Kape at Keso

It's almost summer vacation and I have been planning on so many things to do for the long holiday but I have to sit down and write all the experiences worth remembering in spring.  HAKONE I stumbled upon this blog post that suggested a walk through the old Tokaido road would be fascinating. It would also be a less stressful trip to Hakone as it is an off the beaten path. So I forced myself to walk through the old road that actually leads you to lake Ashi. It  took about two hours of both feeling scared and excited. I was feeling nauseous in my stomach. The paved road uphill gave me an adrenaline rush. It was sunny and the air was cool. It was a good day to hike. There was a warning sign of bear sightings. I don't know why but that's the least of my concerns. In fact, what scared me more is the idea of bumping into a suspicious person along the way. Aren't humans scarier than animals? Life lesson: Travel alone. A lot . CHICHIBU A road trip through the mountains of Chichi...

Favor! As I was preparing to apply for this job, I felt that certain peace and assurance that this would go well. True enough, I got shortlisted for an interview. But it wasn't only an interview, there was also a written exam and a teaching demo. All happened in one day. Then the waiting starts. Two months to be exact. This position isn't always available. It's uncertain how many teachers the city would accept in a year. And a lot of us would want to get in. The perks and benefits that come along this direct employment are something foreign workers are longing to have. Then they called me and told me I was first on the waitlist. We were all put on the waitlist. I heard there were over a hundred applicants. Less than half got called for an interview. Then about twenty were considered for the position. But it was still uncertain how many of the twenty will successfully sign a contract. Another week passed when I finally received a mail. It was the contract package. Then they ...

Today, I held back my tears as I was watching my student hitting his head while saying, 'Atama ga warui' which literally means 'My head is bad'. The more precise translation would be 'I'm stupid' or 'I'm dumb'. The students were using their school provided tablets to do some listening tasks and yet this particular student was just carelessly tapping the screen, opening random school apps. So I approached him and tried to help him navigate the school portal. And as soon as we could open his digital workbook, I left him so he could find the pages and the audio file on his own. I went around the class to help the other kids. But I would from time to time check on that student at a distance. Then not long, he started hitting his head again and repeatedly telling himself 'I'm dumb'. It was so painful to watch. But then suddenly one classmate sitting next to him stood up and helped him and another one followed. I was moved by such sight.  H...

What to dream for this year? To be honest, I was not thinking of anything to do  this year - resolutions, goals, plans. Nothing of that sort. Unlike the past years, I was that woman who was always looking forward to the possibilities of the new year, full of hope and fire. But what is a dream anyway? I read that a dream especially a God-dream is something that you can let go but won't let go of you. It is a dream that would inspire hope to the people around you. It would make them see God's favor in your life. This idea I got from the first book on my haul this year. The Kiss of Heaven by Darlene Zschech. And this book stirred me into answering the question "What is your dream?" Anyway, my coming to Japan I would say is a God-dream. It started when in 4th grade I came across a story about a Japanese family. It was actually a sad story and I'm somehow proud of myself that I still remember the plot. Well after reading that, the dream of one day visiting Japan star...

In those years of working at the university library, I developed this sheer necessity to read books whenever or wherever I can. Being with books allowed me to explore places and wonders or even discover hidden knowledge that are just within the walls of the library. After graduating from the uni and getting a full-time job, I promised myself to buy at least one book a month. Had I been so religious, I would have accumulated books twice more than what I have now. But I think I can partly blame my economic status and the unaffordability of books. And wait, why are books so pricey in my country? Looking back, I remembered this certain story from one librarian. She was invited to an international conference in Hawaii for educators and school administrators. During breaks, she noticed some participants staying at a corner and reading books. She also met somebody who would carry one book in his bag all the time. That story made her conclude two things. First, busyness is not an excuse ...

Image from: rei.com Today he's wearing back that old torn bag. He got a new decent one and had it yesterday. Did something go wrong? Don't we all long for better things? And the man can afford. He's tall but his posture is bent. He wears black beanies with cat ears and eyes on them. His pants although don't seem old needed a good wash. His runners are Asics, not cheap but surely durable. So, the man can afford.  Today I'm wearing a long skirt I bought from a thrift store three years ago. It serves me well in winter. It's starting to wear out. And oh my coat too. I bought it brand new though. He seems to take the same train line, same platform, same car. He is easy to spot. Perhaps a lot of people have the same routine. Do they notice him? They might have but they won't bother.  He just got off the train. This station is a big one, surrounded with both commercial and residential edifices. It connects several train lines. A busy one too. The man is shabby, lo...