Char.

I find myself spending too much time watching TV. What is it about TV that sucks you in and then proceeds to zap your brain of all independant thought. I question whether I have any self control what-so-ever and how long it will take for my brain to turn to mush.

In my efforts to combat the slow decay of my brain I have tried to switch to the computer and read interesting things and the news as well as reading books. I will also try to get out and about and try to do some lessons or something other than sitting my butt down in front of the zombie machine.

Still looking for a job but no luck so far.....I have decided to redo my resume and see if that helps any. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

As for going back to school next year, still not 100% sure of what direction to head. Everything is up in the air still. Hope to come to some conclusions. If anyone out there has any suggestions of interesting careers then send them my way.

Happy New Year!! Full update of what is running through my head as of late.


Well, actually, Happy January 8th. I wish a 2004 filled with much joy, challenges, achievements, and above all laughter, for each and everyone of you.

I had a wonderful holiday, it was my first holidays back and it was good minus the working part. I was able to enjoy the sights and sounds of a "Canadian Christmas" and also learn how hellish it is for those poor people working retail. It was also wonderful to spend time with many of my friends whom I have not seen in a long time. They were home for the holidays and I was really happy I could spend time with them. I truly missed everyone and our crazy interactions.

As well, we had some snow in Vancouver. Which is a rarity. I was quite happy about that. The one thing I always liked about Japan was the snow we got. I love the way it makes you feel when it snows, like a big kid. I still get all excited about snow and want to rush out and play in it. I will never get too old to go out and build a snowman nor go sliding down the hill. It was funny cause we had a snow warning for Vancouver, oohh nooo, we were going to have 10 to 30 cm of snow overnight. "Tell everyone to stay at home if they can, power might be knocked out, yada yada yada" The whole city shuts down for a little snow, trust me I have friends in TO who get that on a regular basis and where I lived in Japan it snowed for an entire month.

I did have a chance to see some movies during the holidays. I tried to catch up on a bit of pop culture that I had missed during my tenure living in my bubble overseas. I watched quite a few movies, "the Last Samurai, Pirates of the Caribbean, X-men 2, Lord of the Rings Return of the King, American wedding, and Bowling for Columbine". Let me say that I would recommend the Last Samurai, LOTR, and Bowling for Columbine. The other ones kind of sucked, well let me say that Hugh Jackman makes a very hot wolverine.

I watched Bowling for Columbine twice and I really liked it. It was thought provoking and reminded me just how stupid we as humans can be and how careless we are with each others lives. Time to stop and think.

Finally, life is still moving along in a transitional kind of way, a little too slow paced for my liking. I am as always still searching for a job. I am a bit disheartened by the whole process and the sense of futility. I try my best and do what I can but sometimes it just does not seem like enough. I will persevere though. Life always has its way of working itself out. Until something better comes up, I am still working one day at the BAY, long story but the bottom line is that I love working with the people there.

If no job appears in the horizon in mid-Feb. I will take a little train trip to TO, Montreal, Ottawa and NY. I have some friends in that neck of the woods and thought that I would take some time to see them as well as see this country a bit. It should be fun and I am looking forward to it. The plan is contingent on the employment situation as well as the new addition to my family. I am going to be an aunt. Can you imagine, auntie Char...I am ecstatic. My eldest sister is pregnant and is expecting in Feb. Let me say a great time to be born.

I will fill everyone on the details when he or she arrives, although I have a gut feeling it will be a little boy.

Sushi

Back in my uni days sushi was a comfort food for me and my friends. We would always go out for sushi if we had a bad day or a bad lab partner. Well, yesterday I met two of my friends who have gone away to school in Toronto, for lunch and of course we had to reminisce so we stopped by our usual Sushi joint for lunch, YUMI FUJI SUSHI. Unfortunately it was closed for lunch but we managed to find another one. It was so much fun to be out and about with them. It was like nothing had changed over the 2 years since we have really seen each other. We have this great relationship, filled with sarcasm, a bit of razzing, and genuine love and admiration for each other. It was a hoot to be hanging out with them. We laugh and make a bit of chaos when we get together.

It was a good day.

Snow

The main winter weather in Vancouver is rain and more rain, heck the main weather in Vancouver is rain and more rain almost all year. However, today we got snow. I am so excited we got snow, it was not a lot of snow but enough snow to lightly dust all the houses and yards. It was so pretty. I was out and about today in Vancouver doing some post-Christmas bargain hunting and was delighted to be walking around while the snow was falling. It was the wet gross stuff we used to get in Toyama. In fact, it totally reminded me of all the gross days we had in Japan with the wet snow. It was not so bad today, it made me happy. Nasukashii so... I think that I am happy with any type of snow here in Vancouver, wet or otherwise.

And no I did not find a lot of bargains, but did get a pair of super warm boots lined with wool that keep my feet nice and toasty with super traction. Yippie for my new boots.

Merry Christmas


I have just gotten back from a rousing Christmas dinner with my extended family at my sister's house. My tummy is full with nummy food and my soul rejuventated for a little while. It has been a long time since I have had a "normal" Christmas. Normal being the weird and wacky hodge podge Chinese/N. American Christmas traditions that we have. I think the most important thing was spending time with my family. It was nice to be all together and laugh with my cousins. My family drives me nuts for the most part but once in a blue moon it is nice to be able to spend a little time with them. My overbearing sisters, my lack a dazy brother, and my know it all cousins. There have been some changes in the last two years, first of all Christmas was not in Chilliwack and my grandmother was not there but it was nice to be on the same continent as my family this Christmas.

Our Christmas, consists of all my cousins, aunts, uncles getting together. We usually end up cooking a lot of random food, all different types from all continents. The kids get together and chat while the adults sit together and chat. I remember once that there was even a bit of karaoke. We tease each other, we share what is going on in our lives, but most of all we laugh and are happy. Somewhere in there we open presents and ooh and aah about what each other got.

My Christmas spirit was lacking, it got sucked out of me by the craziness of working retail during the holidays. I never really felt like celebrating Christmas and it seems like I have not had a chance to enjoy and it has passed by. My soul has been rejuvenated by my family and the craziness that they bring, and I think that just as long as I do not work at the BAY I will be much happier.

BTW, I quit but somehow got suckered into working still. I am still trying to quit.

I hope that everyone out there had a wonderful Christmas no matter where they were. Remember it was not about the number of presents under the tree but about your friends and family.

Decisions

I am going to leave the BAY. I have not told my boss this yet but I have decided that after next week I will not be working at the BAY anymore. It was sucking the life out of me and I felt like such an uncaring robot just out there to make money for the company. It was sell, sell, sell. I am really surprised that I had not quit early in fact. I think I felt some kind of loyalty to them and did not want them to be left high and drive before Christmas...(cause we all know what a selling machine, I am)

I am going to step out the comfort zone and perhaps just take some time to find a job I do like or if not, then take a train ride to NY and take in some of this beautiful country and the one below us. I know that this is not financially sound but alas, I think my happiness and my own sanity are worth more. I will just have to take a dip into my savings and finance it from there.

Sayonara, BAY

Christmas Day is on its way

I was really excited this year that I would be having Christmas at home with my family. However, after several weeks of retail hell at the BAY, I am starting to wish that Christmas is over.

I normally abosolutely love Christmas and cannot wait for it to come. This year, my Christmas season consists of disgruntled customers complaining to me about how long the line ups are and how expensive items are. Where is the Christmas spirit? It seems that Christmas is all about the presents and money.

ARRGHGGH!!!

Well, I am out here to remind you that Christmas is about spending time with your family and realizing just how blessed you are to be able to spend time with them. I had the pleasure of making cookies with my sisters one afternoon. It turned out to be quite disasterous but bad cookies aside it was what the Christmas spirit is all about.

The Future

What am I suppose to do with my life? That is probably a question that almost everyone has struggled with at one point in their lives and perhaps like me, still are asking themselves that question. Man...How am I suppose to know what I want to do with my life? I feel like I am 5 again, when I wanted to be an anthropologist/aeronautical engineer/prime minister. It seems like there are many things that I want to do but am not sure what I want to do exactly. The only difference is that at 5, I thought that I can do anything, now at 25, I am not so sure of myself anymore. Can I really do it all?

I do not think I want to be a kinesiologist anymore. After encountering some very memorable people in my travels, I want to find a career that is more meaningful, something that will benefit people and help to alleviate some of their problems. As a kinesiologist, I think that the people that I would encounter would only have "first world" problems, problems originating from a too rich society taking too many things for granted, for ex. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, caused from too much time on a computer. Hello...there are people out there who have problems affording food, let alone affording a computer.

I know that this sounds very preachy, but I cannot help but feel that my career should be something more meaningful and helpful.

I have narrowed it down to two things, get my MBA in non profit administration or do acupuncture. Not sure, both seem equally challenging. In all honesty, I am a bit scared of the unknown and my own capabilities. Can I do it? I am not as invincible as I thought. The trials and tribulations of getting older, self doubt creeps in.

The Future

What am I suppose to do with my life? That is probably a question that almost everyone has struggled with at one point in their lives and perhaps like me, still are asking themselves that question. Man...How am I suppose to know what I want to do with my life? I feel like I am 5 again, when I wanted to be an anthropologist/aeronautical engineer/prime minister. It seems like there are many things that I want to do but am not sure what I want to do exactly. The only difference is that at 5, I thought that I can do anything, now at 25, I am not so sure of myself anymore. Can I really do it all?

I do not think I want to be a kinesiologist anymore. After encountering some very memorable people in my travels, I want to find a career that is more meaningful, something that will benefit people and help to alleviate some of their problems. As a kinesiologist, I think that the people that I would encounter would only have "first world" problems, problems originating from a too rich society taking too many things for granted, for ex. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, caused from too much time on a computer. Hello...there are people out there who have problems affording food, let alone affording a computer.

I know that this sounds very preachy, but I cannot help but feel that my career should be something more meaningful and helpful.

I have narrowed it down to two things, get my MBA in non profit administration or do acupuncture and TCM. The trouble now is choosing which one to do. In all honesty, I am a bit scared and doubtful of my own capabilities. Can I do it? I am not as invinceable as I thought I was. The trials and tribulations of getting older, self doubt starts to creeps in.

MIA

I have been away for a while from my blog, both physically and consciously. All apologies for the MIA (missing in action), to those faithful readers of the goings on in the Wacky World of Char. The things I have been writing about lately, just seem so trivial and so inconsequential. It feels like the things I have been writing about just have not been coming from my heart. It lacks my usual enthusiasm and spirit.

The thing is that as of late, my world has not been so wacky, in terms of adventures in wonderful and exotic lands, nor in meeting of random people who stalk me. So it feels like there is nothing I am really excited to blog about. My life has been crazy in terms of finding myself in a place that I cannot actually place. I am at a point where nothing is really concrete and everything seems like it is in suspension. I am in fact in transition and let me tell you it has been a difficult time here. Things have not turned up rosey as I had expected upon my return to Canada. I find myself in a position that has been hard for me to adjust to, living at home, working in a job that I do not love, not having the chance to travel, and of course the involuntary relationship abstinence (that is a given in my life and I have gotten used to that), among the changes in relationships with my 2 year absence. I am not complaining about my life because I know that I am extremely blessed to have a wonderful family who allows their 25 year old daughter to once again invade their space and live with them and of course the fact that I am employed.

It is just that I had imagined my life at ......25 a little differently. Not married nor in a career persay, but at a place where I am sure of the direction that I am supposed to head in. Oh, the joys of life post Japan and the depression that goes with it. How can I smile, when I feel like there is nothing to smile about.

I am sure that I will figure it out soon, afterall you are not given challenges that you cannot overcome, you just have to try a little harder.

The Rest of my Life....

From what I can gather, I am a retail genius of some sorts. My talent , however, does not work in the traditional sense that one would believe it to work. One would believe that a self proclaimed retail genius would have the ability to sell everything and anything. My talent on the other hand, seems to function in the favour of the customer and not in the favour of those signing my paycheque. I think the correct term would be "Retail Idiot Savant". It seems that I have the ability to talk a potential customer out of buying the 1200$ diamond ring, they had their hearts set on, and instead steer them into the direction of the 120$ cubic zirconia. I can spend hours talking to a customer about their lives and get to know them, and then talk them into realizing they do not need that ring but instead should spend their money on something else. I am not cut out for a career in retail. I think the closes thing to retail that I seem to excel at is shopping.

So is my life and the trials and tribulations of one Wacky girl at the Hudsons Bay Company.

Weird things are happening....

Tonight, at work we had this fragrance, cosmetic and jewellery night. I bought a ticket cause I kind of got suckered into it. The high pressure sales tactics of the Bay.

Side note, I had my eyebrows done and I must say they are nice looking for a change, better than the raggedy job I do myself. Sorry, I am sure everyone out there cares about my eyebrows.

Anyways, the real reason for this blog is the psychic reading I got done. I thought that I would have my stones read just for fun. I usually do not believe in these sorts of things but I thought what the heck, why not. Well, first of all she asked for something of mine, I gave her one of my rings and right away she said, something else, you don't wear this all the time. In general, she gave me some good advice about life and being myself, but she did mention some other things that kind of weirded me out. She was completely right about some things and about how my life is proceeding. I am not a believer in things like this at all, but it was kind of strange how accurate she is about some of the stuff she said.

A little bit of the Twiglight zone.

Astro Boy

I am not sure if very many people out there remember this cartoon about a robot boy who had extraordinary powers. When I was little I used to watch it all the time with my brother and loved it. When I was in Japan I found a whole bunch of Astro Boy aka Atom things there and could not get enough of it. So my friend sent me the theme song and I thought I would share it with you all

SORAOKOETE RARARA HOSHINO KANATA YUKUZO ATOMU SEIGINOMIKATA
KOKOROYASASHI RARARA KAGAKUNOKO JYUMAN BARIKIDA TETSUWANATOMU

Find Char a job....

It seems like the whole job search process is like another full time job in itself. It requires searching for the job, then applying for it, and then hoping and praying they like how you look on paper, to call you in and see just how fabulous you are in person. It is at times pretty tiresome, especially with over 10 resumes and cover letters sent out. Please note that I am not complaining, just stating a fact.

If only it were easier and people or companies out there would just figure it out and realize that I would make a great employee. Come on I am well travelled, love to laugh and smile, speak 4 languages, only one of which I can speak fluently, but who needs to tell them that, two years of teaching English to highschool kids in Japan, and survived...
and gosh darn it I have a 4 year degree and lets not forget a certificate both of which cost me a lot of money and now have a student loan that is the GNP of a small third world country. Come on, with those qualifications, who wouldn't want me.

Job oh job, job meaning the non retail kind...where art thou?

Been thinking....

Yeah, yeah, I know what some of you are saying to yourself...thinking...Yeah right...Char...Never.....

Well FYI, I have been thinking about a lot of things since my return home, yup you have a lot of time on your hands when are do not work full time. Well, it has occurred to me that I am a complainer...Yup...I complain about everything....First I complained when I was in Japan and now I complain that I am not in Japan. Man, have I always been a complainer or has this been a recent phenomenon?

Well, I have decided to do less complaining and suck it up. After seeing the poverty in Nepal, I have no right to complain about anything at all. From here on in, I am going to be thankful for things and try to focus on just how lucky I am. Sometimes we forget about all that we have been given and just how good we really have it. Even for retail hell and the BAY....Well, that one will take a little more time to be thankful for....Working up to that ....Thankful for my great co-workers who at least make working there a little more bearable...That is a start, I guess.

Pictures

My Japanese family, (one of a few), sent me the photos of the rice I planted last spring. They harvested it by hand and then sent me the photos of it. I was sad I was not there to help them do it, but touched that Nao, sent me an email and told me about it...




nb: I love this family, they are un-like any other family I have ever met in Japan and treat me like I am one of their own...plus, I think Nao is kind of cute....

Retail Blues...

To those regular readers of the Wacky World of Char, (those loyal bloggers, you know who you are and I love ya all), I must apologize for the lack of blogs lately. I have to say that I have not had anything exciting happening to me in the last few weeks, other than the tales of working retail and how it is sucking the life out of me and making me a drone of the corporate greed that drives oppulence and overspending in an already over saturated first world country. Let me get off my soapbox....

Anyways, my friend (my sister in retail Bliss) sent this along to me and I thought that I would share with y'all and remind everyone to be kind and not forget that we too are human and deserving of the Christmas spirit too when you are shopping for the holidays.

From Courtney...

Hey everybody, the holiday season is approaching, and
in the interest of general peace and harmony, I think
it's high time someone compiled a list of DON'TS for
shoppers across the nation. Having worked retail for
almost 10 years, I'd like to draw your attention to
the most common, most annoying bad habits of customers
I have dealt with.

I make no apologies for truly bad customer service!
I'd just like you to keep these things in mind for
those of us who really try to treat you well but
become frustrated by the following:

1. DON'T walk up to the counter with no salesperson
behind it and look disgusted that one does not
magically materialize before you.

2. DON'T enter a store talking loudly on a cell phone
and continue to gab as you browse, all the way through
your transaction, visibly annoyed that you must pause
long enough to receive your change.

3. DON'T throw your money or merchandise on the
counter when we have our hands outstretched to receive
it.

4. DON'T treat us like your own personal shopper.
Ideally, good customer service should make you feel
like you're the only person in the store. But this is
not reality.

5. DON'T give us bills all crumpled up, or, worse,
damp.

6. DON'T wait until everything is rung up to ask if
it's on sale. We will be much more cheerful about
answering your questions if we don't have to void the
sale and re-ring things.

7. DON'T neglect to estimate the total cost of your
purchase and then freak out like it's our fault you
can't add in your head as you shop.

8. DON'T carry things around the store, decide against
buying them, and leave them laying in random places.
This makes it harder for everyone to find what they're
looking for.

9. DON'T simply ignore us when we say hello or wish
you a nice day. You may be sullen, but you should at
least be polite.

10. DON'T let your children run amok. While you may
think it's cute that they're destroying things, we do
not.

11. DON'T try to make change with pennies when there
are 8 people lined up behind you.

12. DON'T set your items on the sales counter as you
shop, taking up valuable space and confusing everyone.
Unless your purchases are extremely heavy, use a cart
or a basket.

13. DON'T think you're cute by teasing or otherwise
harrassing us -- this goes out to older men for the
most part. You are not the first one to do so, even
though we may be humoring you.

14. DON'T ask for any amount of change in quarters so
you can do your laundry or wash your car. This is
what banks are for.

15. DON'T let us ring up half your items, suddenly
announce you forgot something, and spend the next ten
minutes running around the store some more. This ties
up the register, slows down traffic, and makes us want
to shoot you. If you can put a candy bar on your
debit card, you can come back and buy that forgotten
item later.

16. DON'T make comments like "You don't look like
you're doing anything" when approaching us alone at
the till. Chances are this is one of those rare
breathers in between mobs of people.

17. DON'T assume you are entitled to all the wonderful
boxes, bags, tissue paper, etc. Wrapping your items
is a service we provide to make you happy, not your
God-given right.

18. DON'T get angry when we ask to see your ID. We
are only trying to protect you and prevent fraud.

19. DON'T yell at us when returning an item that is
defective. We do not order merchandise for the store,
we did not purposely sabotage it, we just ring things
up.

20. DON'T wander leisurely for an hour and then check
your watch repeatedly while we ring you up, as if
WE'RE making you late.

21. DON'T assume we're half-wits. Many of us serving
you have other jobs and degrees.

22. DON'T summon us with beckoning fingers or
snapping, unless your socials skills are so limited
you have no other way to ask for help. You don't have
to treat us like dirt to prove you have money

Turkey makes you dumb...

Famous words from my friend Elaine. No scientific proof that this is true, but from Elaine's non-research based observation of individuals post-turkey consumption, (no names mentioned), she has drawn this conclusion. This finding will definately not cause a mass boycott of turkey and pandemonium in searching for an alternative fowl to consume at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

However,according to her it sure is tasty even if makes you dumb. I however, will stay away from Turkey, my brain is already turning into mush without the added Turkey affect. (my body is a turkey free zone...along with other meats too, not just turkey, veg head that I am).

Yesterday we had our family thanksgiving dinner. It was the first time in 2 years that I did not have to refer to it as "Canadian Thanksgiving" and sit on the floor to eat it. The last 2 Thanksgivings being in Japan with an international flare and the traditional Thanksgiving "sushi". It was nice to share my first holiday with my family but as always it is family and with that, the debate over the preparation of foods. There was still considerable debate over whether I should add milk or chicken stock to the mash potatoes....I compromised and added both....Let's not even talk about the Turkey and how that went...yup, good to be home and cooking with a room full of females and their respective opinions.

Nonetheless, I have lots to be thankful for, being able to share holidays with my family, including my two overbearing, know-it-all sisters whom I love dearly and attribute my mental instability...er... I mean my interesting personality to.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving...gobble gobble...

Update

Yet, another exciting week of selling jewellery at the BAY. I think I am starting to develop a tan for the bright UV lights from all the displays. I do definately need to buy some of those "sturdy" comfortable walking shoes that is all the rage with the over 50 crowd. My working environment is an Ergonomic nightmare. We stand for over 4 hours a day and do not have a place to sit all. At the end of the day my feet kill and I have not figured out a way to stop it. I do however on occasion do stretches behind the counter but only when there are no customers around. I am not allowed to wear sneakers...the slave drivers...supposedly we have to dress "business casual"...can someone give me a definition of what that means.

Complain, complain, complain...yes I know.......I have nothing else better to do.....

Adventures in Retail

So, many of you have been asking about how my job is going at the BAY, well it is definately none to exciting nor challenging. I keep telling myself that it is a job and it does pay something. Next to nothing, a third of what I was making in Japan, not enough for me to live off of, but who is complaining, right?

We have sales targets we have to meet each shift but, I the retail goddess has not been doing so well with that benchmark. I was never a person to go with all the rules anyways...
I try to meet the target but I am just not aggressive enough...too laid back. I kind of let them off the hook when they say well, I will think about it. I cheerfully, say okay, no worries take your time. Mistake in retail I tell you. And let's not even talk about the requirement that I sign someone up for a BAY card every shift...no where near that target.

But lucky me on Sunday, I hit my target. So, why did I make my sales on Sunday, was it the charming personality, the smile and tilt the head combo, the dimples, or even the aggressive sales technique. Actually it was due to the couple from China who needed souvenirs for their relations in China. Thank god for the omiyage tradition in Asian countries. They bought 13 watches from me...yup 13 watches. It was a pretty easy sell. They were not designer 100$ watches that would have made it an even better day but at $25 a pop it was enough to put me over my target for the day. Yippie!! I did spend about an hour with them though and showed them almost all the watches we had. It made me feel better cause earlier that morning I let another associate have my customer who bought a 799$ tennis bracelet..I was hitting myself after that one.

So far my co-workers have been really nice to me. They have helped me out a lot with the cash training and letting me know which key goes in which display. I cannot believe how many keys they are and how many different locks they go in. You would think that someone would label some of them. User Interface nightmares here.

Most of them are young and around my age. We all laugh and chat quite a bit but not when the manager is around, I have dubbed her "Mother Hen", cause from the moment your shift starts to the moment it ends she will not stop clucking at you. "Do you know your targets for today, you need to get an instant credit today, stop chatting, circulate.....it does not stop. Little did you know that the BAY is an intense sales driven arena of showcases and watches. The bright lights and the intense clucking are enough to drive a person insane.

So, those are this weeks tales from the BAY...Next weeks tales include the story of mother hen, who is mysteriously found to have been locked in a display by a disgruntled new employee.

Today's thoughts

There are always hopes that I will wake up one day and have these great and insightful things to write about on my blog. Well, no such luck today. I believe that my mind has turned into a big pile of oatmeal-like consistancy, mush. It feels like that I have not really used my brain in ages.

Let's say that the new job consists of me smiling and acting nice and trying to get someone to purchase that lovely Bulova watch, which by the way is on sale today. Did you know that Bulova has a 3 year warranty and is one of the best brands of watches you can buy? I myself have owned a Bulova for over 4 years now and have never had any problems with it. Yada yada yada....

From experience, I now know I like working in retail even less than I like teaching. At least teaching was a challenge and it was interesting.

It seems that the last blogs since my return to Canada have not been all that happy nor very uplifting. Sorry, but I guess that is just the current state of mind that I am in. This weeks thoughts teeter on, whether I should have stayed in Japan or not?
There have been days where I think I should have, so far very few things are convincing me otherwise....

UPDATE

I am alive and well. Nothing too exciting to report. In all honesty, I have to admit that I have been the queen of the gumbies

definition: I have been sitting on my butt doing nothing all day and not even changing out of my pajamas....

I do not start working until this Friday and thus have had quite a bit of time to sit and reflect on the current state of affairs of my life. Not a pretty sight I tell you........

I did however, get to play volleyball last night and I did enjoy myself very much. Hooray for the healing powers of volleyball and the ability for it to make you just laugh at how bad you play.....

Job

Well, there were hopes of finding a job where I could something I love and get paid a whole heck of a lot of money. Well....I guess that is everyones' dream too.....
The next best thing I was hoping for was something relating to my degree in Kinesiology...Ergonomics or even working with kids. Well, it seems that I got a job working at the Bay, a dept't store. After talking to a good friend of mine who was herself working in a dep't store until she fines a better job, I thought what the heck. I am not particularly thrilled about it, but hey at least it is a job and it gets me off my butt and working. Wish me good luck in finding something more degree related.

As for other things, I have been home for over 3 weeks now and have adjusted somewhat. I still have pangs of missing Japan and wishing I were there. The adventurer in me is a little antsy staying in one. I do miss the lifestyle in Japan where everything was a new adventure and I got to travel and explore. Definately, into reverse culture shock now. Strange that I miss a place so much that I never really felt like I truly entirely fit into.

Even more strange is that I miss my little hellions. After a lot of near disasterious classes where I was over-run by my kids and would walk out in utter frustration, I actually miss them quite a bit. You never know how much an impact they have on you.

Current Mood: reflective and homesick

Today's Random Thoughts

So, I spent yet another day home doing nothing....I miss the routine and schedule of having a regular job and doing something other than veg'n all day. Yup, definately dealing with reverse culture shock. I am still grappling with the fact that at 25, I am living at home and jobless. The overachiever, independant wacky kind of girl that I am, is having issues with once again living at home and mooching off my parents. However, I must say it is nice to have someone do my laundry and cook me my favourite foods. Note: I am helping around the house and am not a big fat lazy bum...

Current mood: depressed and unmotivated.

Missing Japan

The honest truth is that I am reverse culture shocking a bit. I miss Japan. I actually miss my little kids a lot. I think about them all the time and wonder how they are treating my successor. Strange that I am not there and what kind of trouble are they getting into without me there to encourage them to behave...actually without me there to let them run wild they are probably better behaved.

Still looking for a job, applied for one yesterday...perhaps I should start thinking about starbucks....I hate this job search thing....anyone out there want to get me a job....

Waiting

I am sitting here with Ejlee, waiting for Barney. He is going to pick us up and we will drive to Manning Park to spend some time outdoors. I'm looking forward to seeing beautiful B.C nature after living in inaka Japan. I've missed being able to swim in clean water and go canoeing.

BARNEY, WHERE ARE YOU?!

Been home one week

I have now been home in Canada for one week. I am still dreaming about Japan and some days still wake up thinking it is Japan. I have now almost gotten over my cold. I am feeling much better and have decided to get off my butt next week and start looking for a job. No more of this bumming around the house, there is only so much of day time TV, I can watch.

Wish me good luck.

Illness

I was really lucky all through Nepal and India that I never got ill once. Even in Japan I think I was only ill once in 2 years. But as soon as I arrived back home I get attacked by some kind of cold bug or something. It feels like a cold but I have also somehow lost my voice too. My sisters seem to think it is SARS, I am convinced it is Malaria...all joking aside it is probably my body telling me to relax and take it easy after almost 3 months of stress with packing and travelling. Thus, I have decided to veg and sleep lots and let my mommy take care of me until I am all better.

Home sweet home

When I was in Japan, I used to dream of Vancouver and now when I am in Vancouver I dream of Japan. In an entire reversal of roles. It still has not sunk in that I am home in Vancouver, at any moment it feels like I am going to wake up on my futon in Japan. I have been home for 3 days and for the most part of the 3 days I have not ventured out too much. I am fighting a post travels bug of some sort. I jokingly tell everyone that it is either SARS or Malaria. However, it is more likely a cumulation of lack of sleep, dry air plane air, and the pollution of Delhi that has made me suspectible to a cold bug. I spent the better part of yesterday firmly ensconced on the couch being pampered and worried about by my family, something that has not happened in years and years. It was rather nice to be taken care of when I was feeling so miserable. Someone to cook me my fav. foods and someone to do my laundry.

It is still a rather strange sensation for me to be in a house with my parents. Afterall it has been 7 years since I have lived at home. It is very strange for me, nice at the moment but not sure how it will last long term. Going from being entirely on my own to sharing a house with 4 other people. The last time I lived at home was when I was in highschool.

Other than that I am adjusting well, I have not major reverse culture shock episodes, although I hope to get it over and done with soon, so I can get on with my life in Canada. I do have pangs of missing Japan and my students. I cannot help but look at the people around me and think about how different it is in Japan.

I guess I am going through a bit of post-Japan withdrawl.

Am I really in Vancouver??

I had no nose pressed up against the glass of the window as we approached Vancouver, I could not believe that I was seeing the Vancouver skyline against the mountains. After 2 years, I was finally coming home for good....well, not quite for good but for a while at least. Even at this point I am not 100% sure I am in Vancouver. I think it is a cumulation of Jet lag and disbelief that I am not in Japan. At any moment it seems like I am going to wake up from this dream and be in my apartment in Japan.

I cannot express what kind of feelings are going through my head. It is this mixed bag of being happy I am home and also of missing Japan and my kids, along with missing Nepal and the kind people I have met there. Once again, I cannot express how wonderful and attached I am to Nepal. It is definately some where to go back to. In fact, I am even now plotting about a trip next spring to Japan and Nepal. We'll see what happens.

At this point I am just going to relax and spend time with my family and friends and take it easy. Sleep is one of my first priorities.....

Adventures over


In about an hour I will be heading to the airport to fly home. My flgiht is at 12:00 am and I will have to change flights 2 times, once in Bangkok and once in Taipei. I am not looking forward to the flight but really happy that I will be heading home. I have had a great adventure in Nepal and probably decided that I will not venture back to Delhi for a long time. I am not tough enough for this country.
I cannot express how amazing my adventures have been over the last 2 years and how I am a little sad that they are coming to an end. However, I am sure that I will be happy once I have set foot on Canadian soil....reverse culture shock and all.....well, I will see how it goes. If it gets to be too bad I can always go back to Nepal.
Anyways, just wanted to write one last blog from somewhere other than Canada.

Why I hate India

Of the countries I have visited there is not one that I would say that I really do not like, that is until India.

India is nuts....let me say that again....it is nuts...when you step out of the safety of the airport it a free for all and you are swarmed by Taxi drivers. It is a really agressive society. After being in Nepal and being treated so nicely and everyone being so friendly I was in quite the shock in India, where 10 people will swarm you while you are stopped at a light and ask you to buy something or to go to their hotel.

We went to the Taj Mahal today. Which turned out to be an adventure that I do not ever want to relive. We got up at 5:00 am so we could meet downstairs for our bus for 6:00 am. Then proceed to ride a supposedly a/c bus for 8 hours only to be told that if we wanted a ride back to our hotel in Delhi (which was covered in our bus ticket) that we would probably not arrive until really late. Thus conveniently an alternate plan was made for us, we would be dropped off at a travel agent and they would take us via taxi to the Taj Mahal and other tourist sights and then be put on a train back to Delhi. Of course if we wanted to take the deluxe train we would have to pay extra. Elita and I vehmently said No...we will take the regular train. So, we see the Taj Mahal which is spectacular, then were taken to a marble factory and were told that this man is the descendent of one of the original builders of the Taj and is no in charge of taking care of it. He then told us all about marble and tried to sell us crap and kept talking about how it is free to ship, how it is like you are taking the Taj with you. My god he would not let us leave, finally we got out of their, having wasted an hour where we could have been seeing Agra. They took us back to the travel agent, where the man working there conviently owns a gem store and proceeded to take us there to look at gems. He was pushy and even suggested that we allow him to borrow our addresses in Canada so he could send some gems there and then have someone pick them up...we said no way!!! Then he proceeded to grill us about why we didn't want to do it. Finally to shut him up we bought some gems from him. Nothing too expensive...then we took a 3 hour train ride back sitting on hard wooden benches. My first experience with Indian trains and hopefully my last.

Leaving Nepal

I am sad to be leaving Nepal. I will head to Delhi tomorrow. My experience here has been wonderful all except for the random men who keep hitting on me. There are the kind ones whom I have met. These two great store owners not far from where I am staying who invite me in for tea everytime I walk past. One of them I bought some clothes from while another I had two pieces of jewelry made with. And the kind man in the bookstore, who called me his daughter and gave me a beaded bracelet.

The bad random men experience include being asked to dinner twice in one night. The first one was when we were walking down the street and this man who owns a gem stop said, "can I ask you a question?". So I stopped and we ended up going to their shop and chatting for 30 mins. They were nice and asked us for dinner the next night, we said we were busy but they insisted. Not 2 hours later, I was in a store buying a skirt....yes skirt, and was bargaining as is the habit here. The man and I finally agreed to a price and he then said I had to go out for a beer with him, cause he gave me such a good price, well I said no, then his friend grabbed my arm and said dinner then, tomorrow...I said I was busy, then the day after...they were insistant and would not let go of my arm....finally I said, sorry I am leaving Kathmandu tomorrow and cannot come to dinner....they then shook my hand for what felt like 10 mins. Man, I was glad to get out of that store.

So, last night we had our hot date with the gem boys....I called up two guys we know here in Kathmandu, one a peace corp volunteer we met while volunteering, and the other the director of the org. we volunteered with, Purna. We go to the gem shop to meet the boys and it was not pretty. The gem boys were not happy we brought two guy friends with us, and our Nepali friend was not impressed with the gem boys. So, after standing around akwardly I suggest we go for dinner. The Gem boys said they would meet us at the restaurant but they did not end up showing up. I think they were rather put off that we brought other guys with us. My friend, Purna said that they were probably hoping to pick up two "Japanese girls". It was kind of funny cause I could tell that Purna was sizing up the guys and that the gem boys were sizing him up. I could see the reactions on both their faces.

Anyways, it has been fun. Our last night in Kathmandu was spent dancing in a Nepali restaurant. It is fun to dance to music you don't know and just be free and not worry about how silly you look. I enjoyed myself a lot. At the end of the night we were given applause and comments on our dancing.

Onto Delhi now....scary....

Saying good bye,

I am now in Kathmandu and have finished my volunteeer work in the village. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit some families of students supported by the organization I volunteered with. I was amazed at the conditions they were living in. They were living in huts with very little electricity and they have only just gotten running water. Children were running around bare foot and had tattered clothing. Education is very expensive for these children and if it weren't for the NEST programme they could not go to school. Unfortunately, not every child can be given a scholarship for school as much as the director would like too. I was reminded of how much I take for granted and how blessed I am. The only way to end the cycle of poverty in Nepal is by education but without money they cannot go to school, it is a never ending cycle. The image of the village is something I will take away with me from Nepal.

I am also sick of saying good bye. This morning, I said good bye to my host family. I totally felt like a part of the family and was treated liked their sister, they even called me sisiter, didi in Nepali. I am touched by how easily I was welcomed into their home and made to feel like a part of their family. I will miss them terribly. Too many good byes in such a short time...

I was also able to dress in Nepali traditional dress and had mendhi done, which is drawing with henna on your hands as well as having henna put in my hair. It is a luxury that you do for your sister or daughter as a treat. I definately look like a nepali in the dress, with the mendi, the arm full of bangles and the yellow string around my wrist (Nepali festival yesterday). It has been an amazing time here. I definately want to come back.

Greetings from Nepal

I am doing well, although my stomach has not been too happy with me as of late, no major grumblings but just a bit of a disagreement. I will be okay though.

The camp is now over and we are planning to head back to Kathmandu in 2 days. I am looking forward to being back in the city with regular internet service.
The camp went well, it was a lot of fun and the kids were awesome. I really enjoyed myself, but now I am exhausted, it was pretty 10 hours a day of high energy. Man, if I have to hear camp songs anymore I will probably scream.

Other than that everything is well. I have adapted fairly well to Nepali life, all except for the toilets but I guess that is life. I am now wearing Nepali dress and have an arm full of glass bangles. It is interesting to be a part of the culture and live with a family. Twice a day we eat Dal baht, which is rice and veggies that you eat with your hands, no utensils. Very interesting seeing how they do not use toilet paper here either. Just have to keep in mind you eat with your right hand and wipe with your left.

I am having problems getting into my sfu account so for the time being it will have to be blogs for updates.

Okay, I will write soon again. When I get back to Kathmandu, that means riding the scary plane, it is so scary, they actually give you cotton balls to stuff in your ears during the flight.....

Nepal

I have been here in Nepal for almost a week now and our Summer Camp is going well. I cannot believe how well behaved these kids are. They blow my Japanese kids out of the proverbial water. Their English is great, I have 5 year olds speaking to me in English. Japan can learn something about English Education from Nepal. I am teaching Japanese to these kids, strange seeing how I have spent the last 2 years teaching English. The camp is great though but requires me to be always super energetic. At the end of the day I am exhausted.

Health and cleanliness is another story here. The bathroom is a scary place, every morning I take a shower with some companions of the 8 legged variety, needless to say I get in and out as fast as I can. Toilet paper has not been introduced here yet so we bring our own with us everywhere we go. I try not to use the bathroom more than twice a day and only when I really really have to go.

We are doing a homestay here and I am really happy with the family we are staying with. It is the sister and niece of the organizer of the camp. We have been welcomed into their family with open arms and we are planning to cook them dinner tomorrow night. Should be fun...hope they don't suffer from our cooking.

So far Nepalese food has been agreable with me, although I am feeling a little funny today. The diet is mainly rice and veggies that you eat with your hands. You do not use utensils.

Every morning I hope on the back of a motor bike and zoom through the countryside into town from the small village where I am staying. I love the ride, except for the occasional goat, cow, or duck that strays onto our path. This morning we nearly took out a duck on the road. Cows and goats just roam everywhere. We are in a very underdevelopped area. Their is livestock everywhere. The level of poverty is astounding. I cannot believe it somedays. What a huge difference from Japan. Talk about culture shock.

All in all I am having a good time, amazed by the kindness of the Nepali and how we have been welcomed here. Everywhere I go, I am greeted with a smile and namaste. Which means hello, good bye and almost everything else. Nepal is beautiful and more interesting than I could ever have imagined. It is an awesome country.

Okay will update in a few days.

Heart Broken

On Saturday bright and early, nursing a hangover I went to our baseball game. (it seems that I have had a boat load of farewell parties where the main objective is to get Char drunk). Even though I cheered my little heart out for my boys, we lost our baseball game and thus dashing everyone's hopes of going to the Koshien. For my gr. 12's (whom I absolutely adore), this was their final game of their baseball careers. As you can imagine, there were tears and much crying. It is strange to see some of these tough boys cry. I was absolutely heartbroken. For me, it was probably the last time I would see my baseball boys too. I was just as sad as their were.

As I wrote previously, I was given one of their warm up jerseys as a present, I wore it proudly to their game. One of my cheekier gr. 11's came up to me and said he wanted it. I told him we should trade, so we traded, I now have his jersey and he has mine. I thought it was really sweet, that he liked me enough, (perhaps too much some times) that he wanted to wear my name. I was touched when he showed the rest of the team and everyone oohed and ahhed. This is probably one of my special memories of Japan.

I cannot stress enough, how special this years kids are to me. They have been absolutely great in class and always eager to talk to me. I am sad that I cannot take them home with me. I will miss rubbing their little buzzed baseball hair cuts. They have gotten so used to me doing this, that they just stick their heads up when I walk past.

I am feeling so sad right now, teary eyed and emotional.

I also had the experience of going to a Japanese funeral, something that I did not want to experience. My vice-principal died after being sick for a long time. I was not particularly close with him but I do remember the odd times he would ask me about basketball and the Vancouver Grizzlies. He was not afraid to talk to me at all. It was refreshing. I will miss him.

Time is flying by

I am sad, one by one my friends are heading home and returning to their respective countries. It has not really hit me yet that in September I will not be able to just ride over to their houses and visit them. It feels like everyone is just going on summer vacation or something, not like they are leaving Japan for good.

You go through so much here together and your friends are the ones that make sure you do not go completely bonkers on those really bad days in Japan. Trust me, there are many of them.

Oh, I am sad that everyone is leaving and that I have to leave too.

My kiddies...as awful as some of them were in class, they never listened and never did any work....but yet I know that I will miss them a lot. They are my kids and I love some of them to death. They are what has made my time in Japan memorable.


There was a point last September when I thought my contract would never and I could not leave fast enough. I had just returned from Canada and thought that I could not possibly endure another year of being in Japan. I was homesick as soon as I stepped off the plane and really did not want to be in Japan. Well, that was 10 months ago and now I cannot believe that I will be leaving in a little more than a week. In a complete reversal of feelings, I have pangs of homesickness for Japan when I think about leaving.

The 2 years have gone by in a blink of an eye and I am having a hard time with packing and leaving. It has been a great adventure. For the first time I was living entirley on my own in a foreign country not speaking the language. I figure if I can survive Japan I can probably take on many things. Heck, I taught almost 900 hormonal teenagers in 2 years. That says something about learning to cope and survive....

Anyways, just a reflective mood I am in..............

"Take me out the the ball game"

In Japan, baseball is their third religion behind Shinto and Budhism. Summer is the peak of highschool baseball with prefectural baseball championships. Every higschool baseball player dreams of going to the Koshien (the mecca of highschool baseball), to play in the National championships.

Busloads of students are shipped to baseball stadiums where accompanied by the school band and megaphones everyone cheers their school team on.
Yesterday we had our first game of the prefectural tournament. We all loaded into the bus to go to the stadium, or band, cheerleaders, leader club (sort of pep club), along with several large drums. Once we got there, megaphones were handed out and the coordinated cheers began. First you do a cheer for the opposing team and bow to them, wishing them good luck. Each player that bats has their own cheer, song or dance. The pitcher has a cheer too. I cannot believe the utter madness of it all. My normally shy and reserved students show their true spirit. They never get to yell and scream and be normal kids unitl now. It was so much fun to be a part of the baseball madness. It is insane to see 500 people doing the same dance at the same time.

I must say that all along my baseball boys have been some of my favourite students and this is a great way to spend my last two weeks here, cheering them on and being a part of it all. You know you are in far to deep when you are just as worried as the players when you are behind, or when you yell at the umpire cause you think your player was safe. It was like it was me out there playing. You have to experience highschool baseball in Japan to know what I mean.

Last day of school

Today was the last official day of school, although the kids will be required to come to school periodically or if they are in a club then almost every day. Not much of a summer break if you ask me. I will also be required to come to school until my contract is finished which is on July 28th. Nothing but sitting around all day.

We had closing ceremonies and I had to make a speech, I was super nervous seeing how it was all in Japanese. I managed to get through all of it without too many mistakes and without any tears, although my voice did waver a bit.

I am sad to leave what I think as my second home. I have spent two years here and I must say that it has been a wonderful experience that I will probably never forget. The kids are definately what has made it wonderful.

I had lunch with some of my Gr. 12's today, then spent the better part of the afternoon talking to them. What a change from 2 years ago, when the kids were scared to even approach me. I will miss these little hellions far more than they will ever realize.

Stuff and more stuff

I seem to have a bottomless closet. I take things out of it and it seems that more things magically appear in its' place. I have been packing for over a month now and it still seems like I have to pack more. My apartment is covered with random things and big cardboard boxes. I walk into my apartment and feel like my stacks of stuff are going topple over in a clothing avalanche and bury me alive. I hate packing about as much as I hate saying good byes.

ARRGHGGH!! It is almost worth it to stay in Japan another year so I don't have to deal with the packing and good byes.

Sayonara

July has been the say good bye month for me for 3 years now. I don't like good byes and have a hard time with them.

Yesterday, we had a good bye sushi lunch with all my fellow English teachers. I was touched by the kind words spoken about me and the sense that I will be missed. I got a good bye present that I had requested with an unexpectant surprise. I wanted a bag my baseball team has. It is an "official baseball bag" with my name on it and Daiichi (my school) written on it. It is perfect and exactly what I wanted. It reminds me of my school and my baseball boys, whom I love. They are usually the best kids in the class and the ones to come talk to me. To get that bag you have to be a member of the baseball team and actually be a good player. I think that I am perhaps the only girl ever to own the Daiichi Baseball team bag.

I also received a baseball warm up jersey, with my name on it. Surprised by that one.

So sad to say good bye and to realize that I leave in two weeks. How fast time goes by.

Yukata-kai

A yukata is a light weight cotton summer Kimono.

I had been taking lessons on how to wear a Yukata and tie the belt. I had the intentions of studying how to put on a Kimono but because of lack of time and the cost of accumulating all the Kimono accessories (underwear, ties, belts, clips, in addition to the thousand dollar kimono), I decided to learn to wear the yukata.

So, I have been practicing for 3 weeks now and yesterday we had a party were everyone was dressed in Yukatas and kimonos. It was partly a demonstration too. So, we got up on stage and tied it infront of everyone. I was a bit nervous standing infront of everyone, in addition to the newspaper being there to take pictures of the silly foreigners. Because in Japan, an event instantly becomes international relations when a foreigner is present

So, I had a wonderful time. After the sit down dinner we of course piled into the cars in our yukatas and went to the mall. It is quite an interesting sight, when you have 7 people all dressed in traditional Japanese summer clothing walking through the mall. Of course we had to stop for Starbucks and take Print Club (print club is little photo stickers that are a huge hit here). Only in Japan would I be wearing a Yukata, drinking Starbucks, and taking Print Club.




It was a wonderful experience and a great way to cap off my stay in Japan.

Honoury Envoy to Toyama

Yesterday I had a ceremony whereby I was presented with plaques bestowing the honour of special honoury envoy to Toyama. Keeping in mind that this title can be revoked at any time if I have behaviour that is unbecoming of this title. Not sure what kind of behaviour that is...perhaps if I say that the water in Toyama in not Oishi or the fish not fresh.

Oshii = delicious

Honorary Envoy= Friend of Toyama

All done with my exams

Regardless if it is grading exams or if it is writing exams, the feeling of relief when you are done with them is the same regardless.

I finished grading today, over 300 exams in the span of one week. I am a machine....

Two balls....

Last Friday I was sitting on my desk, when the captain of the boys volleyball team came up to me. He said they were having a practice game on Saturday and if I was free I should come. Of course being the dedicated ALT, I would show up to school on Saturday.

So I drag my butt to school, literally dragging it seeing how I was out until 1:30 the night before.
Anyways, I was on the second floor of the gym, (we have a indoor track above the gym where you can watch from), when the captain sends one of the players up to get me so I can sit on the bench beside the coach. I walk in there and everyone bows.

So, they finish the game and everyone comes over for the aisatsu (greetings and thank you to your coach, usually the coach gives them advice or something). So it being Japan, they did it to me too. It is a sign of respect for your elders, yup I am an elder alright.
Saying something about well "your blocking was off and that the take off for the tandem play should have been the center hitter going up then the off side hitter going up, the third hit in the second play should have been from the power side and not the off side"......hmmm...yup, my days of competitive vollyeball is over.

So, I get up to walk out of the gym, when the captain says wait. So, he comes out with two volleyballs, one a practice ball that I can use to play with, the other a official "daiichi high school ball, with all their names signed on it.

I was all choked up, tears formed and I had to struggle to hold them in, my boys...I cannot believe it. It was so sweet....

Making a difference......my goal for my second year....perhaps making the difference in me....

Tired

I saw Charlie's angels last night. Good movie. Funny!

I have been on the computer all morning. No classes because of exams. So I get to sit on my ass. Should be studying Japanese or writing my farewell speeches, but currently looking for internships. Nothing so far...been on it for 2 hours....eyes are going wonky.

2010 Olympics

Vancouver got the 2010 Olympics. Yippie!!

finished

My career as an English teacher is over. I taught my last class today and it was sad for me. Got a little teary eyed. I will definately miss those little misfits.

I am filled with mixed emotions, sad that I will not get to see these kids again but terribly homesick. So homesick that it hurts....

I missed Canada Day. Did not even realize it was yesterday.....

News

Intruder

I had an intruder on Monday night, while I was brushing my teeth I feel this thing walk across my feet, I look down to discover a large cockroach the size of a bar of soap...well okay not quite that large but large enough. I jump up out of my bathroom and run for the bug spray. I proceed to use half the can of spray on him, cause he kept moving, then sucked him up in the vacuum and sprayed more spray into the vacuum. He better be dead!! I had been searching for him for a week now. I first caught site of him last week but was not quick enough to kill him. He better be the only intruder and better not have been a spy sent ahead or else I am going to move out of my apartment before I leave Japan. As you can tell, I hate bugs.

How do you talk about yourself?

I asked my supervisor for a letter of recommendation...man...was that difficult, after humming and searching, then asking the principal, I was told to write it myself....lovely...how do you write a glowing letter of recommendation without feeling guilty about being a braggart?


Changed my blog
As you can tell I changed my blog. I was having problems so I decided to change the template. Plus I have some time on my hands.

The first of My Last Classes

Well, two years have almost come and gone now. This week I had the first of my last classes. Exams start next Thurs. and thus I will not be teaching my Thurs. and Friday classes anymore after tomorrow. It was sad...the kids have been well...interesting..sometimes they make me laugh and sometimes they make me so mad that I could cry. It has been a learning experience with them. I guess, no matter how mad they made me, I will always remember them and think of them as my kids.

Well, my I-nensei's whom I know the least and probably are not most favourite kids even made me a littled choked up. At the beginning and end of class students stand, bow and greet. Well, for my final act with the kids I was asked to lead it. It is a privledge to do so and a confirmation that I am one of them. It does not seem like much but it is something. I also was told that I would be missed and had my hand shaken.

My III-nensei's, my favourites, I asked them to write a letter to me. Many of the letters were very sweet and I was touched by their sentiment and at the end I took a class picture with them. They were very kind and I was told that I will be missed.

As a side note, I got a double on a bike by one of my students. I was going to the convenience store for somethign to eat and she said she would double me. Well, what a sight that was in my skirt. Imgaine , me on the back of a bike with my skirt hiked up. Yeah, great image for a teacher.

Perhaps, they will not remember me when I leave but these little things make my stay in Japan worthwhile. My reason was that I was going to make a difference but perhaps it was not making a difference in them but in myself that was more important. I hope that I have left some kind of impression on them, cause they sure as hell have left one on me.

Man, this leaving bit is going to be tougher than I thought. I only had to deal with last classes today.

Fathers

Thank God for fathers. I do not know what I would do without mine. My dad is always the person I turn to when I need advice or need encouragement. I cannot remember how many times in university at 4 O'clock in the morning I would call my dad and fret about a final exam I was sure I was going to flunk. Well, after sending out many a cover letters and resumes, and still not hearing from anyone, I was really disappointed and ready to work at starbucks. Well, my dad being who he is, told me not to worry. He believes that something will come up and that it will work out. It is nice when someone believes in you, when you don't believe in yourself. Cheers, to Dads and the secret powers they have.

Donations

Finally, paid for my trip home this summer. I have decided to take a detour home. I will stop in Nepal and India on my way back to Vancouver. I will be participating in the NEST program in Nepal running education programs in a school 6 hours outside of Kathmandu. I will be doing English lessons along with talking about health and sanitation. My plan is to leave Japan on the 1st of Aug. and be back in Vancouver around the 24th.

I am also hoping that you can help me out with donations. The school that I am going to is really poor and they need funds for books and programs. I have been asked to help raise some funds for them. So, if you are interested in donating to a good cause and providing education to individuals in Nepal, please contact me via email. Even a few dollars in nepal can go a long way. So many times we take education and books for granted.

Update


Last Sunday I played sound table tennis. It is for the visually impaired. Inside a ping pong ball there is ball bearings that make noise. The object of the game is instead of getting it over the net, it goes under the net with essentially the same rules as ping pong. The people playing were really good, surprising at first seeing how their reaction time is based on hearing where the ball is. I got my butt kicked around.

Hmmm...what else is new....had my farewell party with my Japanese teacher. My Japanese lessons are officially over. Sad, seeing how I still feel like I have not learnt enough Japanese.

Matrix Reloaded

I finally got to see it this weekend. The verdict is 3 out of 5 stars....It was okay..the story was harder to follow this time...and less thinking involved for the viewers, and too much action.....the 30 min. car chase scene....all in all a bit disappointing...

On a much happier note, I did rent "life as a house"...great movie, I really liked it....go and rent it if you have not seen it yet....